The Kitchen Considered, Chapter 3: Going Grey

 The kitchen is moving right along...in fact it is finished!!!!
but I haven't had much time to share the details
so here we go:

Once the cabinets are installed, the majority of the
construction issues and design decisions

 have been worked out

 One of the hardest decisions I needed to make on this project is what color to paint the cabinets...do I stick with the tried and true white
or try something different?

after all it's only paint right?!

We mocked up about 6 different color ideas 

ranging from a dusty chalky white
to a really dark grey

I looked at colors from Benjamin Moore,
Restoration Hardware, Martha Stewart,
Dunn Edwards and Farrow and Ball... etc etc

who knew there are so many beautiful greys to choose from

It was interesting how the Restoration Hardware greys
almost looked purple
 next to some of the other paint companies we looked at

 In the end I chose this really nice true medium grey
 from Farrow and Ball

 called Lamp Room Grey

My 2nd choice was another Farrow and Ball color
Pavilion Grey

The walls will be painted Benjamin Moore
White Dove

There will be two types of stone used,

 Soapstone which is almost black once it's oiled 

and Carrera marble

The slabs of Carrera used for this project
are more grey, than white, which was what I was looking for

 I think the grey cabinets will be very interesting

 with the stone choices

The color on the right is Farrow and Ball
Cornforth White
which looks amazing with Carrera marble too

I will definitely use this color for another project

 Once the cabinets were installed,
 I realized that there was an opportunity to add another
large cabinet for additional pantry storage and cook books...

so we re-worked the large cabinet to the right

 I think sometimes people are hesitant to change things as the work progresses but in the end always insist on what you really want, even if it causes a delay,
because doing

 a kitchen is a huge important  project....
and you might really regret not having that little extra "thing"
you really wanted
in the end

We have really taken time with planning electrical options as well,
because I will have lamps on the floating shelves
and in the servers for ambient light....

can you guess which lamps?

 Soapstone is quarried at 3 centimeters
which is thicker than granite and marble but it is  very soft
 and can crack along the lighter grey variations in the slabs

 Often fabricators will add mesh or metal
to the back for more stability

Soapstone typically gets a simple eased edge
but can be fabricated with different ogee edges
if you like that look

 On the opposite end of the kitchen, where the table will be,
 I designed two servers and a storage bench,
which will have cushions and pillows

 The servers are topped with Carrera and have ample storage above and below for linens, party platters, candles and all of the other spill over items
that any kitchen usually has

The marble got a fancier edge detail too

I designed a center island on wheels
which will have a Carrera top as well

 Here we are with the stone installed
and the Lamproom grey color
going on the cabinets

 The big stainless farm sink is really great and
definitely
 a contemporary statement,
 but this is a modern country kitchen

I know what your thinking right now...

"why did she do stainless and not a big
Shaw's porcelain sink?"

Because it's been done over and over and over again!

I did price out doing the sink in soap stone
but there are always
 issues with drainage and leaking
 so I picked the stainless


And I love the idea of metal with this black stone

 There will be pendants above the sink
with the rest of the ceiling lighting being
semi flush with prismatic shades

a total of 11 fixtures

 A large slab of Carrera will go
behind the stove between the shelves
and the range hood is brushed stainless like the sink

When I took these photos we were on about week 5 or 6
and let me tell you
I have about had enough of microwaved casseroles for a life time...not to mention washing my dishes in the garage was starting to become sort of "normal",
how scary is that?



Hope you liked the tour!



I will share some more kitchen details on upcoming posts


happy remodeling

 kelley

Got Milk Paint?

What an interesting product

and really timely

 given our current fascination with all natural products 

and "going green"

 I have loved this product ever since I first began 

collecting primitives 

 years ago.

When I found an inexpensive little chest 

or something sort of interesting that just needed some TLC, 

I tried everything I could think of 

to get that dry, chalky finish found in real antique primitives.

And then I found Milk Paint.  

I purchased my first little bag from an antique store in 

Old Town, 

Orange, California.

Orange is one of THE BEST destinations 

for antiquing 

in Southern California. 

If you go, make a day of it...

you won't be disappointed

The Real Milk Paint company began in 1974 

and has been manufacturing the product much the same since then.  

A bag, which will make up about a pint, 

costs around $11 dollars.

Using only natural ingredients of milk proteins, 

lime and natural pigments, 

milk paint is sold only in powder form. 

The 20 colors are based on historical milk paint  

but, it can be mixed and re-worked to achieve any color you can think up.

Here is a link to their face book page which shows the amazing variety of colors that they have thought up....

and it includes the recipes!

If you are interested in the history of this type of paint

you can read the entire story here

What an amazing finish on this cabinetry...hummm should I try this?

These photos are the work of contemporary cabinet makers 

using milk paint to achieve the wonderful patina of a primitive, from the 1800s

 It fits perfectly with swedish furniture in patina and color 

or 

new re-edition furniture 

Decorative painters seem to love this paint, 

probably because of the simple raw quality it has, is so charming 

Interesting, that you can't really strip it off once it has been applied.  

Most artisans finish their work with linseed oil and then use wax or danish oil for that beautiful soft hand rubbed sheen...

There are so many ways to produce an interesting color and finish...

layering, sanding, burnishing,

it's really just your imagination 

and a bit of elbow grease

Have you used this paint?

Please share your ideas....if you have!

&

Thanks for taking a peek today

~kelley~

*all photos courtesy 

The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company