Finally! I can take a breather and compose a new post.   Yep, there’s been a lot of “doing” around here, with the brain firmly parked in neutral, so as not to overthink any of the design decisions that have already been made.  (And I will like the results, no matter what! ;>)

The project that is currently underway is getting the downstairs kitchen finished.  Since this is all being done on a very limited budget, it will take some creativity to give the finished space an upscale look.  My number one design challenge is to make the in-stock oak cabinets from Lowes look like something other than what they are.

I hate oak…not the trees, or those little miracles called acorns.  No, I dislike the wood, and any cabinets and furniture (and excluding hardwood floors) made out of the stuff.  The grain is very coarse, and very difficult to disguise (but I am trying!)  It reminds me of the 1980s, when everyone, including me, had those spindly farmhouse chairs with the wide engraved backs! (NOTE:  It is not my intent to insult anyody who loves and owns oak furniture; this is my opinion only, and opinions are worth what you pay for them!)

Back to my design decision.  I knew I would paint the cabinets, but it was difficult to decide on a color.  Finally settled on a Sherwin Williams hue called “Sleepy Blue”.  I got out my measuring equipment (in my mad scientist role), and mixed up a big batch of chalk paint.  Thankfully, one coat produced the desired amount of coverage.  Once I started applying it, the color was more gray than expected, but I will like it, no matter what!  Here’s a shot of the cabinets in the process of being painted (the paint hadn’t quite dried, so it looks a little funky):

  Here is a pic of the uppers completed:

We will use a lot of white subway tile (which is fairly inexpensive), and take it up the wall to almost the top of the window over the sink. The knobs from the old maple (sigh!) cabinets were very inexpensive and brassy-looking.  So…they will receive a coat of silver spray paint.  And for the countertops, we will use wood!

The bookcase was actually the first cabinetry that received the paint treatment.  I like the two-tone paint, and the darker panels on each side of the shelves will showcase some classic family pics.

We still have to add a wood countertop, and add veneer tape to the shelf edges.  For this piece, I placed an online order for drawer pulls from a store called D. Lawless Hardware, after reading about this venue on the Lilacs and Longhorns blog.  My, oh my!  If you are looking for cabinet or furniture “bling”, this is the place to shop. They have an unbelievable inventory of parts, pulls, and knobs, and the prices are awesome!  With the budget in mind, I headed right to the SALE tab, and struck gold!  Waiting for me were pulls that are stainless with bisque rods, 3” on center. They were originally close to $7 each and were reduced to $1.25 apiece! I can’t wait to put the sealer on the wood, so I can see those beauties in place.

Greg did some more work on the fireplace surround, and I am loving it.  (And yes, that is the mens’ NCAA b-ball tourney on the screen! ;>)

The fly in the ointment is the HUGE fuse box that is positioned on the wall above the fireplace; the television won’t entirely cover it, and we need to disguise it with something easily removable, when electrical issues arise.   Have no clue what I will do, but it will come to me.

And now I will leave you with a You Tube video that hopefully will elicit a smile, if not an outright guffaw!  The pup in this piece is my a double of our dog Bear, dyed brown.  Same “activities”, attitude, and if he could speak, voice!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDiUQmO0_VI