Color Recap

The big reveal is coming soon, don't worry.  We are still debating where we want to drill the knobs.  It seems that the trend is to drill them about 2.5-3" down the panel.  Here are some shaker cabinets with a similar look:

See what I mean? So anyways, while we determine that stop for a moment and remind yourself of our three kitchen colors...then suggest what fabric colors you would bring in to make the space a little cozier.

The walls are Glidden's Smooth Stone:

...and the cabinets are Sherwin Williams' Escape Gray:

...we've also got a boat load of white trim, and white Silestone countertops:

Then we've got travertine tile floors that look something like this:

I. Need. Warmth. I know what you're thinking...just where is this fabric going to go? Answer: All kinds of places! I need a rug, window treatments on two windows and we're turning that awkward bar/semi-island into an adorable built-in dining nook that will require pillows and seat cushions. One thing is for sure, I know I want an "eclectic mix" of fabrics.  That is, I want a few different patterns that "go" but aren't mitchy-matchy.  It's not 1998 and this isn't the Gap.  The problem is that my thoughts are all over the place and I can't pick my main squeeze fabric.

Should I go all soft and paisley?

Mod and Dwell-studio-ish?

Or do I go somewhere in-between?

One things is for sure...the options are endless.  Somehow I'll incorporate a stripe into the mix and probably manage to sneak in a small bit of geometric pattern even if it isn't the star of the show. 

Special Delivery!

Joy oh joy. We've got mail. Two great deliveries occurred in the last 48 hours and no, Kara hasn't had Reagan yet. First, my sweet parents sent us a brand-spanking-new paint sprayer. Check this baby out!

Frank says thanks, too! The timing couldn't have been better, either.  Our new doors also arrived!

We are happy with the details we chose. As much as the traditional shaker-style cabinet works with our home's 1926 birthday, we really feel like the added details will give the cabinets an extra bit of character.

We had the doors pre-drilled for the new hinges and ordered our hinges directly from the door manufacturer to ensure a proper fit.  Our old cabinets had wobbly, outdated hinges that fell off-track too easily.  We're not hinge experts, but these look like they'll hold up pretty well.

I got so excited to see our new cabinet doors, that I went ahead and took our existing doors off while Mark ran to Sherwin Williams to pick up our Escape Gray.  Tomorrow we'll empty out the cabinets, sand everything down, and clean up the dust.  This will include a much-needed clean up of the cabinet interiors. We're thinking that it may be wise to line them with contact paper, but we haven't made up our minds about it just yet. Any suggestions? We're too lazy to re-paint the interiors, so don't bother suggesting that. P.S. Do you think we like Oatmeal Squares?

Yes, that's my husband cooking me breakfast for dinner. He's the best. The kitchen is once again in shambles, and there's no turning back.

Green machine

After the Cascade Green fail (see the cabinet on the far left), we knew that finding the perfect color wasn't going to be easy. I know, we should have figured that out before our third trip to a paint store but no one said we were fast learners.

(Hi Frank!) We went back to Sherwin Williams today to pick out the perfect shade of green-gray and left with four additional samples. We've learned that colors never look the same in the store on a swatch as they do painted in our home. We painted the cabinets and were surprised to realize that all four selections were better than any of the previous four.  We were honing in on our sweet-green-spot. I know, the tension is overwhelming...

After much debate, we checked our final decision to ensure there was enough contrast between our Smooth Stone walls and (drum roll).... Escape Gray! Here's a close-up of what we're talking about:

It's green. It's gray. It's light. It looks like it belongs in an old home and it will look great with our shaker cabinets. Mark drove back to S-Dubb's later in the day to purchase a gallon of the goods.  Sure, we spent about $45 on paint samples but the money (well) spent has two great outcomes: first, we know we're painting our cabinets a color that we'll love and second, if anyone has a small project in mind that requires green paint, I've got 8 pints for you to pick from. You're welcome.

The winner fails

After Mark ran out to our local Sherwin Williams to find our Cascade Green, he slapped it up next to the other samples and we both agree that it's just not gray enough.  This thought came from the guy that for three months refused to believe that gray was a good color. Now we're back to square one.  We've got four painted cabinets and nothing to show for it.  Saturday we're headed back to the S-Dubbs, with paint samples in-tow, for a final shot at the perfect green cabinets.