Island living aint so purdy on my side of the tracks.
In fact, after unearthing our concrete floors I felt like the kitchen floor and island just kinda melted together in a big brown sludge.
I have been itchin’ to paint all the cabinets, and since painting cabinets is new to me I am starting small with just the kitchen island.
Here is the boring brown before:
First I added beadboard to give it some depth and create a lovely juxtaposition between the panels and flooring.
Know what I hate?
When home decorators overuse the word juxtaposition.
I had to entirely walk away from season five of Design Star because I just could not take it anymore.
No worries, I faithfully returned to season six.
Don’t you dare tell me who won! I am still catching up online.
Don’t you just love the white box challenge they do every season?
I think all DIY bloggers online should have to do a white box challenge. The room shaped boxes could just randomly show up on their driveways, and they have to hammer, paint, primp, and starve for forty-eight hours all whilst dueling to the death!!!
Maybe not to the death.
But something just as entertaining.
Anywho, to apply beadboard you need to:
1. Glue
2.Nail
Do not skip #1, and do not skip #2. You gotta do both.
Whatcha don’t gotta do, is use as much glue as I did. Got a little carried away there…
If you buy the white beadboard, it’s already primed and ready to paint.
If you buy the brown beadboard and intend to paint it just to save two dollars you are crazy and not welcome here.
If you buy the brown beadboard and intend to stain it like it’s 1987, well then I don’t even know why we are friends.
Here’s how the island looks after some fresh paint:
I don’t have a name for the color. I went to Home Depot and was feeling saucy and challenged the paint expert.
I bet you guys can’t match spray paint colors, cause you know, it ‘s a different kind of paint and all that stuff!
Yes we can.
Oh yeah? Well then match this random can called almond!
Um. Okay.
So they made a gallon that matched perfectly, and then I realize on moral grounds I should probably buy the paint.
FYI: I did prime before I painted.
Here’s the island with the infamous red stool that Lily spends more time on then I do working on projects in this ‘ol house.
Most of the time she climbs up, takes one bite out of every piece of fruit in the fruit bowl, flips me off with her middle finger, and then walks away.
Okay, she doesn’t flip me off. But she does glare at me, and by golly it’s just as scary.
That’s it!
Cabinets are next!
If I can muster up enough courage!
And find the time!
And survive my three year old!
Why am I so excited about all of this!?!
Oh, sorry.
Sugar rush from finishing off twelve pieces of half eaten fruit in the fruit bowl.
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at 7:29 am
You Rock!
Love the island! I painted my island last fall and have spent the last 4-5 months since then working up the courage to paint the rest of the cabinets. It sucks.
at 9:11 am
Looks so fabulous!
at 7:06 pm
Your comments about saving 2 bucks with the brown paneling were cracking me up. Too funny and SOOOO true! Your island looks great!
jenn recently posted..playing catch up – again
at 6:35 am
Hi Natalie, really liked what you’ve done with your island. How much did it cost to do including all materials and paint? and how much would you say to do the rest of the kitchen as you want? I’m in a similar situation and would like to spruce up my kitchen without spending too much money.
Beth recently posted..Tips To Get Him Back When You Pushed Him Away
at 7:30 am
Hi Beth! The beadboard was around $20, and the quart of paint was $12. I also used a quart of primer that cost around $10. I used the same hardware and I already had painters tape. If you want to tackle your whole kitchen you would obviously need more than a quart of paint.