Islands in the Stream....um, I mean kitchen!

I did this project a while ago, but thought it was time to share considering all of the work I've been doing on my kitchen lately.  When originally deciding what I wanted for the kitchen, I knew I wanted the two colored cabinet look.  I decided an off white/black combo would be nice and still neutral enough.  I started with the island.

 

 

 

Your basic contractor cheapy island, huh?  Well, replacing it was out of the question, too expensive!  I knew painting it would cover that awful particle board on the sides and back, but wanted a bit extra, you know, I wanted it to look like a piece of furniture.  So I added these moldings I bought for about $8 at Lowes.

 

 

As you can see, I already taped around the bottom so I wouldn't paint my ceramic tile!

 

I'm a HUGE fan of the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.  I now use it for most of my furniture redo's.  I'm also currently using it for the rest of my kitchen cabinets.  However, they don't make black.  The closest they come is a Graphite, which is dark gray.  When topped with the dark wax, it does make it look much darker, but not black.  Then I heard about Maison Blanche Paint Company and their chalk paint.  And, they have a true black! 

 

 

It's just as expensive as ASCP except I couldn't find anywhere near me where they sold it, so I also had to pay shipping.  This paint has the same concept of ASCP, no sanding or priming necessary.  However, I still sanded down the island just to get the gloss off.  When I put the first coat on, I have to admit, I was disappointed.

 

 

See what I mean?  It's hard to tell from the picture but the paint just sort of sat on the cabinet, it didn't soak in or "grab" like I was used to.  It also most certainly wasn't black.  But, I trudged on because I know by now that a lot of times while I'm painting something I have to keep in mind it isn't the finished product.

 

Please keep in mind that I'm not some trained professional with decades of paint training (if there is such a thing!).  However, I know what I like and what works for me, so that is what this is about, just my experience.  Although ultimately happy with the finished look, I was not impressed by the paint at all.  It took 4 coats.  Yup, 4.  It just did not stick they way the Annie Sloan paint does.  After it completely dried, I sanded the way I usually do to lightly distress.  It flaked and peeled, much like latex.  It did not powder off the way ASCP does for a more natural finished look.  I also had to finish with dark wax, which did bring the color to black, kinda an off black, but black nonetheless.  I could have saved myself about $40 and used the MyPaint by Pantone in black that I used for my bathroom cabinets.  And, in the future, that will be my "go to" black. 

 

I won't keep you wating with my complaining any longer, here it is finished:

 

 

 

And, now with the new counter tops:

 

 

Here is a shot that will hopefully show what the finished kitchen will hopefully look like.  I love the black island with the off white cabinets.  And, one day when I finish the cabinets, we will be putting up a backsplash.  I've decided on a white subway tile.  The counter tops are kind of busy so I wanted something very plain next to them.  And, the good news is that I found BOXES of the tile at the Habitat for Humanity Restore for cheap, cheap, cheap!

 

 

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Primitive and Proper and Miss Mustard Seed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



A great vintage chest!

See, I told you I was back, this makes 2 posts in 2 days!  Over the next few days, I thought I'd show you all some projects I've been working on for my space at Ginger & Spice.  I'll also be keeping you posted on the kitchen redo!

I found the great chest of drawers a while ago.  It sat and sat because I just wasn't sure what to do with it.  The wood was really banged up and it needed to be painted, yet I hated to cover up all that great detail work.

The drawers...

Sorry about the before pics, I started in on this before I realized I forgot to take some pics.  See all that great detail, not only in the carvings, but in the two toned wood? 

I finally decided to just make two toned paint.  I mixed up some ASCP Graphite and Old White and came up with this beautiful grayish blue color.  I painted the whole thing in ASCP Old White, and, by hand, accented all the detail in my fancy new color.  I then sanded and sanded to make it very distressed and chippy, then topped with a coat of wax.

I also spray painted the knob an oil rubbed bronze to make them really pop!  Here is a view of the top, look at all that detail!  (and, notice my pretty pillows in my space as well!  :))

Hope you like it!

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Primitive and Proper and Miss Mustard Seed

I promise, I didn't fall off the face of the Earth!

Really, I didn't!  See, I'm here!

I'm sorry for my absence.  As most of you can appreciate, I've been crazy busy.  Something had to give.  Unfortunately, the blog was it. It was either that or a little 4 year old girl.  I've just been pulled in so many directions lately that I had to do something. 

But, I'm here now!

I've got a few projects to share also in the next few weeks, so stay tuned!

For now, I'll give you a few pictures to show you what I've been up to.  We are s-l-o-w-l-y redoing our kitchen.  I finally saved up enough for counter tops, then the water heater broke.  Luckily, we were able to replace it without cutting too deeply into my counter top fund.  But, although it probably wasn't the best financial decision, I knew that my fund would slowly dwindle to other things, so I got my a$$ in gear and finally picked out tops!  Here is a before pic of the beautiful laminate tops I had before:

My vision was light cabinets and darker colored tops.  Don't ask me why, but I'm on a gray kick lately.  It's my new neutral.  Unlike a brown or tan, it goes with any crazy color I decide to use!  So, I got a grayish/blackish granite top.  I also started painting my cabinets.

(This is where my Public Service Announcement comes in...) If you ever decide to paint your own cabinets, allow at least 10x the amount of time you think it will take, then triple that!  I've done 2 small sections, the top row hasn't even been touched.  However, I'm glad I decided not to tackle it all at once.  I used ASCP Old White.  I did sand though after a good cleanin'.  I didn't want any of the sheen to come through.  I then topped with clear wax, dark wax, then clear again.  So far, I love, love, love them.  It will just be a lot of work to finish them.  A LOT.  A LOT.  You hear me?  hehe

So, here is the sneak peek:

Excuse my lack of staging and the mess you see.  I'm doing the best I can!  Whatcha think?

And, here is a quick before/after of a great bench I bought while hitting the yard sales with Cassie, blogger extrodinaire!

Just blah, but great storage!  I painted one coat of  Pantone MyColor paint, then distressed so the red really came through.  I topped it with a coat of wax and it's so smmmmmmooooooth!

It's at Ginger & Spice, so if you like it, go buy it!  hehe

And, finally, I want to share something else with you that is at the store.  I did not paint this. Contrary to what some may think, I love the look of natural wood.  I came across this mantle while picking up some furniture I bought from Craigslist.  The guy made a remark about throwing it in the burn pile before I grabbed it and ran.  Shame on you!  This thing, in the burn pile?  Oh, the humanity...

I've scoured every room in my house for a wall where this would fit.  Twice.  I can't work it out, so it's at the store, come visit!

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Primitive and Proper and Miss Mustard Seed