Operation Heart of the Home.
Mission: To affordably alter our kitchen to make it more our style and increase the functionality while still fitting our lifestyle.
Timeline: Late 2012 and early 2013 during several phases so we don’t lose the ability to actually use our kitchen.
Budget: under $3000 – preferably closer to $2000
Current Condition: We are slightly above ground zero with this mission. We already added a new fridge, and dishwasher, and revamped a kitchen table & chairs, painted a light fixture, renovated the desk area and hung new island lights. The overall condition of the kitchen can easily be described as dirty and flawed. When we bought the house, the backsplash and countertops were covered with some sort of sticky residue…I was able to clean most of it off the imperfect granite but the tiles have clung to it like stink on a diaper. The stovetop and oven-microwave combo were the only appliances left in the kitchen…the oven and microwave function wonderfully. The stovetop however is chipped and has a downdraft ventilation system that doesn’t work. Plus a burner is broken. The two sinks are fully functional – but the faucets leak at the seal with the countertop. This normally would cause a problem but we noticed that if we only use the faucets to half flow, the amount of leakage is minimal and drains right back into the sink. Full blast while wearing white shorts is not a good idea. The cabinets get a B+. They are properly installed and hold everything we need but besides being knobless for the last 18 months, the doors are marked up and gashed. The floor does blend into the cabinets – and like every Bachelorette knows…too much wood in a room is not always a good thing. There are minimal details in this space including a more traditional rope style crown molding piece on top of the cabinets (not my choice but I think we can make it work) and a very plain and simple island with very traditional corbels.
So that’s where we are at in our heart of the home. We don’t hate the kitchen – but it definitely would suit us more with a few simple changes.
One of the easiest changes would be hardware.
Some folks asked us if we removed all the knobs when we moved in to baby-proof the kitchen for Will. I reply…um…okay sure. But the answer is no. We never had any. It would have definitely been interesting to see what the previous owners had 🙂 They did however leave the holes for us. So kind 🙂
Excuse the mess…I can never seem to keep a countertop free from clutter.
The funny thing about going a year and a half without knobs is that you end up learning exactly how to grab the corners of each drawer or door to open it quickly. And when people came over they struggled with getting their own fork or glass because they couldn’t open the cabinet…and I was all judgey in my brain…like dude, you gotta learn how to open a cabinet if you wanna survive Armegeddon or zombies one day. Searching for canned goods kept Will Smith alive ya know?!
Anyhoo…my goal was to find simple and dark hardware that matched the new island light fixtures. The cabinets will probably be painted in the near future (I’m crossing my fingers for the next two weeks!) so the dark hardware would be just the thing to make them pop.
***For all you PLEASE-DONT-PAINT-YOUR-CABINETS-PEEPS out there….I had wood hued cabinets in my last house…I’m ready for change…and let’s face it – I look better with white in the background vs. orangey wood…and it’s all about making me look good.
I found the Brainerd brand cup pulls from Lowes a while back and we fell in love. HARD. Like Paula-Deen-with-her-first-stick-of-butter hard. We loved the simple style…the fact that it was larger than other cup pulls available in stock for Jeremy’s beefy hands…and hidden screws. Plus, we feel like cup pulls are like a hey-what’s-up kinda nod to country kitchens (not that we are going all-out-country but we do live way out there so it fits). The other thing we loved about it is the fact that it has a silvery undertone. Oil-rubbed bronze hardware all has a gold undertone but we are mixing and matching finishes in this kitchen (stainless fridge, dishwasher, nickel future faucets – black countertops, black accents on stove, dark gray island lights with silvery lining)…so gold is kinda out for us and silvery is kinda in…hence our bff called cast iron…or soft iron…or wrought iron 🙂
But low and behold, Lowes doesn’t sell a knob that matches the iron cup pull. (???) So after scouring the internet for matching knobs I decided that it was worth checking Home Depot’s Martha’s line…they had soft iron knobs that looked simple enough and I was desparate to find ones that didn’t cost $8 each. Thankfully good ole Martha pulled through for me (punny!). She had a bowl knob that matched perfectly and were pretty cheap at $2 a piece.
Now to tackle installing the cup pulls on drawers that already had a hole.
I used a piece of cardstock to create a template. First by marking where the hole is and making sure the top of the card lined up with the top of the drawer. Then I placed my cup pull over the card – making sure the hole was covered and the knob was centered.
I double checked the measurements on both sides to make sure it was centered.
Once I was positive that my tracing was centered and level, I could mark the holes for drilling by punching the tip of the pencil through the template card.
It’s confusing but our cup pulls had two sets of holes you could screw into. I did them both because they would be all covered anyway and this was Jer (who was weilding the drill) could decide which set to use.
Then I just took a pen and marked each drawer for predrilling for the pulls…
As you can see – the inside marks are the ones we eventually used. That’s because our drawer fronts are a little deep and the inside screw holes were better suited for longer screws.
Speaking of screws….we had to do some tweaking to ours.
In the package came a set of short screws and a set of long ones. The long ones were of the break-away variety. Sortof like tear away basketball pants but totally different 🙂 The threads of the screws are segregated into different sections…so you can break away part of the screw to make it the length you need.
This was our first experience with break away screws. (Here’s a picture if you need a visual) These are great for making the screws the perfect length…these are not so great because dude, you are trying to break metal. And last time I checked, metal is kinda hard.
We found that you have to hold one screw with pliers or a grip with the direction of the threads right where you want to break it and then hold the end that you want to break off with another set perpendicular to the other grip. Then with your giant rippling forearm muscles (is it a coincidence that Jeremy was wearing a Popeye shirt? I think not.) you have to rock the end back and forth till it breaks.
Once we had all our metal-wrestling (and workout for the day!) done, we simply screwed these bad boys in.
I love love love the finish and the simplicity.
And the existing holes are completely covered so we didn’t have to worry about them peeking out from underneath the cup pulls 🙂
Overall – such a simple upgrade but one that is so beneficial to all our guests. I still catch myself grabbing the corners of the drawers instead of using the pulls simply out of habit but Jeremy swears that he can’t imagine jamming his bigger fingertips into the tight crevices ever again (haha).
It’s also fun to see that our $30 pendants match them perfectly. Undertones bother me so I’m glad we held out for matching ones instead of just going with the more popular oil-rubbed version.
Here’s a good photo of the side of the island…doesn’t it look cheap!? I think it would be so much nicer with chunky leg details or beadboard or something to make it look less than an afterthought. I guess I’ll have to search Pinterest for inspiration 🙂
Oh and I failed to mention this earlier but those recessed light caps…the gold ones…the ones that stand out like pock marks on a teenager…they can not be spray painted soon enough.
I also wanted to ask ya a question – sortof like a poll…should we glue a pull on that last drawer. I think yes. Jeremy said there is no way to screw it in because the sink comes so close behind it so we would have to glue it on…which I don’t know about sturdiness. This is very important. life changing decisions.
So here is the current condition….
And here is what we want to do with Phase 2 of Operation Heart of the Home. We want to paint all the cabinets. The island will get a different color 🙂 The top cabinets and bottom cabinets will match (Jeremy doesn’t prefer the two-toned and I aim to please)…so we are thinking white…possibly a glaze. The cabinet above the stove top is very damaged with the smoke and moisture that has continually beat on it. So the plan is to buy a hood and build around it so that it looks built in and have it vent to the outside. This poses a problem since most vents need ductwork and we don’t have that. We came up with a plan…we’ll share it later. Also – we can not wait to replace the faucets. It will be so nice not to have a puddle on the countertop around the bottoms…and did I mention they are gold?!
