Let's Talk Paint & Paper

I've had some questions about colour choice and materials used in my kitchen redo so I'm going to jump right into some of the nuts and bolts of the job.

In the last post, I talked about turning a stock cupboard into open shelving.  My dear friend Mel, from Mellywoods Mansion, piped right up and asked if it was real beadboard. ~

The original plan was to have beadboard installed as a backsplash.  When finances dictated that I wait to install a new counter, I couldn't invest in having beadboard installed.  The new counter (whenever it appears) won't have a raised back and the job would have to be done all over again.

Instead, I went to this. ~

At $24 for a double roll, this stuff is amazing!  You really cannot tell it isn't the real thing.  There's a bit of a trick to applying it.  It's realism comes from it being a very puffy, 3D design.  If you apply pressure during application, it will pucker and the look is spoiled.  Even the seams can only be gently smoothed.

I've used this type of anaglyptic wallpaper to cover accoustic tile ceilings and, again, you have to be careful not to press it into the seams of the tiles.

I've had it on the kitchen ceiling for a few years and have painted it twice. ~

It covers a myriad of sins!  Too bad they don't make some of that for life.

Melly used the beadboard paper on her nursery closet doors.  Here it is behind the adorable night light she made for the babies. ~

I absolutely love the look of this paper!  I've painted mine the same colour as the walls, Benjamin Moore White Down CC-50.

The cabinets were washed with TSP and primed with Benjamin Moore Fresh Start.  I removed the doors to paint them but don't think I would bother another time.  If you do remove yours, remember to mark where they go.  I marked mine in the holes for the hardware. ~

The kitchen is situated between the black and white dining room and a family room that has a lot of brown in it.  To create a good flow in colour, I wanted a brown based grey.  My choice was Benjamin Moore Silver Fox 2108-50.  This is a true chameleon colour that responds to surrounding colour and light.  In my master bath, it looks very dark.

In this room is looks light grey.  You absolutely must try a sample of this in your room before making your decision! ~

I found a couple of great tools to help the painting process, especially on a job that is dragging along like this one!

This reusable paint can lid is a lifesaver! ~

Love the pour spout! ~

Beautitone has made a holder for the wet roller that has kept mine usable for 3 weeks.  I'm on a septic system and can't wash paint into it so rollers wind up being thrown out after a couple of days of keeping them in the fridge.  This is airtight and really, really works!

I'm sold on everything I've used in this project.  How often does that happen?

Now I'm on to the tricky job of replacing an 80's style pot light covered in a plexiglass shade thingy. ~

This I cannot fix with some paint and paper!!!

Changing A Cabinet To Open Shelving

Just taking the doors off didn't disguise that the cabinet over my shelf was stock cabinetry.  I wanted it to look like open shelving.

The first step was to carry the beadboard onto the back wall of the cabinet. ~

This covers up screws on the back of the cabinet.

I've removed the adjustable shelf and marked the holes where I want it to go with masking tape ~

I need to cover all the side holes and I chose vintage sheet music for my "wallpaper".  I sprayed the paper with Elmer spray adhesive and let it set for 5 mins.  This makes a temporary, instead of permanent, adhesion and I should be able to remove the sheet music with little difficulty.  If I wanted a more permanent glue, I'd attach it to the cabinet immediately after spraying. 

It's easy to find the holes for the plugs with the masking tape markers and pop the shelf back in. ~ 

Now, we've gone from this ~

To this ~

I use these pieces all the time and now they are on display.

I love this antique, ironstone jelly mould that I found in a thrift store for $6.99! ~

The sheet music echoes the colours of this early, black and white transferware plate with it's romantic Roman scene. ~

I admit my addiction to pitchers and cream jugs! ~

Restyling this cabinet is the only thing in this kitchen redo that has been quick and simple to do!  I used materials I had on hand and the cost of this project was zero.  Yay!!!

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I Officially Declare It Christmas Season!

Now, the Americans will be groaning because they haven't even done Thanksgiving yet.  But, we Canadians get all that out of the way early and move right on to Santa Claus parades, Sunday school pageants and parties.

As a family, we're dealing with increasing distances between our members and, with many having to make 2+ hour car rides to get there, we need to get the extended family together very early in the season.  My cousin's son and his dear wife offered to host as they have the most central location.

My sister, brother in law and I were headed to the big city.  It's not that easy for country folk, you know.  There I am, in full makeup and party clothes, under a barn coat and muck boots, chasing my chickens around and around the pen to herd them into bed early.  It's totally breaking my sister up that I have Gert tucked under one arm while I fight off an irate Charlotte, who doesn't appreciate the early curfew!  I get two chickens in the coop and three chickens run out!

Let's hit the road and see what's new in the world.

What the heck does this sign mean?  I've never seen it before. ~

I'm laughing my head off and saying, "What, we get fined $500 for eating spinach out of a can like Popeye?".  "Is this a Popeye restricted area?".  My sister says that is a good example of how I don't think like anyone else.  She's sure Popeye would not have entered anyone else's mind.  Come on, admit it, some of you thought of him!

