My daughter and husband are amazing artists. They can think of something in their heads and then make it come to life on the paper in front of them. I, on the other hand, am sorely lacking in the drawing department. Trust me, you DO NOT want to be on my Pictionary team. I can totally visualize these incredible scenes in my mind but somewhere between thinking it and drawing it, my mind turns it into an image that closely resembles something either a toddler or a very drunk person would draw.
And I’m pretty sure it was this very same deficiency which led me to do more hemming and hawing (don’t you just LOVE that phrase?) about my kitchen island than about any other project I’ve ever wanted to tackle.
I knew I wanted it to look different. And I knew how to go about making it look different. I was just paralyzed when it came to actually taking that vision and making it a reality. I was so afraid that what I pictured in my head would never actually translate when it came time to take a paint brush (or sprayer!) to it.
I felt confident about the family room makeover. And super confident about the built-in cabinet makeover. But the kitchen island makeover? Not so much. You see, eventually (hopefully this summer!) the entire kitchen will be painted. (If you are questioning this decision I will direct you to this post.) In the meantime, though, I felt that painting the island would be a good way of tying the rooms together.
So, the day came when it was time to put an end to the hemming and hawing and trust that while I might never be an amazing artist, I can trust my instincts. And, after all, we’re not talking about some life or death decision.
It’s just paint. 🙂
Are you ready to see it?
Here is the BEFORE…
And here is the AFTER!
Prior to it being painted (we had this professionally sprayed when the family room shelves and built-in cabinet were done), we added these ready-made panels to the back and sides of the island for some extra detail.
Then I picked up two ‘feet’ in unfinished wood. I simply removed the screws with pliers and painted them.
I had to sand them down on the bottoms just a tad so that they would fit underneath but they are firmly wedged in there now.
I LOVE how it makes the island look more like a piece of furniture.
Originally I had planned to change out the bracket/corbels for something more decorative but those suckers are on there so solidly that it would have done major damage to the rest of the island to try and remove them.
In the end I’m so glad that I left them simple because with the other details we added I think it would have been too much.
This summer we will tackle the rest of the kitchen cabinets along with having the floors refinished.
Sometimes taking your time with something, pondering it, dreaming about it and saving for it really is the way to go. You know, it’s that whole delayed gratification thing.
And in a world where it seems like everything pushes us towards INSTANT gratification, including decorating our homes, sometimes a little bit of hemming and hawing can turn out to be a good thing.
If for no other reason than the fact that after years of hemming and hawing and then finally seeing it come to fruition, I’m pretty sure I appreciate the results even more!
Even if it has left me chomping at the bit to finish the rest of the kitchen! 😉
P.S. The paint color is called Neutral Ground by Sherwin Williams
Oh it turned out so beautiful! My hubby is the one who thinks you’re committing a sin if you paint furniture. I, on the other hand, think if I don’t like it dark — go for it. In our house I am so sick of the oak. Talk about dated !! Yuck. I am going to get my paint brush out and go to town. What shade are you doing the rest of the kitchen? Or is that a surprise?
It’s gorgeous Vanessa!! So happy for you!! [dolphin claps]
It looks fabulous! Like Marissa, I am not afraid of painting something. But my hubby too is very skeptical. My trick is wait till he goes to work and just do it. He can complain or fuss all he wants. The inside is MY domain. The garage is his!
But I too take my heming and hawing to really get it right then I just jump with both feet!
I SO identify with you about not being able to put my visions on paper. Through my 51 years of marriage that would have been so helpful to my very logical-minded husband who needs to see it first! I love your ideas. Very simple but a great affect. Great job. I’m going into my kitchen now and see if I can do something similar. Thanks.
What a great redo! Looks beautiful in this light color. I am inspired to do the same! Enjoy! Susie
Amazing and gorgeous!!!!!! Looks like it has always been like this.
I’m redoing my kitchen this year and plan to go with all painted cabinets. Unfortunately I have oak now and if painted they tend to show all the details of the oak. You are fortunate to be covering a smooth surfsce to start with.
Beautiful!
I love it!
It looks awesome! I love how bright it looks and those legs are perfect. Oh and I just love your stools 🙂
It looks fabulous! Love the added touch with the feet and the panels. I really think your going to love your kitchen being white, it’s so bright and cheery:)
Yes! Paint those dark cabinets. In the meantime, just painting your island has lightend up the kitchen. I like the extra detail, especially the little feet.
Favulous! Change that switch plate cover to white and you’ve nailed it!
