mia's kitchen makeover

My family currently resides in our second tract home and when you live in a neighborhood like ours, you get pretty creative at giving your little slice of the world some character. 

When I first walked through the model of our home, the size of the kitchen immediately had my attention.  It had lots of storage, plenty of square footage, and the counter space seemed endless.  It was separate from the family room and entry (just in case there was a mess in the sink from the previous nights festivities), but flowed nicely to the breakfast nook and family room.  Then I saw the double ovens and I was sold.

Until I can build my dream home (not holding my breath), I'm continually trying to create a comfortable home that is warm and inviting to all who enter our doors. 

I was going through some old pictures on my computer and I found one of our kitchen shortly after we moved in.  It inspired me to wash some windows, and take a few pics of our kitchen now. 

BEFORE

AFTER

First, something had to be done about our boring and dismal cabinets.  I knew this was not a job that would strengthen my marriage, so I hired Cory, my finish carpenter, to add molding to the upper and lower cabinets, build out my island, and add base to the lowers.  I'll admit it, watching him work those power saws and transform my kitchen into a work of art was a bit of a turn on!  Good thing I'm way too in love with my man.

Second, I had too many uppers that all looked the same, so Cory broke them up with seeded glass on the cabinets to the right and left of my sink. 

 

I love our back splash, made out of Italian, brick veneer.  I lucked out and had just enough left over from a design job to do my kitchen and front porch.  My girl, G, jumped in like a trooper and helped me with the install.   When the grout was almost dry, I took a knife and chiseled out big chunks to give it that old, weathered look.  It has a beautiful aged patina I'm crazy about.

My surfaces were the big splurge in my kitchen.  I thought long and hard about what to use that would be both functional and aesthetic.   

After lots of research, I decided to go with copper counter tops.  They have an anti microbial agent that naturally fights bacteria.  They're also a live finish so they change color from really bright, if you leave a tomato sitting on them, to a rich, dark copper color over time. 

They can easily be brought back to their original finish, and they last forever.  I had the installer apply an umber colored stain and I love the way the rich color compliments the back splash.

I chose stained concrete for our island.  I found a contractor who could stamp different designs around the edge and I love this egg and dart pattern.  The slab on our island weighs 22 lbs/sq ft and took 6 very muscley men to haul it into our kitchen.  It was a scene.    

I also had a concrete slab made for our sink.  It's extra deep to hold lots of dirty dishes so I only have to do them once a week:)

I found some old fencing at a salvage yard and took it over to my next door neighbor Randy, the welder.  He looked at me like I was crazy but let's be honest, I know.  After a few different sketches and a master plan, here's what we came up with.

It's so heavy we had to get up in the attic and create reinforcements in the rafters.  I'm quite certain the boys could do pull ups on it.  Monkey bars for el Nino?

The painting of cabinets was no small task, and took about a week of devoted friends and a loving husband, taping, spraying, rolling, crying, and swearing we'd never do it again.  I used three different colors to break up all the cabinets and dressed them down with three unique styles of hardware.
    

A few of my fav kitchen accessories. 

Mr. and Mrs. owl S & P shakers, anthropologie candles in any scent.

The perfectly crusty, antique chair nestled by my pantry door.  She needs to be reupholstered, but I can't bring myself to do it until I find the perfect replacement fabric.

The hand painted sign next to my laundry room.

My feeble attempt to be organized.  I got this hanging file box at Ross for $10 and embellished it with decorative paper and paint.  I wish I could say I never have papers out on my counter, but it's a lie.

The butterfly window treatment over my sink.  I found the cherub architectural element at Good Will for $3.50 and Jilly donated the blue silk.   

My kitchen is a work in progress.  I'm going to panel the refrigerator and the dishwasher doors with the help of the ladies from Club Project.  Have you ever done it?  I'd LOVE some pointers!