Phase three is a big deal…hopefully we can pick out a great tile for the backsplash. It needs to be washable…we are messy. We also hope to replace the stovetop ($$$) which may require a bigger hole in the granite ($$) which is definitely something we will look into hiring out. And then there is the island…painting it right now is nothing…reworking the details of it will be a much bigger task but hopefully it will look less cheap and really be a focal point in the space.
So how’s that for a lot of info?!
And did I mention that we want to get phase 2 done this month?
Yeah. This pregnancy is starting to get a little tougher…so I need to get my nesting on before I put on that last thirty pounds. Yes, I am one of those girls that packs on like 60 lbs when I’m growing babies – don’t judge me 🙂 But seriously – how bout them knobs?! Took me long enough, huh?!
I VOTE YES…ADD THAT EXTRA PULL TO PULL IT ALTOGETHER. THE KNOBS ARE SO SIMPLE…YET THEY ADD SO MUCH. Perfection!
OOPS. the caps were on…too tired to delete. am not shouting at you…NEVER!!!
Hey Katie!!
I love your kitchen tweaks! I vote YES for glueing on a pull to that drawer face near the sink.
I can’t wait to see what color you go with for the cabinets and the island. Are you planning to use your new sprayer for painting them?
I love the new knobs and I think that the island being a different colour is an awesome idea! It’s great to add a splash of colour to just a bit of your kitchen! Or even just contrast. I have seen dark wood islands with white or beige kitchens and it looks great.
The handles look great! I vote for gluing a drawer pull below the sink. I looked at the picture before reading and though “Oh no, she forgot one. Wait, that can’t be right, maybe she ran out…..” The glue will have to be strong enough to withstand someone pulling on it.
You should definitely glue a pull on that last drawer- it just looks like you forgot even if it doesn’t actually work- though you may have to deal with a few more house guests failing to opening a cabinet 🙂
Oh Emm Gee!!! LOVE the hardware, it’s exactly what i was hoping you’d pick when i started reading the post. definitely glue the handle on the last ‘drawer’, it looks funky without it, no idea exactly how but definitely worth figuring out! also, definitely paint the cabinets, you’ll love them painted and changing the island color to contrast is perfect for the space. lastly, how about glass subway tiles for your backsplash, or a mix of glass & ceramic (like they sell pre-arranged) cause it would be super cute. oh, and also, you’re adorable, why would anyone judge a bacon-loving baby-growing crafty mamma like you??
🙂
Love your ideas. Can’t wait to see those cabinets painted and that gold gone! What was napolean thinking?! Totally vote for gluing that sucker on or even removing the wood piece, screwing it through and re attaching it. If that’s not too hard. Although a loose knob is probably safer than a loose chunk of wood with little ones.
Looks great! I think you should glue a pull on that last one–love the plan breakdown. It will look wonderful.
Sounds like a great plan! I am nearing the completion of my kitchen. I painted my cabinets white. They were 60’s dark wood cabinets and I also had dark stained beadboard and trim in there- all have gone white. I used the cupboard pulls and three ring knobs I found on Overstock in satin nickel and love the look. I’m doing light gray walls. Going for simple and classic but will have some fun pops of color in there. I was torn between painting my cabinets white or gray and now I kind of wish I went with the gray only b/c I have a dog in there, as well as two little boys, my hubby and a 14 yr old stepdaughter and boy am I wiping those things obsessively. A magic eraser will be your best friend b/c when you get that first black scuff on your white cabinets and you nearly have a heart attack, remember that magic eraser will be your AED machine. And I use the ones from Dollar General ($1.50 for a 2 pack I think) and they work great!
Woot woot – I love the drawer pulls! I love the plan you have to make the kitchen more “you”. It’s amazing how much little tweaks make a big difference to a room’s appearance – kinda like putting on mascara and lipgloss makes a gal feel pulled together.
ha! I didn’t even notice the lack of knobs before. Looking good! Also, definitely add another pull to the false drawer!
Have you come across ‘just beachy’ she bulked her island up and made it look custom–just thought you might like the inspiration!
http://chriskauffman.blogspot.com/2012/05/kitchen-island-extension-details-and.html?m=1
Love the plan 🙂
Seriously though… those faucets would have had to go the minute I moved in… I can’t deal with gold and silver hardware in the same room You know that little eye twitch that Yzma from the Emperor’s New Groove does? I’m doing that just thinking about two two metals.
And I’ve been dying to paint our maple cabinets since the day we moved into our new house, but I’m making myself wait until the finish on them as seen better days.
White cabinets and cup pulls? Hi, dream kitchen.
I am also on Team Add A Pull Under The Sink. It looks a bit unfinished at the moment. Like you lost momentum while adding the others. 🙂
Oooh – thanks! I’ll have to check it out!
xo – kb
Looks great! Your all’s plans and ideas sound so pretty! The kitchen will look like a totally different space when you are finished. Oh…no judging coming from Nashville…my husband and I removed our cabinet doors the week we moved into our house and they stayes doorless for almost four years. Yes. I said years. Good grief, right?
thanks for the tip Cordia – I need all the magic I can get 🙂
xo – kb
I really like the new hardware, and I can’t wait to see what y’all end up doing! As for that faux drawer, I think it needs a pull, BUT, people who don’t know better will definitely try to use it to open that drawer without thinking, so it needs to be affixed in a super sturdy and very permanent way. Fifteen years down the road when you decide you want a space-age inspired kitchen, you might be stuck (literally) with those pulls. Hopefully someone at Lowe’s/Home Depot/a kitchen expert has some ideas?!
Oooh the cabinets are going to look amazing white! The whole time I was reading I was saying “paint the cabinets white!” in my head. Also, I have a similar builder-grade island with a blah side and I want to add a cookbook bookcase on the side somehow. If you do it first then it’s less thinking for me 🙂
Is it actually a drawer or it is a fake drawer front? It looks like the sink would make a drawer impossible in that location. Either way, it needs a pull. A fake front would have no trouble with a glued-on pull. The pull would be just for looks, right? A real drawer might require some TLC when opening the drawer.
Without the pull, it looks like it lives in a house where the homeowner doesn’t care.
BTW, why do you feel that you need new backsplash? The splash that’s in place looks great to my eye.
Riley
I love the glass/ceramic look but I’m thinking I might go with something a little more classic – marble? or maybe subway tile with a herringbone pattern? no idea yet but it’s okay – phase three is a long way off 🙂
xo – kb
I think we will spray the doors…but the cabinet frames are gettin the ole paint brush 🙂
xo – kb
I’m curious as to your plan for painting the cabinets……I love painted cabinets but in a past house the painter did not do a good job. I’ve considered painting mine here but I am not sure how to begin.
haha…or should I say HAHA!
xo – kb
I agree. I vote for the pull on the last “drawer” too. Maybe Hard as Nails will work or some type of construction adhesive.
Love this! Amazing!
The knobs look great!! We don’t have any hardware on our kitchen cabinets and I’m too chicken to add it! I’m terrified that I’ll drill the holes crooked and then it’ll look worse than it already does!
Your kitchen plans sound tiring, but I’m excited to see the outcome!
Love the new pulls! They will look great with painted cabinets. Have you thought about framing the end of the island and painting it with chalk paint or even magnetic chalk paint for Will and his baby brother? The blog Dear Lillie did a great job of doing this to her island and it doesn’t look cheap at all. Any updates coming soon on your monthly pregnancy pics? Love reading the blog, so inspirational!
1. LOVE the knobs and pulls! AND they will look great with white cabinets!
2. SO excited to see the island a different color. I love that idea. Have seen it on pinterest and, if I had an island, I would do the same.
