Taking the ring to Mordor

This summer I began a massive makeover of our kitchen.  I'm firmly rooted in camp "paint makes everything better", and since I couldn't exactly demolish cabinets in our rental, I decided to do what I do best - make it a different color.  I vastly underestimated just how long this would take me.  This was my reaction by the time I completed the months-long and oft interrupted project:

That's enough, Daniel Radcliffe.

To start, our house was built mid 80s using builder-grade oak and builder-grade brass fixtures and builder-grade BLAH.  Seriously, 80s to late 90s home builders had ZERO creativity and bought their home furnishings at Dated and Faded Surplus.  If there's one era I abhor in home design and decor, this would be it.  All we were missing was a floral couch, some dusty silk flowers and paintings of geese and I'd feel I was back in Jersey.  *shudder*

"What do you mean not everyone likes wood on wood trimmed in wood?"

This was our kitchen.  Good bones and TONS of counter space, for which I was grateful, but it just felt so... blech.  Off-white laminate tops that didn't do anything for the off-white walls and the off-white porcelain sink, on top of the honey oak cabinets and trim (which was around every door and on the baseboards and crown moulding).  New black appliances seemed out of place against the very dated fixtures, so something had to be done.

First, I researched the best way to go about painting the counters.  Fortunately, Rustoleum makes a very smelly oil-based paint specifically for countertops.  I decided white cabinets with a gray counter would bring everything up to date, and still accent the appliances (and beautiful wood flooring) nicely.

Pots and pans and cups better scurry...

The countertop paint was very oily and tempermental.  Requiring several coats and days between application, it made trying to use the kitchen for cooking challenging.  And despite that blue painters tape I still got it everywhere.  Sigh.

Same cabinet with the door reattached.

Did I mention I had to remove every drawer and door in our massive eat-in kitchen? A total of 27 doors (yes, an odd number) and 10 drawers.  Oh, and I had to refinish the hinges on all the doors too, because builder-grade brass.  Again, Rustoleum to the rescue with it's dark bronze flecked spray paint.  Also came in handy for bringing the builder-grade brass chandelier up to date.

Worth it in the end.

Once the cabinets were done, I moved onto the massive expanse of wall space and trim.  "But Joy," you're saying, "there's only that tiny space above and between the counters and cabinets!"  Oh, how little you have learned...

Yeah.  THAT wall space.  And trim, top and bottom.  I went with a lighter gray with hints of soft blue to brighten the room but bring it down to a "cool" color.  The oak cabinets against the floor and oak floor boards made the room seem dark and closed in - not to mention the previously dark oak crown moulding, which framed the whole space in a depressing manor.

"Hi, I'm your kitchen and I'll be the bane of your existence for the next few weeks."

Dat window box, doh...

Ooh, shiny.

 And the before/after comparison.  I'm still super proud of this:

From drab to fab without demolition!

I love how it all came together.  The hardwood floors are gorgeous but were drowned out in the sea of honey oak cabinets.  Now they serve as a warm backdrop for the cool comfort of the kitchen counters and cabinets.  Next step is getting knobs for the drawers and doors, and replacing the frilly-lamped ceiling fan, but I'm pleased with it for now.