We all love before and afters, right?

Well, I just so happen to have a few to share.  My kitchen has undergone many transformations. Some have been major, like new flooring (from bright white vinyl, to dark laminate, to tile) and  lots of minor tweaks that just involved accessories and some in between changes like paint color and window treatments. Here's a little walk down memory lane to show some of the different looks my kitchen has sported over the years. About the first photo, don't look yet! Did you look? Before you do, just keep in mind, the same way blue eyeshadow was once groovy and parachute pants were so totally tubular, big floral wallpaper was all the rage. Honest. 

I am so happy I don't have to wake up to that big floral wallpaper and those dark cabinets every morning. As bad as this photo is, it could be worse. It was worse. When we built the house, it looked just like this, but instead of the nice warm floors, picture bright white vinyl against those dark wood cabinets. Nice. You can't really tell, but the wall paper on the bar area was green and white check. Every room had some green. Hunter green and a wine/ raspberry pink color. 

It was not an easy task and took me several days, but after living with the wall paper for about 10 years,  I ripped it  down and painted the walls yellow. One of my first sewing projects was to make  roman shades in a pretty stripe that had yellow, red and a little green and I accessorized with red plates. It reminded me of ketchup and mustard so  I never really liked it. No pictures of that phase, sorry.

The next phase just involved minor tweaking to get rid of the ketchup and mustard. Just fabric and accessories, but what a change. I kept the yellow walls but made new black and white window treatments. How freeing it was to be able to sew my own window treatments. If you have a sewing machine and you aren't using it out of fear, get over it. Go get some cheap fabric and practice! It will change your life. I promise.

I couldn't find a photo that showed the whole room, but here are a few shots.

Mitch and the kids call that the evil bunny. They think he has an evil look on his face, I don't agree. 

 

I think this photo of a potholder I made must have been taken in the  beginnings of my blog days. You know, when I was going around taking pictures of any and everything to post on my blog.  It must have also been the early days of my love affair with aqua. 

 

Lots of black and white. I liked this look, and could still live with it, but change is good, right? 

The next change came in the way of wall color. So many people ask about this color. Its Vintage Kitchen, by Martha Stewart from her line at Sherwin Williams. I'm not sure they still carry her paint but Lowe's has a color in her line that is nearly identical called Vintage Map.  You'll also notice the new black fridge. It isn't new, Mitch painted our white fridge black. Love that man! 

Next I painted the cabinets and Mitch replaced the laminate with tile.

 

The black stove and refrigerator are a little harsh against all that white, don't you think?
I can fix that.  Those lower cabinets went black.

In the above photo you can see, Mitch added crown molding to the tops of the cabinets and we replaced the recessed lighting over the bar with pendent lights.  It was getting there. I liked the black and white cabinets, but something wasn't quite right.  It was the countertops. The dark countertops weren't working with the black lower cabinets. I tried not to think about it.  I knew that replacing the  countertops really was not an option. It would be too big an undertaking and be way out of our small budget. To make a very long story short, my friend Kelli wanted new countertops too.  We commiserated about our desire for new countertops and how expensive it would be. While investigating options and sending her links to blog photos, I started seeing refrences to IKEA butcherblock. Upon further investigation I learned it would be an affordable option.  It would be affordable and our husbands could install them. No we didn't ask their opinion about their ability or desire to install them, we just had faith. In retrospect, I may not recommend this method of doing things, but that's a different blog post all together. Where were we? Oh yea, butcher block.

Mitch and my cousin installed the cherry  butcher block (purchased from Lumber Liquidators) and did an amazing job- as I knew they would.  We ended up going with Lumber Liquidators instead of IKEA for a couple of reasons, most importantly because they offered 12 foot lengths, and IKEA did not. The counter tops we purchased came unfinished.  I've read about many finishing options but we chose to use  Watco Butcher Block Oil. I think I've put on about six coats and will probably do more. It's an easy wipe-on application. 

I installed a subway tile backslash behind the sink- my first time working with tile and it went better than I expected.

I used Mitch's grinder with a diamond blade to cut the tiles. Not the best method, but for the cuts I had to make, it worked.

 

 

For the rest of the back splash, I used beadboard wallpaper. Love that stuff!! I can't speak highly enough for beadboard wallpaper. If you haven't tried it, you must.

It's so easy to install, looks great and is much cheaper than the real thing. It does tear if you bang something into it, so it probably isn't  the best option for  high traffic areas, but should be safe for a backsplash.

