Sunday, May 1, 2011

Finished Kitchen


 The kitchen cabinets were done in Annie Sloan chalk paint.
I went round the bend trying to decide if I was going to stick
 with the chalk paint or use a conventional paint. 
In the end, I decided to distress the cabinets and with that decision,
the easy choice was to use the chalk paint.
 The upper cabinets are in Old White,
 the lower cabinets are in Old White with Paris Grey wash.
 I used a paint brush to do all the cabinets. 
They were painted in place as they have
 hidden hinges and it was easier that way.
I lightly distressed the cabinets on the top.
The bottom cabinets were distressed a little heavier.
 All were finished in clear wax.
 Bright and cheerful with a  farmhouse vintage appeal.
 
The island light fixture came from a swap shop at a dump.
It was the perfect solution for our off center island.
 The window brackets are also a vintage addition 
that holds a shelf for displaying items.
A kitchen with cabinets to the ceiling doesn't 
allow for any display space, so this works well.

The stainless bucket to the left of the window is a composter.
You put all your veggie clippings, eggshells and coffee grounds inside
and a week later it is mushy...then throw it in your garden.
It is amazing, and we love it. You can get one  at TJMaxx.
The bronze rabbit got a lot of interest the last time I posted on the kitchen.
We picked him up at the Chilmark Flea Market on Martha's Vineyard.
He is holding my sugar bowl, but at parties he sits on the island and holds nuts.
 
The floors are maple.
 The view from the dining room into the kitchen to the back door.
 Marble countertops would look quite nice with the grey and white~
someday...mmmm
 The kitchen is a small room that is like the spoke of the wheel in our house.
All rooms connect by halls to this space, except the living room.
The console table is a nice place to set up a bar or deserts when entertaining.

These tulips came from our garden.
The view towards the dining room. 
This wall is one I would like to remove.
The problem is finding a good spot to relocate the refrigerator.
When I figure that out, I can imagine my kitchen filled with sunshine.
I took pictures with the lights on and then all the lights off.
The pictures with the lights on make the kitchen look green.
Anyway, this view shows the dining room filled with sunshine.
Imagine this space all opened up...
 The difference white cabinets make in a dark space is just amazing and uplifting.
Our kitchen island is made by the John Boos company.
They specialize in wonderful butcher block islands.
One last look at what used to be our kitchen....
the total cost of this mini-reno was 
3 quarts of chalk paint and a can of wax.


84 comments:

  1. It looks beautiful, Amy! So happy you decided to stick with the chalk paint and go for that Habbersham look on the lowers. Turned out great. Oh, how I wish Annie Sloan made a pure white!!! Did you paint the base of your Boose block too? It looks Paris Gray on my screen. Gorgeous! Your back and forth was entirely worth the end result, Sybil!
    lol

    Hugs,
    Jami

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  2. (And your kitchen looked nice before but now it has your beautiful Maison Decor signature!)

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  3. Lovely kitchen Amy!
    It is amazing what paint can! Cannot believe the before and after photos. I am not a fan of wood cabinets...love to see them painted!

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  4. I love it!!!! And I think Ive said it a million times I loooove that Island!

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  5. Your kitchen looks amazing, thanks for showing so many pictures - very beautiful! Definitely a place where you spend a lot of time, I'm sure!

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  6. Amy

    I CAN NOT BELIEVE what a difference this made. It's incredible how it ties the whole house together... This was one of those makeovers that makes your jaw drop! And, is that a pink bowl over there on the console? It's so perfect there. I love the mirrored window hanging above it too. That little touch just opens things up so much The tulips are gorgeous! I'm glad you saved those from the evil squirrels!

    Cindy

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  7. Wonderful job Amy ! I am Proud for you !
    It is so bright and cheerful !

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  8. Wow! It is just gorgeous! Love the chalkpaint & love, love the French Grey! It looks so wonderful- so many pretty details I spy! :) You kitchen makeover gals are inspiring so much to get myself pumped for doing something to mine!! Your before photo is very similar to how my kitchen looks. Your island is so unique & chic! Well done, Amy!
    :) Lara

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  9. Turned out beautifully Amy! Using the two colors was such a good idea and added the perfect touch! I love some sparkle, your island centerpiece is so pretty!

