Around the House, Kitchen Update

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjai79G9QzfBV8QwyLHxXJ3KeYSOIBNL80T7tfQRTZf7aZTJzc3ps5j_52JRP5_JQqFCMYCFe1D_oK9vOUZyuAdQ5tTm7uLQs0IYEjGDyWo2N-gVRGhs2qWDFqPTww_LcQihy4qGat1QPA/s1600/IMG_1757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjai79G9QzfBV8QwyLHxXJ3KeYSOIBNL80T7tfQRTZf7aZTJzc3ps5j_52JRP5_JQqFCMYCFe1D_oK9vOUZyuAdQ5tTm7uLQs0IYEjGDyWo2N-gVRGhs2qWDFqPTww_LcQihy4qGat1QPA/s1600/IMG_1757.jpg" width="508" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't know how I ever found the time to blog so steadily for three years.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It just doesn't seem to be happening lately.  My office is moving in about five</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">weeks and designing the new office, planning the move, building a new</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">corporate identity and building a new website has really taken up a lot of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">time the past several months.  But here it is November so I've been</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">trying to get the house and kitchen ready for Thanksgiving guests.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZyy7eMZpfL8CUbZc0bAlBgffNoxpbnPi75hz53-LHfeKs1SW5n-hpK8A-R0oZDxBdgQTl4zu_Lxfs775RboRKIWUNkurYQtGoaoyFB94hQ2IvuWlIgfkANdmYa-0uy67RuHywQwGRf4/s1600/IMG_1599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZyy7eMZpfL8CUbZc0bAlBgffNoxpbnPi75hz53-LHfeKs1SW5n-hpK8A-R0oZDxBdgQTl4zu_Lxfs775RboRKIWUNkurYQtGoaoyFB94hQ2IvuWlIgfkANdmYa-0uy67RuHywQwGRf4/s1600/IMG_1599.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In particular, I wanted to get the floating shelves stained before the holidays so when we</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">had a few warm days where I could have the windows open, I decided to get them finished.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Above was the before.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkvZjV3SU9wtNSTHtx2_yT2lJH0xYrVFOQGxGOJhojGhoeEPB0FnRrgjHj1MLTpMgLpK40lov_THtSt_rBkEZ8Za3Sn6t5gtdOJro_xzEqyrep_Y7AFEocqdx9FOvjUAyA90aCL_71PE/s1600/IMG_1993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkvZjV3SU9wtNSTHtx2_yT2lJH0xYrVFOQGxGOJhojGhoeEPB0FnRrgjHj1MLTpMgLpK40lov_THtSt_rBkEZ8Za3Sn6t5gtdOJro_xzEqyrep_Y7AFEocqdx9FOvjUAyA90aCL_71PE/s1600/IMG_1993.jpg" width="446" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And here they are freshly stained to match the old bin drawers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm happy with the color but I think I want to ding them up a litttle</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">bit and apply some dark wax that I'll leave in the dings.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRs6c8nMib3EquqMWTWfYgbaJmp_VPcQP6UJqGDr24Vil9-rHSgsDBpd73AEfE0E2r3M8Yw8i5-RiLwRnVLV0hqH7pmjBhNjEkA6kTyvHDALemeNAoxpZCXKooelgkHTGtQLu2jzYUkg/s1600/IMG_2122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRs6c8nMib3EquqMWTWfYgbaJmp_VPcQP6UJqGDr24Vil9-rHSgsDBpd73AEfE0E2r3M8Yw8i5-RiLwRnVLV0hqH7pmjBhNjEkA6kTyvHDALemeNAoxpZCXKooelgkHTGtQLu2jzYUkg/s1600/IMG_2122.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My mom visited last week so we drove out to Hudson, NY to pick</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">up a few new things for the shelves.  If you haven't been to Hudson, NY,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it's really worth the trip.  The town is just packed from one end to the other</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with great antique shops, art galleries, restaurants and cafes.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhDps47TiJYJAhsE1R0XuO5EeoVM-982bxrjaQlNKW8iCcUvPZk4Q_gsGS1fXQTnMw5_OyxCBtirVcBPrkIEhJDMr6tO9ZsU8vh9SiRovWbIrH43IK_cHTzxEOiWJuMx3k70R9laZAfs/s1600/IMG_2125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhDps47TiJYJAhsE1R0XuO5EeoVM-982bxrjaQlNKW8iCcUvPZk4Q_gsGS1fXQTnMw5_OyxCBtirVcBPrkIEhJDMr6tO9ZsU8vh9SiRovWbIrH43IK_cHTzxEOiWJuMx3k70R9laZAfs/s1600/IMG_2125.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My mom also has great knack for arranging things.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I caught her a few times moving things around on the shelves.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDc7eFqe7JjXaoSwSFl7kgvVQeLgLoU7D1ew5nXq3CB7gLODj_D5Pzc6MhLTwTJ0lATU7KZTFPZeOl4WKGamzKgblYsNuUQO4YqT7l_nFTW0A1oq6rxmMME2-CVmMs6gd0rA7EKonopy0/s1600/IMG_2092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDc7eFqe7JjXaoSwSFl7kgvVQeLgLoU7D1ew5nXq3CB7gLODj_D5Pzc6MhLTwTJ0lATU7KZTFPZeOl4WKGamzKgblYsNuUQO4YqT7l_nFTW0A1oq6rxmMME2-CVmMs6gd0rA7EKonopy0/s1600/IMG_2092.jpg" width="636" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm sure these will evolve but I'm really happy with how this looks right now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I still have to paint the windows before I can call the kitchen done but the snow</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">outside tells me that I'll have a lot of time indoors coming up to get that done.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hope to show you around Hudson, NY sometime soon.</div></div>

