Tuesday, January 08, 2008

My Kitchen is painted


Here is my newly painted kitchen. Remember...this is a 1960's four-plex that I rent so I'm limited in what I can do here. I sanded and repainted the cabinets with Benjamin Moore Cloud Nine which is not a pure white but a nice creamy white. I painted the walls with Benjamin Moore Feather Gray which is a gray-blue. I'm not sure if I'm liking the blue walls though. At times the blue reflects onto the cabinets and makes them look blue also. In the morning light it reminds me of a swimming pool. I may end up painting the walls yellow. The rest of the downstairs is yellow so I wanted something different for the kitchen. I'll live with it for now.My landlord came by and she was happy with how it turned out and I was able to deduct the cost of the paint from my rent. Yay! I would love to get a new faucet. One of those goose-neck ones would look so much better.
I also re-grouted the tiles and I can't believe the difference that made. I bought a tub of premixed white grout, a grout float and sponge and it was very easy. If you can frost a cake you can re-grout your tile!
I have a couple birdcages on top of the fridge. The little plate says "Gardening grows the spirit" I bought it at Marshall's (of course) and only had it a couple days when I dropped it and chipped two pieces off the edge. One of my 7 random facts yesterday should have been that I'm a klutz.

Okay, I'm really embarrassed to show these "before" pictures. They look so gross! When I moved in almost 4 years ago the kitchen was freshly painted in this beige color (the whole interior was painted this color) but the walls and cabinets weren't prepped right and the paint started peeling off.I was trying out some paint colors so that's why the area right below the sink is a different color. That's not dirt, it's just chipped paint...
As you can see my kitchen is very small...some of you probably have closets bigger than this! Even being this small it was a much bigger job to do this than I expected. It took me 3 full days (8-10 hour days) to get it prepped and painted. Then some additional time to paint the hood over the stove and re-grout the tile. It was so worth it though. The difference paint can make is amazing. It looks so clean and fresh now!

73 comments:

  1. Cindy,

    I think it's lovely. Very peaceful. Maybe you could bring in some buttery yellow on your valance and floormat, and even trade one or two plates for a buttery yellow? If you love your valance (it's very pretty), Maybe you could just add some yellow trim to it...ribbon or something.

    You've done such a nice job with your place, and that's not easy in a rental!

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  2. Wow, wow and more WOW! I'm practially speechless. Your kitchen came out soooo beautiful! I bet your landlord LOVES you to death! (Too bad she didn't let you deduct your labor too. That was A LOT of work.) From the photos, I actually think the grayish blue walls are very pretty. I hope you'll live with it a while and see if you get used to it. Fabulous makeover!

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  3. Dear Cindy... just wanted to say hi, have been enjoying your blog for a while now... You did a lovely job on your kitchen, I must say it brought back memories for me :-) We used to live in a four-plex in Campbell, over on Laura Drive..... Our landlords lived right next door, and they were the sweetest people... how I loved our little place. Thank you for sharing, and for bringing back such a wonderful memory...

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  4. Hello Cindy
    Your kitchen looks very great. You have done a fantastic job.You are
    very talented.
    And Congratulation to the Award.
    Best wishes for the year 2008.
    Have a nice week Regina

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  5. What a wonderful job. You really know how to make a house a home. Love the blue plates.
    Linda

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  6. It looks wonderful. The wall colours is beautiful with your blue and white accessories. Personally I think small kitchens work well, everything within turning/reaching distance.. You must be the best tenant ever. Rachael:)

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  7. Oh Cindy. It is truly lovely. You are one of the most inspirational and creative people I know.
    As one who lived in quite a few rentals that were NOT my taste, I humbly bow to you!

    Now, I actually love the color of the walls. I think it all looks so pretty together.

    Your landlord should be bending over backwards to thank you for being such a treasure!

    Congratulations on a job brilliantly well done!

    Hugs,
    Sue

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  8. Hi Cindy - I love your updated kitchen, the colors are so inviting. Also love the unexpected touch of the little chandelier over the sink.

