Kitchen Island re-do

It's all done and I'm very pleased with how it turned out. 

This is what I started with - it was fine white but my cabinets are a glazed cream color and the white just wasn't doing it for me. And it just seemed...a bit too...old school maybe. But you know - for something I bought at a garage sale 10 years ago - it's been great. It just needed a make-over!

I wanted a very dark brown - almost black - but I couldn't find that exact color. SO what's a girl to do? Improvise!

Here's what I did. I lightly sanded it down to "rough" it up a bit. 

After that I went over it in spots with a brick red color so that later when I sanded the edges I would get a hint of the red and the white. I like layers!

so then I went over the whole thing in a flat black

And then I went over all of it in a dark, chocolate brown - and got this.

It is the exact color I wanted. I also sprayed some brushed nickel on the knobs and voila - new, old kitchen island that cost me NADA. I already owned everything I used. 

I like that it is a darker color compared to my cabinets. And I feel like it grounds the space more too.

To review - front side

before

and

after

from the side - before

before

and

after

From behind 

before

and

after - I added a chalkboard :) 

I love that too. And so does the 3 yr old!

Thanks for looking!

I'm linkin up!

AND

real quick like

The kitchen island is DONE - I even have it in the house. I'm just finishing the drawer pulls and it will be totally finished.

In other news I just scored some AWESOME finds from the trash. An old, metal porch chair. I'm totally psyched. I have to get all the rust off of it and it is COVERED. So that is my next project.

Pictures to follow in a bit!

A few projects I've been working on

Per my rather manic personality - I have several projects all going at once. 

I know.

I can't help myself.

I usually have one large project happening...and then...well...other small projects kinda happen along at the same time.

Again, I know, I know. 

So here is a smattering of some of the things I've been doing over the last few days. The weather is nice again so I've been outside spray painting to my little hearts content!

First - a preview of the BIG project.

I decided I needed to redo our kitchen island - which is really more of a microwave cart but it works in my kitchen as a small island. The dimensions are right and it provides me with more workspace - a good combination. Here she is as she was since I bought her 10 years ago at a garage sale for $25.

She was stark white and wood pulls and accents. Totally fine and a great deal for $25 bucks but I just didn't think it looked *right* in my kitchen. At least not in her current condition. 

And the husband went out of town for work. 

Which, to me, translates to DO A BIG PROJECT immediately before he can object.  

*smile*  

I'm sure I'm the only person who does this. 

*smile* 

*wink*

Ok - back to the project.

from behind

and from the side

stage one - add red to the edges so it will show through after I get her totally painted and I sand and rough it up a bit

I know, I know, stay with me though - these things usually look worse before they look better.

Here she is after a rough coat of flat black spray paint. I was going to paint it black and leave it at that. But then I started thinking I would like to have it like a REALLY dark brown - almost black. 

But I can't find that exact color. 

So I'm doing the black coat on first. Then today I'm going to go over it in a dark brown. The black undercoat should darken the brown enough to give me the look I want. 

Also - I tried to get the drawer out and there is a stop in the back of the drawer preventing it from coming all the way out and it is screwed onto the underside of the drawer - I wasn't just being lazy. So that is problematic but I'll make it work. Somehow. I have faith. 

Anyway - this is as far as *this* project has gotten because we had thunderstorms yesterday evening AND a soccer game. So I'm going back out there in a little while to hopefully finish it up. The pulls and knobs that will go back on are copper and match the rest of the pulls in our kitchen. I'm excited. 

And now for a quick side project. 

I found this little gem at the Goodwill yesterday for 50 cents.

Note the ugly brass top but it was in good shape otherwise. 

So...a little ORB spray paint later - well, 2 thin coats later...

and...

Voila! An accessory for our bathroom!

I have also been working on our patio. It is huge and we needed more seating. I have a couple of awesome finds literally from the trash that were marked FREE. Love that. I'll try and get that post up later today. 

Also - it's Follow Friday!!!! 

A great party and a great way to find new blogs!