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A Fresh Coat of Paint for the Kitchen Island

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Yesterday turned out to be the annual Painting of the Kitchen Island Day. This island takes a beating as we circle around it, open and shut doors and drawers, bang into and generally abuse it. And once a year, I reach a point where I long to see it nick-and-chip-free, if only for a day or so. Out comes the paint. Scout is barred from the kitchen. I make sure Don is out of the house. And off I go.

I’d love to show you bright and sunny photos of the island, but I haven’t seen the sun in over two weeks. I’m not kidding. I don’t think I can take one more gray day. So here are the photos of the island, freshly painted, unstaged, and a bit grainy.

You can see all the details that its original incarnation as a dark brown sideboard hid. That dark brown, almost black, stain overwhelmed the piece and all the carving was lost in that heaviness. When I first brought it home, it looked so huge that Don wasn’t sure it would even fit in the kitchen. I quickly slapped on a coat of primer to show him it would work. I knew that this creamy color would bring out all the details. The back of the piece was unfinished, so I covered it with beadboard. And I changed out the knobs.

This piece has been a life-saver for us. We use it all the time, hence the dings and chips that will reappear shortly. Sigh. The drawers hold linens and baking tins. The cupboards hold our KitchenAid Mixer and various pots and pans. We don’t have a lot of cupboard space in this kitchen and the island has given us much needed storage.

And it’s pretty.

I don’t want to put anything on it.

Now I will do my usual thing and follow Don around for a few days, urging him to BE CAREFUL! He will get annoyed. I will try to fiercely protect my island and eventually I will give up. Because kitchens take a beating. At least, kitchens that exist in real life do.

Scout – showing her outrage that she had been barred from the kitchen for 3 hours.

I wonder if we’ll ever see the sun again around these parts. I’ve been thinking about painting the kitchen a pale yellow. Hmmm.

I’ll be back at 8:00 EST with A Favorite Thing.

Happy Friday.

Comments

  3. Oh my! What a look on Scouts face. Needless to say for at least 3 hours you will not be her favorite person. I love our animals expressions. They make us laugh all the time. In Indiana we have sunshine this morning. Hopefully, it will travel your way by tomorrow. :)

  4. I fell in love with this buffet turned island the first time I saw it on your blog about a year ago! I have wanted one similar but have not found one I can afford – maybe someday!

    Betty

    • Jen, glass on top sounds lovely, but I have a husband who tends to, shall we say, put things down rather heavily. That doesn’t bode well for glass.

  6. Or a pale citrus or very pale apple green…….those would cheer you up, too! I lived in Germany for almost 2 years and hardly ever saw the sun. Coming from Arizona, where it’s always sunny, I thought I was going to die from depression and no sun. I must have sun!

    Here’s wishing you many sunny thoughts!

    Hugs,
    Meri

  7. Your island is so pretty in her fresh coat! Poor Scout… she is looking a little peeved. Hoping the sun make it your way soon… it sure makes a difference, doesn’t it? I’d send you some from here but it would have snow mixed in. :)

  8. I love your island and the nicks and dings are just the signs of a well loved and used home kitchen. The sun is back out here and it has soooo improved my mood. I am ready to tackle the day :)

    Hugs,
    Laura

  10. Your island is gorgeous…I think a yellow kitchen would look great! That yellow towel in the background is so soft…buttery. And yes the sun will shine again, and your island will show signs of wear and tear, you know, life! ;)

  11. I’m in the middle of painting my own kitchen and the creamy white it banishing the grey days here. Like you, I have a lack of storage and pieces like your buffet are only way to make the small space work.

  12. This is one of my favorite things about your kitchen. This sideboard turned WORKHORSE! I think it is lovely the way you spruce it up now and again.
    Let’s see I also love… the lampshade over the table and the turquoise and red bits around the room.
    …and really? Scout has an OUTRAGED LOOK? …that’s the best she can do, because she is so sweet!
    :) Pat

  13. My island needs a little sprucing up too. I was just looking at it the other day. It’s going to be a winter project…after the holidays. ~Hugs, Patti

    • I love that teapot, too. It has a toile-like design. I got it at HomeGoods a few years back.

  15. Your island is beautiful I know what you mean by missing the sun. I just said to my husband does he think we’ll ever see the sun again!!

  16. Claudia,

    Of all the kitchens in blogland….I have to say that your kitchen is one of my favorites! Your island takes it to the next level! Time to get my apollo golight out because I can’t stand all the gray days and the light helps my mood when I use it first thing in the morning. Glad to hear you weathered the storm. It’s heartbreaking to see all the damage and to hear the stories.

    • It is indeed heartbreaking, Sandy. I had to turn the tv off yesterday because I couldn’t handle any more sadness. I needed to rest a bit. Life is very hard for so many people in our region. And the stories of deaths due to the storm are unbelievably tragic.

  17. I highly recommend you painting your kitchen a nice yellow. We live in sun-starved Oregon and painted our family room and dining room a lovely warm butter yellow and it brings me sunshiney joy everyday. The sun always shines here.. at least in this room. :-) ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

  18. I have a side board very similar to yours. It is oak but was stained a cherry stain. One of my neighbors – 20 or so years ago called me and said that they were moving and thought it would be perfect for my house. I bought it for $60. I have been wanted to paint it an off white for so long. I thought I would use the ASCP when I could get the right color. It is such a big piece that I think have it white would work better. I love soft yellow for walls. Most of my house is that color.
    Poor Scout…….give him a bone.

    • I bought my sideboard for around $65 – it was a bargain. I just painted mine with regular old paint!

  22. Hi Claudia, I am the painter in my house too–that’s one thing that my husband just can’t do, at least not to my satisfaction! Your buffet looks beautiful all spiffy and clean and scout is just so adorable I am laughing instead of being intimidated! Still no power, heat or water and I’m worried because the temps are going to 28 Sunday night! At least I have my cell phone and downtown there is service. I know that sun is just waiting to give us a nice day soon. Linda

    • I laugh at Scout, too. I just can’t keep a straight face when she gets that look on her face.

      Oh Linda, I know it’s getting cold out there and I’m praying you get your power, heat and water back as soon as possible. Any estimated time for restoration?

      • No estimation yet but work hasn’t begun in our town. They are concentrating on the coastal areas and cities. At least we have had our driveway cleared and I’m escaping to my mom’s in Litchfield co. They had strong winds but still have power and heat, and of course home cooking! Linda

  23. I really like the island! We need something like this in our kitchen. I didn’t even realize until AFTER we moved in that my kitchen only has TWO drawers. Eek. That’s funny that you’re thinking of painting your kitchen a pale yellow. That’s what color I am painting mine! =]

  24. That island is a gorgeous piece of furniture. Makes a great addition to your kitchen. I love Scout’s face, oh so cute.

  25. Claudia, your island has always been a favorite of mine and I always have in the back of my mind the desire to have one like it, if our kitchen allows, when we get our next house. Hope that sun shines soon. Ann

  27. I get depressed without sunshine. Any weepy sometimes with rain but it seldom rains here so not a problem. I really like your island every time I see it.

  30. Claudia,

    What a great idea! I love the idea of using a buffet at an island. And I love its new outlook on life :)

    Have a blessed and wonderful day!
    karianne

  31. LOVE the island!! Looks FAB! Good luck keeping hubby away from it-even for a bit! As for the yellow (probably a soft PALE yellow) you would have a bit of sunshine all the time! Great idea.

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