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  9. Oh Cindy what a talent for decorating you have ... everything is so extra special!
    Mary
    hoganfe handbags

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  10. Oh think you have done an outstanding job. I bet your land lady just loves having someone like you living there. You really shined on your project. I so love folks like you who take care of things and treat your home good. So many people who rent, treat the property just horrible and then when they leave, the cost of having to fix things is just out of this world at times.
    Anyways, Have a wonderful day and again bravo on the job well done. Oh and BTW, love the 2 colors together :-).
    Angela

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  11. Love it, have been waiting to see it and you did such a wonderful job, so cozy and feminine......just lovely!!!

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  12. I think your kitchen is darling. Such a change from before. I love reading your blog too. You've given me some great ideas of what to do with some of my "treasures" that I have been saving. I decided it's time to dig them out and enjoy them even if it's only my husband and myself...Thanks.

    P.S. I wouldn't change a thing!!! The blue is so peaceful and calming

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  13. Trust me when I say I know exactly how long renovations take if you do them properly. My Sweetie is pretty anal and we do it to the "nth" degree...always....

    I am trying not to get tooooo excited...but, after beginning our bathroom in June 2006.. ripped right back to nothing at all... we are almost finished. January 2008. Luckily we had other toilets and another tub. No shower though..til a few months ago when at least that part of things went operational. This past week we are plagued with minor plumbing leaks. After all the major plumbing we did..now just some stupid little leaks around connections to faucets. Which begs the question...do you really ever get what you pay for? cuz..we paid dearly for this stuff and are still having problems ..had to send the tub faucet back to Germany due to a slight flaw that caused leakage... sigh.... a 6 week wait for the new one.

    I am wondering if all the blue and white could do with some other colour as accent pieces too if you decide not to change the wall colour.

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  14. It looks fabulous, Cindy! I like the blue walls. You've done an amazing job. ~ Lynda xo

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  15. OH that is fantastic Cindy! How can you come and do my mom's kitchen! Just lovely!

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  16. Cindy, I'm new to this blog reading thing & your blog was the first to make my favorites. My daughter & I lived in a tiny rental a few years ago & I too worked my "cottage magic" on the place. It brought me such joy and I see that in your lovely home. Each and every room is beautiful and the kitchen is no exception. I look forward to the daily posts, seeing what treasurers you have discovered & believe I've found a new friend. From one blue & white lover to another, many blessings.

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  17. Buttercup Yellow would look warm on the walls and make the blue plates extra Pop..looks wonderful

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  18. Hi Cindy, I think you did a fabulous job! I know how long it takes to paint cabinets cause I painted mine too (especially if you're doing a good job) plus it's so boring LOL!

    Love the blue toile valance and the transferware plates (yes, we do like the same things don't we).The birdcages look so pretty on top of the fridge!

    When you feel like a change, I think yellow walls would be nice with the blue and white or even red if you don't think it'll make it feel too closed in.

    Good job and congrats on your award!

    Manuela

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  19. What a beautiful kitchen. Enjoy the cooking and the baking.

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  20. What a BEAUTIFUL kitchen! Cozy, feminine, clean . . . ! You have given me inspiration. We have a remodel-on-a-shoestring coming up soon and you have given me new hope that it CAN be done.

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  21. Cindy what a pretty kitchen, it looks wonderful! You are a wonder with a paint brush in hand...it turned out absolutely lovely!

    Smiles...

    Beverly

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  22. Hi Cindy. Your kitchen looks so nice and fresh and pretty! Of course I love anything that has blue and white. You sure have a talent for design, and isn't it amazing what you can do with little money? I always enjoy the visit. Rhondi

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  23. Cindy,

    Wow, the kitchen came out so pretty! I love the blue! Everything looks wonderful! You did a fantasitc job! I wouldn't change a thing!

