i'll take my kitchen black, please

I seem to decorate with my emotions, my moods. I recently changed several rooms from deep crimson, terra cotta, and gold to black. What does that say about how I've been feeling?

I have 3 connected rooms. The living room, the family room, and the kitchen. It's hard to change one without changing the others. So I tackled all 3 rooms at once.

IN THE KITCHEN...
I didn't have the money to purchase new cabinets, so I opted to paint them. I also raised the top cabinets 7" and installed hardware. I used long stainless handles, and places them horizontal along the bottom of the doors. I did this because I like it, and because most people would hang them vertically. It also means that the horizontal placement of the handle on the drawers and the doors are the same.


Yes, I said that I am decorating with black, when the color is actually called Lincoln Cottage Black*. It's actually a charcoal gray that looks pretty much black depending on the light and time of day.

Saving money by not purchasing new cabinets, I splurged on new stainless steel appliances. The refrigerator, stove & microwave. I didn't purchase a new dishwasher. I just changed the front panel to the black side so you hardly notice it's there. (unless it's running, a new one would have been so much quieter!)

My favorite change: The sink and faucet! My dad installed both for me, with my brother's help. (including a new disposal.) The sink is very deep, and with the addition of the industrial-look faucet, can easily fill 5 gallon buckets - which I often do!

I painted the walls a light mushroom color. I carried this color into the living area, the family room and up the staircase and through the halls.

I turned the pantry door into a chalkboard. My original door is white and paneled. That original door is still there. I removed the handle and placed a piece of 1/8" hardboard cut to size at the hardware store. I used several pieces of removable double sided foam tape to adhere the board to the door. Several coats of chalkboard paint were applied, letting each coat dry before applying a new one. A new nickel finish door handle, and some chalk, and voila! a reversible and very handy door. I use it for homeschool, grocery lists, favorite quotes, and to do lists. My daughter uses it for fun. Her cousins have fun drawing away when they are visiting and hopefully I don't send them home to later draw on the walls there. whoops!


Raising the upper cabinets allowed me to add magnet strips, shelves and more for additional fun storage. The neutral color palate allows me to change accent colors and pieces on a whim. Right now, apple green.

Check out more of my recent decorating obsession:

take time for family, room

i'm dreaming of a living room (we actually use)

*paint: Valspar Lincoln Cottage Black from Lowes (4009-2) in Satin. (It's only available in Satin and Semi Gloss - and I'm usually a flat and eggshell person.) I used the tinted primer recommended for this paint. It is a color from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.