Chalkboard Cabinet Doors

Here is an update to our pantry cabinet doors.  We thought it would be fun to paint the center with chalkboard paint.  We can keep our shopping list up to date as well as give the boys a creative outlet.  It was super easy and only took about an hour from start to finish.

First, I prepped the doors by giving them a quick cleaning with Windex.  Then, I trimmed them out using a 2.2in angle brush.  We used Rust-Oleum Chalkboard paint tinted to Moonstone. 

The first layer goes on thinly.  The trick is to put on a nice even coat using long even stokes.  TIP - don't go over the paint until it is totally dry.  It gets really tacky and chalky and if you go over it with the paint brush you will gunk up the paint and leave brush strokes.  Not that I have any experience with that...wink wink.  If you do end up with brush strokes, wait until it is totally dry (usually overnight) and lightly sand down the lumpy part. 

I put three coats on the doors waiting for a few hours in between coats. 

Here it is all finished.  I still haven't put hardware on the cabinet doors.  I know what I want to put up, but am still searching for the best deal. 

Owen is having such a good time with the chalkboard finding his letters and numbers.  So glad that we chose to go this route.  As a side note, this is such a low risk project...if you hate the way it looks, or if you change your mind down the road, just paint over it with normal acrylic/latex paints.  HMMMMM what else can I chalkboard paint???

Kitchen Backsplash

The kitchen backsplash is complete.  I started it on Thursday last week and finished grouting it this evening.  I think that it really came out well.  I learned a few new skills and have some take-aways that I'll share.  I think you'll be surpised at the progress that has been made.

first needed to trim some overhang of paneling above where I was tiling...I used the circular saw set at the same thickness of the paneling

wall is ready to go

used contractor paper and blue painters tape to protect the countertop

With my notch trowel, I spread the thinset onto the wall.  First, I skim coated the wall with the smooth side, then used the notch side to create lines in the skim coat.

Added 1/8 inch spacers to the tile once it was adhered to the wall.

My tile that I cut using the wet saw...which wasn't nearly as scary as I thought it would be.

Once I had all of the tiles in place, I used a grout float to smear the grout into the tile.  This was a tedious process and took quite awhile to complete. 

Once the grout is well smeared, then I took a wet sponge and cleaned off the excess.  I had to clean the sponge out over and over again until it was able to take the majority of the grout off the top of the tile.  I used an old bath towel to wipe the tile down after the sponge.

My new backsplash...and cabinets are finally painted.

Here are the steps...

• Clean space well and prepare the walls.
• Protect space with construction paper found at Home Depot in large rolls of paper.
• Apply thin set or mastik with a trowel, first by skim coating with smooth side then using the notched side to create lines in the skim coat.
• Push your tiles into the thin set and get them in place.
• Use a wet saw to make the special cuts that you need for the edges. 
• Apply the grout with a grout float.
• Use a large sponge to clean tiles.
• Follow up the next day with the sponge again to remove any haze that remains on the tile.

Take-aways -
The grout went fast.  The instructions said that once container should be more then enough, but I ended up running out half way through the job and had to run out for more.
Removing grout is my new least favorite thing to do...even trumps painting ceilings.  It is messy and takes patience. 
Grout drys darker then it appears in the container...just like patint.
Have a spare towel on hand to wipe down the tiles after you get most of the stuff off with the sponge.

Up next...the floor

Kitchen Demo Update

One of the things that really bothered me about the kitchen was the soffit because it hung down in front of the window.  The worst part was that they had some scalloped trim hanging from the bottom of the dark wood paneling blocking out even more light.  I'll try and dig up some photos to share.  Below are pictures of the removal of the bottom of the soffit.

I sawed a line up each side of the soffit to the ceiling and remove the left and right paneling peices.  I was hoping that there would just be the plaster wall behind the paneling.  Unfortunatly, there was electric and some lights in the soffit. 

this is a shot of what is inside of the soffit

I removed the peices and cut them down to size to mount back up over the opening of the soffit. Now that I have a table saw and circular saw, I feel like I can fix anything!

Here is a close up view of the trim that I needed to install once I made the cuts. I used a piece of trim made for framing corners.  I cut the corners on the 45 Degree miter using my table saw. 




After shot with Trim and Moldings installed

 

Kitchen Wall and Floor Fix

The plan in the kitchen is to remove the small built in cabinet to the left of the refrigerator cabinet and then put the fridge in its place.  Then, turn the refrigerator cabinet into a pantry.  When I removed the small cabinet, I was left with a hole in the wall and floor.  The contractors quoted me between $200 and $450 to fix.  I did it for the cost of a peice of plywood and a table saw. 

hole in the wall

peice of paneling from the mud room demo cut down to size to patch the hole in the wall

wall is patched, but still need to address the trim

I cut the trim and moved it over to the right.  The opening that still exists is where the small cabinet is getting moved to. 

I moved over the small cabinet, replaced the fridge (it is still pulled out from the wall about a foot and a half because of the floor hole, and added an oak stock cabinet above.  It feels like the storage space has been doubled.



Kitchen Cabinet Update

Up next are the kitchen cabinets.  They are so outdated, but are a good quality cabinet.  I decided to give them a face lift.  I am removing all of the cabinet doors and drawers, stripping them of the awful hardware, and painting them a cream color. 

labeling the doors so I know where to re-hang

removing the doors and stripping them of all the hardware

sanding them down so they will accept the primer and paint

here they all are after being primed

Because of the hot and humid weather, the primer is still a little tacky.  I am going to wait until the weather cools down before I paint them with the finish color.  I am still slightly undecided on the final color but know that I want to go with a cream or off white.  More to come...