Friday, March 27, 2009

Guest Post by Mr. Lettered Cottage

When we moved in to the Lettered Cottage, we were less than impressed with the height (and finish) of our Kitchen cabinets. After visiting a neighbors house, we learned that with paint, and a few pieces of moulding, we could get the look we wanted.

Meet Kevin.



My husband, and the man behind the magical moulding.

:-)


-----------------------------------------------------------


Hello there!




I'm Kevin, and this is officially my first blog post. Here goes....

Let me start by saying I thoroughly enjoy working on this home.



I am truly inspired by Layla's never-ending passion and ideas. It has been absolutely magical watching this place come to life, and it's so cool to be a part of it.

Alright, let's talk moulding!

This project calls for a lot of miter cuts, which, if your anything like me- means you'll be running back to the hardware store to buy more wood. It can be a little tricky trying to figure out the angles sometimes. There are online tutorials about how to cut crown moulding, but I'm more of a "wing it and pray" kind of guy.

I used this Ryobi compound miter saw. It was the cheapest one in the store, but it always seems to get the job done...





Here are the various pieces of trim, MDF and moulding I purchased...








It's just 1"x6" pre-primed MDF, some 3" crown moulding, and some small, wood decorative trim moulding.




All of the cuts had to be made holding the moulding at an angle. It took me a minute (and a few pieces of moulding) to figure that out!





I tried to nail the crown moulding pieces to my 1"x6" pieces, but after splitting a couple of pieces of crown, I finally decided to just use wood glue. I used painters tape to hold the pieces together, until the wood glue dried. Wood glue is extremely strong and since we don't plan on hanging from the tops of our cabinets, I think it'll work just fine...










Here are the cabinets above the stove before I got started...


...and here is what the cabinet on the left looked like after I attached the first 1"x6"s, and the first piece of crown moulding...

And here it is, all taped in place...





I wish we had a small nail gun. With all these projects, I think it's time to invest in one!






Here is a finished corner...

I used a type of caulk that starts out pink, then turns white when it's dry. Pretty cool!
Caulk can be a real life saver if the corners of the moulding don't meet up perfectly.(Or should I say WHEN the corners of the moulding don't meet up perfectly!) :-)


Here is a photo of the kitchen cabinets with all of the new moulding in place. That was definitely the hard part, now on to the fun stuff!


I used small, decorative wood trim to hide the seam between the cabinet and the 1"x6". The miters are a lot easier to cut on these little guys, because the trim sits flush to the cabinet, it doesn't stick out at a 45 degree angle like the crown does.





Next up on my to-do list was to install an Above-Range Microwave. I put up a piece of wood to mount the top of the microwave to.







I simply secured the shelf to the cabinets on either side with L brackets and screws. Pretty easy...

I had an electrician come over and install a dedicated outlet above the wood shelf for the microwave to plug into. It was a cinch for him to install, and since he was here less than an hour, it didn't cost that much at all...







Oh yeah, that reminds me. I say, don't let the placement of your outlets dictate the placement of your furniture. I used to think the T.V. had to go on whichever wall the cable outlet was on, even if it meant you hated the way your furniture was arranged. For the price of a night out on the town, an outlet can be moved. And all that furniture you worked so hard to get, will finally look right!




Here I am, getting close to the finish line! I added a piece of wood above the microwave to give it some height...


...and added some more of the little decorative trim and this log scale stick Layla picked up at Eastbrook for good measure! :)


I painted everything black, distressed the edges, added a coat of polyurethane and put a cool old wine rack, we got for $4.99, on top. Layla isn't a huge fan of wine racks above microwaves, but I like it, and I'd like it to stay. It even looks cool empty...




There used to be a cabinet hanging where the new microwave is, so I'm going to reuse it by re-hanging it above the refrigerator. Then on the right side of the fridge, there will be another tall, pantry cabinet, like the one on the left side of the fridge. Layla says it will make the fridge look more "built in". I'm down with that.

Layla still needs to add more corbels underneath the upper cabinets I just finished.




But for now, it's 6 o'clock, and I'm going to go see if she wants to kick it on the front porch with me for a bit.

