Welcome to 2011...time to get back to it!
Happy New Year!
Yeah, I know, a few weeks late. But it’s 2011 and I want to have this place ready in the next few months to put it on the market, so I better stop dilly-dallying around and get productive!
Over the last couple of weekends I have jumped back into things again turning my kitchen into a war zone. It was time to get back to my stripping and prepping the cabinets.
I finally picked out the white for the cabinets. I would post of pic but its…white. Just slightly on the warmer side. But not cream. It’s called Right White * edit - correction - its Minimalist White * by CIL and it looks like this:
This picture does not really portray the white as off white but it is. Once I get everything painted and back and do my final pics I think it will become more obvious. So there is your reason to stay tuned!
So I went back to the stink that is paint stripper and back to my oh-so-sexy stripping costume – namely my bagging jeans, old t-shirt, rubber gloves and face mask.
I got the rest of the cabinets and drawers done. To switch it up I moved onto trim painting during the week.
I am amazed at what a little primer and paint can do to make cheapo faux wood grain trim look more expensive and sleek.
just slapped some primer on the kick-plate area...I only put white trim paint on the bottom strip of trim |
Throughout the week I managed to get the trim done and even moved on to getting the hinges painted silver. If you have hinges that are in decent condition and all you want is a colour change, break out the spray paint!
I put them all in a box
and spray painted them silver, at a cost savings of $2 a piece, times that by 16 doors and 2 hinges per door, you are looking at a close to $80 savings in the end. All that for a $4 can of spray paint.
and spray painted them silver, at a cost savings of $2 a piece, times that by 16 doors and 2 hinges per door, you are looking at a close to $80 savings in the end. All that for a $4 can of spray paint.
As I got into this past weekend it was time to give the cabinets a little clean to get off any stripper residue.
I don’t have a laundry tub so I had to set up in the kitchen and an old towel on the floor.
After drying I use some wood filler to plug up the old holes
Good product...very sandable |
10 pieces of different levels of grit for $2 |
This is not a lighting trick...the section on the far right is the part that was cleaned the rest on the left was in a grimy state of gray...eww |
Ah, The Dremel! If you don’t own one of these little lovelies you must proceed to the nearest wall and smack your head in to it as you are a fool and must knock some sense into yourself. It is such an easy tool to use and requires so little effort. It’s not overly noisy and not that heavy either. If you are doing any kind of reno work, do yourself a favour and go buy one. Yes. Right now!
I got the largest section of the cabinets done today…well I got to the point of primer. Looks so different to have such a light colour. The cabinets that once stuck out seem to now disappear into the wall. But that will all change once the red paint is up.
So that’s as far as I have gotten up to this point. Still so much to do. I have to finish stripping the rest of the cabinets (lower and a small cabinet above the stove), prime everything, paint the cabinets and paint the walls. Then have the joy of putting all the cabinets back up. Woo. Hoo.
On a side note I finally solved the problem of art in the living room area.
Ta-da! It’s a metal piece of artwork with a leaf pattern for only $25 at Winners. I like it because although it is a large piece it doesn’t seem to takeover the wall.
I am really, really trying to get my kitchen done for the end of January. With all of the hallway and upper bedrooms to repaint, I need to get this large project out of the way if I have a prayer of putting this place up by the spring.
So stay tuned…it’s going to be a crazy few months!
Oooohhh! Lovely update! Are you saying I should NOT paint my cabinets a dark brown? it seems to be the only color that goes with my beige walls, & red accent color. I am second guessing myself as the painting gets closer.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see the final pics!!!
Oh--Did I not mention how grateful I don't have to have a working kitchen while Im in reno? Wow. eating, cooking and cleaning in the midst of it--sucks!!
ReplyDeleteloooooking goood - and some great tips.
ReplyDeleteYou are making all kinds of headway and giving some great advice. I have an old home that also needs some "touching up."
ReplyDeleteAll you need now is some flannel and the beard.
@ xo - no, paint your cabinets brown. Just don't paint them like the former owners did with my kitchen...like they were on crack :-P
ReplyDelete@matt - a beard might scare the cats...and that's not good...never displease the cats!