Around the House, Kitchen Update

I don't know how I ever found the time to blog so steadily for three years. It just doesn't seem to be happening lately.  My office ...

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A Color Adjustment

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hdvJrb0QvxbY9lDC8rHWiWSDnLiYz0ev6I-WE8A7ZX66uxfAj9NLNHzdMcZUuyc2y6FdSjaFzqzpj3tevAnCvKpGxfE4XQO_xRmMx-lcQHK-tNjMZ7DZLpAhChZjRDWMFVaQ6DI0qWM/s1600/IMG_3606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hdvJrb0QvxbY9lDC8rHWiWSDnLiYz0ev6I-WE8A7ZX66uxfAj9NLNHzdMcZUuyc2y6FdSjaFzqzpj3tevAnCvKpGxfE4XQO_xRmMx-lcQHK-tNjMZ7DZLpAhChZjRDWMFVaQ6DI0qWM/s1600/IMG_3606.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was fun reading all of your comments and suggestions.  I tried not to reply</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to any comments that would sway you one way or the other. I don't think</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">there's any one right or wrong answer but I was surprised  to hear so many</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">people suggest dark navy or black.  By the time I had done the post...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTKDIT1k_YcQUcywrRCnc0cmUR_FvSSEQ6rqslaOa2OZL8q0_SuXl01DotOCpgLUmjs9DIZWfIX-mNYp9TEWzEtVJLSzommeACZOUJ8mRyuHOzE0L9SFNfhZvRNXUNpFojfoJgxGZYeU/s1600/IMG_3597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTKDIT1k_YcQUcywrRCnc0cmUR_FvSSEQ6rqslaOa2OZL8q0_SuXl01DotOCpgLUmjs9DIZWfIX-mNYp9TEWzEtVJLSzommeACZOUJ8mRyuHOzE0L9SFNfhZvRNXUNpFojfoJgxGZYeU/s1600/IMG_3597.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...I had already gotten a sample pot of <a href="http://us.farrow-ball.com/down-pipe/colours/farrow-ball/fcp-product/100026" target="_blank">Farrow & Ball Down Pipe</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The color is meant to imitate lead and I thought it would give an  industrial feel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I should also add that I REALLY wanted to use Farrow & Ball.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had gotten as far as buying a quart of Lamp Room Gray and painted one</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">of my window casings before deciding it was a little too blue for the cabinets</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but I absolutely LOVE the paint!  It's got a beautiful consistency, paints on</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">smoothly and dries to a beautiful finish.  I'm completely sold on its quality.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFl5hyphenhyphenFQDAdhyphenhyphenGPdF1REIjHfuEv3Nen1IOSetfdZrsZD8icRNWx8oSvMSsD5szZ6G9XRfnArKPywXtZjNW8WUQw6pXu9u_ShW473fwTM_Fwf-zaH4viR-GkzRTETFCQDTnDDur7yDU3M/s1600/IMG_3603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFl5hyphenhyphenFQDAdhyphenhyphenGPdF1REIjHfuEv3Nen1IOSetfdZrsZD8icRNWx8oSvMSsD5szZ6G9XRfnArKPywXtZjNW8WUQw6pXu9u_ShW473fwTM_Fwf-zaH4viR-GkzRTETFCQDTnDDur7yDU3M/s1600/IMG_3603.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In the end it was the perfect gray that I won out.  I didn't feel I was too far</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">off.  During the day, the old gray was reading a little lavender.  I went back</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to the historical colors and found a gray that was a little darker and drabber</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and I think it's perfect.  Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray.  The darker tone really</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">highlights the marble and the hue give me the historical look I was shooting for. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Christmas Gift" amaryllis is late to the party but she's putting on a great show.