One more thing though, before I sign off. I want to thank you all sooo much for all the kind comments you leave here! It truly means the world to my bride. You have all inspired her more than you will ever know. This blog has changed our lives in such a positive way...and it's because of all of you!!

I had a great time writing this, have an awesome weekend-

Kevin


P.S. We have plans to change out the dishwasher (which is broken), the stove (which is malfunctioning) and the refrigerator with stainless steel ones too.

152 comments:

Heather Wheeler said...

Cutest Husband Ever.

Sniffles and Smiles said...

Delighted to hear from you, Mr. Lettered Cottage...My husband will certainly enjoy your post as he has worked magic with my decorating dreams over the years in much the same way as you do for Layla! God bless you both! You're a terrific team!!!!!

Robin said...

I just found your blog and LOVE IT!

Great first post from your husband!

Anonymous said...

I just love a hubby that loves his tools! A nudge and some clever ideas from us wives.. and poof one perfect job well done.

KM said...

Um, where can I find a Kevin? Is he for sale? :)
ha ha
What a sweetheart, Layla! You are both very lucky!

Mrs. E said...

I wish Kevin would make house calls. I've got so many neat ideas from your blog and an unhandy man. (I love him. He is a great football coach. Doesn't do much for the house though does it?) Do I hear a new blog calling??? Mr. Lettered Cottage works!

Victoria Hayden said...

What great tips he gave on all the moulding! So great to have such a supportive husband! I too have one of these...makes us lucky! ;) Loved the post!

Hugs,
~Victoria~

AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage said...

Ok, does Kevin have any brothers? I think they'd really like it here in Oklahoma :).

Your husband is adorable and soooo handy, and he wrote a FANTASTIC tutorial. I'm totally putting this on my to do list. I would love to add some height to my kitchen cabinets.

Courtney Baker said...

Great post Kevin. My husband will be glad to see all the trim work Layla's got you doing, since technically she's been the cause of some around here! :)

Dianne said...

Way to go Kevin!!!!! Are you for rent? Looks great.

Cindy said...

Layla and Kevin: You put such love into your home and it shows! I love how you incorporated the yard stick that you picked up earlier this week. Enjoy your weekend!

Anonymous said...

This is soooo impressive!!!

Sara F. said...

You guys make a great team! Thanks for the tutorial!

Kelly B said...

Hey there, Mr. Lettered Cottage!! You are a lucky guy and Layla is a lucky girl1! I am glad you two found each other!! :) Great post!!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Mr. Lettered Cottage, I just think you're one of the neatest husbands a gal could have. How nice to help your bride make your home such a wonderful place. You two really are a fabulous team and I absolutely love the changes to your kitchen. Such a fabulous job. I look forward to more projects you two do. Great team. Hugs, Marty

Chris said...

Not only can Kevin do moulding, but he can blog!!! Great job, Mr. Lettered Cottage! I think I might like you as much as I like your wife! :)

Courtney said...

Awesome, awesome job! Those cabinets are gorgeous!

Nancy said...

Awwww...what a great guy!I'm embarrassed to admit I got teary eyed reading the last part.Mr.Lettered Cottage is a keeper!
BTW,GREAT tutorial!

Robyn said...

Awesome post!! I still can't believe how the kitchen turned out... what a transformation!

mimi said...

You two are too cute. I reckon there's a good bit of shimmy-shammy going on in addition to all that sawing. Ahhhhh, what a sweet couple.

Misti of Studio M Designs said...

Now that is some fabulous woodworking, my friend! If only I could get that kind of help from my husband. I love him, but he would rather watch me do the handy work, while he plays the guitar. Great first post! Hope to see more tutorials in the future...
~Misti

Karen said...

I love the parts when he says:

"I'm down with that"
and
"I am going to see if she want to kick it with me on the front porch"
and when he calls you "my bride" 'cause when I call my friends and their husbands answer I always ask if I may please speak to their "bride"
really...I do...and I am glad to see a man do the same. 'Cause you are still his bride ya know.
you guys are so cute.
hugs from virginia. I am hoping to win the lottery then I will hire you to come here and fix up this dump. xoxo Karen

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

No wonder!
He's cute, he sings, he miters and he blogs.

