Kitchen re-do

It's been driving me nuts that the kitchen isn't how I want it to be. Besides the fact that we rent this duplex and I can't knock out a wall or two to make more room.... and our 'kitchen' is a laundry room, kitchen AND dinning room all in one! Gesh!

Yes, you heard me right. There are the washer/dryer hook ups right next to my convection oven and the back door. And some where beside the deep freezer, microwave, wine cellar [used for sparkling cider] , and the fridge is where our table and 4 chairs is supposed to go. Space is limited and I am getting to be a master at organizing and decorating small spaces!

So part of my solution to this massive problem is to make the back patio our 'dinning room' and paint a few things in the kitchen to make it mine.

Here's what I've done....

Problem:

I've had this small entertainment center [if you could even call it that....] for years now and haven't done much with it because I was too afraid of messing up! Well not anymore!!!

Solution:

I went and got some paint I loved [Behr- in Cozumel and cornmeal] and got to work. My 3 yr old even helped me paint with his mini roller. I painted the majority of the cabinet Cozumel and used the Cornmeal on the shelf [where the cook books reside] and the inside. It really brightened up the inside, making it so cheery! I cut out a flourish [or two] on my silhouette and applied it on the front. I used modge podge to seal the design on and clear coat for the rest of the piece. I am IN LOVE!!! As I started it, however, was a different story. I kept feeling regret with my paint choices and thinking it was looking so juvenile. In the end I trusted my artistic intuition and I'm glad I did :) It has a space on the top for the microwave and cookie jar, a shelf for my cook books, and a space underneath for storage :)

Problem:

This next thing is a gift I received from a dear friend many years ago. While I love the message, ["Laugh often, Live much, and Love with all your heart"] the decor just didn't match how I decorate. It was VERY country. At one point I probably was more inclined to decorate with country but not anymore.

Solution:

I prefer french provincial infused with Mediterranean. So this needed to be redone [and I might re-do it again because I'm not sure it's what I want but it's better.] I did keep the original and put it behind the new one before re-sealing the back. I painted the frame in Cozumel [same as the cabinet]. Then I found a font [ck becky] that I adore - once I fiddled with it for a bit I printed it out and put it in the frame. Easiest part of the decor re-do!