Almost there...

Paint is done. Knobs are on.

All I can say is wow...

It turned out way better than I could have imagined.

We did discover that we will need to add side panels to hide the drawers, and I can't decide on a countertop (butcher block or laminate or some sort of stone) but I lovelovelove the way it turned out!

I used Rust-Oleum spray paint, and a clear finishing wax by Minwax to seal the paint and prevent chipping, etc... The knobs look outstanding against the black paint

I will post final pic once the countertop is chosen and installed...

Next step complete!

 

Backing to the dresser/island is on!

 

 

Got the bottom pieces attached as well - the whole piece is nice and stable!

 

 

Back and insides of the piece are primed and ready to paint in the next couple days.

 

 

 

We are still searching for an inexpensive counter top to add to the island - we will keep you updated!

Primer - check!

 




Primer is applied! I made sure to get three thin coats of primer. This way, the cover is more consistent, and when I go to spray-paint the dresser, chipping is a lot less likely.

 

Next step - adding the plywood to the bottom and the back (hence why the dresser is upside-down).

 

 

 

We are still searching for a counter top that will not break the bank. The cabinet knobs came in, and they are even more beautiful in person - I can't wait to see them on the finished product!

 

 

Kitchen Island Here We come...

 

The material that was on the back and bottom of the dresser and that also separated each drawer level was a heavy pressed cardboard, so we removed it. We will be replacing the very bottom and the back with a thin plywood. That will help to keep the dresser supports solid, and also give a paintable surface on the back. The piece on the bottom will have the basket on each side sitting on it.

 

And the sanding took no time at all.

 

Lolo bought me my very first power tool - an orbital sander. She rocked the sanding. It was easy to hold, did not make my arthritic joints in my hands hurt, and she is easy to maneuver. I have named her Suzie the Sander ;-) I love Porter Cable tools - that is the only brand we own.

 

 

Next up will be the wood filler to fill in nicked spots. Those areas will get sanded down again, and then I will primer the whole cabinet. Lolo will be buying the particleboard and the brackets to get the pieces attached and to completely stabilize the while thing. Thanks to The Frugal Girl for excellent tips on how to correctly paint furniture.

 

 

More to come...

Found it!

Found it!

 

Meet our soon-to-be kitchen island! My plans are to take the bottom two drawers in each corner and remove them. Baskets will take their place to hold potatoes, onions, etc...  It will be painted black, then sanded at the edges to give it an antique feel. I also found these for the remaining five drawers...

 

 

Vintage Japanese cabinet knobs. I love eBay!

 

 

I will post more as work progresses - sanding first, then we'll see what else needs to be done.

 

Looks Awesome!

 

 

 

Our new, bright kitchen!

 

 

The kitchen so so very much brighter that i thought it would be!

 

It's hard to see, but the ceiling has the same paint - I just added white paint to make it several shades lighter - it worked like a charm!

 

 

The old, brown cabinet? Looks brand new!

 

 

 

We found this neat rolling storage shelf that is a scant 5" wide - it was perfect for the space left over between the new tall cabinets, so we bought 2 sets and snapped them together - fabulous!

 

I love, love, love these curtains! They are a perfect balance to the white of the cabinets.

 

 

 

Next up will be to complete the area in the ceiling with the light. It needs to be drywalled in and painted white. We found a light fixture we like, but we are waiting to see how the area turns out before deciding for sure on the light fixture we will buy.

 

 

We also will be looking for that perfect dresser to turn into a kitchen island. I will post as soon as we find it!

In the home stretch...

The kitchen looks so much lighter and brighter! cabinet doors are not on yet - we need to paint the ceiling before we put those back on - don't want any drips!

I just can't believe how different it looks - it doesn't even look like it's the same kitchen at all! (except for the nasty floor, but that will go away eventually)

And the cabinet handles came it - they look even better than I had imagined!








So, the big red wall at the back of the kitchen also still needs to be painted - I will have to have my husband's help with that, but that should be done by this weekend. I hope by Sunday, our kitchen is put back together.

I also found inspiration for an island. I came across a blog - Dishfunctional Designs - that showed some really awesome ideas to re-purpose old dressers for different things, including a kitchen island! I am so totally going to do that. I will be keeping my eyes peeled on craigslist to find one that I can rehab so it will look fabulous in my kitchen!