    Debbie from NJ

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  24. Your newly painted kitchen looks amazing. You must feel so proud! The blue and white theme is so pretty and refreshing. I love how you've accessorised too! Thoroughly inspiring!
    Kelleigh

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  25. I sent you an award, but see that you have already received it,so I decided to mention your blog on mine anyway. Thanks for the great eye candy to look at each time I visit you blog.

    Lois

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  26. Hi Cindy, Im a blue lover myself, though I tend to steer to the country blues.But I do like your kitchen, although small, the colour of the cabinets and walls make it clean and fresh, and spacious! Add some accessories in butter yellow, and it may change the blue to your liking.After all that hard work, you should be proud!!
    Sue

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  27. You did a great job! It looks so peaceful and inviting. You have done a fab job with the whole place.

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  28. It is absolutely lovely...what a beautiful color choice...you have such a good eye!

    smiles, kari & kijsa

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  29. Wow!! Your kitchen turned out beautifully. I love the blue color!

    We have been discussing the idea of painting our kitchen blue as well. It has been yellow for about 5 years now and we want a change. I'm so glad I saw your kitchen because now that I see how beautiful yours looks, I will feel more confident in painting mine blue too!

    Great job!
    Erin

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  30. I love what you did in the kitchen, it looks fantastic!!!

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  31. All I can say is...OMGOSH!!!!! I LOVE IT CINDY! You did a lovely job, I know how hard you worked on it, clapclapclapclap!! You deserve a big applause!

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  32. That was a lot of work. The landlord should have given you something for your labor. It would have been well worth it, considering what it would have cost her, if she had a painter do it.

    Your cabinets look so fresh. You'll know, in time, if you like the gray blue. A yellow kitchen always looks sunny.

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  33. Cindy, it's absolutely fabulous! The blue looks beautiful in the photos, with your lovely window treatment and that terrific chandelier. I love the birdcages and the plates -- so pretty! It's definitely magazine material now! ;)
    xoxo,
    Mary

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  34. Isn't it amazing how a fresh coat of paint does such wonders! You did an awesome job Cindy! I know those cabinets were a lot of work. But worth it! I would have loved to have a renter like you!!
    Barbara

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  35. I am so impressed...you did a great job, Cindy. Great doesn't begin to say it. You did fabulous!

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  36. Cindy,
    You did a great job. I know the feeling when you do something and your not sure you did the right thing.
    Give it some time and see if adding a little bit of another color in there that it might make more since.
    Keep up the energy. You are a Libra like my sister and you both have a great eye for decorating and making this work for you.
    I wish I had that energy. I too am working on my house and you and her are my inspiration.
    Thank you.
    www.manyfondmemories.blogspot.com
    Glenda

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  37. Hi Cindy! I just found you through a link at Coffee tea Books and me. I really like your blog. I started reading; and suddenly, I've been here almost half an hour!

    Your home is beautiful. The transformation in your kitchen is amazing. You make me want to paint something!

    I'll be back to visit your blog again. Please come visit me at my blog home, also.

    Laura
    Happy at Home

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  38. Wow...its great that you have such a cool landlord that lets you make changes! Looks great!
    Blessings,
    Robin

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  39. Cindy,

    I love the kitchen. I've been thinking of painting my cabinets. I'll have to remember the color you used. The wind that was hitting your area reached Ohio last night. A few thousand without power. Fortunately, we had no problems. They predicted hail also. Glad that didn't happen since we just got all new windows, doors, siding, roof, gutters, and even a new mail box. This was because of hail damage from last year.

    Again, the kitchen is beautiful. Great job as always!

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  40. Oh Cindy,
    It is just PERFECT... I love the color of the walls and the blue plates are marvelous. I love blue and white
    Did you take the cabinet doors off? Well that is a silly question of course you did ...you do everything the right way ....I need to do something in my kitchen... I love everything about your kitchen....you are amazing
    Linda

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  41. Love it! It's so much like my own kitchen, and I had a hard time with the wall color, too. It was two or three yellow shades, then a blue, and white, and eventually I sponge-painted it with blue over a white base, with some butter accents. I also have a boatload of blue and white plates hanging along the top of my wall.

