Thanks for the kind words on our Living Room Reveal, my loves! I know things are a bit ADD around here, with the back-and-forth between houses…thank you for sticking with me! Hopefully you don’t have design whiplash. #harhar
This was a big week…a week we thought would wrap up the Kitchen renovation, but we had a little hiccup. But considering it’s only the second one of this entire process, and can be easily remedied (with no additional cost!), I’m okay with it.
I came home last week, to find the new drawer fronts in place and the hardware installed. Squealing and jumping up and down ensued. The drawer pulls and knobs were even more gorgeous than I’d hoped. I mean, I know people always say they are the jewelery, the bling, the finishing touch of a room…but I hadn’t realized just how right they were, and how impactful they are to a finished space.
I wanted to stay true to the traditional bones of the Kitchen (well, except for the backsplash!), so we chose these cup pulls for the drawers, and these coordinating knobs for the doors. I’m cuckoo for the polished chrome…the perfect amount of shine, but still timeless. And the price was unbelievable! I was actually wary about them, given the price (I found them elsewhere for $14 each!), but the quality is all there, and the customer service top-notch.
This style, with the hidden mount, provides the clean look I wanted, but they did need to be counter-sunk in order for them to sit flush against the drawer front.#thankyourockstarcontractor
But once the dancing and clapping died-down, we looked closer and realized that the finish of the new drawer fronts didn’t jive with the older ones. The original doors and drawers were primed and sprayed over existing layers of varnish…so they had a smooth, almost factory finish.
The new drawers were custom made from new, unfinished wood…so even after priming and painting, the grain was still really evident. Normally that wouldn’t bother me much, but given the differences throughout the Kitchen, it really stood out.
So off came my pretty new hardware, and they
floated a thin layer of spackle over the grainiest areas of the wood to
give them a smoother finish.
They sanded that down, and are following up with a few more coats of
brushed-on paint. Fingers crossed that does the trick. But honestly at
this point, I don’t even care…the whole space is just so gorgeous, and
I’m pinching myself 20 times a day that I get to live here.
They also painted the window frame the same as the wall color (Sherwin Williams Repose Gray at 75%), and the trim white. Framing the narrow windows and adding marble sills really opened them up, and gave them so much more presence in the room.
The cabinet doors under the sink were also re-installed flush with the base. Remember the foofy inset they used to have?! These doors were re-purposed from the ones we removed over the old vent…such a big improvement for so little expense and effort!
So what’s left, besides repainting the new drawer fronts and re-attaching the hardware? Not a lot! The dishwasher needs to be correctly installed.
And I figured as long as we’re hemorrhaging money, might as well finish it out by replacing the faucet with something more in line with the new hardware. #can #not #wait
Obviously the pendants need some tweaking, too. But I bet you can’t even see where they patched the ceiling from the old lights, can you!? #geniusatwork
There are a handful of other small projects, but we’re thisclose to wrapping the renovation! She’s come a long way, baby! (See the Before shots here.)
P.S. I’m keeping a running list of questions that I hope to address in a single post once complete, so feel free to add any you have in the comments!
The color of your cabinets is gorgeous!
Yes Cassie, can you tell us the color of your cabinets? It's beautiful! Thanks!
Thanks guys…it's SW mindful gray!
Gorgeous and I totally get it with the grain showing through and you disliking it. I think it's a pet peeve of mine. Everything looks so good now.
things are coming together!! i'll be pinning those cabinet pulls/knobs for the future! xo jillian – cornflake dreams
I can't believe how amazing it looks and what a difference. The hardware is gorgeous, but I can't get over the backsplash and hood…absolutely fabulous!!
It looks amazing, Cassie!! I do have to ask, where is the rug in front of the sink from?! I love it!
I'd be pinching myself too, absolutely Gorgeous!
Love the jewelry !
(But I am so stealing that backsplash tile for my bathroom make-over.)
It looks awesome! Love the hardware! Where did you find the cute rug in front of the sink?
Thank you!! Rug is from Home Goods!
It's going to be a stunning kitchen!! You are right not to settle on mismatched drawers. You think they won't bother you….but they will eventually So smart to fix it now I love the bling! Not for any purpose other than looks….I'm thinking you could put some more bling on the fake drawer fronts under the sink. Maybe it doesn't need it? Whatever you do it will be beautiful. So fun watching you go on this journey in your new home.
It's coming along beautifully! I actually have a similar thing happening with kitchen cabinet doors but only in two tiny areas so I didn't bother skim coating. I totally know what you mean though. That backsplash…still…it knocks my socks off every time!
Love how your home is coming along. I mean, that backsplash is all kinds of fabulous!! xo
I'm just loving following along on this makeover journey! Y'all are lightening fast with the renovations! đŸ™‚ I love it all!
I love it all so much Cassie! Not surprisingly đŸ™‚ I most love that you went with a traditional kitchen but added some awesome personality and and and that it's not all white. Our cabinets were painted white when we bought the house and we've just repainted them a fresher white while we save for a big kitchen reno. I've always loved all white kitchens but they're starting to look so basic to me now. Love the greige and the badabing!
How did you decide on your tile? I love it, but I tend to feel overwhelmed when making that sort of choice/commitment!
I love how it's all coming together, and that hardware is the perfect touch. So fun!
It's looking so great! I LOVE the backsplash tile and the color of the cabinets– looks soo good! One thing I might add, that someone once pointed out regarding my own renovation, is if you would consider adding the cup pull hardware to the drawer fronts under the sink? Even though they might not open- once you notice it, almost looks like they are 'missing' there. Anyways, just a thought and keep up the great work, can't wait to see the before and after comparison! đŸ™‚
Gorgeous! All of it! Loved that old living room too but was having issues leaving a comment. Your blog was jumping all over. ;(
Seriously IN LOVE with this kitchen, and the colors. It came out awesome, hiccup and all! xo
Looks amazing! I would be squealing and pinching myself too. đŸ™‚
Oh Cassie! It's gorgeous! I have been dying to see the drawer fronts, and they look amazing!
P.S. I saw your contact paper/stencil tip in my Redbook magazine. So cool! Congrats on another publish!
http://www.designbyrobinsnest.blogspot.com
Oh yay!!! I didn't know it was out…thanks Robin!
I mean SO good! I want to renovate another house – but I'm not allowed so I will live vicariously through you!
Love the drawer pulls (totally finish off the room!) and the greige cabinets. It's so purrrrty!
What a great solution for the cabinet grain! I never would have thought to do that!
Looks so great..and so much bigger than the before pix. Loving those drawer pulls…might have to consider that to add a little something. My biggest issue in my kitchen right now is lighting….I've got to get that taken care of but so far I have failed at finding a rockstar contractor like yours!! So hard in our little town to find someone to come do stuff…they will show up to give an estimate and then you never hear from them again.
Cassie-I'm dying to know what kind of sink you installed…I love the color?
Hi Anon! We kept the original sink…it's white porcelain! It was pretty scratched up, but after scrubbing with a paste made of water and Bar Keepers Friend, it's brand new again!! xo
The cabinet hardware is beautiful. I love shiny chrome!