My Kitchen Transformation
From this:
To this:
My kitchen is still a work in progress. Those awful roosters have been gone for almost a year, remnants from the previous homeowners who somehow convinced themselves that wallpaper appliqués of roosters on the kitchen cupboards would be “nifty”.
We knew when we bought the house three years ago that the roosters had to go. They were, in fact, the first thing I intended to change when we moved in, the second being replacements for the discount window blinds that, like the paint, quickly grew intolerably grimy in a kitchen where someone actually cooks.
That green paint bothered me, too. Oh, I love the color green, but not that particular shade which was really closer to an acid green than an apple, and neither springy nor a color one wants to deal with while, say, suffering a hangover.
Unfortunately, I am a master at putting off work someone else could do tomorrow that I’d otherwise have to do myself today. So I’ve whined and complained about the kitchen’s dingy walls and cupboards, I’ve prattled on about the cheap blinds which had turned more yellow than white and defied all of my efforts to degrease them. I’ve moaned and blitched and otherwise attempted to inspire VH into doing something about our kitchen if only to shut me up.
This weekend, he got the message. Our kitchen is now a sunny shade called “Buttercream” by Behr, and as you can see from the view out my kitchen windows, we’re in need of a dose of sunny and cheery this time of year. Even as I type this he’s painting the kitchen cupboards a nice shade of “Linen” (also by Behr) and finally purging our home of the last traces of that hideous acid green.
The rest of the transformation is, unfortunately, up to me and as I’ve said I’m excellent at putting things off. See, it’s my job to find just the right window blinds or curtains, and I’m having a heck of a time making up my mind. I’m hesitant to get vinyl or wood ones since they tend to attract dust and, particularly in a kitchen, greasy grime that just won’t come off no matter diligent you clean them.
So I got to thinking perhaps curtains are the answer. That way I can simply throw them in the washing machine whenever they start looking dingy or dull. But that just means even more decision-making, which I’m not terribly good at. After all, it took me three solid years to decide on what color to replace that green with, so how can I be expected to pick out window treatments in one short weekend?
I’m thinking I might go with a dash of color, though. Something homey and down-to-earth, something that adds a touch of whimsy and helps bring focus to the room. You know, maybe like a pattern with roosters or something?
Don’t worry, I’m just kidding, folks.
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I’m conflicted. I like the green but not the roosters.
All in all, it looks great.
The roosters were truly beyond awful, particularly because some — which aren’t in that photo — had a brick red border around them that seriously clashed with the green. (shudder)
Have you considered doing something to the window glass, and having no blinds or curtains? There is everything from a frosted type glass to stained glass patterns that can be applied to the glass. My niece in Florida has reflective window coatings that you can see out clearly, but is mirrored from the outside. All can just be wiped down to clean.
I have seen some of this stuff at the home centers around here.
It sounds like you might want to see what it costs to have someone else apply it though …
I’m a procrastinator too.
That sounds like a really great idea, Sue! I’m due to run to Home Depot (and maybe Lowe’s) tomorrow to buy new hardware for the cupboards and drawers. I’ll see if they’ve got what you’re talking about in stock.
Thanks for the tip!
Love the new yellow! much better than the green!
kimsch’s last blog post..Lost in 2007
I really love it, too. I’ll post new pics once the cupboards are done. Right now they’re all torn apart so we can repaint the doors and the kitchen smells like paint thinner. Phew!
Now you just need to talk VH into matching appliances… New Microwave/vent, stove, you need white or stainless now…
I have a stainless and black stove and a black fridge…
kimsch’s last blog post..Lost in 2007
What kimsch said helped me formulate my thoughts: the black stove somehow… looms dark in such a light, airy kitchen. Thank goodness the roosters are gone, though. Good job, VH!
See the roosters make sense if you’ve got the commemorative elvis plates to really set them off correctly.
I agree the black appliances do stand out too much, but getting VH to replace anything just on looks alone isn’t going to happen.
Now, I can’t be blamed if little fairies sneak into the kitchen in the middle of the night and somehow fuse together all the wiring in the thing.
Anyone know some sneaky little fairies?