Got a hoodie?

It's getting there! Got the hood semi-installed. Need to get the ducting all assembled but it's starting to look better. I also got the walls painted today. Just need to get the new Ceasarstone countertop installed and then tile the backsplash, install a few more doors and this puppy is done! I soooooo need a massage.

Yes, you can glaze like a pro!

So, I can do a lot of things. I mean - a LOT OF THINGS! But I wasn't quite sure if I could glaze kitchen cabinets to look like the old worn Tuscan cabinets you see in the designer magazines. Well, like Obama says - Yes, I can! I was amazed at how easy it actually is. And the result is fantastic. I've already had several comments from people asking me where I purchased them, or telling me that they're far better than the ones they purchased from the upscale store because they are unique and original. Yeah, they are.

Well, for those of you who want to create this same look in your kitchen. I'll let you in on my secret. It's actually pretty easy, just a bunch of steps. And you can most definitely transform your ugly cabinets into gorgeous showpieces in about a week. Here's how.

1. Take off all your cabinet doors, take off all hardware and tape up some plastic to contain the dust in your kitchen. That's right - you're gonna sand.


2. Take #60 or #100 grit sandpaper and a random orbital sander and lightly sand the surface of your cabinets. You don't want to get the current finish off, you're just trying to lightly rough up the top layer so that your primer will stick. Do this in your garage (or wherever else works) also for your doors.






3. Once everything is sanded, and you might need to do the grooves by hand with some sandpaper, then be sure to take a tack cloth and clean all the dust from the cabinets, and the kitchen as a whole.






4. Prime the cabinets with a water-based primer. Be sure you don't have any drips or heavy spots - it's key to get an even coat by starting with smooth primer. No need for oil-based, it stinks and is hard to clean up and most paints are now water-based and better for the environment anyway.
   
5. Next, pick a base coat in satin enamel. I used a cream color as my base. Paint one coat to all the cabinet boxes and doors (no need to do the inside of the cabinets unless you're crazy), then let the paint dry.
   
6. Do another coat of the base paint after at least 1 day of the previous paint curing (drying hard enough for the next coat). Trust me, this extra step now will make them more durable later.


7. After the paint has cured for 24-48 hours, you're now ready to glaze. Mix 1/2 part glaze and 1/2 part paint. Then take a dry brush and brush it on randomly. Let it set for about 30 seconds and then with a clean (and I used a slightly damp) cloth, rub off the excess glaze leaving excess in the cracks and crevices. This creates a worn look and the glaze you rub off leaves some in the base coat's brush stokes - brilliant!
   
8. Finally, after the glaze coat has had at least 24 hours to cure, paint a top coat (or two) of polyurethane - again, water based. This will help protect your beautiful new cabinets. Use a satin finish for that truly aged look - gloss it too much for this look.


9. Finally, put your doors back up and hell yeah - accent them with some cool new door and drawer pulls or handles.

Tip: If you're going through all the trouble of glazing your cabinets, why not also add some extra touches first like pressed molding trim or wood outlay accents for extra dimension. Trust me, it's worth it in the end. See the detail shot above.

I'm at the stage in my remodel where I just need to install the cooktop hood, paint the walls, and tile the backsplash once the new solid surface counters come in. I'm approaching the finish line and oh-so-happy!

More photos to come.

The kitchen, she be comin' along!

Seriously? I've been working on the kitchen renovation for exactly 2 weeks, and damn - this girl is fast!. What have I done so far? Let me tell you.

1. 1. Demolition to the countertops and backsplash


2. Removal of all unnecessary cabinets


3. Receipt of new filler cabinets and assembly, they were RTA (ready-to-assemble)


4. A gazillion cabinet modifications since, as you all probably already have guessed, the RTA cabinets didn't match exactly to the old 1980's cabinets. Different drawer heights, oh - the list goes on....


5. Worked with the plumber to terminate the gas on one wall and add it to a new wall. We then did the reverse to the water line.


