kitchen island ideas

Transformation Tuesday: Ugly, Shiny Laminate to Farmhouse Ready

/ chasidyhathorn / 2 Comments
I must confess that projects are fun and addicting. IT feels good to transform the bland into something fabulous *smile*

I must confess that projects are fun and addicting. It feels good to transform the bland into something fabulous *smile* P.S. please ignore the hot mess in my basement…I have been on Pinterest looking for organization inspiration!

Hey, y’all! Welcome to Sweet Sorghum Living–a place to sit a spell with a good cup of coffee and enjoy good conversation about everything from random road trips to gluten-free goodies. Today on the blog, we are chatting about a transformation that took place in August–but just recently received its last coat of paint…I think…it’s complicated…Where was I? Oh, yes! Today, I want to give the reason why I made the change + the details on the how. So, go grab that cup of coffee and sit a spell!

This is the first photo of Hathorn Hall's kitchen that I took. I immediately fell in love with the tall windows and ceilings. The countertops were not so grand, but an easy fix.

This is the first photo of Hathorn Hall’s kitchen that I took. I immediately fell in love with the tall windows and ceilings. The countertops were not so grand, but an easy fix.

I love the color of my cabinets. Normally, I like painted/glazed cabinets--but this kitchen needed the warmth and anchor of the rich wood.

I love the color of my cabinets. Normally, I like painted/glazed cabinets–but this kitchen needed the warmth and anchor of the rich wood.

I knew the island and the kitchen needed a bit of personality when I first toured it. It is going to take time to get it to where I want it to be...but that is perfectly okay because I heart projects *smile*

I knew the island and the kitchen needed a bit of personality when I first toured it. It is going to take time to get it to where I want it to be…but that is perfectly okay because I heart projects *smile*

The countertop is just too shiny...I know...I just said too shiny...but there is a time and place for shiny *wink*

The countertop is just too shiny…I know…I just said too shiny…but there is a time and place for shiny *wink* P.S. Do y’all see Ziva’s furry paws? She loves to be everywhere I am!

I love all the storage my kitchen has and the layout works well.

I love all the storage my kitchen has and the layout works well. It just needs some color, organization, and a bit of wow!

Problem: ugly, shiny island countertop Solution: wood (as in farmhouse table)

Problem: ugly, shiny island countertop
Solution: wood (as in farmhouse table)

I decided that I wanted my bland, stock kitchen to look more farmhouseque--so I set out to create that look by transforming the island into a farmhouse table.

I decided that I wanted my bland, stock kitchen to look more farmhouseque–so I set out to create that look by transforming the island into a farmhouse table. The hubby is so great at interpreting my random thoughts into a beautiful product.

This was an easy and affordable transformation project.

This was an easy and affordable transformation project.

I love this wood glue.

I love this wood glue.

Tool of the trade--and totally worth the investment if y'all do a lot of projects.

Tool of the trade–and totally worth the investment if y’all do a lot of projects.

First we glued, then we nailed the tongue-and-groove planks directly to the old countertop. No reason to tear out + we wanted the extra height.

First we glued, then we nailed the tongue-and-groove planks directly to the old countertop. No reason to tear out + we wanted the extra height. See how shiny and reflective that countertop is! Blinding!!! P.S. we used two different kinds of glue…we ran out…and then improvised with what we had! #renovatorprobs

Making progress

Making progress

Now it is ready for trim.

Now it is ready for trim.

Nothing fancy--think farmhouse.

Nothing fancy–think farmhouse.

Ready for paint...and this is where it got tricky...because I love so many colors!

Ready for paint…and this is where it got tricky…because I love so many colors!

First things first--decide on wall color.

First things first–decide on wall color. P.S. We filled in a few of the larger “knots” with wood filler + the nail holes.

This is the color I thought I wanted because I loved it so much at Sloss Castle.

This is the color I thought I wanted because I loved it so much at Sloss Castle. See next photo for all the details.

Risers are in Behr Premium Plus Interior Eggshell Enamel in Japanese Kimono and the steps are in Behr Concrete and Garage Floor Paint 1-Part Epoxy in Pyramid

Risers are in Behr Premium Plus Interior Eggshell Enamel in Japanese Kimono and the steps are in Behr Concrete and Garage Floor Paint 1-Part Epoxy in Pyramid

Long story short–transforming the island was easy…picking a color was not so easy. Honestly, I painted and glazed it over eight times…I lost count, but I think I finally got it…stay tuned for the final…well, final is a strong word *wink*…color reveal *smile*

Be sure to check out all the fabulous happenings on Instagram and Twitter. Don’t miss a random thing *smile*

 

 

 

 

 

Building It Our Way

/ chasidyhathorn / 7 Comments
The beginnings of a new kitchen island for Sloss Castle

The beginnings of a new kitchen island for Sloss Castle

Hey, y’all! Welcome back to Sweet Sorghum Living. Today on the blog, we will be chatting about how frustrating it is to be looking for that perfect piece of furniture, but you can’t find it anywhere–no matter how many stores you visit or online hunting you do…nothing is quite right for that awkward space.  So, go grab a good cup of coffee or nice glass of wine and sit a spell with me as I share my own furniture struggle + give a bit of a sneaky peek of what is happening right now at Hathorn Hall.