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  42. It is simply a sigh of contentment to look at your kitchen... I love the cabinets and the cool oasis feel of it. You have the pizazz of one hundred women to get that all done. I love it.

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  43. Hi Cindy, had to come back for another look -- it's so pretty! Have a wonderful day!
    xoxo,
    Mary

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  44. Oh Cindy, the kitchne looks so nice! Isn't it amazing the difference a can of paint can make? You did a great job, thanks for sharing your pictures!
    Carol
    http://ourreddoor.blogspot.com

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  45. Your kitchen looks very good now. Can understand you are happy to have repaint it. And that you didn't have to pay for the paint, that's good news.
    Hope you're having a good day.
    Love Elzie

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  46. Cindy, it looks fabulous.. Dont you love fresh paint.. Gives everything a new beginning...
    Jo-Anne

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  47. so awesome. what a wonderful job you did! Enjoy your new kitchen and dining room :-) Happy new home.

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  48. so awesome. what a wonderful job you did! Enjoy your new kitchen and dining room :-) Happy new home.

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  49. Gosh.I really like the white and blue. In fact you've inspired me to look towards painting mine in that combination with brushed aluminum hardware! What a great difference it made.

    Mine is a rental too, and luckily my landlord trusts my taste..so I feel it would be a nice combination.

    Thanks for sharing and inspiring.

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  50. Your kitchen looks beautiful Cindy!!
    What a difference. Love the birdcages.
    Rosemary

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  51. Cindy , Your kitchen turned out BEAUTIFUL!!! I can't believe you tackled that big job all by yourself! You are amazing! I love that you have a nice deep windowsill that you can put cutsie stuff on, I don't have windowsills that are deep enough to put anything on.

    You have so many great ideas and are so motivated, Can you come and move next door to me so you can help me with my house? It really needs your touch lol.

    Again, What an awesome job!! I'm going to go back and look some more.

    Pattie :)

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  52. I think it is amazing that you are able to do so much with a rental property. That is something that here in Australia you are not usually allowed to do. Some landlords won't even let you put any extra hooks for pictures etc. to go on walls.Once you lease a place that is how it stays.
    You have done such a fabulous job on the kitchen.
    Alison

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  53. I love your kitchen, you did a great job! I want to paint my kitchen cabinets (they're dark stained)to brighten up the kitchen. You've given me the inpiration I needed!

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  54. This came out very nice indeed. Not an easy task when renting for sure. Maybe your landlord would spring for a new faucet since you did the work of painting and grouting the tiles? Worst they can say is no. Touches of yellow would be nice as well.

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  55. Your kitchen re-do is near and dear to my heart as I just re-did my kitchen a month ago. Isn't it amazing how painting the cabinets and walls makes such an enormous difference? It is a whole lot of work, though. I think it is the biggest project I had ever tackled. Your kitchen is just beautiful. Thanks for the inspiration! Amy

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  56. Cindy, your kitchen turned out beautiful. I love that silver-plated tray turned chalk board idea over your stove too. I hope your landlord knows how lucky she is to have you as a tenant! MAJOR improvement.

    Blessings,

    Sher

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  57. You did a GREAT job!!!

    Your kitchen is PERFECT!

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  58. Your kitchen looks beautiful!! So fresh and pretty...I like the blue, but of course pictures don't show the colour in every light.
    You'd never know your home was a rental...you've made it magazine worthy!!

