Hello followers! I’m sure you may be wondering why I haven’t posted any parties lately. A pending renovation of my kitchen island prohibited me from scheduling any parties for the past few months. I’m sharing what has been going on, and what I feel will be a game changer in available counter space for cooking and entertaining.
I never quite understood this high/low counter top-bar design. Some say it was to hide your sink – from what? It’s still out in the open! In any case it is what the builder’s design provided when I bought my home. My neighbor had her’s leveled into an actual kitchen island and it inspired me to do the same.
First I had to decide how I wanted this revamp to look, and that took more time than I originally expected (a couple of years). Something so permanent requires a lot of thought, and time to imagine what the end result may look like. After all it will last for years to come, so I’d best be happy with it! I had a budget in mind, which of course was greatly exceeded (with everything costing more these days). Still I knew the cost over time would only grow and if I didn’t move forward with it, I would regret it in the future.
My cabinets are already very dark and the granite is very busy. (Basically the only choices provided at the time of construction). To lighten this up a bit, I thought and searched a long time before deciding to add this curio chest to fill the large blank wall on one side of my kitchen. It provided additional storage for my many white serving platters and bowls, but no additional counter space. It also added a much needed brightness to the kitchen.
With my curio cabinet as inspiration, I wanted to renovate the island to match the two toned color palette and slightly distressed design. The width of the cabinetry would be expanded out to meet the ends of the pony wall, making room for a large drawer to store a hidden garbage pail and move my small narrow cabinet (used to store my baking sheets and cutting boards) to the other side of the island.
To ensure that I was correctly communicating what I wanted to the contractor, I created the above sketches that he said where very helpful.
I searched for antique corbels with no luck. I didn’t want it to look as distressed as the first photo, but the vintage feel was appealing and I wanted to add a little distressing to match the curio. Basically I wanted this island to be one of a kind and resemble a piece of furniture rather than traditional cabinetry.
Due to the addition of a farmhouse style apron sink (but in a stainless steel brass color), my existing cabinets could not be reused. The doors under the sink were too tall and couldn’t be refinished to achieve the look that I wanted (similar to the curio).
Before and after the demo.
My contractor constructed the cabinet sections of the island offsite, and then demoed the existing cabinetry to replace it with the newly designed pieces from my sketches. Modifications to the sketch were made as it came together where necessary.
The first piece to be completed and installed was this drawer to store a garbage container and enough room to store a supply of garbage bags. No more ugly visible garbage can.
Shiplap was first stained and then painted in a color similar to my curio, so that when a little distressing is added, the stained color will show beneath. At least that was the plan, but when the sanding of areas was applied, the stain did not show through at all, it went straight down to the raw wood, but still gave the appearance we were trying to replicate.
A stainless steel brass farmhouse sink, with two handle brass bridge faucet, brass covered electrical outlet and power button for the garbage disposal all added the pop of sparkle that blended in with the other brass and copper accessories throughout my kitchen and living areas.
I will not be changing out my countertops at this time, but hope to do that in the near future.
Sometimes a project that you imagine will go smoothly, has multiple setbacks that you can do very little to remedy. PATIENCE will be pushed to the extreme. The process and pieces that are needed don’t always come as easily as it may seem on HGTV. I’m a planner as you all know, so when the plan goes off course a lot of stress and aggravation rises to the surface by everyone involved.
A friend who witnessed my frustration first hand said, “It’s like giving birth to a baby. You have long periods of discomfort, but the end result is something you dearly love!”
- Lyndhurst 2 handle bridge kitchen faucet with side sprayer in matte gold. – Ebay
- Lordear 30″ x 21″ undermount kitchen farmhouse sink (gold) – Wayfair
- InSink Earator (push button for disposal gold) – Perigold
- Stain – Hampton Cottage TIS-058
- Paint – Cameo White MG3-32 (Behr)
- Hickory Hardware P2144-BGB American Diner Collection Cup Pull 3 Inch & 3-3/4 Inch (96mm) Hole Center, Center to Center, Brushed Golden Brass (on garbage drawer) – Amazon
- Leviton PFUS1-BR Pop-Up Floor Box with Dual Type A, 3.6 USB Charger, 15 Amp Outlet, Brass (electrical outlet)
After many, many snafooz, I ended up with a different quartz countertop than I originally selected being advised on the day of installation that my original choice was discontinued. I’ve learned that renovations involve a lot of disappointing promises not kept, lip service and pivoting on materials. In the end the alternative quartz option the stone company offered was more expensive (but they did not charge me the difference due to the multiple forms of miscommunication on their part) and in the end may be a better look that I originally planned.
The top trim is hard to see without squatting and standing very far away to see it (and I’m very short), but it’s there.
I had two decorative tins leftover that match my backsplash, so to tie the island to the backsplash one was placed on each side and framed. Finally a little distressing was added similar to my curio cabinet.
- Leviton PFUS1-BR Pop-Up Floor Box with Dual Type A, 3.6 USB Charger, 15 Amp Outlet, Brass (electrical outlet)
My original bar stools were now too tall and I sold them on Facebook marketplace to a very happy new homeowner, rather quickly. Bar stools vary in pricing and I didn’t want to buy anything overly expensive. I started shopping online for that high end look, at a low price. As always, I pinned multiple versions to a board on Pinterest (Loiret Kitchen Island inspiration); and looked at the photos over and over for a few days, trying to imagine how they would look in my space.
I finally decided on these Abbott 26″ Spindle Stool that I found the best price for on Overstock.com. I had a 15% off coupon, but of course more than a week later they went on sale for another 19% off. I’ve gambled in the past, waiting out a possible sale and the item I want ended up selling out and I couldn’t get it anymore. So I decided the overall price for these was reasonable enough with the discount and free shipping to move forward with my order. The stools do require some assembling, but it wasn’t difficult and I was very happy with the little added visual interest the spindled legs provided to the room.
I’m finally going to call this project complete, and moving on to party plans for the near future. Stay tuned! Let the parties begin!
S I P [Social Interactions and Parties] 