To put it mildly I am thrilled. For a little bit of money, and a whole lotta sweat equity I was able to completely transform my kitchen.
So I won’t delay any longer…
It’s so good.
This is just phase 1. Phase 2 will involve new counters and a new farmhouse sink, but I’m trying to focus on the fact that a home is not a sprint it is a marathon… Either way I’m thrilled to have my kitchen back. The cabinet reno was making me fat, literally. I think I gained 7lbs during the month I worked on the cabinets from not being able to cook and eating crap, but I digress. It’s green juice and salmon for a while…
So how did we get here? I’ll tell you. To start we pulled the cabinet doors off, and built up the builder grade cabinets with molding. You can read about that here.
I knew I’d be working with Annie Sloan Chalk paint for several reasons. Number one being I did not want to have to sand down my cabinets with a two-year old in the house. The beauty of chalk paint is prep is really not needed. The second reason was aesthetic. I love love LOVE traditional finishes, and Annie Sloan Chalk paint has a gorgeous buttery finish that makes my heart flutter. It’s not matte, and definitely not gloss. It’s like the most perfect satiny finish you have ever laid eyes on. The wax finish is perfect for a rambunctious toddler. If my son scratches the finish I don’t have to strip it down and redo it like I would with a poly. I literally can fill the ding, and buff it out. I’m not entirely sure why people stopped using wax finishes, but I’m bringing wax back.
If you live in Northwest Arkansas the ladies of Red Hill Home were immensely helpful with helping me narrow down my chalk paint choices, and helping with finishes. They helped me narrow down a color that covered well, and gave helpful tips when it came to finishing applications. Not only do they carry Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, but they also carry Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint and offer workshops on both products.
I decided to go with Old Ochre after seeing a finished piece at Red Hill that read more cream than beige. I was assured that Old Ochre would cover in two or three coats whereas Old White would take more along the lines of three or four. Less Work? Yes please!
After filling the old hardware holes, sanding them flush, and giving them a light scrub with soap and water it was time to paint.
I went with thin coats and lightly sanded between coats to really give a smooth, buttery finish. You can see the difference between one and two coats was pretty substantial.
After painting I was able to put on a thick coat of clear wax, with the wax brush by Annie Sloan. You don’t have to use the wax brush. I actually already owned the wax brush that I used on other projects. It is pricy, but it gets in every little nook and cranny. It really is a great tool to work with. After applying the wax, I buffed it out with an old t-shirt and let it dry. I then mixed some of the dark wax with the clear wax to create an antique finish. I applied the mixture predominately in the nooks and crannies where the cabinets would naturally age over time. After it was applied I used my old t-shirt to buff it out again. If you are working with the dark wax you want to be pretty sparing with it. A very little bit goes a long way, and too much can create a dirty looking finish, not a pretty aged look.
Once the wax dried and I was happy with the finish I installed the hardware and hung those babies up.
I can’t even believe what an immense difference painting the cabinets has made.
The kitchen feels SO much bigger, and we are thrilled! It’s really insane to me that we’ve only been here for 3 ½ months! It’s so vastly different from the house we started with. This little bungalow is really shaping up to be home.
Until next time!
XOXO,
Victoria
No comments:
Post a Comment