Friday, August 17, 2007

My Constantly Evolving Kitchen

Last spring I painted my kitchen. Uh wait. No that'd be 2006. Man time flies. I didn't realize it'd been that long since my kitchen started seeking it's own identity. Well, let me back up a little. The summer before that I'd replaced the floor with a beautiful ceramic tile. I'd fallen in love with the tile even though it didn't really work with the rest of the decor. The color was very rich. Bold and dramatic. My kitchen was more of a cottage style at the time. It had white painted cabinets with stenciled flowers along the edges, sage green sponge painted walls and an ivy border around the top. I can't believe I'm not finding any pics of it saved on my computer so you'll just have to use your imagination. But here's the floor. The pic doesn't do it justice. It's a great mix of mauves, pinks, burgundys, etc. My favorite colors are pink and green (which you regular readers probably already know). So I thought the floor was pink enough to work. Nope. Too dark. I didn't like it. So I decided to paint the cabinets and walls. The first bright idea I had was to paint the cabinets the same color as my couch. Olive green. It was awful. It looked like a row of army footlockers in there. Unfortunately, I didn't realize it until I was finished painting. Well, I kinda did. But I've learned some valuable painting lessons with this project. If it looks bad in the beginning.... it's not gonna get better even if you continue painting. The green didn't even last long enough for me to think to take a pic.

So I took a piece of tile to the paint store and picked something in that color family. It's called sun dried tomato. Looks kinda burgundy, I guess. I loved the new cabinet color. Replaced the hardware, too. But that meant I now had to paint the walls. So I stuck with the pink and green obsession. Tried a green. It looked like pea soup. Luckily, I was a littler wiser now and only did a big patch on the wall before I realized it was hideous. Then I picked a mauve pink color. I thought it was okay. The different shades of pinks and burgundys seemed to work. So I lived with it for awhile. But something just seemed off. So I put an ivy border back up. Nope that wasn't it. Still didn't feel right. So I painted the trim the pea soup green. Hey, I had a whole frickin' can of it. Plus I forgot the rule that if it looks bad... it ain't getting better. I guess I thought I needed ALL the trim pea soup green to fairly judge if it was right. Another error in judgement. As you can see by the pic, the trim was quickly painted white again. One day it hit me. Yellow. Now this is not a normal color choice for me. I'm a loyal pink and green girl. But I thought yellow against those cabinets would really make them pop.
But once it was finished, it just seemed too light. I knew I was heading in the right direction with the yellow though. But I was going for something more golden to pick up the colors in the curtains. They're sage green with some gold, burgundy and pink. I still had half a can of paint left so I went back to the paint store and had them darken what was left two shades down on the color strip. At this point, I'm really sick of painting. But here was my idea. How about a color wash? That'd give the walls some drama, darken them, and be much quicker and easier. So I grabbed an old bowl and ripped up an old tee shirt. One part paint. Two parts water. A pair of rubber gloves.
Instant difference. I couldn't contain my excitement. My goddess! I think I've finally figured it out! It was so easy. Just rub it on the walls. Took about an hour and I didn't even have to tape anything up.
Here's a more obvious pic of the change. You can't tell by the photo but this wash looks awesome on the walls. It's a great dramatic effect. Made them look old. Very Tuscan. So I guess my kitchen wanted to be Tuscan or Mediterranean, huh? It decided on it's own. I never envisioned this. It just kind of happened. But I love it. It's still not quite finished. Still working out some new accessories. All the pink and green just doesn't work anymore so I'm buying new stuff. And trying to figure out the perfect border for the top. I'm thinking some wall words. But probably just on one wall. I'll update the pics when it's finally complete.

29 comments:

JoAnn in NJ said...

Hi Krista!
Love the new colors in the kitchen. I might suggest a true tuscan theme with some olive green, golds and reds of tuscany. You can usually find cool things for kitchens in either homegoods or linens n things. Williams Sonoma is good for ideas..but a bit pricey.

If you run with the tuscan theme, how about an italian phrase on the wall?

Take care!
JoAnn in NJ

Angela said...