Our hostess loves cardinals and her tree was beautifully done up in them! ~ 

I reworked my Elmo heads (not balls) for a Christmas theme and did Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer. ~

Baby sweetly said, "Hi, Rudolph" and then picked his nose off and ate it.  I'm a little concerned that she's so comfortable making friends with something and then consuming it.

Don't be fooled by this sweet baby face.  She'll eat you if she takes the notion! ~

For anyone who wasn't named Rudolph, a great time was had!  IT guys and hospital administrators, jockeys and singers, builders and artists, writers and martial artists, farmers and city folk, dogs and kids all came together with a common bond; FAMILY!

We'll travel as far as we have to share the season! ~

I hope this holiday starts as well for each and every one of you!

Faking The Breakfast Counter Top

The original plan for redecorating the kitchen included new counter tops.  The ceramic tiled breakfast counter, that was in the pass through from the dining room to kitchen, had been removed.  With finances putting the more elaborate plans on hold, I was scrambling for a way replace that section of counter, without committing myself to a surface that would dictate what I could install, when I am able to order new counter tops.

I'm fond of the look of aged zinc and thought I'd have a go at creating that look with paint.  I had a big box
store cut a piece of poplar to length.  Poplar is a little pricey, over $5 a foot but I needed wood that didn't have knots showing.  I was kind of surprised when it rang through at $3.12.  As we left the store, my girlfriend starting saying, "Start the car!  Start the car!".  Why was she doing an Ikea ad?  O'mgosh.  I was only charged for 6" of board!  An ethical person would have marched back inside and corrected the error, but I was not waiting in that line up again.  I hope this isn't doing something terrible to my karma and I have to come back as something weird to atone for it!

This is the ill gotten board set in place. ~

My BIL came over to show me how to counter sink screws with a little auger tool that goes on the end of the drill.  ~

 The next step was to create the look of rivets by hammering upholstery tacks in along the sides. ~

I brushed flat black paint on in different directions, leaving bits of wood showing through. ~

Now the paint layering begins.  I used a craft paint in rust, daubing it on with an old paintbrush where the wood was showing.  Then, I added a pewter coloured craft paint. ~

I'm going back and forth between a bit of sea sponge dipped in the rust and pewter and the old paint brush that is used to smoosh the edges of the daubs into the next colour. ~

It's important to take a creepy picture of your hand looking like a wrinkly crypt keeper's appendage!

Next, I need to add some shine in spots to create the look of metal.  I used Modern Masters craft paint in champagne and aged bronze and did the same daubing, smooshing technique. ~

At this point, I'm using my fingers along with the sponge and brush and smooshing my little heart out.

It all needs to be toned down a bit and I dipped my old brush in the black paint and used a newspaper to wipe most of the paint off the brush.  You want to go very lightly with this step, barely brushing across the whole board. ~

You could use this technique to create the look of marble, slate, granite;  anything you can dream up. They sell kits for around $100 that are really just the same thing with a sealer included.  I'm guessing the sealer is just some kind of epoxy.  I'll use a flat finish on this to keep it looking like aged zinc.  If I was going for granite, I'd use a shiny sealer.

This turned out really well and I seriously doubt anyone would realize it's not metal until they touched it.

Since I had all the paints in my craft stash, someone gave me the upholstery tacks and I ripped off a big box store for $15 on the poplar, the total cost for this part of the kitchen redo is $3.12. ~

Well, that and a very guilty conscience!

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Highway Of Heroes

In Canada, we honour our fallen military personnel by naming portions of the Trans Canada Highway in their honour. ~

If they fall in a foreign land, they are brought home to the Trenton Air base.  I was born on that air base.  Today, I listened to the serviceman who, for many years, had the job of escorting the hearse and the family members from that base, along a 170 k stretch of highway that has 50 bridges.  He said the families were grieving as expected, but each time they passed under a bridge, they smiled and waved and commented on the show of support for their loss and the ultimate sacrifice paid.

That's because with each fallen hero brought home to us, this happens. ~

photo courtesy of Spendthrift And Dreams

Not one hero passes along this highway alone!

Today, we give thanks to all the brave men and women who have risked their lives for our freedom.  We bow our heads in memory for those who gave their very lives for our freedom.  We think of the shattered lives and terrible struggles so many have suffered from the trauma of action.  We are grateful and humbled by  their selfless devotion to their homeland and the ideals we hold so dear.

My hero joined the Royal Canadian Airforce, by special letter of permission, at age 17.  He'd already lied about his age and enlisted at age 15 and was very close to being sent overseas before he was found out. By 18 he was stationed in Britain and was a tailgunner on Lancaster bombers.  He knew full well that there was no escape for tailgunners, should the plane be shot down.

When the war in Europe ended, he immediately signed up for the war in the Pacific.  He was sent home on a thirty day leave and, on the 29th. day, Japan surrendered.  He had done his duty and then some!

Thanks, Dad.  I'm so glad you did not return via the Highway Of Heroes.  I'm so glad you had the courage to stand up for your beliefs and I carry on your ardent support of our service people.