3. I agree with you that that faux drawer would look great with a pull glued on.
GOOD LUCK WITH THE NEXT PHASE!!
love the knobs and all the plans! wish i had the courage to tackle such a project in the third trimester, but smaller more sewing related projects call my name at the moment. and i’m right there with you girl. is it just me that feels like 10 of those lbs settle on the rear end? 😉
“too much wood in a room is not always a good thing”
HAHAH. Totally pulling a Rod Stewart but have I told you lately that I love you? 😉
So excited to hear about the plans for the kitchen. The knobs and pulls already make such a huge difference and I vote yet for adding another handle on the faux-drawer. Quick question though—any reason you decided to add the handles/knobs BEFORE painting? Seems like it would have been easier to not worry about painting around them or taping off each pull/knob before spraying or rolling the cabinet fronts.
Looks great! Excited to see the progress. I vote yes for gluing it on… perhaps some gorilla glue?
Yes, put the pull on the last drawer! I think it looks a little lonely right now! I can’t wait to see how your kitchen turns out!
Katie, you should check out the LED recessed lights they are selling at Home Depot. They come with their own white housing, you just take out the old light bulb, pop out the old housing and then pop in the new light. They were super easy to install and they are SO bright and cheery. The other great thing is that they can be dimmed and are immediately lit up unlike CFLs. We like them better than the old incandescents. We were initially unsure of the cost of putting them in ($25 per light), but they are designed to last for years and years.
I love your kitchen. It’s funny, I actually posted to my blog today about our new kitchen with plans for it and they are VERY similar to y’all’s plans! (In details, not in layout.) We’re doing white subway tile for our backsplash…easy to wipe off and classic looking.
Can’t wait to see your kitchen completed!!!
I vote no to the cup pull. Although it would look better we find that people pull on hardware even if it should be obvious that it doesn’t work and eventually it will get pulled off or it will break the false drawer front. Not worth it. Good luck on the kitchen facelift!!
I say yes to adding the extra pull, just for balance.
And I am PUMPED to see your kitchen transform, love the ideas you talked about!!! It sounds like it’s going to be awesome 🙂
Not really on topic but I must say that I’m glad you gain a lot of weight too. I’m 34 weeks and currently up 40+lbs. Last time I gained almost 50 as well. I lost it pretty easily by putting the ol’ boobs to work so I’m not worried about long term stuff but its nice to hear from other women who don’t fall into the “Oh, I’m so huge, I’ve gained 17lbs category.”
Ugh, I feel you on the no knobs thing. Our current kitchen has no knobs on anything…you end up with these dirty, greasy corners on all of your cabinets, right where you have to grab to open. So gross.
LOVE those handles! I can’t wait to see your kitchen changes. Here’s another island link I found on pinterest (I love the added trim detail to the back and side)-
http://starterhometodreamhome.blogspot.com/2010/04/kitchen-island-reveal.html
I vote to add a pull to that piece by the sink, too! So many amazing color options for your island! Ahh! excited to see what y’all do 🙂
I’m agreeing with everyone else – gotta glue a pull on that door. How is Will handling the temptation of handles? My twin 1.5yr old boys love cabinets/doors and we currently don’t have hardware in our new place so they can’t open them . I’m getting ready to add hardware and dreading how long it’s going to take me to baby proof…
Oooo I love the subway tile in the Herringbone pattern!
I vote herringbone subway!!! Amazing!
YES you MUST put the last knob on that drawer front. It would make me crazy to have it not match the rest!
I love the cup pulls. I have them in my kitchen and I love them!
And please, please, please get rid of those awful faucets! They are terrible. Gold?! I thought cheapo chrome was bad, but those have nothing on the gold!
He’s been able to have his own drawer since day one and he knows the drawer that holds his forks and the cupcake tins 🙂 But other than that – he knows that he gets in trouble if he goes into other cabinets – so it’s not been a huge struggle. I did notice he opened his own drawer today with the cup pull 🙂
xo – kb
Lookin’ good!
The faux-drawer front needs a pull, for sure. It’ll probably need some holes drilled in it AS IF you were installing a pull by using screws from the inaccessible back (sink) side. But then, you take your pull and glue some screws in the threads with epoxy (or FastSteel), snap off the screw heads, and epoxy the headless screws in the holes you’ve drilled in the wood. That’s how we did one in our old kitchen. Worked like a charm.
Hi Katie,
I just wanted to tell you how much I love your blog. Whenever I have crappy days (which would be days like today where I got into a small car accident 🙁 because of a man with to much road rage!) I can always count on your humor to make me smile. I was totally feeling down and thanks to some late night bower power reading I can go to bed much calmer now 🙂 You really have a post writing skill, hope you continue it for a long time.
xx Bridget
Ooooh…I am dying to see what you guys do! My kitchen is almost identical to yours: wood cabinets and floors that match and black granite. I want to paint the cabinets white, but a glazed cabinet would probably be more forgiving. My kids go back to school next week and I’ll have more free time, so if you could get this done soon I’d appreciate it! 😉
I did EXACTLY what you did. I had plain wood cabinets w/o hardware and at first I *just* added hardware.. here is what that change looked like:
http://www.themoney-pit.com/2012/04/updating-cabinets-with-door-hardware.html
But now I have finally painted the cabinets and here is what that looks like:
http://www.themoney-pit.com/2012/08/kitchen-reveal-80s-to-awesome.html
I think that in itself is PROOF POSITIVE that you should paint! 😀 Paint-haters be dammed!
I think I gain 17 lbs after a big lunch 🙂
Seriously though – I think it just goes to show that everyone is different and that you just do whatever is healthy for you!
xo – kb
I’m pro drawer pull!
I also vote for a muddy gray island color. Not that you were asking. Ha.
Excited to see it all come together! Are you planning on painting the wall moulding while you’re up there or holding off? Although its probably kind of tricky since it’s open to the living room. Just curious!
Does phase 2 require undoing all the knobs u just installed? Eek!
Actually we wanted to add the handles before because we don’t want to redrill after we paint…so we figured marking up the holes and ensuring they fit all nice and purty first was not a bad idea and didn’t add too much to our workload because removing them would be maybe an extra ten minutes if that.
xo – kb
Yes – but we made sure not to tighten them too tight…nothing would bum us out like stripped screw heads 🙂
xo – kb
I want to…but we will have to wait and see how much time we have.
xo – kb
I considered doing a kid zone right there…or bookshelves for cookbooks…or even just shallow shelves for whatever…but in the end, I think we have enough space to do kid zones in other places. It’s hard to make that decision.
xo – kb
I’ll definitely show some photos down the line of the backsplash….they didn’t seal it properly and the tile and the grout not only was improperly installed (they actually installed the first row upside down so the cut line is on the top vs the bottom or none at all – erg!). Plus, I have used many different types of cleaners but none seem to work well since the tile has years of buildup on it. I actually used a razor to scrape it…yuck. In the end, I would rather replace it since I’d much rather keep the bacon grease off the walls and in my mouth 🙂
xo – kb
Wow- those knobs and pulls make a big impact! And I agree- glue one or. Or maybe you can add the break away screw, and screw holes into the fake drawer face and sort of push it into position, so it’s sturdier.
Wow- you’re backsplash really “makes” it! Nice job 🙂
i think the hardware looks great, good choice. def. liquid nails that faux drawer handle on! i’d be too lazy to paint all the cabinets BUT i would def. beef up that island with some bead-board and side columns or big fancy brackets and paint the island and the new range hood (if you’re doing wood) when you install…great accent pieces! i’d go with a pop of red or even a cream or distressed black would look awesome….good luck!
