Painting the Kitchen
I’ve wanted to paint our kitchen ever since we moved in over five years ago. It’s not that I have anything against red, really, but I just don’t want a red kitchen. Especially when it’s a fairly small country kitchen (our only cooking/eating space) and the only natural light that comes in is from the little window over the sink and the one in the back door.
Here’s how the kitchen looked before:
And here’s how it looks now:
I LOVE the transformation! It went from a dark, closed-in-looking space, to a light, bright, airy space. So, why didn’t we paint sooner? Well, I was dreading it. And it turned out to be just as big of a job as I imagined, especially all the area above the kitchen cabinets. But it was so worth it!
We had “paint the kitchen” on our summer bucket list, and I’ve been waiting for just the right time. When I looked on my calendar and saw that we had a few days free, I announced to the family that we’d paint the following day. The kids were elated, and right away everyone started trying to help.
The older girls taped the room:
And these three started removing the tin “back splash.” The tin looked so cute when we first moved in, but despite our best efforts (including spraying it with a sealant) it rusted badly.
I thought about painting it, but the tin around the kitchen sink is so rusted that it’s crumbling (child dish-washers + water = rust).
They were thrilled to start ripping this off the wall. And we were all surprised to find vinyl wallpaper behind it!
My youngest begged to be allowed to paint, and I figured it couldn’t hurt for the first two coats since they would be covered over with the “real” paint eventually.
He had so much fun! He said he would rather paint than go to an amusement park! 🙂
This is after one coat of Kilz (it took two coats):
And here it is after two coats of Kilz and two coats of paint:
This was the hardest part to paint. I had to stand on the counter tops to get up there:
The color we used is Sherwin Williams Pearly White. I had it mixed into some Glidden paint at The Home Depot.
In the photo below you can see (in the lower-left) where we removed the tin back splash. That will be my next project—figuring out what to do with that!
Seriously, every time I go into the kitchen I smile, and I think I’ve said a hundred times, “Doesn’t it look amazing?!?” I just love it so much.
I lived with that dark red room for so long (all the while dreaming about creamy white walls) that this is like a dream come true for me!
It’s amazing how changing the paint color can completely transform a room. It even seems to look less cluttered, in my opinion.
So, what do you think? Do you like the white better, or do you think I should have left it red? 🙂
I’m a few days late to your paint party– but I LOVE the white– and your eclectic style! A gal after my own heart with chippy paint and unique chair collections… I’ve been dying to (and dreading!) paint my green kitchen white for 2 years… I think it needs to be on my summer list for sure. Yours looks wonderful!! P.S. My friend did her back splash in some kind of paint-able heavy duty wall paper that looked like those tin ceiling tiles we all love! Can’t wait to see what you end up with! ♥
Heather, thank you! My unique chair collection came about from necessity—we seem to be hard on chairs! I’d love to have a farmhouse table with benches someday! Our old table was my great aunt’s, and I grew up with it since it was also our family table when I was a girl.
Painting the kitchen was a huge job, but I’m still so glad I got it done! I’m still trying to decide about the back splash. I’m trying to find something very inexpensive. The wall paper you mentioned sounds like a possibility! 🙂
Oh no!!! WHITE all the way. Kudo’s to you and your crew of willing helpers. This is awesome!! I love, love, LOVE your shabby chic style cabinet with your dishes and baskets… perfect!!
You always inspire me!!
Happy Fourth of July!!
🙂 Thank you, Bevy! I agree on the white! I’m in love with how bright and cheery it is. And yes, I couldn’t have done all that painting without my helpers. 🙂 My oldest daughter did a lot of the painting.
My husband found that cabinet at a flea market about 8 years ago. It’s been such a useful item since we don’t have that many cabinets in our kitchen.
Thank you so much for your kind words—you’ve been an inspiration to me, too. Happy 4th to you!
WOW, my goodness! It looks FANTABULOUS! It’s absolutely beautiful. I love the white with the distressed feel, it’s just… breathtakingly beautiful. *sigh* Can’t wait till I have my own home to do this to! xD
Love, Jazzy
P.S. Your blog looks amazing. I don’t know how long it’s been like this, I haven’t been on her for a while, but it’s looks great!
Thank you, Jazzy—so glad you like it! 🙂 And thank you for the kind words about my blog, too!
Oh, this looks amazing!!! It really opens up the kitchen area 🙂 Makes it look way bigger!
Thank you, Stefanie! 🙂
I just LOVE it!! It really does make everything look so clean and bright!! I’m impressed with your painting skills too! 😀
Thank you, Kristin!
It’s better than the red. The white on white crazy is still trendy. However it leaves me feeling as if I’m in my first apartment again. Walsh lack creativity and personality regardless if the 100s if whites on the market today. There are so many color scapes that would give the kitchen a warm and bright sir with feeling heavy. A kitchen should have warmth. Personally, I wouldn’t have done what you did, I would have gone with something much different. But then again I’ve owned and painted now 3 kitchens in 5 yrs. You tend better understand color and interior design the more you do it.
Thanks, Julia! We’re in love with it! We’ve had several different colors through the years (yellow, cream, etc.), and I love this the best. 🙂
Oh Joy, it looks great. The photos make me feel like there’s a fresh breeze sweeping through the room and all is crisp and clean and new. I love various shades of white– so light and airy. I know you’ve been wanting to do this for a loooong time. Way to go tackling that summer to-do list!
Thank you, Jennifer! And thanks for your contribution towards the paint at my birthday last year! 🙂
It looks wonderful! 🙂 I look forward to seeing what you put in place of the tin backsplash! 🙂
Thank you, Katy! I hope to get to that sometime this summer! 🙂
I actually prefer the red…sorry. My own kitchen is painted red and we have white cabinets. But it is YOUR kitchen and if you love then it’s awesome!!
Haha, Christy! One of my good friends recently painted part of her dining room this same color of red, and it looked good in her room. Our kitchen was just so dark with it. But I’m sure yours looks lovely! 🙂
The red kitchen was very special , but for your new one I must say : wonderful white ! and congratulations for your doughters and sons collaboration 🙂
I wish you a lovely weekend … in the new kitchen ,
Franca
Thank you, Franca!
I really do love the white more than the red. The red was really too dark. I hope we can repaint some of the areas of our house too that are too dark. Also, I do think it looks less cluttered!
I agree, the red was way too dark. I’m so glad it’s gone! I have some leftover paint so I may do our tan-colored bathroom next! 🙂
I love, love the white!!! You have a beautiful eye for décor, very clean and simple!! I too will have to wait probably five years to do anything with our kitchen! :0). We are expecting baby number 6 in just a few weeks! But I am truly blessed with our kitchen it is nice sized and very functional!!
May God continue to bind up your heart and be your strength!!
Heather
Thank you, Heather! Congratulations on your new little one—I’d much rather be looking forward to a new baby in the house than work on the kitchen! 🙂