    Linda
    xoxo

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  59. OH MY GOSH!!!! I have been gone for a few days and just came on to see if you finished your kitchen. Cindy I am so happy for you it looks AMAZING!!! You did an outstanding job. When I was a renter I did the same thing it my not of been my my house but it was my home. Evertime I am out shopping and see something beautiful in blue and white I thing about you And just now before I got home I was at T J Maxx and saw the most beautiful coffee cups in blue and white. I had them in my cart and then but them back and I went back and forth I just decided to wait because of the budget thing that always gets in the way. It is hard to be and adult sometimes. Anyway I am happy for you.
    Take care
    ginger

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  60. Cindy, it looks great. You have done so well working with what you have! My kitchen is about the same size, so you're not alone! Great job on everything!
    Jen R

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  61. I love the way you decorate. I'm new to blogging and enjoy so much, seeing how others update their homes. You have beautiful taste. Thanks for sharing. Kathi

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  62. Cindy!! I'm in awe ;o) I just love your beautiful new kitchen. You do such a fabulous job with everything you touch ... I need to pick up a few tips for you on how to thrift shop & find fabulous bargains on a budget!! Love the chandelier in the kitchen ... mine is too but in the middle of the window (mostly because that's where I found a hook to hang out of the way for now) but the corner is sooo cute!!
    Have a great weekend!!
    Dionne

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  63. It looks fabulous! I'm very impressed, and I *know* how much work it is, since I painted all the cabinets in my last kitchen. This is why I keep avoiding it at the new place, even though I want so badly to have painted cabinets! Yours looks so fresh and charming, it's inspiring me!
    ~Angela :-)

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  64. Your kitchen looks fantastic!
    Heather

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  65. kitchen cabinets will come to life with the right light. It is important that you allow as much ultraviolet light as possible to let the wood mature and change over time. The heartwood is truly a remarkable feature that will help your cabinets stand out in the room. At night, yellow light fixtures are recommended to provide a dramatic effect. The reflection of light on the polished surface will look very elegant. You want to allow light into the entire room but be cautious about directing sunlight on the wood as it may alter in texture and quality.
    Wipe any presence of moisture or dust. Cherry kitchen cabinets are easy to maintain. You only need to apply a light coat of good furniture polish on the wood once every month to keep it clean and lustrous. Invest in a touchup kit to fix small dents or scratches. You may need to ask your dealer for certification and guarantee for repair for major damage. If the cabinet seems loose, work with the hinge but do not over-torque the screw. Be careful not to damage the wood with tools or simply call a professional to avoid any further damage. You may want to place shelf papers as well before putting any items in the cabinet to protect the surface. If the doors have any glass, clean these regularly as well at least once every two weeks.

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  66. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  67. Hi Cindy: I have a question. I inherited these to French table from my mami, they are badly weathered on top...
    I was wondering if I could just sand the tops and roughen the rest of the tables, apply primer and then paint and then apply the wax? I have never
    stripped anything and that process seem so daunting and hard, hahaha...what do you think I should do. I love all that you have done and we have the same color in our kitchen, except that my cabinets are dark and after looking at your's I thinking of painting them the same. Thanking you in advance for any help I can get. I can tell you love your home and take pride in it. Best regards. Coco

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  68. Coco, yes you can always sand instead of strip. Just make sure you get any polyurethane or clear glossy stuff off or the paint will scratch off.

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  69. I absolutely adore this and your creativity... I stumbled across this because I am moving house soon and my mum has kindly offered me three good pieces of furniture to paint... I read your post on stripping, priming, painting etc too.
    I'll be honest. I'm a little intimidated by the task at hand, but also keen too!

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  70. This is gorgeous! I love looking through home improvement blogs to gather ideas for my home. My husband is in charge of the exterior and already knows he wants to install new siding on our home, but he is leaving the interior to me. I love your style! Where did you get all the blue/white plates on the walls? They are darling!

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  71. This is gorgeous! I love looking through home improvement blogs to gather ideas for my home. My husband is in charge of the exterior and already knows he wants to install new siding on our home, but he is leaving the interior to me. I love your style! Where did you get all the blue/white plates on the walls? They are darling!

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  72. How much did you sand the cabinets? I am thinking of redoing my bathroom cabinets that are painted white but not painted well. Should I use the stripper of just sand? do I have to go down to the wood?

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Thank you so much for taking the time to leave me a comment! ~Cindy