Oh man, do you really want to paint them?? I think your cabinets are lovely the way they are (especially w/ your new drawer pulls). The cabinets seems to be in good shape and good wood. Maybe I’m wrong…I understand it not being your style (and it’s not particularly mine either), but they look expensive/high end…at least to me 🙂
Team Drawer Pull! No, that is not an indecent exposure proposition of particular vampire’s undergarments. Glittering bums…ewww. But I wouldn’t glue it. Handles or bums. Even Bondo might not hold up to side swiping it with hips that got wider than you realized while nourishing another human being. Not that I have ANY idea of that. Yes I am expecting Number Four, thankyouverymuch!
I have fake drawer fronts in my bathroom that popped off with a little chisel-and-hammer action from underneath, then a good yank. Wow, this is really sounding dirty! But they came right off, got their new hardware screwed on, and were glued back no problem. Another option is a handy dandy tool whose name I don’t know. It looks like a long flexible plastic (thick) cord. The tip is inserted to the screw, and the end is stuck into your drill gun. It makes it possible to sink screws from around the corner. A little temperamental, but it gets the job done!
I definitely vote yes on gluing handle on to make it look cohesive. I do have a question for you. Since you are planning on painting the cabinets anyways, why didn’t you just putty over the screw holes in the cabinets and then place the handles where you wanted them?
Would the island look more balanced with one more cup pull? Yep. But I am all about “Let’s not give Katie any more trouble than she needs, so that she has time to eat more bacon.”
Here’s the thing: People are going to pull on it. And pull on it. And pull on it… and then they are going to tell you the drawer is stuck, and you are going to have to explain that there isn’t really a drawer there. Multiply this by the number of events you have over the next many years… and the inconvenience might not balance out (ha! punny) the lack of symmetry.
I’m on team add-a-pull. Another idea is to add a non-bathroomy bathroom towel bar, although you may be happy with using the d/w handle. Just an idea. Also, team paint. We have SW Off White cabs (went with enamel) & a dark walnut island. If you’re thinking subway or marble backsplash down the line, be sure to grab a tile to match the paint. When the whites are off, it tends to throw the whole look off. We ended up using bone tile to match our paint, but it was a beast to find!!
Can you pull off that drawer panel, screw on the handle and then reattach the panel?
I have been working hardcore on our kitchen lately. I think we’ve spent around $6000 to install an entire kitchen, new appliances, painting Craigslist found cabinets to match the white Ikea double oven and cooktop cabinets we needed, today I installed our pantry( double upper cabinets, side by side and stacked) and painted the walls! {finally not a dirty grey} new crystal(acrylic) knob pulls installed! And cut out the hole for the cooktop in the butcher block. (need to figure out how to seal that baby) All that is left is to install countertop along the wall, gas lines run for the cooktop, our antique sink and plumbing(and one day a island vent hood). I must be really nesting early lol, 13 weeks to go! )
Hi Katie, it’s looking great.
Totally agree on painting the cabinets. I did exactly the same thing & it was a transformation! I have also painted, as an in the meantime measure, my tiles white. They were a hideous almond/beige colour with “occasional” individual picture tiles depicting the four seasons … lovely, not!
Surprisingly the painted tiles have turned out brilliantly.
Girl, glue that sucker on there! Oh, and hit up the home depot (I know, I know, true value blahblahblah, and nothing against them- heck my dad managed one when I was my daughters age) for some cheap wood legs and some bead board and paint those suckers the same color you paint the island. Cuteness. For realz.
Love it! 🙂 And I think you should glue the pull on too!
I am so excited for that kitchen redo!!! Can’t wait for some after pics. I bet it will be a huge hit.
Nicely done! Being that I am about 5 weeks from my due date, I am in awe (and totally jealous) that you are taking on house projects.
Ignore those who think cabinets should not be painted, they will look fabulous in white. Good Luck!
Glue that puppy on.
looks great! i think you should glue a pull on that last drawer.
It’s amazing what a little hard ware will do! Looks great! I totally vote for gluing that piece on the island.
Any word about the possibility working from home again in the near future? or after baby 2? Just curious!
Definitely add the additional pull to the island! Would it have made more sense to mount the hardware after you painted the cabinets?
Love your plans!! Great phasing. I would add the pull and recommend using gorilla glue. That stuff is awesome…just be careful, it does dry white so don’t be messy.
Love the new hardware. Love that you made a template — I wish my husband had used one because we have one drawer pull that’s not aligned with the one above it. He says you cant tell because it’s a wavy pull anyway, and i’t adds character. Yeah, right. I think you should add a pull on the “fake” drawer where the sink is.
I hope the former owners really loved their knobs. Maybe they were something custom and personal like with their holograph pictures on them or something. You know, something totally amazing and worth stealing from the new owners.
The new hardware looks great–I love the mix and match going on! And I say go for gluing a pull to that drawer. It shouldn’t have to stand up to too much since it won’t actually be used, right?
Haven’t had a chance to read the full blog post but love the hardware! We just redid our cabinets (painted white) and I have struggle with which knobs to choose for it. Love the ones you picked! I saw a quick comment at the end when you said your pregnancy is getting harder. I am due Oct. 26th with a boy and have followed you along the way. I have a three year old that was born in May. I must say this pregnancy seems harder than the first with the summer months…are you experiencing the same heat related…overly busy plans due to summer, DIY projects, and chasing a toddler all at the same time-fatigue? They say you get your energy back third trimester but I am exhausted! However, I too have steped back to really take in the last trimester to focus on this blessing and to get prepared for our little guy. Sending you a peaceful, healthy, and enjoyable third trimester vibe!
love the pulls and knobs! I would definitely glue one on that last drawer. It sort of looks like “one of these things is not like the other..” with out it. hoping to paint our cabinets in the next few months so keep us posted on your progress. we’re a bit nervous but excited to do it!!
oh! and right there with you with gaining a ton of weight during pregnancy!! I think I was 50lb with each of my kids. good times 😉
I vote yes for that extra pull too! But make sure it is on there GOOD because someone is bound to try and open that ‘drawer’
love the new look! I think painted cabinets will be awesome.
and definitely add a pull on that fake drawer!
I love your plans! I started a similar overhaul this summer. I need to get moving on painting cabinets myself! It just seems like such a huge project for me to do on my own (hubby is not handy) while working full time with a toddler. I am hoping to do each cabinet bank in stages. Can’t wait to follow along!
herringbone pattern sounds fab. and def the extra pull.
Hardware makes such a big difference in the function and look of a space. Love the knobs and pulls you chose, and the lights are great.
For the ends and back of your island, I would consider squaring up the toe kicks on the end (to make a solid rectangle) and add trim. Either a simple picture frame detail (you can see what we did on our kitchen cabinets here: http://ourhumbleabowedblog.com/2012/03/13/stick-a-fork-in-it/)or letter box trim similar to the trim in your office. I think that would make the ends look more finished, and give a little detail. Regardless, I know you’ll come up with something great, just wanted to throw that idea out there…
Great choice on the hardware – it looks fantastic!
When we moved into our current house the hardware on the cabinets was beat and scratched from 30 years of use. AND GOLD! We removed everything and had it powder coated – I think? They were refinished somehow and now look like wroght iron. HOWEVER the refinishing process took forever – they were dropped off and not ready to be picked up until nearly a month later. We got very good at opening cabinets by gripping the corners. I still have girlfriends who don’t use the knobs because they can’t seem to retrain their fingers!
I tend to like kitchens without knobs, but I think it’s because growing up, my parents’ kitchen never had knobs and still doesn’t. I think knobs look great, but also appreciate the clean lines of none at all. And for the record I vote to glue one on that island drawer. Will you be doing the same for in front of the stove top?