This is the before of the kitchen at Sloss Castle. The hubby and I spent over a year renovating a 1980 hot mess. We learned a lot about full renovation and ourselves during that adventure!

This is the before of the kitchen at Sloss Castle. The hubby and I spent over a year renovating a 1980 hot mess. We learned a lot about full renovation and ourselves during that adventure!

A little back story…In December 2012, the hubby and I bought a 1980 time capsule that was in desperate need of attention and love. The bones of the house were excellent. The house was charming with lots of potential + we had big plans for her. Now, long story short…we succeeded, but it almost killed our spirit.

The kitchen was not awful, but it was not so great either…light mauve counters, floating cabinets that blocked the view, white tiles with fruit impressions, and a large, awkward space where nothing existed.

The hubby and I knew that an island was the perfect solution for the space big enough to land a helicopter. We took off to find and buy an island. How hard could it be for really picky people to locate the perfect piece of furniture on an unreasonably low budget? NOTE: This budget was set by the hubby, who thinks everything is overpriced. And I do mean everything! Any who…after countless hours of shopping, our ideal island was not found. We had no choice. We had to make it ourselves.

The hubby designed the island and built the island. I was very specific about what I wanted from an island. He accomplished all my requests and more!

I was very specific about what I wanted from an island. The hubby was very sweet to design it with all my requests and more!

I absolutely hate looking at trash cans. They gross me out. Out of sight, out of mind. My number one request for my island was for it to house the trash bin. But, it had to be easy to get out--so I could scrub it..and disinfect it...often.

I absolutely hate looking at trash cans. They gross me out. Out of sight, out of mind. My number one request for my island was for it to house the trash bin. But, it had to be easy to get out–so I could scrub it..and disinfect it…often. P.S. I am currently begging the hubby to solve my kitchen trash can problem at the new house….

I wanted a place to chop veggies + I wanted to use a piece of vintage marble that I had bought many moons ago. The hubby accomplished that + added wine bottle storage. Truth be known...I used it to store my two-liter Diet Pepsi bottles.

I wanted a place to chop veggies + I wanted to use a piece of vintage marble that I had bought many moons ago. The hubby accomplished that + added wine bottle storage. Truth be known…I used it to store my two-liter Diet Pepsi bottles. P.S. the hubby just finished a fabulous piece of furniture for our new dining room that will only hold bottles the size of a typical wine bottle…Hmmmm…is he trying to tell me something?

We decided to paint the island a pretty cinnamon and mint green top. We glazed the top with the same espresso color we used on the cabinets.. The same glaze color used on the cabinets.

We painted the island a pretty cinnamon and mint green and glazed the top with the same espresso color we used on the cabinets.

The island turned out pretty fabulous + it became the gathering spot in the kitchen.

The island turned out pretty fabulous + it became the gathering spot in the kitchen.

Looking back, the sleepless nights...loud, creative discussions...and the back pain were all totally worth it. P.S. I am so glad that I do not have to do a major kitchen renovation in my new house. P.S. the hubby painted the walls + we put a new top on the island. I cannot wait to tell y'all about it!

Looking back, the sleepless nights…loud, creative discussions…and the back pain were all totally worth it. P.S. I am so glad that I do not have to do a major kitchen renovation in my new house. P.S.S. The hubby painted the kitchen walls + we put a new top on the island. Hathorn Hall is slowly coming together, and I cannot wait to tell y’all about it!

Whew! I am getting tired just looking at the before and after of the Sloss Castle kitchen. Sometimes, it is hard to believe that the hubby and I tackled such a project. The good news is we learned many lessons that will help us with our new house. One of those valuable lessons is to not waste countless hours shopping for a piece of furniture…we just sit down, discuss, design, buy materials, and build.

Thanks so much for sitting a spell with me today. I am off to help the hubby with a furniture project…I am so excited about this darling table that we are building for the dining room…Someone needs to duct tape my big, Southern mouth before I spill all the beans!