6. Worked with the electrician to pull 220 for the new electric double wall oven, move a bunch of outlets, dedicate the high-draw outlets for items such as micro and fridge. And more and more and.....


7. Then once I hung the micro cabinet, there was a 6.5" space that I'm creating as niche cubby shelves. Try getting your hand in a space like that to paint. Not easy


8. Priming all the cabinets, painting the doors - starting to at least.


9. Raising the counter height up an additiona 1.5" since the previous remodel in the 1980s sunk the dishwasher below the subfloor - so it would never come out without countertop removal. Seriously? Were they thinking???!


10. Now I'm about to go down to my shop to paint the cabinet doors with a second coat of paint. Then I'm glazing them for an aged Tuscan look. I'll shoot you all a photo of that one later.

Not bad for 2 weeks worth of work. I'm actually kicking ass on this one so far. Fingers crossed that there won't be too many surprises. Thos are never fun in remodels. Off and out for tonight. 8:51pm and I'm just getting started, again.

Kitchen Cabinets, To Your Spaces!

Ok, so it may not look like much, but the kitchen is starting to take shape. All the tile (countertops and backsplash) is removed and gone, the gas line and icemaker lines are switched in preperation for their respective appliances and the electrician is coming tomorrow to move some outlets, pull some 220 for the new electric oven and get the rest of the electrical situation in shape. Does it look like much now? Probably not. But today was a lot of work. I'm mixing new RTA (ready-to-assemble) cabinets in with the existing ones, and wouldn't you know it - they're not identical. So I'm forced to make shims, cut cross members and move them down an inch, fill gaps, etc. so that they will be identical once they're all installed and painted.

Today's work, priming the new RTA cabinets and installing the cooktop cabinet, it's 18" flanking cabinets and the two on the wall to the left. Plus, several drywall repairs - then I had to duck out to get the boys off to football practice. Ah, crazy life. Tomorrow will hopefully be a big day. I hope to get electrical where I need it, adjust some cabinets so that they match and temporarily reinstall the cooktop so they can use it to cook! Here goes nothing! ;-)

That's right. I AM a woman in woodworking!

Woodworker's Journal featured me in their Woodworker's eZine (newsletter) today and on their website. I was thinking about it as I was driving home from the home improvement store to pick up 4 gallons of paint... You know what? I really like telling my story! Why? Because it really amps me up, and hopefully others as well.

I think as women we are creative at heart. We really have a different way of looking at things, and when we have enough courage - we're able to take that creativity and bring it to life. And I love that I'm using what so many commercials and much of the media refer to as "man's tools". Why is it that a tool is made for a man? Who says? Don't accept other people's definitions as fact, make up your own mind. Pick up a tool and you'll be amazed at what you can do. Maybe you'll build a bookshelf, maybe you'll fix a leaky faucet - but whatever it is, you did it. And that's such a great feeling. I hope that you enjoy reading the article, it was fun to recall many of the stories to the author.

Next time you're bored and sitting around the house. Think of what you might be able to create. And just go with it. Who cares if it's not perfect or as you imagined it - it's a tangible piece of your creative spirit and that's good!

Ze Kitchen, She Be Done!

Finally, the other kitchen renovation - the white one, that I've been working on is done! Remember a while back I told you that I wanted to match my final photo to the Photoshopped image of my design? Well - here it is! Whaddya think? Pretty damn close, huh?

(Above: Photoshopped Design)

(Above: Actual Finished Kitchen)

It's so much easier to sell your designs to your clients when you can show them ahead of time what the final product will look like. Good thing I'm handy with a computer as well as a table saw! To see more photos of the final design, click here.

Well, tomorrow back to the major kitchen renovation - my plumber was sick today so I just assembled the rolling kitchen island instead. Tomorrow, moving cabinets, adding side boards to finish new end cabinetry and hopefully this puppy will start to take shape! You should see my forearms from tearing out the tile - it looks like I got into it with a Werewolf. I guess that works for the Twilight generation anyway, huh?