Love the new hardware! I can’t wait to see the cabinets painted white 🙂 and new faucets! And I’d definitely glue a pull onto the false drawer by the sink, because I’m anal like that. Good luck! :))
Please, Please, PLEASE do a step-by -step when you paint your cabinets! I am DYING to paint ours, they are just nasty and there is no money in the budget for new cabinets. But I’m terrified of painting them, seems like a lot of work and I I want to be sure we do it properly! We are going to do a pressed tin back splash and get new counter-tops..ours are currently TILE! EW! The grout is so gross and who puts in tile countertops? The idiots we bought this house from, that’s who…Love your new pulls, I’m currently looking for new pulls too. Our current ones are gold *sigh*, there is no other gold in this kitchen. Must have been on sale..
Yay knobs! They look great. I would glue a knob on the sink drawer front just so you have symmetry. I can’t wait to see the rest of the makeover.
We painted our cabinets in our old house and LOVED them!!! We originally had plain slab doors and I added trim to the doors and painted them all white and LOVED IT!. You can see my before and afters here as well as how we did it http://livelovelaughrenovate.blogspot.ca/2010/08/big-kitchen-reveal.html
It took me about 2 weeks to do it all BUT I had a problem with humidity and raccoons walking on my freshly painted doors! Otherwise it would have taken much less time. AND the doors held up no problem to the paint! We moved about a year later and there were no chips at all in the doors!
I vote yes to another handle on that drawer – no one will know it’s glued 🙂 Also, just FYI you can get some awesome prices on hardware from eBay – cheap cheap cheap! Looks awesome, cannot wait to see phase 2.
LOVE IT!!!
I would totally glue the ‘fake’ pull on the drawer 🙂
Looks great! Excited to see the progress!! I agree with Jeremy on this one. It looks fine without a knob…and you don’t want that to be an issue when you have guests over! They’ll grab it, and try to open it! Also, there are no knobs where the stove is, and it looks fine!
My husband and I just installed knobs and pulls in our kitchen and I am obsessed with how much of a difference they make. And I too find myself still sticking my fingers in the side to pull things out SO ANNOYING! I think on your island I would do the glue on handle. But that has been a little side “argument” between my husband and I. I don’t want one put on the front side of the sink. I am 5’6 and if I stand there to do dishes the pull hits in really uncomfortable ways. Luckily, Lowes messed up our order and gave us 2 of the completely wrong pulls so we are short a couple meaning that argument is on the back-burner hopefully to be forgotten 🙂 Oh and Lowes was a little disappointing with selection but we really like what we got, ORB. And I refused any of the eye ball knobs like Sherry had to deal with.
Totally glue one on! (oh that sounded weird) But yes, it looks odd with out it. too bad you can’t do one of those flip out fronts to hid dirty sponges. I love mine! but for the life of me i can’t even recall if we put a nob on the font????? Pregnancy brain stinks.
Amazing what a little kitchen jewelry can do, no? It looks great! I’m not a fan of the faux drawer because someone always tries to open it and comments about it. Super annoying. But, that said, I think you should glue it to try it. It won’t be a big deal to take it off if you end up changing your mind.
Hey katie! The knobs look great! I definitely agree with the decision to paint those cabinets! I also think you should glue the extra pull onto the non-fuctioning drawer. I’m all about symmetry and balance!
Wow I don’t know where to start! First I would definitely glue on a pull on that last faux drawer. I can tell it’s bugging the crap out of you (and it would me too). Second, please tell me you all are not planning to paint the cabinets yourself!? I’ve been there and I”ve done it and it is no fun at all! And I am a person that loves to paint. I thought my hubby and I were going to end up in divorce court that one week I painted ours. LOL But I’m sure you have a plan so I’ll quit trying to freak you out over it. LOL I do think your particular kitchen will look amazing with white cabinets! Good luck on all your upcoming hard work.
YES! Please glue the hardware on the final drawer. My inner OCD is coming out for this answer. To me, it will look more complete. Also, I cannot wait to see when you paint the cabinets. We did that when we moved into our house, and it made such a HUGE impact for the least amount of money. Good luck! It is going to be amazing!
Yes to the pull on the fake drawer. That would drive me bonkers!
I know I shouldn’t readyour blog as I eat breakfast in the morning, but I always do… now I have milk and egg to clean up because I laughed so hard with a fill mouth… you get the picture. The bachelorette comment re: wood killed me. Oh Katie B. 😀
Yes glue the pull it looks like it was forgotten, even though it will be non funtional.
Love the hardware it makes a difference!
I’m the same girl who can pack on 60 pounds on my 5’1″ frame when prego :0
Oh Katie! I love those pulls and knobs. They are exactly what I would pick for my kitchen. I can’t wait to see what color you paint the cabinets, even though I love the wood right now. Each to its own! My dream kitchen has those pulls, light grey painted cabinets and a dark stained butcher block counter.
I’m on the fence with that last pull since I’ve noticed you didn’t put a pull on the other sink or under the stove. So if you do glue one on, I’d put pulls on the rest of the fronts. Thats a tricky question!
I’d love a chunky bookshelf on the end of the island there or a beadboard treatment.
LOVE LOVE LOVE the new hardware! I actually agree that you should paint (as if my opinion really mattered lol)-I love painted cabinets! As for the drawer front with no pull, I have 3 words for you- GORILLA GLUE SUPERGLUE! (that may have been 4 and only I make it 3, but whatever). Phenomenal stuff! Holds metal to wood like a charm-just be sure to slightly rough it up before gluing!
Hi Katie! I am loving the new hardware on those cabinets and once they are painted the handles are going to pop! It’ll look fab.u.lous 🙂 I agree that you SHOULD put a handle on the drawer! Love your blog and I hope you are feeling well and that this pregnancy is treating you good 🙂
Take Care, Jen
Love, love, love your new knobs/pulls, KB! Worth waiting for … and yes, I would put a pull on the fake drawer (otherwise, it looks like an orphan :/ )
Also, don’t remember which blog I saw this on, but one homeowner painted the sash around her above-sink window BLACK, which really set it off from the rest of the kitchen (even with painted cabinets – a definite yes, do it! – and white trim (eventually) … I think that would look awesome in your kitchen too! Just a thought … (if I could remember where I saw it, I would link it here, maybe on YHL house crash??)
Great post, very good info on installing hardware. I painted my orangy-brown, builder grade, cabinets and it was amazing how they looked afterward. I know you are preggers and fumes could be an issue but two things that made my cabinets turn out well are 1) I used Zinser stain blocker primer. Primer is very important. 2) if at all possible, use oil based paint. I know they make good latex for cabinets but I have used both and the finish I got with the oil based paint (Ben Moore) was gorgeous. So, that’s just my 2 cents worth. Can’t wait to see what you do!
found it! it WAS a YHL house crash: http://images.younghouselove.com.s3.amazonaws.com/2012/06/Jae-7-Kitchen-Sink.jpg
Love the new pulls! I say “no go” on gluing on a pull. I would fear that some unsuspecting guest/visitor might yank on it…think it’s stuck and give it another good yank and tear it off. ?? Oh the horror! Then they fall backwards, hit their head on the counter behind the island…blood everywhere and….you get the point. 🙂
Gorgeous! I vote for gluing on a pull to that last drawer…otherwise it looks kinda wonky. Can’t wait to see what you guys come up with for this kitchen!
Love the hardware! It’s amazing what a difference it makes! My vote is “YES” for gluing a knob onto the sink cabinet. We put pulls on ours and it looks very cohesive–do it! 😉
Also, love your ring…what a sparkler! So pretty.
