A couple of months ago my oven packed up. I'd known it was on it's last legs as it was practically an antique but even so managing without it wasn't a pleasant prospect. We did manage to replace it within a week but of course the new one was a different size and needed fitting in such a way that the old oven housing had to be demolished. Well, one thing led to another and soon we were renovating the whole kitchen.
So the last few months here have been a bit dusty but at last there is something to show for all of the effort and upheaval. We managed to do it all on a very tight budget - we left all of the fitted cupboards, tiles and worksurfaces so it's just needed some wood, a whole load of paint and a great deal of elbow grease! The kitchen now feels at least twice as big (although in reality it is quite small) and painting it in cream and buttermilk has really transformed it.
before...
after...
during...
Love it! Thought about painting my own kitchen (also wood finish) but all that painting!!!! A kitchen is only tidy if you don't cook!!
Posted by: jill | December 07, 2009 at 10:42 AM
You've shamed me into at least tidying mine up a bit - love your pantry shelves!
Posted by: Ali | December 07, 2009 at 10:57 AM
It looks really lovely - there is something gorgeous about cream and white in a kitchen. I'm attacking mine this morning. It's quite a task :-(
Posted by: dottycookie | December 07, 2009 at 11:25 AM
I love your new kitchen. Dont white kitchens make it seem so much bigger and more spacious. We have our kitchen antique white and I love it. At least you can see where you spill things on the cupboards so they get a quick wipe up! Enjoy cooking in your new space.
Posted by: sue | December 07, 2009 at 11:26 AM
Your new sparkly kitchen looks fabulous!
Posted by: Gina | December 07, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Looks lovely. I know what you mean by seeming bigger. I ave a small, small, kitchen but white cabinets and light tile makes it seem open and airy - when I haven't cluttered the island that is. I hope you enjoy your new look. ~Kelly
unDeniably Domestic
Posted by: Kelly | December 07, 2009 at 11:39 AM
That is lovely, and it does indeed look bigger! Enjoy!
Posted by: panhandle Jane | December 07, 2009 at 12:05 PM
it looks great , so much lighter and like a brand new kitchen
Posted by: periwinkle | December 07, 2009 at 12:27 PM
It looks gorgeous Julie ~ just goes to show what you can achieve on a budget.
Marie x
Posted by: marie | December 07, 2009 at 12:49 PM
Lovely and I agree, a change for the better. It feels so much airy and spacious :)
Posted by: Sinta | December 07, 2009 at 01:14 PM
Now I want to go and paint mine! Looks lovely Julie - finished just in time for you to start your Christmas baking ....
Posted by: Mary | December 07, 2009 at 02:02 PM
I learned a trick when we did ours - which was a total tear out and rebuild - I hung a plastic "curtain" between the work and the rest of the house. What made it especially good was the evaporative cooler - I'd run the fan on full, and blow all the dust right out the open windows. A new kitchen is new energy. Tidiness does not naturally follow, though, as you may witness in my house - or as you could witness if I were honest enough to put up pictures.
Posted by: Kristen | December 07, 2009 at 02:10 PM
gorgeous! much better... now you can thank the oven for packing in!
Posted by: Fancy Elastic | December 07, 2009 at 02:28 PM
My bestest cousin always told her husband during those moments of marital discord 'you can have clean or you can have tidy. You cannot have both!' This is the motto I stick to ;-)
Posted by: trashalou | December 07, 2009 at 02:39 PM
Hey Julie - that looks great, you have inspired me (maybe after Christmas) - I need to get a new cooker this week otherwise we won't be eating turkey unless I start cooking it now!!
My calendar arrived on Saturday - I love it my birthday month July is my favourite but I do so love Georgette (long time fave) and now I am loving Lotta big time.
Take care
Davina xx
Posted by: Davina Osborn | December 07, 2009 at 03:05 PM
It looks fantastic! The white make a big difference doesn't it? Makes it brighter!
Posted by: Heather | December 07, 2009 at 03:12 PM
Beautiful!! I love it all!! We did a revamp of our own kitchen last year and I know the effort that goes into it, so well done you! :)
Julia xxx
Posted by: julia | December 07, 2009 at 03:19 PM
It looks so lovely & love it!
love
Alison
x
Posted by: Alison | December 07, 2009 at 04:09 PM
it all looks lovely and very shiny!!!
xxx
Posted by: wonderwoman | December 07, 2009 at 04:53 PM
It's beautiful Julie! I'd be afraid to cook in all it's shiny clean-ness -- wouldn't want to make it dirty LOL!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | December 07, 2009 at 05:04 PM
When we had a new kitchen I vowed to keep it super spotless and clutter free. Everything would be put away. Nothing except the kettle would be out. There would never be any washing up left out, it would be dried up and put away immediately.
Then I came back to reality and stopped deluding myself.
As I look in the kitchen now, I can hardly see any work tops for all the stuff lying about!
Posted by: michaela | December 07, 2009 at 05:11 PM
I'm so glad I'm not the only untidy one! Love the new look kitchen cupboards, my OH wants to do ours (which will be easy as he's a painter & decorator!) but I didn't know whether I would like it. But looking at yours is so inspiring I think I might now have to get him to do it! :0)
Posted by: janet | December 07, 2009 at 05:42 PM
my solution ... taking down shelves and upper cabinets ... just a new sleek exhaust hood over the burners ... i made ONE spot for a display item ... and i have to make the effort to get down into the lower cabinet to find the item - the exercise helps me appreciate that one piece a lot longer !
