Manic Monday (not)

Wow, I can't believe it's been since Wednesday that I last posted. I've been/am a little under the weather and look forward to getting back to my regular broadcast schedule as soon as I can. The only major work that I was able to do the last part of the week was get the shelf paper installed on the lower half of the cabinets and then apply three coats of sealer on top of it (applying the clear coat sealer is probably the easiest part of this entire project). Oh, and all the drawers have received their three coats of off-white. Next, I can start applying the four coats of red to the remaining doors and drawer fronts. Needless to say, I'm way off schedule with my 30 day May challenge, but there are worse things in life, I suppose, like...running out of icecream, or COFFEE!

Days 17: Kitchen Cabinet Makeover Challenge

Today I got the very last coat of red paint on four cabinet doors. If I had the hinges sprayed with my anodized bronze paint, we could hang them! Oh well...the paint should cure for a couple of days anyway.

I also got the off-white basecoat on all the doors (one side of them anyway) and the drawers. If I'm ambitious enough, I might put another coat on those drawers before I go to bed tonight, but we'll see about that. I have a bit of an upset tummy at the moment so lying down and reading a book right about now seems much more enticing:)

I didn't get to post the before and after priming photos from the other day so I'll post them now. Tomorrow I'll take some photos of how the doors and drawers look at the moment...

A LOT of scrubbing and sanding went into these drawers and doors. The prepping is almost the hardest part - almost. (click to enlarge)


So much better already with two coats of primer!


On to priming the doors...

Days 15 & 16: Kitchen Cabinet Makeover Challenge + A Special Day

Two coats of primer on all the doors and drawers, folks! I was so tired of priming yesterday and really wanted to stop after the first coat. At one point I even cleaned up my brush and said "enough for today!". But...not adding that second coat of primer would put me behind a day, so I ended up pulling the brush back out and finishing up. Remodeling has certainly taught me the value of persistence and pressing forward - that's for sure!

Today, I won't be working on the cabinets at all:) It's a very special day and there are lots of other more important things to do because our six year old, Lindsay, will be graduating from kindergarten tonight. Cap and gown to iron, shoes to shine, flowers to buy...Where have the years gone? Lindsay sure has enjoyed her first year of school and (of course I have to brag a little) she's so smart! She loves to read and is now on a third grade reading level. Lindsay Lou, you should be very proud of yourself! We love you, dear!

"A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart." ~Author Unknown



Recent "Lindsay story":

Her older sister, Sydney (11), was getting annoyed at her younger sister, Zoe (5), because she didn't yet know how to buckle her own seatbelt and Sydney was always having to do it for her.

Sydney: Zoe...you need to learn to buckle your own seatbelt!!!
Lindsay: *big heavy sigh* Sydney, she has the rest of her life to learn how to do that!

Days 12 to 14: Kitchen Cabinet Makeover Challenge

Just a little update to let you know where I am with our cabinet project...

I spent yesterday degreasing and sanding all the drawers and one door that I forgot to do when I primed the others. Man, what an icky job! You really can't see the grime on your cabinetry until you use a good degreaser on them. I put one coat of primer on the doors and tomorrow I'll start priming the six drawers. I would like to get two coats of primer on everything by the end of the day tomorrow.

Yesterday I also installed the shelving with the exception of the upper corner cabinet. They look really nice! (Ben, my youngest daughter was lamenting over the fact that she couldn't see the shelf paper, lol!) I've been throwing around an idea...let me know what you think: *What if* I didn't install the door to the corner cabinet, added two thick glass shelves, and placed lighting inside at the top so that it would shine down through both shelves? I could use this corner cabinet to display a couple of decorative pieces, perhaps some greenery, and tastefully arranged cookbooks. I dunno...what would you do?



I have two weeks to go and here is what I have left to do:

-Put two coats of primer on 11 doors and 6 drawers
-Put basecoat on 11 doors and 6 drawers.
-Put four coats of red paint on 11 doors and 6 drawers
-Put final coat of red on 4 doors
-Remove lazy susan from bottom corner cabinet and prime and add four coats of off-white paint
-Add antiquing, distressing, and light drybrush technique to bottom cabinet base and all doors and drawers
-Apply protective wax to top and bottom cabinets and all doors and drawers
-Add shelf paper to bottom cabinets and drawers (possibly will have to order more paper)
-Spray hinges with anododized bronze spray paint
-Install doors, drawers, lazy susan, and the two corner cabinet shelves
-Install new handles

Days 10 & 11: Kitchen Cabinet Makeover Challenge

Actually, there was no "Day 10", or I should say, I didn't work on the cabinets yesterday, Day 10. I friend invited me over for a playdate and so I jumped on the opportunity to get away from the house to visit with another human being! We had a really nice visit and I'm so glad I went:)

But today was Day 11.....oh....Day 11! Somewhere between four trips to the school for various reasons (early morning drop off, a mid-morning play, afternoon pick-up of my 6yo, and a later afternoon pick-up of my 11yo) I was able to get another coat on the four doors I started (pictured in recent posts on top of the kitchen island), three coats of clearcoat on the shelves, and the rest of the doors degreased and sanded. It took a l l day. I think I wrapped up around 10ish tonight. But at least the rest of the doors are ready to be primed now. I still need to clean and sand the drawers, though. There are six of them.

