Just call me Tim the Tool Man...

I've been power toolin' around here all week and I like it! My bar got a make-over. No plans, just flying by the seat of my pants. Ya'll should know me well enough by now, to know that's just how I roll. I have all these ideas floating around in my head, and I never know when they will decide to materialize.

Last week, or was it the week before... anyway, one day I was walking through the kitchen and I don't know what came over me. I just started tearing the beadboard wall paper off the bar. It just happened, really it did.

Pretty, no? This ended up being a bigger job than I imagined and took me a few hours.

Once the old wallpaper was all scraped off, I put up more. The same wallpaper friends. I wanted to start fresh. I figured too may coats of paint and you start to loose the beading effect.

Next came the fun part. Molding! Mitch cut the first few pieces of baseboard for me and I did the rest. It took me a long time. A long time. I made many, many trips to the garage to cut and re-cut, but my my thighs and kitchen are the better for it. I used muscles I forgot I had with all that bending and squatting. If I did this for a living I'd have buns of steel.  I cut, nailed, caulked, and painted it all. by. my. self!

This photo shows where things got complicated. I replaced the baseboard with a taller board and brought it around to the side of the cabinet, where there had been none before. Figuring out how to tie it in with the cabinets nearly fried my brain. I do not kid when I say I sat on the floor for hours, at that very spot pictured, scratching my head and playing with molding. I looked at countless photos on the internet, consulted Mitch, scratched my head some more. Finally I rigged up something that seemed like it was going to work.

Kinda crude looking, but nothing some caulk can't fix.

Caulk? My new bff. We're tight, me and some caulk, cause my seams aren't always so tight.

I found these brackets at the Salvation Army several months ago. I didn't know what I'd use them for at the time, but for a dollar a piece, I knew I'd find something.

I actually enjoyed the priming and painting.

I love it, and now I want to put molding on everything.

The front is still black. I hope I can get that painted this week. 

Want to see the many faces of my kitchen through the years? Sure you do.

Now brace yourself for the original, 90s version. Be warned, it's a little scary.

I know, right? What was I thinking?  Man, there's a lot going on there. Sorry I exposed you to that. I hope it doesn't cause any bad dreams.

I'll be sharing this project at some of these fun linkie parties.

 

Comments

[Pine Tree Home]

You are my twin. I love wood trim. I can't get enough of it. By yourself a case of caulk and have at it.
Great job.

[Debbie Johnson]

Great baseboards. I have been trying explaining taller baseboards to my husband. Now I have the perfect pictures to show him. One question, what size board did your husband use to get that size, then added a trim to the top level?

[mrs c.]

oh wow - that looks amazing!
clever lady!!
lovely to see all the changes thru the years also.
cheryl xox.

[Autum]

Hi Debbie,
The baseboards are 5. I purchased them at Lowes. The flat piece of board above the base that creates the frames is lattice boards, also from Lowes. They are 2 1/4 inches.
Hope this helps.

xo Autum

[cindy]

I still think your kitchen is one of my faves in blogland, regardless of how many changes you've made. Everytime you redo something I love it more. :) One question: how does the beadboard wallpaper hold up to feet and knees banging into it all the time? Do you use a high gloss (protective) paint?

[Christina]

It looks fantastic! Anytime I am needing inspiration for my kitchen I always come back to your photos, I love your kitchen!
xoxo

[Autum]

Hi Cindy! Thank you : ) 

The paper actually held up well, but the bar isnt heavily used. The problem with having it painted black, if it did scuff a bit, the white paper showed beneath.
This time I used Sherwin Williams Pro Classic oil based paint in a semi gloss finish. I bought it when they had their 40% off sale. I am very pleased with the appearance. Ill let you know about the durability.

I hope you are doing well. Ive missed you!

xo Autum

[Amber Carrillo]

oh my goodness - that is amazing! You seriously need your own tv show - so creative!!

