Kitchen Cabinet Makeover

I have been getting a lot of requests to see the before and after photos of my kitchen cabinet makeover. We still aren't done with the overall kitchen project. We still need to put tile under the cabinets and pick a new paint color. I am leaning towards a darker sage color but I want to pick the tiles first. You might not notice much of a difference in the photos, but let me tell you that in person, it is a world of difference. I never liked the pink tinge of the maple frost cabinets from the day we bought the house. I was hoping that by putting granite counter tops in would help but I still saw the tinge. Now it just seems warmer and more inviting. I also wanted more of an "old world" look on a budget so you will see a lot of trim work that I put up to bring in that feel.

In the before images, the painter had already taken the doors over the refrigerator and under the sink so he could show me samples of what the glazing would look like. I was horrified when he showed me the fisrt sample. The door was glazed over the entire surface and I had only wanted glaze in the grooves. It was just a bit of miscommunication. I told him in this instance, even though I love shabby chic, that was not the look I was going for. The before pictures were taken at night and the after ones during the day, so the lighting is a bit different. You can click on any of the pictures for a closer look.


BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

This was a cabinet we had custom built to match the kitchen cabinets. It is more in the dinning area and I wanted to pull the two room together yet distinguish each of them since it is really one very large area. The carpet is the great room.

AFTER

We added the crown molding at the top and the trim work on both sides.

BEFORE

This cabinet looks odd because the counter was originally in an "L" shape when we bought the house with Formica counter top. We took the "L" shape off and turned the cabinets into the island. We had maple trim made to match so we could "beef" up the island to make it look like it wasn't just a set of cabinets plopped in the middle of the kitchen. This cabinet actually was the corner of the "L" and faced the small rug so you could get at it from the dinning area. We just turned it sideways to become part of the kitchen. Luckily it had a maple frost side.

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

This is one of my favorite parts of the kitchen. I love how the glaze took to the emblems we put on the pantry doors and the long drawer. I was a bit worried to add something to the upper two cabinets, thinking it might be too much, but the painter left us the paint and glaze and showed me how to do it if I ever change my mind. The DH and I glued all the ornament pieces and trim on ourselves before the doors were spayed.


BEFORE

AFTER

This is the island after we added a bit more trim work to fancy it up a bit. Everyone thought I was crazy when I said we were painting the cabinets cream and the island black. Even my daughter had to admit "mom was right once again". I just adore it and it looks even better with the pendant lights hanging over it. We added those after the painting was done and pictures had already been taken. I will include those when I reveal the finished makeover.


BEFORE

AFTER (from the other end)

So that's my kitchen so far. I am not in as much of a hurry for the tile and paint only because I am enjoying the transformation that has already taken place. Once this settles in, I will head to the tile store for some more brain aching decisions.

~Have fun and enjoy!