Layla, he is a keeper!

Melissa Martin said...

Wow! What an awesome job! Layla, you are one lucky girl. Keep up the great work you're doing with the blog.

carolinagirl said...

thoroughly enjoyed this post! what a great hubby!!!

angela | the painted house said...

Well, isn't he handy AND sweet! You two are adorable!

And the kitchen looks great!

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

Well...easy peasy puddin' and pie!!

he REALLY made it look so do-able.

Thanks Guy!! Great teamwork!

Mary said...

Ok, just pack your bags. I am just going to fly you both to Illinois for a little one-on-one time with my house. We should be able to get it done in a week, right?? Oh...what a dream for me. You guys rock!

Tracy said...

Wow guys...it looks great! What a transformation. Thanks for sharing.
Tracy

EARTH MOTHER said...

Are you the cutest rock star-carpenter husband, or what?

Ummm, is Mr. Lettered Cottage ever available to rent? I have a few projects...

Laura said...

Thanks so much for this post - what a great husband!
The cabinets look amazing! May I ask what paint you used? (I mean, I know its black but I was wondering the exact color/brand.) If you dont mind sharing of course :-)

Funky Junk Interiors said...

Awesome work Kevin! Thanks for sharing!

Donna
Funky Junk Interiors &
Extreme Home Renos

Mabry's gamma said...

You guys are doing an awesome job. You really had some vision and went for it, not everyone can see the potential and you certainly have.

cedwards55 said...

Hi Layla and Mr Lettered Cottage, You two are total Rock Stars! I'm soooo stealing this idea!

Missy in Texas said...

Thank you so much for sharing how you did your cabinets. We are going to totally copy them! They look great and just think how much value you added to your home without spending much money.

The Tall Skinny House said...

Thanks for sharing this detailed information! What a terrific idea! FYI, I recently added some brackets under our kitchen cabinets after seeing your great idea!! :)

Kristen said...

Great Post! Mr. Lettered Cottage is just as endearing as you! Does Mr. Lettered Cottage have brothers?! ;) The kitchen is looking Fabulous! :) Yall make a Great Team!!

Jen said...

Are you sure that's his first post? What a great tutorial...you taught him well Layla! The kitchen is looking fantastic! Good job

lg2006 said...

the before and after of that kitchen are *AWESOME**

The Old Painted Cottage said...

Absolutely LOVED this post guys.

Kevin, I really enjoyed your cabinet moulding tutorial and learned more in this post than I have on a lot of the DIY sites out there.

You both are cute as buttons, and are so perfectly suited for each other.

oxox
Jennifer

Trixi said...

Oh, Layla, you have such a sweetie here. He has done a great job on your kitchen.

That fireplace and mantel below are amazing. I can't wait to see your own redo.

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

Fabulous post, Mr. Lettered COttage aka Handy Man! Great work too. Layla gives me much inspiration!

Leigh
Tales from Bloggeritaville
www.lbratina.blogspot.com

JL said...

/sigh

The cabinets were my SECOND favorite thing about that post.

;)

Rachel said...

Layla- Kevin rocks!!! I'm going to park my Hubby in front of this post, I think I officially trust him with power tools now, lol. I also love how your husband appreciates your design ideas- so cute!!

Kevin- in case you haven't read- YOU ROCK!!! What a sweetheart you are :o)

Have a Happy Day!
~Rachel

Renae Moore said...

What a fabulous idea to update your kitchen...what a great team the two of you are! Outstanding job..well done!
Blessings....

Melly said...

your kitchen looks fantastic!!

you two make an awesome team!!

Anonymous said...

What a great transformation!! I have been anxiously awaiting to see what Mr. Lettered Cottage was up to and he didn't disappoint!

Layla you have yourself a keeper. What a great sweet husband that you have. I am thankful that I to have a very sweet handy husband to do all the great things around our home. I can't wait to share our kitchen once it is finished. Thanks for all your help and all the wonderful inspiration that you guys have been.