We still have a couple small things to do- a shelf to put up and some corbels under the range hood, but it's starting to feel like my dream kitchen. If I dreamed about kitchens, that is. Is it wrong for someone who doesn't really enjoy cooking to have such a pretty kitchen?

 

 

 

There will be one more shelf above that one,

and corbels beneath the range hood- but Mitch deserves a break from hammering and sawing.
Oh, I almost forgot, we are going to get the bar top covered with either stainless or galvanized steel. Then it will be finished. For now. ; )

Comments

[Gena]

I LOVE your kitchen. I am dying to paint my cabinets. I just need a nice man to help me do the hard parts.

And yes, it is unfair that your kitchen is so gorgeous and you don't really like to cook! I LIVE in my kitchen and LOVE to cook. I mean, my kitchen is nice, but far from my dream.

You and your hubby did an absolutely amazing job. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

[tricia]

I love seeing how your kitchen has evolved; its beautiful. Oh how I remember big floral wallpaper and hunter green. I thought it was fabulous at the time :)

[cindy]

Our kitchens have all evolved too....love yours, and am thinking of painting my lower cabs black (they're white right now). And btw, I had the same wallpaper in the house we built....it *was* all the rage!

[Jan]

You were kind enough to respond to my email about a week ago. Thank you.

Your kitchen is striking -- what a wonderful accomplishment. I'm picking up all kinds of tips and ideas from your kitchen because it's time for mine to go through some changes, as well.

Great pictures!

Jan

[Cottage Wish]

That redo was a lot of work, but it looks so worth it. Great job. I love the black and white.

[Amber]

It looks amazing - I agree - what a wonderful accomplishment!

[melissa@afamiliarpath]

wow it looks great! i really want to paint my white cabinets black. why does it seem like such a huge, scary job?

[Candied Fabrics]

This looks awesome! What I especially love is that you take it one bit at a time, when time and money permit...a much more realistic way of redoing things than all those HGTV shows!

I would LOVE to have butcher block counters in my kitchen...please let us know in 6 mos how easy/hard it is to keep it up - I worry about around the sink. I know I would be good wiping up spills, but my husband and older son USE the kitchen much more than I do, and I worry about them leaving puddles...

[becky]

Very nice!!!

[Jean]

Looks Fabulous! I'm about to embark on painting our cabinets (ugly builder's oak). I was going to use Liquid Sand instead of doing all that sanding. What did you do? Any tips?

[Jean]

Hit enter too quick.
I love that you went with the two colored cabinets. I'm going to do my cabinets in white with a brown glaze and then my island in brown. You've inspired me to possibly do all my lower cabinets in brown. I have the same flooring as you.

[Rita]

Love your blog! The pics of your kitchen transformation have been fun and inspiring as are all of your projects.

[margot]

I love the evolution, it's so fun!
And wow, I am so impressed with you guys, the kitchen looks GREAT!!

[Dena Pickle]

That is incredible! I love your color choices too. Very light and inviting!
Dena

[lisa]

Ouuh!! I love it all! And you didn’t mention the bent pipe curtain rod! Love that too.

I just wanted to say how much I enjoy seeing your projects and to let you know that I’m doing a giveaway!

[Sharla]

I love your new countertops. I've been wanting butcherblock counter tops for some time!

[Shelley]

that's crazy...your kitchen looks so good now..hehe..I'm not a fan of the floral wallpaper..
good job!!!

[Amy L]

I love watching the kitchen changes! You make me what to do all the transforming myself and then I wake up from my dream and realize that life with 3 small children and a husband not built with that "do it yourself" attitude for kitchen projects... Someday I will though (I've promised myself!) You keep me inspired with the slow transformations!

[Mary]

What a gorgeous kitchen redo! I love it!

[jenjen]

Your kitchen could not be any more beautiful! I love it all - the paint color: fabulous, the countertops: perfect, the cabinets: amazing. And all of the other details. It could be in a magazine. Seriously!

XOXO
Jen

[Kate]

Just fabulous! What a great job it hardly looks like the old kitchen. Yes, I too remeber when floral was all the rage!

Thanks for sharing!
Kate

[Katherine @ Grass Stains]

I kept thinking I couldn't love it MORE, and then with each successive picture, I found more to love! Wonderful job.

[Heather]

wow, that is such an incredible transformation!

[ashleyD]

do you like the composite sink??? i need advice!

[Ashley]

You and your kitchen totally rock! So awesome that ya'll did all the work yourselves. The colors are great!