Renovation progress

Since my last post, we have progressed slowly but surely. We are so close to the finish line, but yet still so far away. See previous progress posts here and here.

Picking the perfect gray is one of my hardest challenges. I swear I tried these same colors in other rooms only to hate how they turned out elsewhere. It really goes to prove that you have to try the paint on your walls in your specific room to see if you like it. I painted this wall with my samples and left it there for a few days to see which color I liked the best at different times of day. I know it's silly, but I even put a star beside my favorite for different times of the day. The most stars by the end of my trial period WON!  I chose the bottom right sample which is Abalone by Benjamin Moore. I took a color chip to Lowe's and they did a color match for me. (I posted a page here for helpful hints when painting an interior room and choosing a color).

As you can see in these pictures, I did not paint up to the ceiling. That is intentional. We will have crown moulding to cover those areas. 

It felt like Christmas morning when my appliances were delivered! I bought them on a Black Friday sale...over a year ago. I couldn't pass up the deal, and I seriously thought we would have progressed faster than we have...

For floor prep and installation, read the tutorial here. 

These are the white shaker cabinets we chose:

Arcadia from Lowe's

Kitchen cabinets went up pretty fast once we shimmed them into place. 

*FYI, a house built in the 1950s is NOT square... That was the biggest challenge in installing the cabinets. You want to make sure the face of your cabinet is level. This may mean adding shims against the wall to achieve level.*

The easiest way to install upper cabinets is to measure 54" from the floor to the bottom of the upper cabinets. Measure and mark 54" about every 2-3 feet. Use a long level and draw a line at 54" making sure it is level. Locate your studs (usually every 16") by the knock method or using a stud locator tool. Screw a 2x4 into the studs with the top of the 2x4 even with your 54" line. This will give you a prop to rest your upper cabinets while screwing them into the studs and ensuring that they are level. IF your cabinet will not hit a stud, be sure to use sheetrock anchors. You do not want your upper cabinets crashing to the floor as soon as you fill them up with your dishes...

We will install white subway tile under the window and to the end of the cabinets.

I am so thrilled with how my barn lights above the sink turned out! Every light that I found was WAAY out of my price range. Like so:

by Barn Light Electric $148

by BarnLight Originals $97

So... being my frugal self, I KNEW I could find something cheaper than that. I found these lights at Lowe's for a whopping $31.97 each!!

Portfolio 10.75" Steel Dark Sky Outdoor Wall Light $31.97

I have Edison bulbs that I will install once construction has ceased. Those little boogers are pricey, and I've already broken one working around them.

Target $10.19

 There will be an additional cabinet on this wall to the right that will house my microwave, appliance garage, and dish drawers. That piece had to be custom and should be here soon! My chimney hood will also be above the stove with white subway tile going to the ceiling... I can't wait!

Here is a picture of our complete (minus paint) exterior renovation:

So, just to recap the progress so far:  

Before:

Progress:

(wall separating kitchen and dining room removed along with 2 interior doors being walled over)

Before: 

Progress:

(new wiring, insulation, sheetrock, paint, floor, cabinets, appliances, lighting, and exterior door)

Before:

Progress:

Stay tuned for more updates and hopefully the final reveal!!

Interior painting tips

Picking the perfect gray is one of my hardest challenges. I swear I tried these same colors in other rooms to hate how they turned out elsewhere. It really goes to prove that you have to try paint on your walls in your specific room to see if you like it. I painted this wall with my samples and left it there for a few days to see which color I liked the best at different times of day. I know it's silly, but I even put a star beside my favorite for different times of the day. The most stars by the end of my trial period WON! Silly I know, but I hate winding up with a color that I am unhappy with. I chose the bottom right sample which is Abalone by Benjamin Moore. I took a color chip to Lowe's and they did a color match for me.

To get the best results out of your interior painting, here are a few helpful hints:

• PRIME! Especially on a raw, newly mudded sheetrock wall, this is an ABSOLUTE must! Even if you mud/spackle a spot over a painted wall, prime that spot. Otherwise, you will have a different sheen to your paint due to the different absorbency of the surface. I use Kilz Latex 2 as my primer. *If you use latex as your color, use latex as your primer.* Cut in around the trim (ceiling/floor) with your primer (you don't have to paint under where you will install trim). Anywhere you want to have color, PRIME!

• Get a good roller and cut in brush. 
• 
  
  
  
• Get a good extension pole that will allow you to get almost to your ceiling. Be sure to check your pole length and compare it to your ceiling height. 
• For my paint tray, I buy an inexpensive tray that I can throw away. I'm lazy and don't like to wash it out each time. Or you can buy a good tray with disposable liners. Anything to shorten clean up time! 

•  My go-to interior wall sheen is eggshell. I do not like flat at all...unless you are painting chalk boards. Flat absorbs oil and grime and is impossible to clean. Eggshell is the perfect blend of flat and satin. I don't mind satin too much, but it can look too "plastic-y" and shiny in well-lit rooms. 
• For my trim (crown moulding, baseboards, doors, door frames, window trims, etc) I use white semi-gloss. I like that crisp "pop" that it gives. 
• I paint my trim FIRST. Be sure to allow each coat to dry before beginning the next coat. Especially with a glossy latex, if you do not give ample time to dry, the paint will pull and ball- up giving you an unflattering finish. 
• Generally, one coat of primer and two coats of color will suffice for your wall color. Since you painted your trim first, you can paint up to and even the edge of your moulding. With a wet rag, the color wipes off easily leaving a crisp, straight line.