Monday, January 6, 2014

Kitchen Ceiling and Cabinet Paint Tests


There hasn't been a lot of progress on the kitchen the last few weeks but
the holidays gave me some time off that I was able to step right in and get
some things done without getting in the way.  The walls are now all primed
and ready for paint but most of my time was spent on the ceiling.



The wood planks took quite a lot of prep work, filling and sanding before a coat of primer went
on.  And then I walked around and marked trouble spots with blue tape.  There were quite a few
rough spots, nail holes and dents that needed to be filled and sanded down before touching up
with a second coat of primer.  If you ever decide to put in a planked ceiling, let me suggest doing
as much of this work before installing the wood.  It's neck- and shoulder-breaking work.



And finally on Sunday I put on the first coat of semi-gloss.  It's Benjamin
Moore Decorator's White in Aura.


It's really brightened up the whole room.  This is one of the things about the
old bakery from my hometown that I loved so much.  It seems so clean.

I really want to lighten these cabinets so paint seems pretty certain.



I've been playing with some paint to see what it might look like on the cabinets.
I bought some rosettes at Home Depot--the little things that would go in the top
corners of door or window casings--to experiment with.

I would put a lot more effort in the final finish but these are good
"sketches," if you will, of layering a few different colors.  



I used colors #2 and #5 from the Farrow & Ball paint samples
I made up which are Lamp Room Gray and Mole's Breath.



This is Lamp Room with a wash-n-wipe of burnt umber
acrylic paint that was thinned down juxtaposed against
the Carrara marble counter in my bathroom.

I think it's a little dirty looking.



This is Lamp Room with a little Mole's Breath
brushed in the recessed and then rubbed down to
almost bare wood in a few spots.

I like this one.



This one is Mole's Breath undercoat with a dry brushing
of Lamp Room over the top.  The effect is just a little
bit darker than the previous one.

I also like it.

I want to try a darker gray glaze on these to really highlight
the details.


Here's the three of them next to the stainless.

Excuse the fingerprints.



This is a little section of the cabinets that's had the finish sanded
off a bit.  Ideally, I'd like some of this grain to show through so it
might take a delicate dance of brushing paint on and caressing it off.

I only get one chance to get it right so I'll do some more samples
and perhaps look for a piece of furniture I can buy and experiment on.

Stay warm!

63 comments:

  1. The weather outside is frightful..........but inside it looks delightful.............fabulous, brilliant, incredible...............this is going to look SO terrific!!!!!! What a guy!!!!!!!

    All the best!!!!!! YOU keep warm..........I'm in Florida enjoying a little "cool" weather!!!!!

    Rob

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  2. i'm agreeing with above. i like the last lighter one. i am excited to see all the retrofitted pieces in your kitchen come together

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    1. Thanks, Meg. I'm kind of excited to see it coming together too.

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  3. Your ceiling looks great. Like how the semi-gloss will bounce the light around. Looking forward to seeing what you finally settle on for the cabinets. Yes, stay warm!

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    Replies
    1. Michele,
      I can't even tell you how much it's lightened up the entire room.

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  4. So glad the ceiling came out well! Maybe I will get mine finished one of these days (like you said shoulder and back breaking work). I can't wait to see hoe the F&B colors come out. I haven't used either of those colors yet.

    Amy

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    Replies
    1. It's funny how we gravitate to different colors. You seem go more toward the greens and I'm definitely on the gray path here.

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  5. My shoulders and neck ache just looking at that ceiling.

    Looking beautiful with the paint on.

    I wish I had as much patience as you do. It clearly pays off.

    xo J

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    Replies
    1. But I'll bet your shoulder hurt before you even looked.

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  6. The ceiling looks awesome. I can't wait to see the rest.

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  7. The ceiling looks luminous and bright! Have fun experimenting with the paint finishes. Look forward to seeing more progress.

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  8. beautiful ceiling and i think this is going to be one of the most thought out kitchens i've seen created. it's been warm and sunny here.

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    Replies
    1. If "most thought out" only translated to good I'd be all set. Yeah, it's really warm here, too. So tired of the sun.

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  9. The ceiling looks amazing. What gruelling work!!!!! I didn't have time to study the colours but I think you are getting there with no help from me. :)
    I cannot wait to see it. The old cabinets are stunning. Such character for what will be a light and airy space to create even more amazing new recipes.

    Xo terri

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    Replies
    1. I'm really longing to bake, Terri. Blueberry scones are first on the agenda.

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  10. Your ceiling is fantastic! All of your effort breaking your neck and agonizing over paint processes is being rewarded with beautiful results.