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAtaEXzv2Sk1SAr44iuFyvPiBkf5JQPOhGz-_wpDQSbQIeApRmdMRqelgoGHUxPsUUc7gHPzbCeak15GnkhNj1h-F5cukQZl5bRxGQQms-9l03CTRNPiF_gqazsCnT9j34JOyiK7smZI/s1600/IMG_3613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAtaEXzv2Sk1SAr44iuFyvPiBkf5JQPOhGz-_wpDQSbQIeApRmdMRqelgoGHUxPsUUc7gHPzbCeak15GnkhNj1h-F5cukQZl5bRxGQQms-9l03CTRNPiF_gqazsCnT9j34JOyiK7smZI/s1600/IMG_3613.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can see the contrast of the two colors on top of the column on the left.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And the entire column on the right has been painted in Chelsea Gray.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEH6qbXBvDU_0v-0XGDg8PI9dVhxcG0J1zsI8sugkOk1Rl-G24N5_PARopOTAmncqwzzaqR1YLn8CP5KnsVf_1GubUKfwQDIkVEYWgDY8VZbSp5kRkwFW4IuFnAqFWfMAxdpsRy5WGOc/s1600/IMG_3610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEH6qbXBvDU_0v-0XGDg8PI9dVhxcG0J1zsI8sugkOk1Rl-G24N5_PARopOTAmncqwzzaqR1YLn8CP5KnsVf_1GubUKfwQDIkVEYWgDY8VZbSp5kRkwFW4IuFnAqFWfMAxdpsRy5WGOc/s1600/IMG_3610.jpg" width="464" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Between the dishwasher and refrigerator is a new cabinet</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">that will have doors made from the old store counter...painted</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">in the Chelsea Gray.  I love the contrast of this gray with the marble.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The little wine rack next to the refrigerator has shelves made from the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">store counter mahogany that I showed in an earlier post.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And you also get a glimpse of another color I've painted in the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">small recess next to the refrigerator.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3m475W_IcrjbwSBh1fLSRIt3uoeFzFLJCjoWojZDFZ8DL9II1aeQBfFoZQf0N0j-qIGG5tr5I3gC27H-OVD8dB-zzYlKU-PuF9H2hWjaRauZU5NIq168nY2JCgjpwwsGtw-7fUbYRQ8I/s1600/IMG_3600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3m475W_IcrjbwSBh1fLSRIt3uoeFzFLJCjoWojZDFZ8DL9II1aeQBfFoZQf0N0j-qIGG5tr5I3gC27H-OVD8dB-zzYlKU-PuF9H2hWjaRauZU5NIq168nY2JCgjpwwsGtw-7fUbYRQ8I/s1600/IMG_3600.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Oops, the flowers have moved over to this shot.  That's bad styling.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Above the counter next to the refrigerator, I've designed a little built-in cabinet</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">that will house a small microwave, a TV and leave a little extra room for </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">cookbooks and some white pottery.  My thinking is that the dark color</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Benjamin Moore Deep Creek) will help disguise the microwave and TV,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">highlight the white pottery placed in front of it AND provide balance to the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">black armoire that will go over in that right corner where all the crap is.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We'll see how that works out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The sunshine pours in through the French doors on winter mornings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While the cats sunbathe, you'll find me here...painting.</div><br /></div>

A Color Adjustment

It was fun reading all of your comments and suggestions.  I tried not to reply to any comments that would sway you one way or the other. I d...

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Kitchen Ceiling and Cabinet Paint Tests

