Showing posts with label kitchen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kitchen. Show all posts

Monday, April 22, 2013

New counter top LOVE and kitchen remodeling progress








My oldest daughter is graduating in May and there WILL be a party!  In between teaching her various self defense techniques and crying in my tea wondering where the time has gone....I have been 'remodeling' my kitchen.

Ah...my kitchen. The smallest 4x6 patch of real estate in town.  My house was built in 1954, when people didn't live in their kitchens ( I guess...) and it is T I N Y.  Sometime in the 80s some wise homeowner knocked out a wall and at least created the illusion of space....Anyway....none of that is important except to say that I was HATING my kitchen and something really had to change. 

I knew I had to repaint my cabinets, they were looking a little worse for the wear and they were super dark (blech!)  so I decided to paint the uppers off white and the lowers powder blue. Since my cabinets would now be light, my counter top would have to be dark!   



Fearing nothing, I started applying a Lusterstone finish right over the existing counter top.( I am a trained applicator of the following products, so I won't be giving ALL my secrets away).  I just sponged and swirled and trowelled 3 shades : Ebony, Moonstone Gray and Snowflake White. I wanted the finish to have some movement, but not be spongy looking. I ended up with this Lava looking color. Sweet!!!



I added in some mother of pearl mica flakes, mirror chips and some iridescent glitter. (Cause I'm the glitter Queen)
Finally, I applied 2 coats of resin, letting each one dry overnight.
Here's the final look! I am looooooving it!!!!




I painted the walls Sherwin Williams Antique White and added this nifty new valance whipped up by my mom.



My children are wondering when in the heck we are getting the cabinet doors put back on....I have this terrible habit of starting a project and then getting distracted by some life sized  shiny object (like work, or taxes...)   As nothing is as productive as the last minute, I imagine they will be getting hung back up a few hours before the graduation party!



I almost forgot to show y'all....I painted my grandmother's buffet hot pink! After agonizing about what color to paint it, I decided I desperately needed a shot of crazy color, because my walls and floor are going to be all off white.


I chose Sherwin Williams 'Dragon Fruit' and added some fun turquoise knobs. (Some of the original knobs were missing.)   I set up this little breakfast bar, which extends the area of the kitchen. )
I love my kitchen now! Can't wait for the party!

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Mirrors....the cruddier the better

via traditionalhome.com
via ballarddesigns.com (mirror no longer available)


via traditionalhome.com

Brand new mirrors just seem to be to be soo......shallow. I like a mirror with a story to tell, a mirror with a bit of age to it. Did you know that decorative artisans can make a mirror appear antique and fabulous using a series of chemicals they have been trained to use? Click the link to my friend Regina's awesome site to see a boutique treated to the antique mirror treatment. Wow!!!
A rudimentary version of this ( but not nearly so cool) can be created by dabbing the back of a mirror with toilet bowl cleaner ( use your brains, wear eye and skin protection and work in a ventilated area). I also found this charming version of how to antique a mirror at marthastewart.com


And while we're on the subject of very cool ideas....why not mirrors in the kitchen????
Especially a small kitchen, that would really open up the space. Here, simple mirror tiles were antiqued to create a simple yet intriquing backsplash.