Well, it's been almost 11 months since we moved in and we finally have our kitchen pretty much finished! We did it in two parts - (you can read about
part one, which included replacing the appliances, painting the trim and cabinetry and removing that upper cabinet that awkwardly broke up the space) we did that pretty much as soon as we moved in and then we saved back up for part two which finally got finished up last weekend! Part two covered replacing the counters, adding a farmhouse sink and new faucet and adding a backsplash. We still have a few minor projects left in here - we'd like to get rid of the flush mount in the middle of the room and add several recessed lights, then we plan on moving the island and using it possibly out on the porch, and I am going to attempt to build a piece of furniture that we can store all the items that now are on our island and also our microwave and put that where the bench currently is. And then we will leave the center of the kitchen open. Personally I really like having the island there but I think just about everyone else thinks it's easier to manuever when it's not there so I am going to concede this one. =( And then I need to paint the back of the pantry doors and update the pantry in general and then that should be it for the kitchen! YAY!!!!!!
So, except for those little details listed above we are pretty much done! Here are several before and afters:
Yes, I know a lot of people will think we are crazy but we went with marble. We chose the honed option to help hide the issues with etching and also had the installers add a stain blocker that is supposed to guarantee to keep it stain free for the next 15 years. I have to say I absolutely LOVE it so far. I read and read and read just about everything I could find on it and pretty much everyone has a different opinion on it. I think it really just has to do with your personality. Although I am really particular about everything always being tidy and in it's place, things like marks, scrapes and dings don't bother me at all. I think those things just make a home feel loved and lived in. So for me I felt comfortable choosing marble. If anything changes with that though I will definitely post an update.
Along with the marble I knew I really wanted to add a farmhouse sink. We were originally told by the people installing our marble that we couldn't add a farmhouse sink to our existing cabinetry. I knew that couldn't be true to we pursued it a little more and were able to find a wonderful contractor name Jim McKenzie from McKenzie Restoration. He was able to install the farmhouse sink and I am so thrilled with it. He also did the subway tile backsplash. I was really torn on the backsplash. I love the look of basic white subway tile but I felt like I was seeing it everywhere so I kept trying to talk myself out of it. In the end though, I knew that I loved it and decided to just stick with it and I am so glad I did. Even though it might have been a little more interesting to have gone with something else, I love the simple and timeless look of subway tile. And then the final addition was a new faucet. I knew the look I wanted but had a hard time finding one that wasn't quite pricey. I ended up running across one on Wayfair though that was a much better price than most of the ones I liked so decided to go for it and I really love it.
Sorry - the only before shot I have of this angle was from moving day which obviously make the before worse. =)
We had the counters extend over the peninsula so that we could add some stools. Eventually I would like to add some with a back (I have some that I like so might be asking for them for Christmas) but for now these inexpensive Target ones work well. Lillie especially loves being able to sit up at the counter. And the menu chalkboard is a new item we are making for our shop. We hope to have our first batch ready at the end of the week.
All the pink makes the kitchen look a little more feminine than I intended but it's hard to pass up such beautiful peonies that were blooming in our yard!
One question we get asked quite a bit is how this room looks compared to the rest of the house seeing how we painted the trim in the rest of the house white but painted the trim in the kitchen gray. We were able to do this because the kitchen is relatively separate from the rest of the house so you really don't see both trim colors anywhere at once. I am not sure I would have dared do the kitchen differently if it weren't for the way our house is laid out. This hallway is pretty much the only view where you see the kitchen trim and the white trim.
Well, that's it for this post! I also have some updated photos of the table and the other side of the room that I will share once I finish going through them all.
Source List:
(as you can see many of the accessories were gifts and were purchased quite a few years ago but I did try to include pretty much everything)
Cabinet and Trim Color- London Fog in Semi-Gloss by Benjamin Moore
Wall Color- was here but very similar to Simply White in Matte
All appliances are Whirlpool and were purchased at Lowe's during their Memorial Day Sale
Hood - Custom Built
Farmhouse Sink - Signature Hardware
Faucet -
Wayfair
Backsplash - purchased from McKenzie Restoration (but just basic white subway tile that can be purchased pretty much anywhere)
Counters - Honed Carrara Marble
Hardware - Lowes (not sure what the knobs were but just found the packaging from the cup pulls last night - they were marked Brainerd and the color is Wrought Iron)
Runner - Gift from my mom (from Home Decorator's Collection)
Counter Height Stools - Target
Bottle Holder - HomeGoods
Menu Chalkboard - Dear Lillie (for sale in our shop coming very soon!)
Flush Mount Drum Shade Fixture - Lowe's
Pendants - These were a hand-me-down from my mom and they worked perfectly in here (originally from Bellacor)
Metal Island Cart - IKEA
Circular Mirror - gift from my sister, Dana (from Antique Farmhouse)
Metal Baskets - Joss and Main
Jug on Rolling Cart Island - White Home Collection in Wilton, NH
Bowl on Rolling Cart Island - Wedding Gift
Dishes - Emma Collection from Pottery Barn (wedding gifts)
Dishes - Mikasa
Chocolate Cups and Saucers - gift from my sister, Jamie (from
L. A. Burdick)
Canisters - wedding gift - Williams-Sonoma
Vase on Stove - IKEA
Vase under Menu Chalkboard - Target
Three-Tiered Display Piece with buckets - gift from my mom (from Mothology)
Vase next to wire basket - gift from my mother-in-law from Spring Mill in Indiana
Marble Rolling Pin and Board - gift from my mother-in-law (from Sur La Table)
Table - Pier 1 years ago and has since been painted in French Linen from
Lady Butterbug
X Back Dining Chairs - IKEA
Slipcovered Dining Chairs - IKEA
Oversized Chalkboard - made by me, you can read more about it
here
Bench - made by me, you can read more about it
here, and a tutorial
here
Sectional - IKEA
Chevron Picture Frames - tutorial
here
Pillows - Home Goods, Target, Dear Lillie
Tufted Chairs - TJMaxx
Script Chairs - TJMaxx
Painted Cabinet - makeover
here
TV Console - Antique shop in Camden, SC
Frames above chairs - tutorial
here
Striped Roman Shade in Window above Sink - made by me, you can read more about it
here.
Drapery Panels - IKEA Ritva Panels
Drapery Rods - Lowe's
Sconces - RH Baby and Child
Mirror - gift from my mom (Restoration Hardware)
Rocking Horse - gift from my mom (from RH Baby and Child)
Urns on Fireplace - Seasons in Williamsburg (years ago on clearance)
I hope you all have a fabulous Wednesday!
