Stacks and Flats... and All the Pretty Things...: harlequin pattern

August 22, 2011

White Cabinets To...White Cabinets and my Snazzy Pantry Door

If you follow me on Facebook, you know I've been in the middle of the ever frustrating painting-cabinet-door project.

I think the most frustrating thing about it, along with the tedious amounts of screws involved (I mean, really?) is the fact that I was painting my white cabinets, well, white.

Here's my kitchen as of a week ago...

So, it's not the worst as far as kitchens go.

I mean, I could do without the blond laminate counters but I deal, you know?

The only 'updates' we've done to this part of the house is adding a valance above the window and some decor items like my utensil containers and backsplash canvases.

Other than that, it was just painting the horrendous lavender it orginally was to the pretty blue.

And the wood floors, which the whole house got.

But those poor, grimy cabinets.

Seriously in sad shape.

I can't do a whole lot about the fact that they're like sixty years old and won't shut anymore.

Well, I could but that would either involve major stripping of like eight coats of paint or new doors.

Neither of which I can do right now.

So I got out some new, scrubbable (that's the key!) Valspar paint and got to work.

I also decided to give the horrible gold hardware a makeover too.

Ick. Gold.

Our house is swallowed in it.

I did the kitchen in sections because it was just less overwhelming that way.

Plus hubby brings his small drill home from work for me in the evenings and it's way easier on my wrist than the hunk of a drill we have at home.

So I would take all the hinges and pulls off in the evening and paint the next day.

Here it is mid-project...

you can see it a lot better in person but the cabinets on the left have been painted.

Can you tell the difference between the yellowed, gross ones on the right?

And the much more beautiful oil rubbed bronze pulls on the left...

It definitely took quite a bit of work...

my back and wrists are not thanking me.

Plus it's kind of discouraging to be painting them the same color...

not a huge, dramatic change.

But the end was TOTALLY worth it.

Check out some before and afters...

Before

(can you say yuck?)

After

It's subtle, but it's a big difference to us!

Before

After

I usually always use Krylon's ORB paint, but I had a can of Rustoleum's and decided to try it instead.

I have to say, I'm a big fan and think I'll be using it in the future rather than Krylon!

Although Krylon's price is better, it's more black than ORB.

Rustoleum's ORB definitely came out that pretty speckled color :)

And we can't forget the pantry door because it's definitely my favorite part!!

We have bifold doors everywhere and, not only do they hate me, but they're just plain boring.

So after painting the whole thing in the same white paint,

I decided to add a little pop of pattern and color.

Because even pantry doors deserve to be interesting...

I added an Anthropologie knob I had to it,

but I'm not sold on that yet.

We'll see...

And whenever I get tired of it,

I can just paint right over it.

The beauty of paint, huh?

So what do you think?

Worth the time and heat to 'clean it up' a bit??

I'm loving our oil-rubbed bronze hardware now.

I don't have to cringe every time I see the gold anymore :)

(PS- check out my Facebook page to see some fun thrift finds I got today!!)

Linking to:

Show Me What Ya Got @ Not Just a Housewife

Whatever Goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts

Under 100$ @ Beyond the Picket Fence

Hookin up with HOH @ House of Hepworths

Catch a Glimpse @ A Glimpse Inside
Everything but the Kitchen Sink @ A Little Knick Knack
Remodoholics Anonymous @ Remodoholic
Amaze Me Monday @ Dittle Dattle
Craftomaniac Monday @ Craftomaniac
Show us your kitchens @ Thrifty Decor Chick

July 21, 2011

Yellow Harlequin Table

Remember when I showed you my little sneak peek of a new piece I did?

Well can you believe that glimpse was of this little table?

I know, right?

This thing was just downright ugly.

But I loved the details on it.

And it's such a cute size.

And bonus, because it was only eight dollars from Goodwill :)

I've had it for almost a year...

but it immediately got put to use in the garage holding spraypaint.

Not it's intended purpose but it worked.

And got grimier :/

Let me tell ya,

this thing did NOT want to get painted.

It's actually all laminate- and those doors were a pain!!

First I scrubbed the whole thing out...

then it got three good coats of an oops Sherwin Williams yellow I had.

If I had not run out of primer, this would have gone a lot easier.

But it still would have taken several coats.

I gave the inside a whitewash in some white oil-based paint.

Oil based paint may be a messy thing to paint with, but it sure sticks around.

It keeps scratches away like a boss!

Which is good inside a cabinet :)

Here's the little cutie after two coats:

I decided the top needed a little extra sumthin-sumthin so I sketched out a harlequin pattern.

Super easy!

Just fold a piece of paper in half and cut a triangle.

Unfold and you have a perfect diamond shape.

Use that to trace around so you get your pattern.

I just lightly traced with a pencil.

Then I went in with my antique white acrylic paint and a small slanted brush,

and filled it in.

It might have taken a little bit of time but it wasn't hard and it made such a big impact on this piece.

I took some antiquing glaze to the whole thing-

it made the crevices all pop out.

And let me tell you- in 100 degree weather, you need to brush on and wipe off one right after the other.

It dries like crazy.

Ugh Arkansas humid heat.

I love the pattern on top :)

Little man had to pose with it cuz he's such a ham right now!

I kept the amazing handles their orginal color- I loved the antique dark brass.

It went perfect with the piece.

Isn't she so much lovelier now?

These little pieces are just as big a feat as larger pieces right now in this heat.

Hubby set up a small fan for me in the garage and that keeps me from literally melting away.

Because apparantly I'm crazy and can't help myself from still painting when the sun is trying to destroy us :)

This picture gives you a better idea of it's size- it's a perfectly sized table to fit in those little nooks.

And I'm just so in love with yellow right now...this piece just makes me happy :)

Can you believe how much of a different a little bit of paint made?

And here it is in it's new home...

right behind hubby's recliner.

It's the perfect place to store extra decor items-

I think it's currently holding candles, extra frames and some of little man's toys.

I love it with the blue wall behind it...

and the vases were the perfect addition.

Which is why they settled here rather than the craft room.

What do you think?

Does it make you happy too?

On another note...

my little fur babies love sitting outside while I paint.

I don't know what they'll do next week when I'm gone.

They won't know what to do with themselves :)

(top to bottom: Ellie, Hobby & Ella)

*Tomorrow is the last day to enter my summer giveaway and the last day to send in your code if you want to guestpost for me next week!! I'd love to have you!!*

Linking to:

Tickled Pink @ 504 Main

Simply Creations @ Simple Home Life

Remodoholics Anonymous @ Remodoholic

Furniture Feature Friday @ Miss Mustard Seed

Everything but the Kitchen Sink @ A Little Knick Knack

Creatively You @ The Creative Crate

Weekend Wrapup Party @ Tatertots and Jello

Feature Friday @ Spunky Junky

Get Your Craft On @ Today's Creative Blog