Who doesn't love the idea of updating their kitchen?  I mean I dream about the day when we rip this old kitchen out entirely and get a brand spanking new one, but that's way down the road.   Luckily I have a hard time just leaving something well enough alone when I know I can update it on the cheap.

When we moved into our bungalow in November of 2014 this is what the kitchen looked like, just a basic builder grade cookie cutter kitchen with the orangey coloured cabinets.  These ones have solid maple doors but they were still orange and it just wasn't cutting it.  But in all fairness to me, I did manage to live with it for A FULL YEAR!!!!  And let me tell you, it wasn't easy.

I spent a lot of time(translation: obsessed) researching painting techniques, different types of paints and I became more overwhelmed with each article I read and video I watched.  I was worried about brush marks and streaky paint lines and wasn't feeling confident because you guys THIS IS THE KITCHEN!!!  I had also just started my journey with chalk paint and fusion mineral paint and had TOTAL COLD FEET and zero confidence in my painting abilities.

Through a local community Facebook groups I managed to get the name of a couple of reputable painters who did kitchen cupboards so I called them up and got some estimates.  In the end I went with Matt from No Streak (which is now Newtone Painting), I was happy with his price and felt comfortable with the knowledge and experience he shared, it was a match made in heaven.  The date was set and I was so excited!!  I started cleaning out cupboards LIKE A BOSS!!!!

When painting day arrived Matt and his sidekick arrived and began removing all the cabinet doors and hinges, numbering them as they went along.  Matt loaded all the doors into his van and away he went back to his workshop to clean, sand and spray them.  His partner stayed behind and started the process of cleaning, sanding and priming the bases.  That part of the job in itself was long and tedious, I was so happy I had decided not to attempt it myself.

Here are the cupboards after the doors were removed and during the priming process:

And then the first coat of the actual paint colour went on.....eeeeekkkkk.....so exciting and such a big change!  Remember this was 2015 (way back then....haha) and the paint they used was Sherwin Williams Enamel in Grey Tabby.

Two days later Matt returned with the painted cupboard doors and started the process of rehanging them....O.M.G. it was a beautiful sight....I was SOOOOOO happy!!!   Here are a few after shots.  (this is before we updated the countertop and sink too):

The doors were sprayed flawlessly, I was so pleased with the job that Matt did.  I recommended him to anyone who asked and I know of a couple of friends who went on to have their kitchen cabinets done by him as well.

Next we added our "backsplash" which I still love 3 years later.  It's wallpaper from Lowe's Canada and you wouldn't believe the number of people who think it is real barn board!  I'm like no people it is 1/3 of a $24 roll of wallpaper and it wasn't even pre-pasted!!  (Lowe's no longer carries this same one but it is available on Wayfair Canada and is called "Dustin Wood").

In early 2017 we updated the countertop with just an inexpensive laminate but it made a world of difference.  We replaced the sink at the same time with this black composite sink from Costco that I LOVE so much. The sink is still available in store at Costco Canada but not online.  It is available online at Amazon (Kraus KGU-434B).  

We also added the pendant lights above the sink where there were no lights before!  That was a big job and a story for another post, let's just say being married to an electrician has its perks!  These beautiful pendants were on clearance at Lowe's at the time and we got them for a song.

We also went on to paint the accent wall in a colour very similar to the cabinets. I love me a dark accent wall (Sherwin Williams Peppercorn) and the dark grey on grey gives me all the feels.

The grand total for this kitchen transformation from start to finish (over a two year period) was around $3200.  Not a small chunk of change but a far cry from what it would cost for a brand new kitchen!

We will eventually do a total kitchen update but it isn't a priority anymore.  The kitchen is functional (except for the useless corner cabinets but we make do), we achieved the exact look we were going for so it's been moved to the bottom of the list for another few years.  We've got a bathroom to gut next and a brick accent wall to do in the living room.  Our DIY list is never-ending!

Michele xo