Lighter and Brighter

As I'm enjoying the painted cabinets I realized that I really did NOT like the backsplash. At all. Never have. But paying off doctor and hospital bills will leave one with NO $$$. So no chance of anything new.

But having a can of primer and some glossy enamel paint made me think I could transform that laminate into something I could tolerate until my ship comes in.

More light! Much brighter. I'm not a splish splashy dish washer so it should be just fine.  On the opposite wall from the window I coated the cabinets with a coat of shellac after reading that on a blogger's page that sells Annie Sloan paint. Wish I'd seen that before I started the whole process.  I'll see if that will keep the tannins in the wood from showing through the paint. The first coat of primer on them is drying and will do another before I paint. Now it doesn' t seem like I cook in a cave. Actually I don't cook much anymore, but I'll enjoy being in the kitchen much more!

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Undone

Problem: The paint can is empty. Maybe I should have thinned it a bit more for the first coat on the doors.

But I wanted good coverage! I did thin it to finish the two doors on the left and it was easier to brush on. When I get around to the other side of the kitchen I think I'll be priming the doors first, then painting. Too much tannin came through the paint. At least that is what I think it's called. I did go back and seal some edges and then put on a third coat of paint and liked that so much better as those edges didn't turn yellow.

Now for sanding and sealing this set of doors. I'm going to skip the wax and use the sealer. I know that will be easier on my wrists. They need to work for playing the piano, too.

Between coats I just might sneak in a bit of  reading. I have two more Miss Julia books in her series to enjoy and the latest Donna Andrews. Read the Laura Childs book last night. All 'fluffy' reading for summer pleasure.

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Kitchen Grows Up

It was hard, but I took down all of my gingerbread kids and hearts from the cabinet doors and around the window above the sink. My kitchen wanted a change. It looks rather stark to me. I didn't give them away--maybe later some will find new homes.

Annie Sloan was calling from all around the country. She wanted to come to my house so I went on a day trip and picked her up. There are not many places in Colorado to find her, but I did-- in Parker! In years past, many moons ago, during my college days I had a friend that grew up there. It seemed ever so far away then. But, with a stop in Denver to see my sweeties, I continued on down to Leetsdale Drive, which turns into Parker Road, drove on past Tagawa Gardens and soon arrived in Parker. Found Main Street and turned east and found a sweet shop filled with all sorts of goodies. Simpler Times Designs, where I found Annie, has a booth area in Mainstreet Marketplace.

Removed the handles, but not the doors. I'm in a bit of a rush as I seem to get this painting bug right before school begins (early in August). It's happened before, so I took the short cut. I was assured this paint will stick to anything , including hinges! The doors above have only one coat. I did two.

These doors were lightly distressed and I put up a handle as it looked before cleaning and one after. The one on the left has 31 years of fingerprints. I soaked them in ammonia and hot water twice and then scrubbed them with a stiff brush, steel wool, and Dawn.  That long oval shape had some sort of brown paint on it and it came off so it looks much better to me. I kept them for two reasons: 1. Cost to replace and 2. I didn't want to have to drill new holes.

More doors need another coat of paint. Then they'll need waxing and/or a polycrylic sealer. Right now I'm only planning to do the uppers. Tomorrow  I'll remove more handles, clean them, scrub the cupboards by the stove, and try to move the refrigerator so I can reach those cabinets. I sure do miss my painter man. He always did this kind of stuff for me.

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