AND only one set of dishes per person ... each person can wash and place in the dish rack - otherwise they don't eat (no wasteful dishwasher or paper plates - if someone is sick we rinse all the dishes in the rack with boiling water from the tea kettle)
Posted by: anonymous Rose | December 07, 2009 at 05:56 PM
It looks beyootifool!! Cream/white cabinets make such a difference I think. I only wish I didn't live in a rented house so I could do something about the putrid green my kitchen is!
Posted by: Gemma | December 07, 2009 at 06:09 PM
Your new kitchen is fabby and gosh does it look tidy. You fancy coming to sort mine next? lol
Hugs Jackie x
Posted by: jackie | December 07, 2009 at 07:10 PM
Love your kitchen! It looks so light and bright...feel inspired to decorate ours after Christmas!
Love Jenni x
Posted by: Jenni Kemp | December 07, 2009 at 09:01 PM
I love the new paint colours. I've been thinking about painting my cupboards for a while now to brighten up the room. What did you use for primer? Did you have to sand the wood before painting?
Posted by: Rachel | December 07, 2009 at 09:18 PM
So pretty Julie. I love the open shelves and white doors. I am fond of white kitchen cabinetry too except during the winter months when the sun streams through the window and I realise how grubby my cupboard doors are!!!
Posted by: lina | December 08, 2009 at 12:56 AM
Very lovely!! I dare say you need a few more polka dots though!!
Posted by: Heather from America | December 08, 2009 at 05:26 AM
You've done such a great job with making something new out of something old. Love the fresh yet cosy colours.
Posted by: Megan | December 08, 2009 at 07:34 AM
Oh wow its lovely. I am intrigued by the little jar with the face and the red hat on the first picture. You did well with all that painting, it looks so fresh.
Posted by: Joy | December 08, 2009 at 07:47 AM
Pretty snazzy Julie. You'll be able to cook up the most festive of Christmas treats in all that loveliness! I'm jealous!
Posted by: Jenny | December 08, 2009 at 08:37 AM
IT IS LOVERLY,HOPE YOU HAVE A HAPPY XMAS AND YOUR FAMILY (HENS).
Posted by: G K JONES | December 08, 2009 at 11:48 AM
It looks so fresh and pretty. My kitchen is almost identical (the cabinets) and I've been wanting to repaint them but wasn't sure - now I see how great it looks I will do it.
A question though - which paint did you use? A specialist one, for kitchen units, or just bog standard emulsion?
Posted by: Wendy | December 08, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Wow, your kitchen looks so much better now. I love it!!!
Posted by: Erika Simmonds | December 08, 2009 at 01:03 PM
Really nice! I like the more "creamy" background in contrast to the white!
Posted by: Pelin | December 08, 2009 at 08:16 PM
ooooo! it looks quite splendid!
Posted by: kendall.micayla | December 08, 2009 at 10:26 PM
Looks lovely! I love the pale colours on the cabinets...very fresh light and airy.
Posted by: Jane Weston | December 09, 2009 at 11:06 AM
Hi Julie Wow the 'new' kitchen looks fantastic. You seem to have whetted the appetite of quite a few people who even now may be showing these photos to their hubbies. I did, and would also love to know the process for achieving this splendid look. Is there no end to your creative talents???? Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and all stay happy and healthy. Take care, Jenny.
Posted by: JennyH. | December 09, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Great ideas, hope to use some of them in an article for Examiner.com with attribution and links to your Etsy shop.
Please check out my pages: http://www.examiner.com/x-23677-Providence-Knitting-Examiner
With kind regards,
Sharon Watterson
Posted by: Knit_n_scribble | December 09, 2009 at 02:13 PM
What a fantastic makeover!!
Posted by: J Andrews | December 10, 2009 at 11:23 PM
Cute little kitchen. :)
Posted by: Person hinter den Worten | December 13, 2009 at 02:34 PM
What a great makeover!!! Lovely colors and very well mixed! The kitchen looks so cozy and warm, the perfect pair for a nice-to-live-in home!!!
Congratulations and enjoy!!!!
Posted by: celia | December 13, 2009 at 07:50 PM
Wow Julie - had to comment on this - that is stunning! Hmmmm, wonder what I could paint?! x
Posted by: Kitty | December 16, 2009 at 09:03 PM
Looks wonderful...yay!
Posted by: jennifer dedonato | January 04, 2010 at 06:27 AM
I love what you've done here by coordinating all your lovely jugs and bowls with the colours on the cupboards. It's goes to show how much can be achieved without having to rip the whole thing out and start again! Jules x
Posted by: Jules | January 06, 2010 at 03:13 PM
So how much work was this, my kitchen in a dark wood finish and I would love to paint it, but the behind cupboards would also need painting, was it really so much work, as I am having to move soon, it might just be a job too far...
Posted by: suzie sews | January 10, 2010 at 01:55 PM
PS its a fab job you have done, I missed that out....
Posted by: suzie sews | January 10, 2010 at 01:55 PM