Mr and Mrs Lettered Cottage make a great gorgeous team!

Sarah

Unknown said...

Welcome, Kevin! Thanks for this great post. You made it seem easy enough that I feel like I could try it too.

Mandi @ Sweetly Home said...

What a sweet hubby you have! And what an amazing job he did! His instructions were so easy to follow. Hope ya'll had fun kickin' it on the porch. :)

Unknown said...

I am so impressed! I only wish my husband did those things. Sigh. We've been married for 22 years so I won't go there. I wish he was on board with me but he's not. Thank you for posting!

Nancy Hood said...

yay for Kevin's post! and he's just as cute and sweet in real life, ladies, as Layla is :)

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Thanks,Kevin, for the step-by-step and photos! It was very easy to follow along. The before and after are magazine photo spread worthy. GREAT JOB!!

Anonymous said...

I've been admiring those cabinets for awhile now so it's so nice to meet the builder in person.

Kevin, you did a terrific job and I like the wine rack too.

Anonymous said...

Love, love, love the step by step pictures. Your kitchen is beautiful. You both are so talented (and nice).
Lisa

~ Lisa @ AbidingThere~ said...

Thanks for the tutorial - I'm forwarding the link to my husband and hoping he gets the hint :)

Nice to meet you, Mr. LC!

Deb said...

You inspired me to paint my cabinets black which I did this past week! The only problem now is I see how terrible my back splash and counters look! Also I need to change the wall color! My husband is not handy, but very supportive and is good at getting his handy friends to help (he can fix their computer anytime!)

Banba said...

What a wonderful transformation. It's amazing what a custom paint job can do for old cupboards. Though I don't have a before picture, here's what ours looked like after primer, two coats of enamel paint, black antiquing and polyurethane. My son installed the granite tile.
http://minimalisticlifestyle.blogspot.com/2008/06/minimalists-aginst-not-clutter-again.html

Queen B. said...

Wow...impessive !
I just posted about wasted space on my blog.
I had a wall with NOTHING so I added a built in...i can't believe the difference,although some people like the 'before pic'.

duchess said...

Great job! Y'all are adorable.
Feel free to hijack her blog anytime.

The Soladay Family said...

Hot, helpful hubbies are the best, aren't they! The kitchen looks amazing!

Teresa said...

Has Mr. Right got a brother?

kirwin said...

Your husband is too cute! And he's got skillz!

It was cool to see a lot of how your kitchen got done. I love where you put the measuring step--very creative. I actually like the wine rack up there.

Have a fantastic weekend.

Michelle said...

Thanks so much for the tutorial! One wall of cabinets is taller than the other and this is a perfect solution.

Unknown said...

What a great kitchen! And I loved the guest post from Mr. Lettered Cottage.

Hope you both have a great weekend!

Stacey @ The Blessed Nest said...

You have done an amazing job on your little house! It's so inspiring to see what transformations can be done!! I will definitely be looking at your pictures for inspiration when we (hopefully!) move soon! We'll be having to update and renovate a house there, and I love all of your ideas! :) Thanks also Mr. LC for the tutorial on the kitchen cabinets -- very clever!

Unknown said...

What a guy! I'll be forwarding this post to my husband immediately! Such great vision. Nothing is impossible with a little work. You've given me hope for ugly cabinets everywhere. Thanks for the helpful tutorial.

Unknown said...

Great job, and thanks for the tips, we're hoping to try trim work soon. You both have done an amazing job on your home.

Tricia said...

Awesome results and a great post, Kevin!
Layla's blog was my first! ;)
I loved it then, and I check it out every day for inspiration.

You guys have done some really fantastic work together. You're very lucky to have each ohter.

Happy renovating!
*Tricia

The Hayes Family said...

I love this blog sooo much! It is so inspiring! Thanks for the guest post Mr. Lettered Cottage! I am in love with the kitchen redo! Keep it coming!

Erin Southwell said...

Such an incredible makeover! Great great job!!

Molly said...

