Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Kitchen Reveal

Obviously, I am not so good at keeping up with this blog while other things--such as being pregnant and subsequently adjusting to life with two kids--are going on. I have also recently learned that basically everything other than feeding my children falls to the wayside when tackling any sort of major facelift to our home. In other words, this blog is lagging behind big time.

However, I am thrilled to share some pics of our "new" kitchen with the few of you who somehow manage to still find your way here.






Step 1 was to have our cabinets painted white in order to really brighten and update the room. I love them and have no regrets that we decided to do this, and am very happy taht we were able to find a reasonably priced contractor to do it for us.

Step 2 was to paint the walls. We went with Benjamin Moore's Pale Oak, a cross between a light gray and linen. We also used chalkboard paint on a very small wall that separates the kitchen area from the main living area.

Step 3 was adding beadboard around the island and the 3 walls of the eat in kitchen area.

Step 4 was refinishing our hutch. I used Annie Sloan's Duck Egg Blue and am officially in love with the paint! The hutch is now a statement piece that just may be my favorite part of the kitchen now.

Step 5 is now in progress. I am adding some decor as we go. I've shopped the house quite a bit! I have also added a new rug in front of the sink and new pulls to the hutch since I took these pics. We need artwork on that huge blank wall above the beadboard, behind the table. Any suggestions?!?

Step 6 will be a backsplash and new faucet. I'd love some suggestions on the backsplash. Originally I wanted bright white subway tile. Now I am leaning more toward a light tumbled tile, but still in the subway tile. But we are taking a break for now!

And because I know I love to see lots of pics on blogs and because I love sharing them:





This project was sort of phase 2 that we didn't exactly foresee getting to when we accomplished phase 1. When we moved into this house (about 9 years ago) the kitchen had white formica countertops and a basic steel sink with a builder grade faucet while the cabinets were missing hardware. We were young, newly married and more than happy to be in our first house together. Four years later we replaced the countertops and went with laminate because we didn't want to splurge on granite when we had no intention of being in the home for more than about 2  more years. We added hardware to the cabinets, put in a new, white sink and updated the faucet. Added some new decor and wiped our hands of it til it was time to move. Fast forward 5 years and here we are, still in the house, with a 2nd child that we had said we would never have in such a small place. Never say never!

We still chose not to invest in granite countertops since these are still only 5 years old and we really do mean it when we say that this is not our "forever" home. (We now say we will try to sell again in about 3ish more years. We'll see how that goes.)

I'll post morepics as we go along and add touches here and there.
Again, I'd love any and all suggestions on artwork and the backsplash!

{To see more of my kitchen, click here!}

I am linking up at:





21 comments:

Unknown said...

Amazing transformation!!! Love the light bright cabinets!! Well done!

Deb said...

I still find my way here! Love it!!!

Jessi said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
thistlewoodfarm said...

Your kitchen is incredible. I love all the white and that chalkboard wall. Absolutely fabulous! Thanks for the inspiration. Glad to see you back in blogging :)

blessings,
karianne

Camille said...

Beautiful!! I am in love with your eat in area and the blue hutch. Fabulous!!

Cindy P said...

LOVE it.. Great job!

Inspired by you said...

It looks so fresh! LOVE IT,

Unknown said...

Beautiful! I love that shade of blue, one of my favorites! I think you should go with one of Ana White's ten dollar ledges above the beadboard, then you could switch out your artwork seasonally. That's my .02 cents! First time at your blog, I'm subscribing!

April said...

It looks so good and I love you hutch. The laminate looks good with the new white! I have laminate and you just have to embrace it and not compare yourself.

Anonymous said...

it looks amazing! It's nice to see someone who appreciates Milk Glass :) I have been a lover of this forever!

To The Moon and Back said...

Beautiful before and after! Love it:)

Jessi said...

Thank you Kelly! We are enjoying the new brightness very much. Happy to have you here!

Jessi said...

Hello there Deb! So happy to "see" you here! :)

Jessi said...

Thank you Karianne! The chalkboard wall is something I have wanted for quite a while and I am loving it as much as my kiddos.

Jessi said...

Thanks for stopping by Camille! Our eat in area is so much more comfy with the new white chairs, and the blue hutch is my favorite part of the kitchen now. ;)

Jessi said...

Thanks so much for leaving a comment here Cindy! I really appreciate it from my fellow ninja. :)

Jessi said...

FRESH indeed! Like a breath of fresh air. Thanks for stopping by!

Jessi said...

Thanks for the suggestion! I checked the ledges out and am intrigued. Must share with my hubby!

Jessi said...

April, I appreciate hearing from another laminate "lover". ha! You are so right...we gotta embrace what we have. :) Thanks for stopping by!

Jessi said...

I adore my milk glass, and love it all the more because it came from such special ladies. Thanks for stopping by!

Jessi said...

Thanks for stopping by and for your encouragement!