Love that tile!!! We moved into our house almost a year ago, and we promised to be finished with all the updating by this time, but I hate to say we've barely begun! That's why I have posted no picture of my home on the blog, but hopefully soon I'll be tearing up my kitchen! I am currently painting my sewing/crafts/cats room, and will be putting down a new floor, and painting murals on the walls of the playroom, so maybe I'll post pics of them when they're done.
Love your color choices, I was thinking gold before scrolling down to see the final photo! Love it!

Anonymous said...

I love all of the colors but the darker yellow in the last picture is my favorite! You definitely put a lot of hard work into your kitchen and it shows!! I love it!

Middle-Aged Moi said...

I love that darker yellow too! It REALLY goes with the colour of the cabinets!!! Beautiful!!!!

wzgirl said...

Girl, you are genius!

dawn said...

Love it. When you are done can you come down here and do our walls to?

OziMum said...

That reminds me, I need to do something about my bathroom!

Great job! Love your floor tiles!

Catherine said...

Oh! Really pretty! Looking forward to seeing the finished project!

TBG Happenings said...

Looking good!! Love the bolder yellow.

Have a great weekend

t~ said...

Sounds like you and I have been up to the same thing!

I love the yellow, it's as feminine as I can muster up in this house. Can you imagine if I painted our kitchen pink? Ha, I laugh just thinking about my family's reaction!

Joannah said...

I love that yellow. It's very close to the yellow in my bedroom. It's such a cheery color! :-)

Calico Sky said...

You crack me up! That has to be the kitchen with the most color changes - heck it could be starting a new trend!

Looks lovely!

Elise said...

I love it!!!! Of course my whole house is painted a warm yellow and red is my favorite color:)

Mamacita said...

Its our perogative, nay, DUTY, to change our minds!

Susie said...

The new color looks great. My you are a patient woman to paint and repaint. It's worth it in the end to be happy with it though. You go girl!

Kim said...

I love it..
Looks great..
Can you come and redo my kitchen???
HAHA

Have a Great Weekend.
Kim

Debbie said...

Looks great!!! I love yellow as a paint color. My fav is lime green, don't think I'll be painting anything green in my house LOL!!

munchkinsmom said...

Well I must say "great job". At least you are on a mission whereas my dear husband famous line is "it will get done"...hmmm

I like the off yellow more than the pink. I can't wait for the result. If it is done, can I hire you and come to Southern California and redo my kitchen.

redmaryjanes said...

I love the floor. I can't wait to see what it looks like when you are all finished!

Kelli said...

Ooh! That yellow was JUST what it needed! I love it with the yellow walls! And my goodness you have done one heck of a lot of painting!!!

Colleen said...

LOVING the kitchen. Looks so good. I must say this.....you've been hanging out with Connie too much. LOL!

Headmeister said...

Holy shmoley - I love it! Of course I'm a girl who loves color - just ask my lime green kitchen...lol. But the yellow is just PERFECT in there...

Daniella said...

LOVE it - you did a great job. I love yellow - that is what color Mimi's room is.

kitchu said...

You define persistence paying off!!
Looks amazing, love how rich that final color is.

Anonymous said...

You paint with bracelets on??? You truly are one styln' chick! PS-Ask your Aunt Edie about her avacado green kitchen from Brighton Road. She can relate to "That color didn't work. Now what color should I try?"

Norma said...

Yellow isn't my color either, but I must say it really works in there! I'm a pink girl, too, (Bethany's room - when she has one! - will be pink and chocolate) but I LOVE my blue and white kitchen. White trim - I love it with any color of wall and even my carpenter brother agrees that it goes with more wall colors than oak trim. I like the saying above the door - where did you get the Chinese character print that you have on the wall?

C's Mom said...

I LOVE the wash on the walls. It will be stunningly offset by those new granite countertops ;0)

Robin said...

I agree with the tuscan theme. Of course, I'm partial since that is what I was going for in my kitchen. LOVE that yellow and sundried tomato coloring!!! So warm and inviting! You go girl!

Carla said...

I told you I liked the yellow, and you just couldn't leave it at that, huh? Guess I'll have to see this new look IRL to form an honest opinion. Here's a thought though, GET RID OF THAT DAMN PINK WALL IN THE LIVING ROOM!