I think the ‘false drawer’ would look best with a handle too- even if it does have to be glued on- no one will know! 😀
Can’t wait to see the cabinets painted white, they’ll look amazing! And I agree that adding beadboard to the island will spiff it up quickly!
Love the new hardware!! It does so much towards making the kitchen look finished!
For your island, I vote building a bookshelf. It looks like there’s an overhang from the granite counter at the end (maybe not??) and if so, you could just tuck shelves underneath. If it can’t be deep enough for books, maybe just for cute trinkets. Or, even make a knock-off of something like this:
http://www.landofnod.com/kids-wall-storage/kids-storage-and-shelving/straight-and-narrow-book-ledge/f7884
I vote yes to a knob on the fake drawer. Would you add knobs to the ones under the stove top as well?
If it were me, I’d add the knob under the sink on the island. I know I couldn’t live without it but maybe that has something to do with my need for symmetry and not a decorating sense. 😉
Emily
Definitely yes to gluing the extra cup pull. The lack of symmetry would drive me nuts!
Katie, love the new hardware! I would add the pull to the fake drawer. Is there anyway to take the (fake) drawer front off, then add the pull(with screws) and then re-attach the drawer front?
You know, if Jer has nothing better to do:)
Perhaps – but we wanted to make sure the holes were present for the hardware before we painted – just in case we made a mistake and would need to fill and sand.
xo – kb
We figured it was a neglible point. Just more work…like if you painted your studs before drywalling.
xo – kb
They look okay from far away and in photos…but when you see them, there is definitely room for improvement.
xo – kb
You mean Jer working from home?
Nope. It was a management decision that probably will never change. Boo.
xo – kb
OMG…yes! I don’t know if it’s because I had freedom to rest whenever I needed when I was pregnant with Will or if it’s because it’s summer…but this time, it’s kicking my butt.
xo – kb
We have a fake drawer too because of having to cut down a cabinet to size and we added a handle. We’ve never had an issue with people trying to open it. Can’t wait to see the progress.
I love these pulls too!! I actually used them recently for a distressed wood chest that I built: http://house-capades.blogspot.com/2012/07/hi-my-name-is-callie-and-i-built.html
I totally gloated over the gorgeous chunky iron-ness of the pulls…love seeing them in another use, and they look so great in your kitchen!
Cabinet hardware was the first thing we added when we moved into our house. It really drives me crazy when there’s no hardware. I agree with some of the others that you should add a pull to the fake drawer – but I think you should also add them to the fake drawers in front of the stove. For me it makes the fake drawers blend in more and not stick out shouting “I’m not a real drawer”. Just my opinion though 🙂
Glue baby, Glue!!! Totally agree it needs to be done! Can’t wait to see your kitchen makeover! What type of range hood are you thinking? Stainless steel to make your appliances or more of a cast iron to match your knobs (again, another life altering decision)… good luck!
Can I just tell you how excited I am for the words…”the island will be a different color”
I cannot wait to see what you do in here girl!!!!
Great picks! Looks so good with the light fixtures too:)
I LOVE the cup pulls and the color you chose! And I vote yes on the do-we-glue-a-handle-on-that-end-drawer?-poll.
Katie – how is the false drawer panel in front of the sink attached now? Usually there are white plastic pieces that kinda brace it into the hole screwed into the back of htat panel. If that’s the case, you can remove the panel easily (by just turing the white things 90*), SCREW in the handle, and then put it back in. I can take pics of what I’m talking about when I get home if you want. I added the little hinged sponge drawers to those panels under my sink so that my sponges don’t have to lie on the counter or in the sink. Holds my sink stoppers too…..
Love those knobs and yes, I would glue on on. Would you check your email about the seniors photo session for my daughter. Need to firm up the date, please? The thunder is loud over her and moving your way so maybe August 16?
glue it. seriously. it looks like something is totally missing.
i agree with Boyfriend. GLUE THAT SUCKER ON THERE!!!!
Love what you’ve done so far, knobs make such a big difference! I’m with you on the pull on the island (and two by the stovetop too possibly?).
But anyway, I saw this on pinterest and thought of you! http://starterhometodreamhome.blogspot.com/2010/04/kitchen-island-reveal.html?m=1
also, i painted my kitchen cabinets Benjamin Moore’s Colonial White last november (you actually emailed me back about it, which i could NOT believe that someone famous from a blog actually responds!!!!) and i have been meaning to email you pictures of before and afters- but i am still doing some tweaking (repainting the walls for a second time, sprucing up my dining set a-la-katiebower’s-kitchen-set-inspiration) and didn’t want to send to you until FULLY complete!
Can’t wait to see your cabinet painting post! i too am in love with a white cabinet kitchen, we’ll be getting ready to paint ours in the next 3-6 months and i’d LOVE some tips/tricks. you make it all look so doable!
Use a little gorilla glue and totally glue that handle on!! I love that style of pull I want to put those in my kitchen.
I don’t think your island is horrible – I mean at least they even thought to put one in, even if you think it looks like an after thought.
I think you should build out the toe kick on the front side and then wrap the whole thing with a base molding and that will definitely make it look more substantial and more furniture built in . I think legs would look good, but what if you got some big chunky wood corbels and put those on each side to look like they’re supporting the counter top. I’m sure you could find some at a yard sale or antique store. Just an idea!
Can’t wait to see phase 2!
Hahahahaha…painting your studs before you drywall!
Another vote for gluing a pull the the fake drawer… I kinda feel bad for him without one. It’s like he’s not good enough to hang out with the popular kids.
It looks great!
I say glue that sucker on.
Also, you mentioned that the side of the island looks a little cheap and I can see what you’re saying. One really quick, easy and inexpensive upgrade would be chalkboard paint. I know this is everywhere – but with good reason! My toddler boy loves our chalkboard wall!
The island is a great Will-size area and may help to keep him occupied when you’re working in the kitchen. Just my two cents!
Totally glue on! What color is the island gonna be?????
Love how the kitchen is coming along – you have such an eye for design! Just curious, are you going to leave the wall paint and trim color long term, or is tackling that phase 4?
Can’t wait to see how everything turns out!!
Phew! I was thinking there must be something wrong with me! At least we will have the winter months to snuggle in with our newest additions! (or maybe this is fatigue training in effect for balancing two children!) XO!
Hi Katie,
Love the hardware! The improvement in the appearance of your kitchen is HUGE, even without painting the cabinets yet.
Quick question – if your oven/microwave combo work well, why do you have another counter top microwave right next to the built-in microwave?
I’d definitely glue a cup pull on – AFTER YOU PAINT THE CUPBOARDS….
LOVE the pulls. I just repainted our kitchen last summer and switched to cup pulls. We have a 100 year old farmhouse so I felt it was more fitting! We went from oak cabinets to white with a glaze and I LOVE them. I HIGHLY recommend the Rustoleum cabinet painting kit. It is super durable and super easy, well as easy as painting kitchen cabinets can be. After a year not a chip in sight, as long as you don’t count the spot where my puppies have chewed the corner. I would do the island a totally different accent color! Have fun.
Jeremy swears that he can’t imagine jamming his bigger fingertips into the tight crevices ever again (haha)
Am I the only one that caught this???? This is why I love you. BAHAHA!
Definitely glue the knob on–but not until after you paint them!! Save you lots of trouble haha
Love the new knobs. I must say though that I would love to have that kitchen. You are much to hard on it!
Looks really good!! Love the pulls! But definitely glue one on that drawer.