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfg3PekgxAkbbMi8oVGEQjmhJ32WoQ56oEA3sXyj_jgu4xndqAveBMUUffaEDdlba2OA2m4zPaxd91eWqr6HKBGYlI_o08V8Z3zdwU4PAQ3jRqL9zApyqxST4JwHq2fFbgAkPPThggwQk/s1600/IMG_3551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfg3PekgxAkbbMi8oVGEQjmhJ32WoQ56oEA3sXyj_jgu4xndqAveBMUUffaEDdlba2OA2m4zPaxd91eWqr6HKBGYlI_o08V8Z3zdwU4PAQ3jRqL9zApyqxST4JwHq2fFbgAkPPThggwQk/s1600/IMG_3551.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There hasn't been a lot of progress on the kitchen the last few weeks but</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the holidays gave me some time off that I was able to step right in and get</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">some things done without getting in the way.  The walls are now all primed</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and ready for paint but most of my time was spent on the ceiling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZ-gpd702wIHIXJg5OS5u_AXJ13vDrhS5y68yBtq63mZWyPfy8haZqrHCQxjMwqTWKT_Jrj_rQv8wIPMD7YwABw4SxVCDoLheG_4Y0n_yUsFe3ACzNVxAI9MQuFQhs6zOHXa6JzJBpWs/s1600/IMG_3552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZ-gpd702wIHIXJg5OS5u_AXJ13vDrhS5y68yBtq63mZWyPfy8haZqrHCQxjMwqTWKT_Jrj_rQv8wIPMD7YwABw4SxVCDoLheG_4Y0n_yUsFe3ACzNVxAI9MQuFQhs6zOHXa6JzJBpWs/s1600/IMG_3552.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The wood planks took quite a lot of prep work, filling and sanding before a coat of primer went</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">on.  And then I walked around and marked trouble spots with blue tape.  There were quite a few</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">rough spots, nail holes and dents that needed to be filled and sanded down before touching up</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with a second coat of primer.  If you ever decide to put in a planked ceiling, let me suggest doing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">as much of this work before installing the wood.  It's neck- and shoulder-breaking work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36leF48LNQ7mktW49K9qFKW2RC4Fyiq8OmwLCyh7bpo69DnyHVv1KDtFG9v03pEJCAF6HN9JPY9eKoWRPBvYftIR9Kr_fdS9ZmQoA4AhPQOggZhTyev_tWiNXcXsak25FK-aXzVQQxtU/s1600/IMG_3566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36leF48LNQ7mktW49K9qFKW2RC4Fyiq8OmwLCyh7bpo69DnyHVv1KDtFG9v03pEJCAF6HN9JPY9eKoWRPBvYftIR9Kr_fdS9ZmQoA4AhPQOggZhTyev_tWiNXcXsak25FK-aXzVQQxtU/s1600/IMG_3566.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And finally on Sunday I put on the first coat of semi-gloss.  It's Benjamin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Moore Decorator's White in Aura.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VcjP0OJI96fjMoet8Z9dYbApsflUQsVSxbudM6ZPfkV1pJ4xbZ_8QdnNJOWf3G8-ggixPH8lGAw8sSZdzLmOU7Xo97MhqbRPAauXegJ8QrdX5F2qQEhZ3Hv7am_xd67LAUC620tOuuM/s1600/IMG_3591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VcjP0OJI96fjMoet8Z9dYbApsflUQsVSxbudM6ZPfkV1pJ4xbZ_8QdnNJOWf3G8-ggixPH8lGAw8sSZdzLmOU7Xo97MhqbRPAauXegJ8QrdX5F2qQEhZ3Hv7am_xd67LAUC620tOuuM/s1600/IMG_3591.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's really brightened up the whole room.  This is one of the things about the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">old bakery from my hometown that I loved so much.  It seems so clean.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I really want to lighten these cabinets so paint seems pretty certain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzD-aszT-EvdE7J4mKL6H4_4BrZeiBCQyUuTqqM0kTYKuT9LWAQaiydQb43zWvvDTkFD4QKIYpZgOcmfOmX09zh0KMUl3OTnfvNtHM-eWt_brcmtLev_L-O0vGamb1ZOQknOF77bj0gQ/s1600/IMG_3570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzD-aszT-EvdE7J4mKL6H4_4BrZeiBCQyUuTqqM0kTYKuT9LWAQaiydQb43zWvvDTkFD4QKIYpZgOcmfOmX09zh0KMUl3OTnfvNtHM-eWt_brcmtLev_L-O0vGamb1ZOQknOF77bj0gQ/s1600/IMG_3570.jpg" width="529" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've been playing with some paint to see what it might look like on the cabinets.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I bought some rosettes at Home Depot--the little things that would go in the top</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">corners of door or window casings--to experiment with.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I would put a lot more effort in the final finish but these are good</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"sketches," if you will, of layering a few different colors.