Reading your blog inspires me!
Question....do you have an ideas of what you could do to change old frimica (sp?) cabinets that are ugly in color to something better? can you paint and re seal them? or is it jsut better to tough it out and buy good cabinets when you can afford it?
You are the best!
Good job Hubby on the post!!

Robyn said...

Mr LC, thanks so much for the great post. Goind to share it wiht my Mr. Just found your wifes lovely blog and you are both sooo talented! I love love your house.

Chris Kauffman said...

Hey Kevin ,
I am the handy man/girl in this house , and since I just used my new brad nailer for the very first time this morning , I would have to suggest you get on too , after 4 years of me doing everything the old fashioned way , and then trying two half assed brad nailers{corded and cheap cordless} a real one make the jobs a breeze.
I want to know the caulking you use that is pink , it is caulking or spackle?? please I would like to know the brand.
You do great work .
Chris

Laurie said...

What an amazing transformation on your kitchen!

I just stumbled upon your blog, I love it, I'll be back (she says in her best Arnie voice)!

Unknown said...

Kevin & Layla,
What a partnership you two have! You must work together like a well oiled machine! Great tutorial, nice to hear from you Kevin. (and, an 'aside' to Kevin...you are very lucky to have found such an artistic and talented girl. I soooo enjoy this blog!)You guys ROCK!

Montee said...

The kitchen looks great! My cabinets are like your before ones, that plain looking stuff. I have been thinking of painting mine black and now you may have just made that decision for me.

~Melissia said...

I can't believe you posted this today! I was just getting on to show my hubby your kitchen pics. I plan on using you ideas for above our cabinets and have been trying to explain it to him. He is a nonvisual person!

Thank you so much for sharing!

~Melissia

Anonymous said...

Oh Layla! Just beautiful...you and your sweetie sure can put some pazazz in a room~

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Oh, I loved this post too! My ex did some trim just like this in my old house & I may just have to tackle raising a couple of my cabinets in some areas. Kevin, you did a great job showing the how-to's! And Layla, I love what you came up with for the logger stick. That is VERY cool! That kitchen is really looking so great.

LuLu said...

Looks wonderful! Very motivating to add molding and trim to our home! you guys make a terrific couple.
LuLu

Teacats said...

Brillant ideas and excellent results! Well done indeed Kevin!

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

Darlene - Our Creative Life said...

You did great! It looks awesome! Sorry, Kevin but I agree with Layla on the wine rack. Maybe it would look good above the fridge?? I can see some type of sign on the shelf above the microwave.

shaylyn said...

Wow...Your kitchen looks so amazing. You have both done a great job.

BellaLinda said...

What a sweet couple you are- perfect for each other. I love how you used your flea market treasure.

Hugs from Columbus, GA

Lisa said...

What a great kitchen....love the step-by-step too. Beautiful.

diana said...

I loved this post.... the best part was when he called you his bride...my DH calls me that too.

Kristi said...

Great team you two! Thanks for the post Kevin, you are a great husband.

Lori E said...

Job well done Kevin. When my husband decided to make the mantle for our fireplace redo he learned the hard way $$$ about angling the moulding to cut it. Oak aint cheap. Brilliant as he is this didn't occur to him. He did a great job in the end.
Bloggers are the nicest people.

Cathy said...

That was a great post Mr. LC. You both have done an awesome job on your home. Y'all make a wonderful team and the cutest couple :o)

{{Hugs}}

Cathy

Brenda said...

You two are the cutest couple, and your kitchen is AMAZING!I've never seen a better redo!

I just recently found your blog, and it is one of my "must reads".

Thanks for sharing.
Brenda

Jeanne Oliver said...

Mouth wide open!!! Amazing transformation!!! Way to go guys. I think I am good at envisioning what things COULD look like and you win a prize. I made my husband come to the computer to look at this one:-)

The Vintage Husband said...

Dude, nice job on the cabinets!! And I think you did a pretty nice write also. Maybe you need to start your own blog?? Thanks for sharing. :0)

TVH

Anonymous said...

I've loved your blogs and design ideas. Kevin, the wine rack looks nice above the microwave and stove but not so good for the wine. I look forward to more inspiration.

Ness Lockyer said...