The pulls look great- and yes, glue a pull on that last one! I can’t wait to see what you do with the island; mine is really similar with one side being drawers and cabinets and the other looking all plywood-cheapy. Beadboard was what I was leaning towards for mine, but our counters are actually Travertine tiled (little coaster-sized square tiles- pain to clean, pretty to look at) so I’m not sure if the beadboard will have too much of a conflicting pattern for us. Feel free to weigh in on that if Will isn’t keeping you busy. =) I think beadboard would look fab on yours, though. Hurray for kitchen progress!
Great knobs! hah…..yes, glue it on there! looks like it was missed or something.
Yes to the pull on the drawer and just a thought can you put a tiny screw that doesn’t go all the way through the drawer in there to keep anyone from pulling it off ?
Glue that last knob on! I can’t wait to see pictures of all your updates. Go you for tackling this while pregnant! Did you mention what you will be doing with the wall? Repainting or keeping the same color?
I must know where’d you get the runner rug in your kitchen?
Love the kitchen hardware. It already made such a difference. I cannot wait to see this project unfold!
Totally glue it on! I’m super excited for the kitchen re-do!
Love me some painted kitchen cabinets. Can’t wait.
Definitely glue on the pull. That would bother me too. Its amazing what a little hardware change can do!
We have a similat venting problem in our kitchen and need to vent through the top drawer of the upper cabinets to reach the outside world. We will lose a little storage but it will be worth it!
Wow – so the knobs make a HUGE difference already!
and yes – break out the glue!!!
does the drawer without a pull actually open? if it’s a false drawer face, i’d save money and avoid putting a pull on it. you run the risk of guests tugging on it looking for something too many times and it popping off. seems like more of a hassle than it’s worth..
OOOOO We are planning a kitchen update on $5, too! We have a crap-tastic kitchen (seen below) that we plan to paint the cabinets white, add pulls (potentially like yours, but with more gold to match the knobs because, well, $5 budget,) and add a black counter top. We already have the backsplash, which I am IN LOVE with- it’s a mixed-materials thin, white rectangular tiles, with clear & brushed glass. Can’t wait to see your transformation… hopefully to see what to do right (or wrong? Hope not wrong.. for your sanity.)
http://candyskitchen.blogspot.com/2011/03/happy-2-year-blog-iversary-house-tour.html
You know, you can get hoods that just recirculate the air. I don’t have ductwork in my kitchen, so I have the recirc kind. Mine came from Lowe’s a few year’s back; it’s nothing fancy…plain stainless steel.
Is that sink drawer actually a working drawer? Then put a pull on it (’cause that’s what they’re for!) If not, then it’s like a sink base–and you’d never put hardware on a sink base, right?
Thanks Leslie!
Haha, tear-away basketball pants. I haven’t worn or thought about those in years!
Thx for the smile.
(love painted cabinets, yes on the pull)
glue the pull on : )
the knobs and pulls look great!
ryan
Your kitchen is very similar to mine…and we picked the stuff out…my husband loooves wood! If I would change it, I would just paint the island to contrast the floor more…then I could live with it better. But I still do love that mocha glaze on wood and even more on painted wood.
I love the cup pulls! I really want some when I do our kitchen reno!
Glue it on! Also, I long to pick your island up and swing it around so you have better flow!
I think white paint will improve the look of the cabinets eleventy billion percent.
Definitely glue the pull 🙂
I agree with another commenter – put a towel bar there instead of a handle. Would this be doable?
Also, I am GREATLY looking forward to your range hood post…we are in the same boat as far as no ductwork, etc. =)
LOVEEEEE the knobs you chose! They are gorgeous!
Definitely glue that on…and while you’re at it, maybe glue (or screw, if there’s room) a couple on the panels under the cooktop… 🙂
As much as I love wood cabinets, I’m more a fan of the deep, dark woods. So I love your idea of painting them and working with what you got. As for adding the extra handle to the island – DO IT! I honestly think it looks weird without it. However, if you’re going to paint the cabinets, would it be easier to wait to add the handle until after the paint has been added? Just a thought. Can’t wait to see the finished product! 🙂
Holy moly…was every fixture gold before? Even the lights on the ceiling? I feel like this person had horrendous taste in…everything…
I think you should glue the handle on but I noticed that they are missing
under the stove top as well? They look great! I think they will look awesome white.
The island with some bead board and trim shouldn’t be too large of a project I wouldn’t think!
Yes to gluing!!
hi katie!
my kitchen is very much like yours so i can’t wait to see what you do. i’d love white instead of orange as well—and just got a few estimates to see how much it would be to have it done. both estimates were right at $3,000. a little too steep for us right now.
after you’re done i’d love to know if you think it’s something that could be diy’d by two people with two full-time jobs and two 4-year-old boys (remember how wild alex and max were?? yeah, times that by 100 these days and add in some sass talkin’!!)—or if it’s too much to tackle and we should start saving our nickels.
thanks, chickadee! can’t wait to see it all done. and can’t wait to see your next bump picture. i imagine you are really showing by now! ps—i gained 60 pounds, too!
xo. holly
Glue that baby on…. I mean, errrr, glue the cabinet pull on!! Not the baby. Ahhhhh, nevermind!
i know you were a one car family – do you have a ride during the day?
You must be thinking of the Petersiks – they are the one car family – we have always had two. Well there was a short period of time we only had one…but then we bought another used car for Jer’s commute. Actually right now we have two Nissans – we call them the tank and the racecar 🙂
xo – kb
Holly! I have a thank you card for you that has been hanging on the side of my fridge for what feels like years! Could you txt me your address?
Thanks – oh and I love Alex’s olympic diving photo 🙂
xo – kb
Hi Erin,
The runner is old and it’s from Shades of Light…but I still think they carry it! It’s called their Trellis rug 🙂
xo – kb
Nope – it’s a falsie.
xo – kb
I’d love to see that WHITE! I am up to my eyeballs with all these different shades!
xo – kb
We actually are thinking of installing one that is built in with cabinetry around it. Think beefy.
xo – kb
I don’t know yet! Green? Red? Blue? Tan? We’ll have to wait and see!
xo – kb
I didn’t mention that because I don’t know. Right now it’s okay to live with…it’s just dirty and peeling…so it may be one of those ‘after-the-baby-is-born’ projects.
xo – kb
We brought our old microwave with us when we left the old house…and actually LOVE having two. I love my old microwave more than Parisians love that tower of theirs…so I can’t imagine getting rid of it…but the other one is built in with the oven. Hence…two.
xo – kb
haha…yeah – I’m sure he loves me adding more to his to-do list 🙂
xo – kb
Probably not…since there are two, I can leave the pair to hang out naked together.
xo – kb
Can you find a pinterest kitchen that has that tile and beadboard? That’s what I would do to see if it works visually.
xo – kb
Nope – it’s just a false drawer front…but the fact that it’s alone is what kills us 🙂
xo – kb
We didn’t mention it because we don’t know yet!
xo – kb
Probably not – if we add any knobs – it will only be on that one drawer.
xo – kb
haha..actually that was a house crash with YHL that I went to! I kept gushing over it when we were at the house and it ended up being awesome in photos too! John knows how to wield a camera 🙂
xo – kb
Yes – August 16th! I will put you down and email you to confirm it too!
xo – kb
I haven’t checked – I’ll have to see 🙂
xo – kb
Wow katie I cant beleive you got 200 comments already! Not sure if you get to read all of them in your ample spare time….. Love the new handles etc… and your kitchen plans! In your ample spare time 🙂 have a peep at lovely retromummy
http://retromummy.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-my.html (from Sydney, Australia, mummy of 5), and her kitchen reno, with dark knobs and white cupboards…. sounds like your gig!
I love your posts. Every. single. one of ’em. I’m excited to watch the reno! Good luck!