    May I suggest that you take a bit of pressure off of yourself. You can have as many chances as you want with paint. If it isn't right, keep at it until you are happy with it.

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    Replies
    1. You can certainly suggest it. I still kind of feel I need to get it right the first time so it looks effortless.

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  11. Love your ceilings!! Hubby installed bead-board on the ceilings in the bedroom, hallway and bath with molding, I love the additional texture. Your kitchen is coming together and it looks great, good job:)

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    Replies
    1. It is a great texture. I'll probably do the same thing when I get to the bedroom.

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  12. Oh, that ceiling is wonderful! I love the bright warm image of an old bakery. And the bits of cabinet and sink look great (as do the windows and French doors). This will be a very special kitchen.

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  13. Good luck with your painting! I think the ceiling looks wonderful.

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  14. Mole's Breath! I totally voted for that color first time around :)

    And I'll second it, too-I like that with the "whitewash" drybrush of lamproom.

    Your kitchen is going to be in a zillion mags, for sure-it's such an individual and unique space. Love it!

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  15. For paint my vote is #5. Can't wait to see how it turns out!

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  16. I'm so impressed with your patience Steve. This is going to be an amazing kitchen!

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  17. Damn…you always get it right…that ceiling is sweet! It's hard to tell but the last 2 are my fav.

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  18. Love all the muted colors you are choosing and I LOVE the way the kitchen is turning out! You have such amazing taste and attention to detail!

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  19. Ceiling looks great! All that hard work paid off.

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  20. that ceiling is GORG. as someone obsessed with ceilings in interior decorating projectos, i can attest to all of the neck and shoulder aching. i almost like the first pic when its not finished, too. but the finished product is beautiful. and i kinda like the sample you said was dirty looking. its not common, which means unique. and i liked how it had a browner feel against the marble versus too much of a blue. anywho - lord knows you'll pick something STUNNING. good luck and happy new year friend!!

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  21. I went back and looked at the photos of your favorite bakery...The colors there seem very
    light. I think I would choose the middle color, Lamp Room with a little Mole's Breath...sounds like an excerpt from "The Wind In the Willows'' with those names. Your ceiling is beautiful!
    I was starving for an update from you kitchen, can't wait to see more. Have your neighbors commented on your new exterior porches?

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    Replies
    1. TiKiMOOSE,
      You win the homework award for going back to look at that old post. I can't even remember when I did it. A few neighbors have gushed about the back porches and most don't even notice...or care. Of course I like the people who notice.

      Delete
  22. Your effort will not be wasted. It's going to be just perfect if I know you. xo

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  23. um....#2
    definitely not the first one.

    I'm late getting here, thanks to 40 below windshield factors yesterday
    my vehicle would not start or my sisters or my nieces or my other niece or their boyfriends or their boyfriends parents, so spent most of the day outside trying to get one of the batteries working! AND my brother-in-law who was out of town hit black ice and totaled his rental car. Lots of car problems, but most of us are moving now and every one is safe and sound...guess that's all that really counts.
    Be careful out there!

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  24. I love many of the colors that you have chosen, and the ceiling looks great. I would encourage you to consider the heavy wear that kitchen cabinets receive before going with a glaze, or adding umber or some other feature to your cabinets. When you use glazes or add aging through umber, you essentially are creating a custom finish for each cabinet: and should you need to repaint, it may be difficult to replicate due to aging and fading from the sun and heat, etc. further, cleaning materials such as all purpose cleaners can "take" differently when applied to the front of a cabinet. I have renovated many houses, and have glazed and not glazed depending on the look I was going for. Straight paint is always more durable, but has less depth. If you do glaze, make sure to keep original products you use--and careful notes.

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    Replies
    1. Certainly something to think about but I'm hoping it it's a finish that looks a little aged at the start and only gets better with age.

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  25. What kind of wood did you use for the ceiling. We're thinking of doing the same thing in our dining room.

    Thanks!

    TJ

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    Replies
    1. The ceiling planks are tongue and groove pine. It came from the lumber yard with the V-groves already in it. It may not be something you'll find at Home Depot or Lowe's but a lumber yard that caters more to contractors should have it. Sometimes it comes with beadboard on one side and the V-groove on the other side. Look for something that has very few knots which tend to bleed through most primers.

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  26. I think the natural wood would look stunning and very original to the space. If you go with gray it could make your stainless stuff look dirty or distract from your amazing new appliances. Just my two cents.

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    Replies
    1. It's unfortunately not going to be possible. Parts of the cabinets, including some of the drawers and doors are going to be new wood which won't match the old wood at all.

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  27. How did you find painting with the Aura formulation? I used it on a ceiling in our old house. In Colorado's dry climate, it was like painting with fast-drying pudding. I swore it off and went back to Regal Select.

