Kitchen Island Makeover - Part 1

For the most part I am okay with my kitchen. It's not my dream kitchen but it's functional and spacious. I have a lot of cabinet and pantry storage and that's a huge benefit. When I moved into this house a couple of years ago, it was such a wonderful change from the tiny little kitchen I had in my Florida home that I was just thrilled. After living in the house for a while there are some things that I would like to "makeover". When we moved in (sorry, I can't find the disc with the pictures) the counters were an ugly pinky-beige laminate. We replaced those with smooth Italian tile. I also wanted (at the time) the counters to blend with the color of the natural Maple cabinets. Looking back, I wish I would have gone with a little more contrast. That brings me to my next project - a kitchen island makeover. This is the island presently. What I want to do is add beadboard to the sides and back (where the bar stools set) and paint the entire island black. I want to add features that elevate the island to a piece of furniture rather than a rectangular box of cabinets in the middle of the floor.

I plan to keep the tiled counter. Each tile has little flecks of dark espresso colored variations. By painting the island black, I believe the dark tones in the tile will really pop.

We replaced all the cabinet hardware when we moved in. The previous knobs were brass and weren't my style. I opted for two styles both in brushed nickle. The drawers feature cup pulls and the doors have an egg-shaped knob. I will reuse these once the island make over is complete.

I really like the wood-tone of the hardwood floors. By painting the island black, I am hoping to add a richness to the kitchen and punch up the contrast. While the cabinets are solid maple, the sides and back of the island are a maple laminate which I've never liked. By replacing the laminate with a solid wood beadboard and then unifying the whole island with a nice coat of black paint I hope it will add a touch of drama and elegance.

Off-white appliances and a cream colored porcelain sink was the name of the game when we moved in. The appliances had not been cared for and the sink was chipped. Mr. Panache is very handy so he replaced the sink with a deep, double-sided sink from Thermocast in black and all of the appliances were replaced with stainless steel units trimmed with black accents. We painted the walls a light golden yellow - Laura Ashley Gold 2 - from Lowes. At first I liked the light and bright feel but now I want a more saturated color to add the desired contrast between the walls and the cabinets. There is one wall in the kitchen (not pictured) that is painted a Anjou pear green. I am considering that color for all the walls in the kitchen but I am going to wait until after we've finished with the island to decide.
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When taking on a project like this, it is always a good idea to get plenty of inspiration and research your products. My first inspiration came from Pat at Back Porch Musings. She had her kitchen island painted black and it turned out lovely.
Then, Debra K at the Bunnies Bungalow also featured a sassy island makeover in red. I love the furniture details she added. Those details really add panache to the overall kitchen. I later found that Rhoda at Southern Hospitality featured a cabinet makeover for her bathroom vanity. She actually painted a white laminate vanity black! It turned out beautiful!!!
The Nester featured an island makeover completed by her sister and I noticed that while her island was painted white, the cabinets in the background were painted black. So I e-mailed the Nester to see if I could get any insider tips. She was so helpful and provided some great ideas, tips and techniques. She also gave me a link to the site of a professional painter. It was full of important things to consider when you undertake a painting project such as cabinets.
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This week I will spend time researching the project and making a list of supplies needed. Next week Mr. Panache and I hope to get started. I am not sure how long this little project will take but I don't want to rush it. The most important thing when painting cabinets is to prep the surface fully and wait one day between each coat of paint. Since a new island isn't in the budget this month, I want to take my time and get a great finish. Hope you will stay tuned for updates and pictures of our progress.
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Tomorrow is Outdoor Wednesday and I plan to feature some outdoor living inspiration. My deck is in need of some TLC and I'm on the search for a new outdoor dining table. I'm looking for a good second-hand piece that will seat at least six. We've made it through the cold wintery months, now it's time to get outside again and enjoy the crisp morning air while having a cup of coffee or the evening breezes while dining al fresco. I hope you will stop by. Until then,
Happy Decorating!
~Alisa