[domesticali]

You, my friend, are a master with those power tools.

[Carri @ Redefining C]

WOW! Your transformation turned out awesome! Love what you did with the trim piece. Very creative indeed.

[Autum]

Thank you Carri! I was surprised and happy  with the results. Ive never really done anything that involved cutting wood, but now I think Im hooked!

Have a wonderful day!!

xo Autum

[Autum]

Thank you Ali. Im definitely no master, but it sure is fun playing. I see many more projects involving wood in my future. Im wondering if it would be too ambitious to attempt building a screen door for my pantry. Ive wanted one for a while but they dont come in the size I need.

I hope you are  having a wonderful day!

xo Autum

[Autum]

Thank you Amber. If you heard me talk you may change your mind about the TV show ; )  I think Ill stick to the written word. Youre the one who needs a tv show with your mad sewing skills!

xo Autum

[Autum]

Thank you Christina!
Looking at the changes through the years, it seems less is more. With each change, there is less stuff, less pattern, less color. I guess I crave a bit of simplicity in this chaotic life : )

Have a wonderful day!
xo Autum

[the cape on the corner]

yikes! i love the current version, it looks great with the beadboard!

[Amie]

Delurking to say 'well done!' :) I am so impressed, you may have inspired me to tackle my own decorating ideas (which include molding on everything too) although my hubby probably has a chill running down his spine right about now and no idea why, haha.

Happy birthday as well, you look absolutely fab for 43!!

[Autum]

Thank you Amie!
I say go for it! If I was able to do it, Im sure you can too. I have no wood working skills. I used my husbands compound miter saw and everything was just straight or 45 degree angle cuts. I wont lie, I made plenty of wrong cuts, but thankfully I didnt waste too much wood. And most of it was pretty inexpensive. Now, if I had been attempting crown molding, it might not have been quite as successful.

Go for it, and let me know how it works out.

xo Autum

[Bridgette]

You are a one woman construction crew! Do you hire out? I happen to love the white kitchen the best. But then I have a thing for white kitchens :)

[Autum]

Thank you Bridgette : )
I dont think youd want to hire me. Im a slow and messy worker. 
I love the white best too. If I could get new appliances, Id paint all of the black cabinets white. Or who knows, I may paint them all white anyway. You know how my whims are.  Good thing I dont mind painting. I find it relaxing these days for some reason and I actually enjoy it.

Have a lovely evening!

xo Autum

[jackie]

Beautiful job! What color is the paint in your kitchen? You have me wanting to add the trim pieces to my island.

[Autum]

Hi Jackie,
Everything is painted Swiss Coffee, a Valspar color. Its a creamy white.  The walls are an egg shell finish and the trim and molding are semi gloss. Im using Sherwin Williams Pro Classic Alkyd Enamel. Its an oil based paint and takes forever to dry, but it gives a beautiful smooth and very durable finish. 
Id love to see your bar if you add trim. If you want some inspiration, check out pinterest. I must have looked at hundreds of kitchens before I actually bought the trim. http://pinterest.com/autum_hall/dreamy-kitchens/

[Shannon]

Oh Autum! You are so talented, I do agree with Amber that you must have a TV show and you can use my house as your first show's experience. Seeing your 90's version kitchen all I could say was WOW, too cute. Keep up the awesome job you are an inspiration to many of us:)

[Rachel]

I love your kitchen re-do, Autum, and I loved seeing the progression from the '90s to today. You've done A LOT of work on it over the years. Your projects are inspiring - the inspiration comes especially from the idea that it's not impossible to DIY!

[Cas]

Hi Tim *wink*! I am so incredibly impressed right now that I am struggling to find the right words. Let's just say WOW!! I have been thinking of doing something very similar in my kitchen, but I've been a bit a hesitant about it...you have inspired me to at least have a go, so thankyou for sharing this! I am now following along with your incredible blog :)

[Katie from Sew Woodsy]

Wow--this came out great!