dare you to paint your cabinets black

backsplash

As of today, I have been chatting at the sky for exactly 300 posts! Let’s celebrate with a little kitchen tour. Ready to get right to it?

kitchen-before-5

This is the part where the people before us had a washer and dryer in the kitchen. You can read more about their magic clothes and how we did a cabinet switcharoo in this post.

kitchen-after-2

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kitchen-before-6

This is the part where you get to see just how orangey-pink these cabinets really were. And the part where you notice how the island was green granite and the rest of the counter tops were green laminate. All the way up the wall. Awesome.

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kitchen-before

kitchen-after-8

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kitchen-before-4

island-after

This is the part where you notice how much better the island looks now and you decide to read all about the island transformation on my guest post at Nesting Place.

kitchen-before-2

This is where I stood when we walked through the house for the first time and I almost cried because the owner had just told me they had recently updated their kitchen. This is also where I stood when I realized how much I hated it and I didn’t want to pay for their new, ugly kitchen in the price of the house.

kitchen-after-1

This is the same place where I stand and make food for my kids and watch them color and fight and play cars. Its also where I chat on the phone with my sister and think up blog posts and love. my. kitchen. And we didn’t have to knock out walls or pay for new cabinets or buy a new oven. We made some drastic changes. But we didn’t have to start over. And the ugly kitchen wasn’t a deal breaker in buying the house.

kitchen-before-3

This is the part where I tell you we considered knocking out that random wall to make the kitchen feel more open.

kitchen-after-3

And this is the part where I tell you that, as it turns out, that vent on that wall is sorta important and when we heard how much it would cost, we decided to live with it and hang a yard sale picture there instead.

I know some of you would like to see what is behind that wall that we did not take out.

kid-corner1

It’s basically a grown-up friendly kids corner. As opposed to a kid-friendly grown up corner. There is a difference.

Most of this work was done when we first moved in. But this week I finally finished putting the knobs and drawer pulls on the cabinets. Actually, that is a lie. I’m a little bit lazy. (and a little bit country. and a little bit rock and roll). I still have nine drawer pulls to go. Sue me.

One last thing.

The Details

Wall Paint: Sherwin Williams Ivoire (6127)

Cabinet Paint: SW Tricorn Black (6258) Semi-gloss finish

Any black will do. For me, I picked the blackest black on the color wheel.

Island Paint: SW Navajo White (6126)

Granite: New Venetian Gold

(Giallo Ornamental was in our old kitchen with black cabs)

Window Mistreatment Topper Fabric and Fringe: Hobby Lobby

Damask Window Panels: Target

Window Mistreatment Inspiration: The Nester

Back splash: Bevel Hampton Sand with crackle finish (2×4)

before-and-after

For more details, check out the follow up post.

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For more posts on painted wood, please visit Edie’s beautiful and creative blog @ Life in Grace.

This post is also linked with Sanctuary Arts at Home’s You Should Have Seen it Before! party.


kitchen tease

The kitchen is almost done! All that staring yesterday gave me just the boost I needed to finish the job. Now for the task of photographing it all and inviting you in. Here’s a sneak peek, a special Friday the 13th preview.peek

Turns out its really difficult to photograph black cabinets. I’ll be working on that this weekend so I can show you the whole thing next week. In the meantime while you have kitchens on the brain, head on over to My First Kitchen.

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She’s hosting a survey about cooking habits and could really use your help. It takes about 25 seconds to complete. And you can win free spices, so its totally worth it. Take the survey here. Enjoy your weekend!

Admin Note: The comments are going to look a little crazy for the next day or so, but they’ll still work just fine.

stuff

So I’ve been doing stuff. Like today, I was busy not taking a shower and watching my kids eat oreos while I also gazed at the pile of laundry that needed folding. And tonight I stared at our kitchen cabinets for a loooong time. That took a while.

I did make dinner. And I cleaned the children. And I finished a novel that I started while I stood in line on election day. It only took me 4 months to finish a book. Awesome.

I will say the knobs on the cabinets are half done. I maned up and worked that drill. Arg. I’ll be able to show you that soon.

So yeah. I’ve been doing stuff. In the meantime, it’s Chickadee’s birthday this week and she’s hosting lots of giveaways. There’s two days left so you still have time to enter.

Admin Note: The comments are going to look a little crazy for the next day or so, but they’ll still work just fine.

opposite day: from the archives

The following post was originally published on March 23, 2008.

hilton head

The azaleas are blooming in Hilton Head. I don’t usually like azaleas. They are scrawny, burnt looking bushes most of the year. Until they bloom. And for those few weeks, they can certainly be beautiful. I am surprised that beauty can come from such an ugly bush.

I always forget how much I love the Low Country of South Carolina; how beautiful the water, the allure of the tree lined path of Plantation Drive. The Spanish moss hangs lazy and low from those branches. Every year I take some home with me. And every year I am disappointed that my baggie full of moss just isn’t the same away from the island.

Somehow the beauty of this place almost makes it lonely. Maybe it’s just because I know there is change waiting for us when we get back home. It is more likely because The Man isn’t with us. I think there is something about a beautiful place that demands intimate company or it almost seems as though it doesn’t count. I imagine Adam felt that way in the Garden before Eve was made but he didn’t know why.

harbour town sunset
It is sweet to be in such a beautiful place on a day that celebrates new life and freedom. It is hard to believe that beauty can come from suffering and death. I think of Isaiah 53:11: “After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied.” What a prediction. What a promise. I often forget how opposite the Lord thinks from the way I think: how the last will be first, how beauty comes from ashes, how life comes from death. It doesn’t makes sense, really. But I am certainly thankful it is true.

blog stuff and my sickness

On the off chance you haven’t been poking around the blog lately, my about and links pages are up and running. Click on the links at the top of the page to see them. I haven’t entered all the links in yet. But I will eventually, so check back. The archives are in process so you will have to wait if you want to rummage through previous posts in an orderly fashion.

