~kitchen photos finally~

I have updated a few things in our kitchen.

Things I have been wanting to do for a while, but just couldn't find the time.

So, here they are......

First up, I painted these craft store cardboard letters with restoration hardware "slate" paint and put them above the kitchen sink. It was super inexpensive, which is good for me because I seem to have an obsession about changing out this area every few months!

Before I did anything I painted the walls from Ralph Lauren's Roadster White back to Behr's Teepee Brown, which it was originally.

The White was too stark for my taste and it felt "cold"

I also painted all the cabinets to match the island~Ralph Lauren's Oatmeal.

I distressed them with a glaze to give them a little character too.

Then I refinished our hardwoods.

I am telling you, I had no idea how this was going to turn out, but I was more than willing to try it seeing as how it would cost about $400.00 as opposed to $4000.00 to have someone come in and do it for us.

I will say, it was the easiest and smartest thing I could have ever done.

One professional looked at our floors and told us they were beyond repair.

Wish he could see them now!

I used a min wax stain called "Jacobean"

Love them!

What a difference!

I haven't really started decorating for Christmas yet, which is not like me.
This is about the extent of it so far!

Here is a close up of one of the cabinets.
You can see the glaze I used on them.
I didn't even prime.
I had the paint color matched to the new Behr paint that has the primer built in.
I did seal them with leftover floor sealer, and I sanded them first.
{they were originally maple}