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    Replies
    1. That's a REALLY good question because Aura is definitely different than latex. I painted a friend's condo with Aura and I experienced that gummy paint when I went over edging that hadn't entirely dried. I found it was best to do the edging around the whole room and STOP. Go to lunch. Have a drink. Take a nap. And then go back and do the walls when the edges where completely dry. That was all with flat paint.

      On this ceiling, because it was planks, I did all the v-grooves on one day and let them dry. When I did the rest, I was able to go down the length of two planks at a time from one end to the other without stopping so it was really easy to keep a wet edge. If I were going to paint an entire flat ceiling in semi-gloss, I'm not sure how I would go about it. It would be tough.

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  28. Aren't you glad you're this far "through it??" If you knew when you started what you know now...franki

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  29. Am I impressed with the way your ceiling turned out. I covered up the popcorn in my living room and hallway. It took over nine coats of joint compound. I felt like Michelangelo with a trowel. My solution was hot showers, alive gel and as much red wine to help me forget what I had done and what I had to do the next day.

    Love how the range is framed. This kitchen is going to be a stunner. Can't wait for the blueberry scones.

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    1. If I had nine coats to do, I'd need something stronger than red wine. My hat is off to you, Michelangelo!

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  30. The ceiling is fabulous! I love all the samples. My favorite is the the top right (first photo). I hope the cold weather doesn't slow down your progress. Bonnie

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  31. Incredible! Just love the ceiling. No idea what to tell you about the color - not my strength but you are very good at it. Go with you gut.

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  32. Hi, Steve,

    I like everything you're doing in the kitchen, especially that great sink. Can't wait to see the light fixtures up. I really appreciate what you said about the planked ceiling because I've been considering that for my own (small) kitchen. Mine is more of a galley, but I'll still do the prepping before the ceiling goes up — thanks!

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  33. OK, so my first thought was "Wow" and that was when I saw the appliances and played guess what they are with my better half. And then I looked at the rest of kitchen. Double "Wow!"

    The ceiling is looking awesome and I like the look of the Lamp Room/Moles Breath combo. It gives just enough of an aged look while keeping a modern edge. Something tells me that painting the cabinets is really not just "painting" the cabinets.

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  34. I love these samples -- all the effort and time you put in, it's just wonderful. The ceiling looks amazing, it will keep it so bright, you're so right.

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  35. If your new sink is a Rohl Shaws (looks like it), make sure your plumber knows to only "hand tighten" the drain and faucet connections! Not hand-tightening can cause pressure cracks in the surface. There have been a lot of threads about it on gardenweb forums...

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  36. This project is coming along beautifully! I can't wait to see the finished product. Each piece of your kitchen is just stunning, but when you put them all together...wow!

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  37. isn't it exciting just to be at this point? love the ceiling and now I want to do that. donna

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  38. The ceiling looks beautiful, love plank ceilings and they look perfect here. Interesting, Aura is the type of Benjamin Moore paint we (our painters) used when we painted the outside a couple of months ago. Ours is a very flat finish which I really like for the house, love your semi-gloss for the kitchen. It's supposed to be longer lasting, I'm hoping it is. I like all three of your choices for the cabinet finishes, subtle changes so...eeny, meeny, mini, mo? ANd I also like the idea of the wood grain showing through, who's kitchen is this anyway :)

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  39. funny, was in hopes you would go with 2 and 5. could also see a dark ebony or charcoal working in contrast to your sparkly plank ceiling. It's really going to be such an amazing place to gather and find nourishment. love it.
    pve

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  40. Steve,
    Take a look at Plain English Kitchens....http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=plain%20english%20kitchen&rs=ac&len=7
    pve

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  41. Steve, the ceiling is looking like perfection and I LOVE the architecture and character of those cabinet pieces. I really respect your process and taking the time to get it right- love #2 and 5 also and think youre not far from getting it perfect! Love these details and wish you the best in your final decision! xo Nancy

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  42. The calmness and serenity of your color palette is wonderful...........I can smell the scones already!!!!!!

    All the best!!!!

    Mr. Florida

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  43. It's coming along great, cant wait to see the finished article. Jealous as I so wanted a grey kitchen, sadly my partner didn't.
    Annie

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  44. I love your dedication and tireless efforts toward perfecting your artistic vision.

    Impressive !

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  45. I love the use of plank wood anywhere and the ceiling looks amazing. Love the color and gloss - brightens the whole space....can't wait to see more!!

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  46. I love grey colours - you can't go wrong with a bit of mole's breath! And, wow, the cooker, SERIOUS stuff!

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