Hi Alice! All of our outlets and covers are that color and we will get around to changing them eventually. 🙂
I LOVE it, Vanessa!!
Thanks girl!
Looks lovely, thanks for sharing your great ideas and tips!
Thank you so much Caroline!
It’s lovely! I understand completely what it feels like to be paralyzed with uncertainty. I’ve been there myself, every time I decide to do anything. I am currently there with approximately 1, 425 things.
LOL!! I still have about 1,425 other things to decide on too Tammi! 😉
It looks really beautiful Vanessa!
Luv the added bun feet–and LUV the bar stools!
Catherine
Thanks so much Catherine! 🙂
Really nice! I have to decide between dark cabinets or white for my new kitchen and I’m very torn, I like both looks equally. But like you I know with either choice I want the island a different color or finish. So maybe you can share what you plan to do when the entire kitchen is painted. Will your island stay white or will it change again? Do your dark cabinets show finger prints or smudges? Following your posts with these changes is very helpful.
Thanks.
Thanks so much Dee! The plan is for the rest of the kitchen cabinets to be painted this summer (spreading out the expense over a few months rather than all at once!) and I will probably leave the island white too but who knows maybe someday I’ll get the itch to paint it a different color again. LOL!
The island is so gorgeous!…I am so happy to be able to see it painted white against the cherry cabinetry as I think I have finally convinced my hubby for me to either replace or paint the island white, while leaving the other cabinetry the cherry ….a compromise of sorts!….you must be so thrilled with it!…Love how you added the “feet”…
Thank you so much Shirley!! The plan is still to paint the rest of the cabinets but I definitely LOVE having the contrast too. It just feels so much brighter even with only doing the island. 🙂
It’s absolutely perfect. I love it, Vanessa!!!! We had about 500 “feet” when we moved into our house. You won’t believe it, but I think I lost my mind and threw them out!!! We had so much going on, and I hated how much dust they collected. This was before we painted the cabinets and did the floors, so it seemed like a good thing to do. I wish I had saved at least 4 just to put on the island. Good job girl…you rock-your kitchen is so pretty. The thick granite? really stands out now too!! XO
Thanks so much friend! And congrats again on the magazine feature!!
Your kitchen island is beautiful Vanessa! Painting the island makes the beautiful wood of the surrounding cabinets look even better.
Thank you Pam! 🙂
The feet were a really nice touch. You’re absolutely right when you say it makes the island look more like furniture. It was a subtle change that made a huge difference.
Thanks so much Scott!
It looks great!! I love the “feet” too…I’ve been thinking about adding feet to mine forever but just never have done it. You’ve inspired me! Love your bar stools too, Vanessa!!
Thanks Anita!
Looks so fresh and happy, I love it. Did they spray it right in place?
Yep! They tarped off the entire kitchen and created a wall out of plastic between the kitchen and the other rooms and then sprayed the island. It was so awesome but the fumes were awful so when we have the rest of the kitchen sprayed we will have to move out of the house while it’s done!
Love it! I didn’t know you could buy those panels.The ends of my island don’t have anything & I’ve wished for panels. Where did you get them? I’ve been wanting to do feet for awhile too.
That looks great, Vanessa. I have the same corbels and they are on for life I do believe. You are on a roll with the white paint.
Thanks so much Kim!! Can’t wait to do the rest of the kitchen!
I can relate to having a husband who freaks out every time you decide to pick up a paintbrush! Years ago I decided to paint my living room red, a lovely dark red, rich and elegant, but he happened to see it when I got the first coat on, which of course did NOT cover completely. He said, “It looks like a slaughterhouse in here!” I ran him off, and banned him from the room until I got it finished. Of course it was beautiful and he loved it then. Eventually he learned to trust my design choices. Sometimes you just have to plow through the uncertainty of others and go with your own instincts.
The island you painted turned out so beautiful, what an excellent job! It inspires me to change some things in my own kitchen! “Watch Out, Dear Hubby. I am heading for the paintbrushes!”
What a gorgeous transformation! I love how it just brightens up your kitchen!
JP
Thank you so much JP! 🙂
Your kitchen island is beautiful! I like the lighter color. Can’t wait to see the whole kitchen re-do.
Beautiful!!! We just bought a new house that we’re moving into at the end of May and it has nice wood cabinets and a wood island, but we were interested in painting the island a gray tone or something contrasting so it’s encouraging to see how well yours turned out. I like the idea of hiring it out instead of doing it myself since it’s such a permanent piece and the details you added finishes it off nicely! Thanks for sharing this!
Blessings,
Leslie
Thank you so much Leslie! 🙂