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  10. Amazing, Amy! It turned out really lovely! I love the white you used on the top cabinets. Just the look I'd like for my own. Next house. : ) I prefer cabinets that go to the ceiling because my current ones don't and I used to display things up there but I found they got kind of gross with the dust. It's more than a twice a year cleaning up there! Love the role the console table plays. It looks great as is, but what a great idea to incorporate it as a bar or dessert area when entertaining. Multi-functional - love it! I bought one of those stands you have the saucers in and wasn't sure what exactly it was for. Thanks to you, now I know!

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  11. Amy, it's just spectacular! You have truly inspired me to paint my 'boring brown' stained cabinets... expect lot's of emails asking for advise.
    Your home is so pretty it should have been featured in Traditional Home's May issue on Pretty Rooms.

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  12. Wow!!!!!! This looks sooo amazing, just gorgeous! I love how you did this! Just fabulous........well done Amy!!

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  13. Hello Amy,
    amazing, how wonderful your kitches turned out. All looks fresh and inviting. And I really love the idea of the bord over the window with this round cut out and the pretty consols. So much more light in the room. Happy May Day to you.
    Best greetings, Johanna

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  14. It looks fabulous! I really like the different color on the lower cabinets. Thanks for all your tips and ideas along the way!
    Linda

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  15. What I find neat is that the island light fixture fits in so much better with the white cabinetry now. It just goes so much better than with the oak. Before, it was nice. Now it is WOW. BTW, did you paint your island legs to match the cabinets?

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  16. OK Amy how in the world did you get done so fast???? Looks amazing.. What a woman... I'm still working on mine... Have a great Sunday and enjoy your beautiful kitchen

    Hugs
    Pattie

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  17. The island legs are still a true white. In some pics they look grey. Which makes me know, someday soon they will be getting a paint job too!

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  18. Wow Amy, what a difference three cans of paint can make! You kitchen is light and bright and so soft and pretty. Wonderful job!

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  19. It turned out wonderful Amy! It looks so light and bright now. Great job!

    I have a question...can regular curtain panels be turned into pinch pleat with out a lot of effort?
    Hugs,
    Penny

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  20. Your cabinets look gorgeous!! Your kitchen is beautiful.

    Kathy

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  21. Your kitchen is beautiful! This is my first time here, and I'm eager to look around at what I've been missing. I'm your newest follower :)

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  22. Your kitchen looks beautiful. I can't believe the difference! LOVE IT!

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  23. Amy, It is a beautiful transformation! The difference painting the cabinets made is amazing. Gorgeous!
    Hugs,
    Sherry

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  24. It looks beautiful and now fits with the rest of your home's decor. I'm glad you stuck with the chalk paint. Just 3 quarts and pretty quick too. Great job. Love all the details in your kitchen.

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  25. Your kitchen looks beautiful! I like how you did the upper and lower cabinets differently. It really looks great! And you really did it all for a great price! I love it!

    XO,
    Jane

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  26. Oh MY Gosh you must love it. Such a change! It looks so good. I can see that wall gone and love the light it would bring in. Can see why you would want to do that. Good luck with the Refrigerator relocation!

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  27. Hi Amy,
    You've done a wonderful job transforming your kitchen. It looks so pretty!

    hugs
    Sissie

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  28. Hi Amy,
    You made an amazing difference with your paint and wax!!! I love the island too and the beautiful tulips from your garden.
    You should be proud of yourself!

    Carolyn

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  29. Hi Amy!! Oh, your kitchen is so beautiful! You've done a great job! The light over your island looks great and is so unusual! Love it! Wow, your island is great too! I just love that and wish I had room for one! You're amazing!! :)
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  30. Awesome! Just like a fresh ray of sunshine. Really looks fabulous!

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  31. I love it!!! It looks so different. I can't wait to re do my own kitchen....I've been dreaming!!

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  32. I Love it. I did my cabinets a while ago before I started doing other client's. I am very tempted to do mine again in chalk paint!

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  33. Amy, that is the BEST remake on a budget that I've ever seen! You are very talented :) I am a new follower, and hope you'll visit me here:
    www.conspicuousstyle.com

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  34. The end result is nothing less than wonderful! You must be ecstatic with how it turned out! Great accessorizing!~Hugs, Patti

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  35. The kitchen looks great! Those upper cabinets look so "soft", if that makes sense.

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  36. Your kitchen is gorgeous! You did a beautiful job. Your tulips are lovely from your garden and I also love that pink and white striped bowl you have on your console table.