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl57kg3sfIHTL6zAiY8yiwZUT_BYu-cVoCNgGQdBUeibzngcJtgh8MAxuWjukIX61oMDHRx1dxDWhY4HB57sbu2WQf8XqEfYPlG2OtUN9Eoat4jsQiZKJNK5HFpSK2qhbZOCKm22YnxKk/s1600/colors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl57kg3sfIHTL6zAiY8yiwZUT_BYu-cVoCNgGQdBUeibzngcJtgh8MAxuWjukIX61oMDHRx1dxDWhY4HB57sbu2WQf8XqEfYPlG2OtUN9Eoat4jsQiZKJNK5HFpSK2qhbZOCKm22YnxKk/s1600/colors.jpg" width="325" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I used colors #2 and #5 from the Farrow & Ball paint samples</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I made up which are Lamp Room Gray and Mole's Breath.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnA-3NKOtMcgd4DEVfE5HopUSR8WnnXhzNTHV3kcJDR0nefXJbyo-BP78I4GCXtW7E1xryThoqyCKY0hhDoG-JTDLDEjYP25nWSY1FpSIvlBD9GuPnYYTktR_wpUHSqCnhdHFs9mHewk/s1600/IMG_3577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnA-3NKOtMcgd4DEVfE5HopUSR8WnnXhzNTHV3kcJDR0nefXJbyo-BP78I4GCXtW7E1xryThoqyCKY0hhDoG-JTDLDEjYP25nWSY1FpSIvlBD9GuPnYYTktR_wpUHSqCnhdHFs9mHewk/s1600/IMG_3577.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Lamp Room with a wash-n-wipe of burnt umber</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">acrylic paint that was thinned down juxtaposed against</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the Carrara marble counter in my bathroom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think it's a little dirty looking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOjCxSnHdZacvaz6tvwMJTIa4-ywCAsO8aItrMDco15AWeZukY0oVSArc-zw4tzS8B94Toxk-ND7yvk0T0S2Pgl0JDmR2u83zJ9-LTxU3Cc-OtGGhraxhEZ_5lrGynpyEYuwsSQUmLbY/s1600/IMG_3578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOjCxSnHdZacvaz6tvwMJTIa4-ywCAsO8aItrMDco15AWeZukY0oVSArc-zw4tzS8B94Toxk-ND7yvk0T0S2Pgl0JDmR2u83zJ9-LTxU3Cc-OtGGhraxhEZ_5lrGynpyEYuwsSQUmLbY/s1600/IMG_3578.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Lamp Room with a little Mole's Breath</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">brushed in the recessed and then rubbed down to</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">almost bare wood in a few spots.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I like this one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2X27uTmsmRgwR7z3EENjU_z2SXv_AS0nA2E1sJ4vJ8cimgVOuPaGrJIKz35eA-r1JheR9oaGfJA7EXCT8XopBMxk7mJ0oEzWiLQ6ybinXphUE1pgUvztA03kqvNH1kMjvCSJsKhqDkJY/s1600/IMG_3579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2X27uTmsmRgwR7z3EENjU_z2SXv_AS0nA2E1sJ4vJ8cimgVOuPaGrJIKz35eA-r1JheR9oaGfJA7EXCT8XopBMxk7mJ0oEzWiLQ6ybinXphUE1pgUvztA03kqvNH1kMjvCSJsKhqDkJY/s1600/IMG_3579.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This one is Mole's Breath undercoat with a dry brushing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">of Lamp Room over the top.  The effect is just a little</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">bit darker than the previous one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I also like it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I want to try a darker gray glaze on these to really highlight</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the details.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqSoLrgbj5SG84Y7ChjE2OINWq-E4mjzAqIlmFVX7UXxqepvfCTudMSIce3tSIDlmetkCLeTIuhkHl99ks6W0rBQupgQRzjo2N8G270Q8vBH16DJfKmbKSPF8j2Ve5wt98R3mUNrie2k/s1600/IMG_3582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqSoLrgbj5SG84Y7ChjE2OINWq-E4mjzAqIlmFVX7UXxqepvfCTudMSIce3tSIDlmetkCLeTIuhkHl99ks6W0rBQupgQRzjo2N8G270Q8vBH16DJfKmbKSPF8j2Ve5wt98R3mUNrie2k/s1600/IMG_3582.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's the three of them next to the stainless.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Excuse the fingerprints.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJHR26_3vraOeSdnTO0fQSYFjnVf8xBXHlkK70hlqCLheZWU43_EmwTYfgh4SBt_w8S3KWyy-ulclLe-DC3436DdyywSkREjlNwtWDhlTkY_o8XYFRcY74dTc0rUeqBnXKqEBW_S-Izg/s1600/IMG_3585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJHR26_3vraOeSdnTO0fQSYFjnVf8xBXHlkK70hlqCLheZWU43_EmwTYfgh4SBt_w8S3KWyy-ulclLe-DC3436DdyywSkREjlNwtWDhlTkY_o8XYFRcY74dTc0rUeqBnXKqEBW_S-Izg/s1600/IMG_3585.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a little section of the cabinets that's had the finish sanded</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">off a bit.  Ideally, I'd like some of this grain to show through so it</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">might take a delicate dance of brushing paint on and caressing it off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I only get one chance to get it right so I'll do some more samples</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and perhaps look for a piece of furniture I can buy and experiment on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stay warm!</div><br /></div>

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 rig...

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