I'll always remember! ~

This press photo of my Aunt Molly, a decorated Canadian Nursing Sister, is taken in Flanders Fields.  These poppies are a beautiful symbol of remembrance and hope that someday no one needs us to greet them them as they make their silent journey down our Highway Of Heroes!

Budget Kitchen Redo - Part II

I can't wait any longer to show you this amazing transformation on the kitchen knobs!

The kitchen reno was scheduled for after my rental property sold.  Alas, that hasn't happened yet and it's sucking the financial life out of me!  Now, I'm scrambling to give the kitchen a new look the cheapest way possible.  If you missed Part I of how I got into this click here.

The original handles on the 1985 cabinetry disintegrated a couple of years ago and I replaced them with some chrome and porcelain knobs that were in a clearance bin for $1 each.  They were pretty boring but only intended for temporary use.  Now, I have to find a way to jazz them up.

I changed these into these! ~

The cost was zero and you won't believe how it's done!  I'd pinned this technique from a blog called Teal & Lime.  She has great ideas and you should pop over and check her out!

You are supposed to use a porcelain marker but she got the bright idea to use a regular Sharpie to colour the porcelain.  I gave the knobs a good scrub down and dried them off. ~

I had one Sharpie in the house and it was dark blue.  Cobalt blue is the colour I'm using for accents in the kitchen.

I coloured in the porcelain bits, moving in the same direction for all the strokes.  This is super simple to do and took all of about 10 minutes to do 17 knobs.  The ink will smear so try not to touch it until it has a couple of hours to dry.

After they have dried for a couple of hours, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and put the knobs in for 30 minutes. ~

  
They came out a perfect cobalt blue!  The metal isn't damaged from the oven heat and the ink is set enough to withstand the wear and tear of kitchen cupboard use.  ~

I love them!  They have a glossy sheen and pick up the light beautifully.  Although the camera seems to pick up the lines in the close up, you can't see them at all normally.  That may be because I used a dark colour. ~

Jackie, from Teal & Lime did hers in a Teal and treated the lines as part of the gemstone look. ~

This is such an awesome way to personalize those cheap, boring porcelain knobs!  Heck, you can do it with any ceramic that can take 30 mins. of 350 degree heat.  Dresser drawers will never be the same around here!

Cost for this part of the kitchen redo was ZERO!  Thanks, Jackie!

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Budget Kitchen Redo - Part I

All I wanted to do was hang a shelf!!!

I'm a sensible woman.  Well, at least I'm trying to be!  As an interior designer, I know how costly a kitchen reno is and my home being 200 years old guarantees that hidden issues will surface and the costs will escalate.

The cabinetry is circa 1985.  While most of the rooms in this house have been gutted and rebuilt over the years I've owned it, the kitchen still has old drywall over lathe and plaster.

I accepted that I could not get into this kind of major project but what harm can there be in removing an old, hideous, useless microwave shelf? ~

Face it, putting some cookbooks and mason jars up there isn't doing anything to pretty this up!  Even Maeve's kitty butt can't help with pretty here!  She liked the shelf as a perch to watch me wash dishes.

Off comes the shelf and I stare in horror at this! ~

 This is bad.  This is really bad!  Sooo - I figure I'll put on my pro decorator hat and a pair of work gloves and lets see how cheaply I can spruce this kitchen up.  I've hit blogs and Pinterest for ideas and techniques and I'm sharing this makeover in the hopes that you'll get some ideas for your own projects.  I'm keeping careful track of the costs and I think I'll come in under $200.

Of course, busting out the plaster and fixing the cracks and holes was the first order of business.

I picked up this shelf at a yard sale for $1.  Someone had stripped it and found it wasn't worth refinishing.  I wanted a place to display vintage tea tins that belonged to my Grandmother. ~

I painted swipes of different shades of blue on it and added a crackle medium before putting a final coat of Benjamin Moore 2108-50 Silver Fox.  That's the colour I am painting all the oak veneer cupboards.  I added some numbers in a cobalt blue craft paint and three, hand forged, antique hooks that I bought at a flea market for $4 each.  ~

The hooks display a little collection of vintage cream pitchers. ~

Now, hanging that shelf was another whole ballgame!  This house was built by a pioneer, in between pulling stumps and ploughing fields with a horse.  Nothing is standard and I couldn't find a stud to anchor the shelf.  My brother in law came to help and he brought some self drilling anchors and spent a good hour trying to get the shelf up.  I kept saying, "All I wanted was a shelf!  Can it really turn into such a big deal?".  He was saying ummm - nothing.

So two weeks into the shelf fiasco, it's finally hung.  The doors are removed from the cupboard above and the oak trim painted in the Silver Fox.  I'll leave this as an open cupboard and next post I'll show you how I dressed up the interior. ~  

Wanna see the before again? ~

And the after! ~

I'm putting a lot of man (okay, woman) hours into this kitchen but I'm actually having a ton of fun with sticking with my Thrift, Gift, Reworked & Found goal!  

Wait until you see how I reworked the hardware! 

I'm sharing this with Saturday Nite Special