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  37. Oh my word. I may have to give Annie a call myself when she brings out her pure white. :)

    Amy, it was meant to be. The kitchen looks so natural and like it's always been like this. The perfect sign that ya done good. :)

    Donna

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  38. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  39. (Sorry for the deleted post - I guess I forgot how to type!)

    Wow, Amy, it is GORGEOUS! The kitchen is now so full of light, that color combination just opened the whole thing up.

    Love your butcher block island, it's a beautiful piece; as well as the lighting fixture above it. I also love that pink and white bowl on the hall console table, very pretty! You have a BEAUTIFUL home!

    Best,

    Kimberly

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  40. Your kitchen looks beautiful Amy! I love the white distressed cabinets. I painted mine white a year ago and now I'm wanting to distress them after seeing yours.

    Have a wonderful day,
    Gail

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  41. Oh Amy.....your kitchen looks lovely and you know I am loving the vintage farmhouse accents. The little vignette on the windowsill made me smile.

    You must love coming into this room every morning.

    Well done my friend.

    Janet xox
    http://theemptynest-janet.blogspot.com/

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  42. Hola Amy, this is a super great and wonderful kitchen work, you must be very happy, enjoy it!!!
    hugs

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  43. Completely gorgeous. I have been reading up on chalk paint. Maybe.....

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  44. Oh my goodness what a beautiful transformation! It made the room look so much bigger and brighter. You did a wonderful job!!

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  45. Wow! Wow! Wow!

    I love everything, Amy. Your kitchen looks fabulous. Great job.

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  46. oh my gosh, amazing! it looks like a completely different space. love that oval island and the light fixture is spot on for your farmhouse look!

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  47. It is absolutely gorgeous!! You did a wonderful job.

    So glad I found you today through Masterpiece Monday...am your newest follower.

    Hugs,
    Marie
    SallyLeeByTheSea.com

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  48. Hi Amy, I love it! It's amazing what a bit of paint and elbow grease can do! It looks so bright and fresh and looks like you installed another kitchen. I love what you did above the window, especially how you did that curved cut out for the light, instead of a straight shelf. I have always loved white kitchens but I really like how you used a different colour for the bottom shelves... you must be very happy with the result! take care, Maryann

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  49. Oh..my gosh! I totally missed this yesterday. Don't you love it? It looks great! So much lighter and brighter and fresher. I love it. I love that island too. I can't believe you got this whole thing done so fast. I bet you are sick of painting for awhile. Anyway....Love, love, love it. I'm jealous...wish my kitchen looked this good.

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  50. What a beautiful face lift, Amy! It makes a world of difference...feels sunny and bright! I love it! I've been wanting to paint my cabinets for years but am concerned about the whole process being too messy and time consuming....I'd love to know what steps you took to prep, paint and wax...and how long it took.
    Your home is beautiful!
    Have a beautiful week!
    ;-D Kathleen

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  51. You must be over the moon with your new kitchen. It is such a great before and after! This kitchen is 'you'! xo Sherri

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  52. Your kitchen is fabulous! I am contemplating using chalk paint on my kitchen cabinets, but am concerned about the abuse these cabinets get with 2 teenagers in the house. How is the paint holding up?

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  53. Hi Amy,
    So you totally sold me...It is beautiful!!...I LOVE white...any shade of white...especially in the kitchen...We remodeled our 1963 kitchen 10 years ago and I went with maple cabinets in a cider stain. I'm always seeing people repainting oak cabinets and I would definitely do that too...I've been pondering because ours are maple. I think from the pics...yours are too....pls. let me know because I LOVE the way yours turned out and think I'm going to take the plunge. I put a new white kitchen in our beach house last year and it is one of my favorite things...since I live in the burbs most of the year, I think it's time to make this as beautiful. Enjoy your beautiful, new kitchen....xo, Mariaelena

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  54. I can't get over the difference a little paint and wax can make. Your kitchen is drop-dead gorgeous.
    Sam

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  55. nice change gives the kitchen such a soft romantic look bet the flow into your dining room is perfect love it. Now it is my turn the life of a faux finishers wife is she is always last on the list he just does not want to paint on the weekends boo hoo maybe I will have to step up the plate myself.

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  56. ..We have the exact same cabinets and my husband will not let me paint...I am showing him yours and he will be convinced!.....Thanks for sharing!
    Amazing job...thank you thank you thank you!