We did some cosmetic work on our kitchen in November (paint cabinets, resurface counter tops, etc). My friend, I wish you luck and patience! Can’t wait to see how great it will be!
oh yeah – I read every single comment 🙂
And can’t wait to check out Retro Mummy’s kitchen!
xo – kb
I’m excited to watch your kitchen transform!! I vote for glue, by the way. I can’t wait to see what color you paint the island, woohoo!!!!
Once the island is painted could you clad the ugly end with tounge & groove? Much more courtyific.
I love the idea of painting the cabinets white, check out this other blog and their first house where they painted their cabinets to white. http://www.housetweaking.com/. They also had some advice on how they did it.
I can’t wait to see the finished look!
Since I love you in the “stalk your blog want to take a road trip to Georgia way” I’m telling you, get out the glue and even out those pulls.
Katie! Love the new knobs/handles. They look GREAT! 1. Shouldn’t you have painted the cabinets BEFORE the new hardware? lol I make too much of a mess to try and work around those new beauts. 2. I cannot wait for the white ‘backdrop’, you my friend.. are going to POP (literally and metaphorically). Also, I insist you glue the last handle. It feels so awkward without one. Like, being the 13th wheel kind of awkward. Anywho, keep up the awesomeness!
I’m already jealous of the amount of counter space you have– can’t wait to see how this progresses!
I vote YES to gluing the handle on 🙂
Looking forward to the email and session. Kelsey needs to be picking out the clothes. Thank you!!!!
I vote YES to gluing the handle on. Can’t wait to see the painted cabinets!
I definitely vote for putting a handle on that drawer. Can you not just remove the draw front, screw the knob (haha), and put the drawer back?
Always an inspiration. Love what you are doing and amazed that you do it all! Wood glue, did a high school project circa 1995-96, and wood glue should work well, but then again maybe not, I don’t know, ask the guy at Lowe’s he should know.:)
Love your style! I’m so jealous of your big kitchen. We have 3 small pieces of counter space in our kitchen and with a family of 5, that’s not much room! Looking forward to seeing the completed project:)
well how cool is THAT?! (yeah, that John is good with a camera, kinda like someone else whose blog I read faithfully!)
love all the proposed updates to your kitchen … can’t wait to see them completed! (get on that already dude! – as SP would say!)
… and I still think a black window frame over your sink would be stunning! 😉
(insert the salt and pepa music here..) Glue it… glue it real good.
We’re in the middle of updating our kitchen right now! So wish you were going first though! Can’t wait to see how it all turns out. Our orange-y wood cabinets are going white as well, but we’re painting them ourselves to save money. Fun times!
I can not wait to see the cabinets white and a hood over the stove top!
Great plan!
What a diff just with knobs. Looks great.
I vote YES to glue a pull on the end cabinet 🙂
Just “glue” it! (I couldn’t help myself!) What about some beadboard on the end of the island. It think it looks great, especially in a white kitchen.
Love that hardware!! It’s so much better already. I vote for glueing that fourth one on, just for consistency 🙂
We have a super old and uggggly kitchen. Since we’re still saving up for a full kitchen reno, we painted out the oak-strip cabinets and put down some fun black and white vinyl floor for now. It has made such a difference!
http://thesweetestdigs.com/2012/01/23/kitchen-makeover-step-3-the-floor/
YES!! Glue the handle on!! Is it possible to unscrew that panel, attach the handle, and then put the panel back on?! Or is the panel already glued?
We put similar hardware in our kitchen and LOVE it! We also added the cup handles to the 2 faux drawers below our kitchen sink (in your case it would be the kitchen sink and under the cook top). Have you considered this? Or do you think it will also confuse your guests?! Others may not agree, but I think those faux drawers look so blah without their eyeliner! 😉
Good luck on the reno Katie! Loving the new kitchen hardware 🙂 Kitchen is looking good 🙂
I love the knew knobs… and I love that you are painting the wood.
And – yes, glue it. Before I even saw that you were proposing that, I was thinking it is what I would have done….
1-totally need to glue that extra pull on. I love symmetry
2-the ceiling lights (I call them high hats) I thought mine were bad in black, but you win. Gold is horrible. A easy fix (tell jeremy to get that ladder out tomorrow)
3-paint those cabinets girl – your new baby will thank you
Aw I love the wood cabinets but everybody has their own taste and I know your’s will look SO good at the end and I will totally go back on my own wood love. We also added pulls to our cabinets right after we moved in because they never had them. There were small indents to open and close the cabinets but it was too grimy for me.
Instead of just putting a pull on that fake drawer, what about putting a towel rod for an extra hand towel? I know I can’t get enough of those….
Love the knobs and pulls! I vote glue one on! And yes, white cabinets will look FAB!
I cannot wait to see how your cabinets look white! I looooove white cabinets! And my opinion yes I would get another handle on that last one somehow if you can. It would look better. Not sure how you would do it though. We had the same thing in our kitchen and we haven’t figured out how to make it work. I will have to check your blog to see if you do and do that same! xoxo
Hi Katie,
Just love, love your blog.
I was wondering if the drawer next to the “naked” one comes out. Our new kitchen drawers have tiny releases in the back. If the drawer next to the fake one comes all the way out, could you remove that drawer so that you could screw in the one on the fake one, tighten the back, and then put the real drawer back in. If the drawers do release, that would also make painting them a whole lot easier. Just a thought. Know that between you and Jer, and maybe a phone call to John and Sherry, you will come up with a great idea. I love the new whites in the Benjamin Moore line.
We just found out that it’s glued in place. and nailed. so that sucker is stuck permanently. We think that we could use a special ratchet tool to attach a pull so hopefully that will work out.
xo – kb
If it is a usable drawer (opens and closes) glue the knob. But don’t if it is decorative. Too many guests and friends have pulled off entire false door fronts due to knobs!
I’m brand new to your blog and have just been checking things out. Because you don’t have an archive, or at least I can’t find it, I’ve had to go through your kitchen renovation in reverse order. The results are fabulous, BTW. I’m just wondering why on earth you made extra work for yourselves installing the hardware before painting the cabinets? Maybe you decided to paint after adding the hardware, but in the post, painting is on the to-do list. Or did you just cover the handles and knobs with tape and paint the cabinets with them attached? I can’t remember.
Well, we were trying to make sure we loved the hardware before painting…the worst possible situation for us would be to paint the cabinets and then drill holes for the new hardware just to end up hating it…so removing and then reattaching hardware is a whole lot easier than removing, filling holes, sanding, repainting, and then going with new hardware 🙂
xo – kb
Now, see? That makes total sense. I never even thought of that even though it’s such an obvious answer now. You, Katie Bower, are one clever girl! Thanks for your reply, especially on such a dated post.
Awesome what you’ve done. Where did you get the $30 pendant lamps…love them?!
They are originally Pottery Barn kids but I picked them up at the PB outlet.
xo – kb
I think a cabinet panel on the opposite sides of your island and one on the end of the long bay of cabinets would be a good choice. Just order the panels that glue on or nail in. Where the stools go, I would put up headboard there. I would also add some feet on the island and some corbels too where the stools go. If the cabinet panels are too expensive, I would add beadboard all the way around. I do like the color of your cabinets. They are not orangy and I have seen orangy as in red oak cabinets! I also think the floor would look really nice stained darker which would look awesome with white cabinets. I think a brown glaze on the white would look terrific too. And definitely a bin pull on that drawer. That is a no brainer!
I ran into same trouble today with sink too close to handle I was trying to put on. My hubby used a box end wrench with a screwdriver bit end and it worked great. He is a smart fella. Saved his damsel in distress!!