Kitchen Debut

It's not quite finished. It may never be; that's how DIY goes. But the kitchen finally has a backsplash and undercabinet lights (thought they aren't wired to the switch yet). So why should the lack of a few cabinet doors hold up the big reveal? I love the convenience of the open shelves, so I'm in no hurry to buy and paint and hang new Shaker style doors. That is the plan, though, so it may happen eventually. In the meantime, perhaps some pretty containers and baskets will mask my cabinet clutter.

I must give plenty of credit to Jeff. This is our third house to renovate/restore, and it wouldn't be possible without my amazing husband. While I have the opportunity to be a stay-at-home wife and pursue my old house passion, Jeff is a busy professor building his career and trying to earn tenure at the university. So the fact that he uses his weekends and semester breaks to do a lot of the heavy lifting makes him deserving of an A+ in my book! He gives me plenty of leeway to dream and design and only occasionally pricks my bubble with a practical reality or two. Plus, he always lovingly checks my hands when he gets home to make sure I haven't lost a digit to the miter saw or jigsaw or whatever power tool I'm using that day!

Before purchase (the previous resident left it trashed):

After:

Breakfast bar:

Seedbox windowseat:

Sink view before and after:

Range view before and after:

Dishwasher view before and after:

Fridge view before and after:

Floor (after stripping three layers of vinyl tile and lino; and after sanding and Waterlox); and yes, the color does seem to match DaVinci!

In case anyone is interested, here are the details:

- Cabinets: original frames, painted BM Vellum with ADVANCE paint (new doors to be purchased later); two extra base cabinets added from salvage store

- Counters: Formica Basalt Slate

- Backsplash: beadboard panels from Home Depot painted BM Linen White

- Sink: Ikea Domsjo double basin sink

- Faucet: Kraus 1602 Pre-Rinse Commercial faucet

- Pulls: Belwith Studio pulls (discontinued Venetian Bronze finish from eBay, spray painted in Rustoleum Carbon Mist)

- Island: clearance JCPenney foyer table, topped with butcherblock remnant

- Lighting: 4 light chandelier from Overstock; undercabinet waterproof LED strip lights (SMD5050) from HitLights

- Paint: BM Bennington Gray walls, BM Linen White trim and ceiling

- Floors: original quartersawn heart pine floors; sanded and finished with four coats of Original Waterlox

- Windowseat: original 1920's seed box found in the attic and restored

- Breakfast bar: Ikea EKBY desk (added brackets and painted everything BM Vellum), with JCPenney clearance saddle stools

- Total budget: $2500

The appliances are all slightly older models I bought used on Craigslist. There is a Thermador 30" dual fuel range (and matching venthood, not yet installed); SubZero 700 series fridge; and a set of Kitchenaid dishdrawers.