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  57. Your kitchen turned out wonderfully! It really is stunning!!! I love how you mixed the colors for the upper and lower cabinets, it looks great. And I think I was one of the many who had asked previously about your brass bunny, he's just too cute:)

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  58. The Chalk Painted cabinets are wonderful.. mine are in need of a new coat of paint and this time I think I'll get the chalk... great job!
    Sandy

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  59. What a Lovely Home you have, Love the Kitchen ~ the colors for the cabinets are Perfect & I really think that curved corner island is Perfect!

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  60. You did an amazing job Amy on these cabinets. I love chalk paint. In fact come on over I am having a chalk paint giveaway and I feature some of my projects.

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  61. Your cabinets look awesome Amy...I just love the mix of grey on the lowers and white on the uppers! I just finished my first chalk paint project and now I am hooked too! ~Deb~

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  62. it looks gorgeous! i love that swag light feature too! we're finishing out our kitchen and i always like to see how people decorate their countertiops!

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  63. Your kitchen looks spectacular. The impact of changing the finish on the cabinets is amazing. There is probably going to be a run on Annie Sloan's Old White and Paris Grey chalk paint now. :) You have pulled together an absolutely perfect room... just really well done!

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  64. Hope to do the same some day, the white anyway,
    love it, nice job, Celeset, victoriantailor.com

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  65. You outdid yourself!!!! GORGEOUD! Brilliant idea for the light over the island.
    Also, I have been looking at the little composter at TJ maxx, and was unsure about it. Now I know I neede one!
    I can just see you standing in the new kitchen in the morning sipping coffee and loving it! And at night , all cozy... enjoying it.
    Have a pretty day!
    Kristin

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  66. WOW! amazing! dont you just love the chalk paint! I never even thought of using it on kitchen cabs! great idea!!

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  67. Beautiful job! Love how your cabinets turned out!

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  68. goergeous kitchen -so soothing and beautiful- love Annie Slaon paint too,
    coming from White Wednesday too...

    Karen

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  69. First of all great job. It looks like an entirely different room. Great color choices. Did you prep your cabinets at all? I have read that you don't have to, but I have also read that it might be a good idea for kitchen cabinets. Do you feel like they are holding up well? You have me inspired to think about doing mine.

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  70. The white looks so fresh--your kitchen looks brand new! (I LOVE the tulips!)

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  71. Your cabinets are beautiful! I've been contemplating painting mine with the chalk paint, now you've convinced me! Mine were painted white a couple of years ago but I really want to antique them a little and thought the chalk paint might be easier to work with. I'm also curious about how well the finish will hold up. Love your kitchen!

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  72. So glad I found your blog!!! This is exactly what I am planning to start, in about 2 weeks, on my cabinets. I have been looking at Annie Sloan Chalk Paint also. However, there are 2 colors of Martha Stewart grey that I really like...I love the white on the upper cabinets and the grey on the bottoms. If mine turns out half as gorgeous as yours I will feel successful. Lovely job!!! Did I mention I am really scared to do this? Best, Vicki

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  73. I love the look! I forgot to ask if you did two coats on the top or only one before waxing?
    Darci

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  74. I just keep coming back and looking at your kitchen. Love it!! I am looking to do my cabinets more of a yellow white and considering anne sloans cream. Have you seen any pictures where it has been used? Seems like everyone is using old white and paris gray.
    Thanks for the help girl.
    ~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

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  75. I just came across your blog via Pinterest and was wondering how your paint on your kitchen cabinets have held up? I've been going back and forth on using chalk or regular paint when I do my kitchen. I would greatly appreciate you input!

    Your cabinets (and everything else) look beautiful by the way!

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  76. I just found your kitchen. It is fantastic! I am planning to start painting my cabinets with AS paint, can you give me any advice before I start? What did you clean yours with before you began?

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  77. I am obsessed with your blog! My fiance and I are looking to distress our cabinets and we want to paint them gray. We love the french country/cottage look. We just bought our home so we are starting from scratch. I will definitely be referring to your blog for ideas and inspiration!

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  78. Hello! I am seriously considering painting my kitchen cabinets soon and would love to do Annie Sloan chalk paint. But I am curious how it has held up, how durable it is. I heard from someone that you may have to keep waxing over the years. Have you had to do that? How has it been now that it's been about 1 yr or so? Thanks! Sarah

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