I apologize for any typos. My eyes are crossing, lol, I'm thinking I'll save the proofreading for tomorrow:)

Days 7 to 9: Kitchen Cabinet Makeover Challenge

I probably don't have to tell you that I've been too busy to post about our cabinet progress over the last few days. But there has been progress none-the-less! I've worked on them everyday for the last ten days whether I've wanted to or not. I tell you, trying to squeeze in the time each day isn't easy, but as long as I've done *something*, I'm satisfied.

On to the photos...

The top cabinets (sans doors) have received their four coats of paint, the final "distressing" (which means I sand the edges lightly), and some antiquing glaze. All that's left to do to them is to gently drybrush them with a very light green (our wall color). It's a very subtle effect, but it gives the impression that their are other layers of paint under all that red. After that, I'll wax them. The bottom cabinets still need to be distressed and glazed. I can't believe how many steps are involved! When I see these quick makeover shows like Trading Spaces - and they paint cabinets - I'm just...what's the word, sickened?!! Lol, how in the world!!!!!????

I think I took these shots of the cabinets after the final coat of red and before distressing and glazing.









Last night, I was able to get the wallpaper/shelfpaper on all the shelves for the top cabinets. Today, I hope to get three coats of a protective finish on them and then we can install them. Yay!

Here's what the shelves look like:



The next step after clearcoating the shelves will be to sand and antique the bottom cabinets and to start working on cleaning and sanding those doors and drawers. I have an area set up in the garage now where I can work on all the doors at once.

Well, there's my update for today:)

The Woman Behind "Cottage Life"

I'm 32 years old.

I feel like I'm 19.

The picture above was taken when I was 30.

I've never seen an R rated movie in my life.

I long for simplicity.

I don't like to ask for help and rarely do.

I love yard sales and bargains.

I have one cup of coffee a day. It's waiting for me when I get up (hubs makes it) and I'll either drink it in the morning or have it over ice with whipped cream in the afternoon. I always add whipped cream on top...always.

Black and white photography inspires me.

I can't eat breakfast before 9 in the morning.

I love cuddling with the girls, giving them kisses and smelling their sweet skin and hair.

I have a heart murmur that's never given me any problems.

I like to make sure people are comfortable.

I married the only boy I ever kissed.

I can't stand cartoons made for grown ups. They annoy me to no end.

My husband loves cartoons made for grown ups.

I like white noise - it's soothing to me.

I don't like talking on the phone unless I need to.

I love baskets.

I am extremely detail oriented.

I love the idea of being completely organized.

I am utterly disorganized.

I worry too much.

I'm a dreamer.

I'm learning to let go of the things that weigh me down and negatively affect me.

I believe in kindred spirits.

I'm allergic to cats.

I wish I lived in a farmhouse.

Color is a necessity.

I can tell who has "kind eyes". It doesn't mean that you're not kind if you don't have them or that you are kind if you do have them. Certain people just have kind eyes. My father, Robin Williams, the father on The Waltons, (and for you local folks, Dan Miller the anchorman).

I've been a stay-at-home mother for 11 years.

I love nerds.

I feel sorry for old abandoned houses and have an urge to explore ones I discover (though I never actually have)

I'm sensitive to the cold. My house usually feels as warm as an old woman's home...

I'm enthralled with how things were done in the past.

I always root for the underdog.

I dance in the car.

I never pay attention to my fingernails unless I'm chewing on them. Filing them and painting them is a waste of my time.

I hate to drive.

I don't like sports.

I love spicy foods...yummmmm!

I'm a wee bit scatterbrained. (3 kids + remodeling = where's my brain?)

I strive to be a nurturing parent.

People often ask me to help them decorate.

I buy and listen to mucic according to my moods, no matter the genre.

When I was 16, my driving instructor gave me my liscense against her "better judgement".

I really have no idea how to correctly spell license.

I've never had a real car accident, though I backed into a parked moving truck within two days of buying our new van a few years ago.

I love the mountains. I wish I could be tucked away in a cabin somewhere right now.

I don't wear rings of any sort, not even my wedding. They annoy me.

If I hold the door for you, please say 'thank you'.

I show a lot of my emotions whether I want to or not. I hide even more out of complete necessity, though it hurts like crazy.

I've taught two of my girls to read.

I like to mow.

I long for solitude.

I don't like high heels.

I adore Drew Barrymore's personality...

I love do-it-yourself projects.

Art and poetry and music and words inspire me.

I love cozy evenings by the fire.

Icecream makes the world go round.

I can't bake cookies. Jeff is the cookie king in this house.

I'm drawn to artistic people and am blessed to know several.

I feel out of place among most people.

I'd love to take a photography class one of these days.

I love cowboy boots and cowboy hats, though I own neither. I secretly wish I were a cowgirl.

I'm a homebody and would only work full time if I absolutely had to. I would miss home too much...

Folding laundry is a bore. Matching socks for a family of five is torture.

I look forward to rainy days, for the most part.

I believe people don't smile enough.

I make a mean pot of soup.

I love blankets and have way too many.

I wish I could bottle the smell of a bookstore...the perfect aromatic blend of coffee and new books...ahhhh...

I'm afraid of heights.

Music is a necessity.

Our house is spider friendly.

Now that I'm in my 30's, I care less and less about what people think of me.

Laughter really is good medicine.

I have way too much work to do right now.