We’re back to visit the antique craftsman style home we’ve been touring. Little bit by little bit, we’ve seen some really clever and super cute transformations in this young couple’s first home, and the subject of today’s post is no exception to that.
When they bought this antique house, the kitchen, unfortunately had been re-done in the 1980’s. In which, the previous owners had completely stripped down and removed every original surface… appliances, floor, trim and window from the original home gone, and replaced with that famous, generic looking 80’s style.
To give you a mental picture of the before: The cabinets were all white laminate… except for that cobalt blue ‘racing’ stripe edge on the face of the counters and at the top of cabinets by the ceiling. With the white tile backsplash and the cobalt blue floor tile… get the picture? It was all white, sterile white, no hardware, and had only cobalt blue for an accent, quite harsh and cold, with no interest.
Without the budget to replace the cabinets or appliances or counters, creativity was going to have to transform this kitchen!
Though this wall mounted pot rack they designed and implemented on a wall to where previously there were weird shallow cabinets, is the main feature of this kitchen, the other changes they’ve made to this room, on a very limited budget to do so, has likewise made an incredible difference to the space.
It’s amazing how much just simply removing some cabinet doors and little paint can make a huge difference!
By picking and choosing which upper cabinets could lose their doors, they did just that, took off the doors, filled the holes, primed and painted.
And by using a really good bonding primer, they even primed and painted the plastic laminate cobalt blue edging on the counter tops and the top of the cabinets. Amazing the difference that did.
Then to bring some interest to the space, they chose their accent to be those open cabinets. They painted the back of them the same grey color that they painted the beadboard behind the pot rack.
Then with some great displaying ability even every day dishes look great and it has made a huge change to the kitchen.
Next time I’ll show you more details of this room, including the window treatments, and accessories…
Update!… By special request, here is a better photo collage showing the before and after of the ‘racing stripes’:
Here are some of the other projects I’ve shown you from this antique craftsman style home.
Please feel free to share this blog with your friends, as well as on Facebook and Pinterest and Flipboard and Houzz the more the merrier!
I appreciate you stopping by.
I’m linking up here:
This is an amazing and beautiful transformation! I love the way you have displayed your dishes in the open cabinets — very pretty!
nice update
Really nice redo on the 80s kitchen. I don’t see a photo showing the repainted (with bonding primer used) cobalt blue strip though and the “after” appearance. Can you show us that photo too?
Thanks for sharing with us, and it’s always great to see creative minds at work.
Visiting from Furniture Feature Friday@ Miss Mustard Seed’s linky party
Smiles,
Suz @MaytagNMom
NW Illinois
~~My Current Project At The Party~~
Will do! I’m adding an additional photo collage to this post right now! Thanks for the request!! Little Bit
Thank you for the tour. I picked up some great ideas for my kitchen. Our neighborhood was built in the 1940’s and 1950’s. There is an ongoing discussion between neighbors who rip out everything for a clean large room look. And those of us (me, included) who wish to retain some of the mid-century modern look.
Great transformation! ~Pernilla
Looks beautiful!! I would love for you to link up at SHOW-licious Craft Showcase! Just follow this link……http://sew-licious.blogspot.com/2013/03/show-licious-craft-showcase-25.html.
Marti
Love what you can accomplish with white! Craftsman will never go out of style because it combines function with naturally beautiful elements. Thanks for sharing. Happy Spring. ~CJ
Love, the open look! So pretty! I have a new weekly link party which is live now and I would love if you stop by and link up this wonderful post! Hope to see you there! http://mariaelenasdecor.blogspot.com/ Hugs, Maria
Wow, you did a great job! I love this open look. I would love for you to link this up to our new linky party, Give Me The Goods Monday! I am hosting with 4 other bloggers, 1 party but your links will show up on all 5 blogs!
http://www.somuchbetterwithage.com/2013/03/give-me-goods-party-1.html
Jamie @ somuchbetterwithage.com
PS: I’m your newest follower!
Now your dishes look so pretty showing off! That was a great idea to remove the doors.
Peace,
Linda at The French Hens Nest
Taking off the doors on the cabinets made a huge difference in this kitchen. Love how it turned out!
Mary Alice
Oh WOW!!! Feel free to come over and update my 1960’s kitchen!! Ughh.. I need to update it.. ASAP.. however everything is painted with oil paint.. and then latex on top… Ughhh it’s keep pealing.. AWFUL