I’m glad that so many of you wanted a chance to win the free copy of Jill Savage’s book. The random winner is Sandy Toes! Just email me your address at emily@chattingatthesky.com and Hearts at Home will send it to you, Sandy!

In other news, Leonardo DiCaprio and Reece Witherspoon had a baby. And she grew up. And she became a model for J.Crew.

reece-dicaprio

Seriously, do you see it? I have a sickness. Is anyone with me? This one is tame. Wait til you see Conan O’Brian and Pochohontis’ baby. It’s a Barbie is all I’m saying.

a book giveaway

Today I’m doing something a little different. I’d like to welcome author and speaker, Jill Savage. Jill’s recent book Real Moms…Real Jesus, just released and though I don’t know Jill personally, I am excited to see what her book is all about. If this book sounds like something that would interest you, leave a comment on this post and I’ll enter you to win a copy!

During the month of March, Jill is being featured on a host of different blogs to promote her book and I wanted to help out my friends at Hearts at Home and join the tour. They took some time to ask Jill about her real mom moments.

Jill, tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.

Mark and I have been married 25 years and we have five children. Anne is 24 and married to our wonderful son-in-love, Matt. Evan is 21 and married to our beautiful daughter-in-love, Julie. Erica is 18 and a college student at Heartland Community College. Kolya is 15 and in the 8th grade. We adopted Kolya at the age of 9 from Russia–the God story about his adoption is included in the Real Moms…Real Jesus book. And Austin is 12 and in the 7th grade.

Tell us about your newest book Real Moms…Real Jesus.

This is a book designed to help moms understand that when Jesus lived on this earth he was fully God, yet fully man. We don’t often think about the fact that he was a human being and he lived the full human experience: pain, hunger, fatigue, frustration, betrayal, disappointment. He experienced it all!

There’s one verse in the Bible about Jesus that simply says “large crowds followed him everywhere he went.” Well, isn’t that the life of a mom? Large crowds follow her to the bathroom. They follow her to the kitchen. To the grocery store. She’s in high demand! And when Jesus lived on this earth, He was in high demand, too.

Why did you want to write this book?

Most of us long for a friend who understands. Yes, we need girlfriends who understand what our life is like. But we also need to understand that we have a friend who understand in Jesus. Too many of us think of God as being distant and unable to relate to our daily struggles. But nothing could be further from the truth! He understands and he wants us to build our friendship with Him. He wants to not only be our Savior, but also our Friend.

What do you hope your readers will gain from this book?

I hope readers will gain a new perspective about their relationship with Jesus. I also hope to weave God’s truth into the daily life of a mom.

What unique elements will the reader find in Real Moms…Real Jesus?

Each chapter looks at some character trait in Jesus’ life that can help us in our life as a mom. In between the chapters are interactive vignettes that provide brief, refreshing glimpses into our real, messy, busy lives.

There are also questions at the end of the chapter for further consideration and suggested Bible reading in the book of Matthew. If the reader chooses to pursue the suggested reading, she will have read the book of Matthew completely by the end of the book! There is also a leader’s guide in the back of the book so it can be used in a group setting.

This is a Hearts at Home Book. What is Hearts at Home?

Hearts at Home is an organization that encourages, educates, and equips women in the profession of motherhood. Hearts at Home encourages mom through annual conferences, our extensive website (www.hearts-at-home.org), a free bi-weekly electronic newsletter, a radio program, and an entire line of books designed to meet the needs of moms all over the world!

Any closing thoughts?

I am very excited about this book! I believe that if a mom can strengthen her relationship with Jesus Christ, she will feel more equipped to be the mom she wants to be. I’m also offering an online book discussion on my blog beginning Tuesday, April 7. If you’d like to join us, you can subscribe to my blog here.

You can purchase your own copy of Real Moms…Real Jesus by clicking here. Or enter to win a free copy by leaving a comment with a way to contact you. And be sure to check out Hearts at Home, their conferences for moms, and all their online resources here.

**Edited: The giveaway has been awarded to Sandy Toes! The book will be sent to you soon, Miss Sandy!**

more house

I’ve been meaning to do a post about our painted cabinets. If you checked out my guest post over at Nesting Place yesterday, you got a good partial glimpse. I wanted to wait until the cabinets are all the way done before I did a full fledged ‘after’ post. But they just aren’t done yet.

knobs

Case in point? The above photo is of the knobs we are going to put on our cabinets. They are lined up neatly on the countertop but have yet to be installed because I am two parts lazy and one part scared of the drill. I’ll get there. And, just so you know? These knobs? Anthropologie has them for $8.00 each.

Did Emily buy those? No, she did not. Because Hobby Lobby had them, too. And they were half off. Two Dollars each, people. Two little dollars. I great-big-red-heart Hobby Lobby. But you already knew that.

So maybe soon-like I will finish them up and post some after photos.  If you are itching to see some housey stuff until then, here are a few links of some other rooms of the house we have redone.

Related New Old House Posts

A Happy House

1964 Bathroom Spruce Up

1964 Living Room Makeover

The Office: A History

Portrait of a Kitchen (from our previous home)

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