Well Kevin...you are a DIY ledgend. Now you should start your own bloke blog all about living with a decor made Woman and her crazy ideas. I think all of our husband would understand completely and follow for sure.
Ness xx

Love your work Layla. xx

Kasey said...

great tutorial.
love it.
xo

Natalie Meester said...

thanks Kevin for taking the time to walk us thru step by step. It really helps us to figure it out, now if I can just get my hubby to try doing this to our cabinets!

Thanks sharing and you two make an adorable couple!

Kristin said...

Quick question for either Mr. or Mrs. Lettered Cottage. My husband and I are planning on painting our cabinets black like you did and I was wondering if you painted the insides of the cabinets black as well, or left them their original color? We were cracking up because your "before" kitchen looks EXACTLY like ours does now and we are hoping our "after" looks as good as yours too!! Keep up the good work you guys...its looks amazing!

Anonymous said...

Nice to meet you Kevin, what a fine job you've done, and your step by step instructions SPOT ON !!!! !!!

Your bride is a doll, I love to come here and visit...

I have to say I don't care for the wine rack there...sorry :(

All the best to you both,
Kathy :)

martha said...

You have a darling wife. Seems like you work well together. Have you thought of writing a book?

Erin said...

You guys are so adorable I can't stand it. Kevin, Amazing job on your very first ever blog post! Congratulations! Thank you for the tutorial. I plan to do this technique...someday...when I have a house. When I do, I'll trade you my nail gun for your miter saw!

Debra Conway said...

Thank you so much for the pictures and helpful hints. My Dad and I plan to redo the kitchen cabinets in our little lake house this summer following your lead.

Best,

DC in Texas

HMP said...

Adorable! The kitchen... and your husband Layla! Wish mine was that handy to make my ideas come to life. Love reading your blog... your ideas and watching all the wonderful things y'all have done to you house! So talented!

Sammy said...

You're good and that is exactly what I've been wanting my dear husband to do! Thanks!

Deb said...

Hi Layla- New reader to your site. I'm inspired! I searched your archives and couldn't find your kitchen cabinet's paint color. Will you please share? I've currently have white cabinets with barn red walls- so ready for a change...thanks!

Anonymous said...

That is adorable. What a keeper!

Dusty @AllThingsG+D said...

This was an absolutely incredible renovation--BRAVO!

Shari said...

Kevin, it is great to hear your voice on this blog. Layla is lucky to have such an enthusiastic and talented partner.

MyFrogs said...

Wow what a great job! And so fantastic you support Layla so enthusiastically! Everyone should have a hubby like you!

Layla you're a lucky girl!! :)

Granna said...

The new kitchen is beautiful! You have a very talented husband and you must have wonderful vision!

Unknown said...

Wow...what a sweetie your husband is! He's a KEEPER! That's so exciting that HE gets into helping you with all the projects. The addition of the cabinets makes a WORLD of difference. GREAT JOB!

hello gorgeous said...

Whoever said cutest (and best) husband ever? Ditto.

Jennifer said...

great job, Kevin!

we recently bought some crown molding, so this is definitely helpful!

Ashley said...

Great tutorial. Our cabinets are not too high but unfortunately neither are our ceilings. Looks great on your cabinets. Nice work!! Hope we can hear more from Mr. Lettered Cottage in the future. Haha!!

mimi charmante said...

Right now I am very thankful that I adore my husband, as if I didn't, I might have just fallen in love with yours...
What a darling man, and it certainly doesn't hurt that he is so incredibly talented, does it?
The moulding looks fabulous~
xo

MamaT said...

Very nice! I'm impressed.

Michelle, All Home and Love said...

Great post. I think that was the first blog post my husband has ever read! Oh and he said to tell Mr. Lettered Cottage YES to the small nail gun!
~Michelle

Donna said...

I agree with Heather Wheeler: ""Cutest Husband Ever"".. and a rock n roller to boot.

Anna O'Reilly said...

Wow. You guys make a great team. You have really transformed your kitchen from country to GORGEOUS!

Thanks for visiting my blog! ^_^ Where in Alabama do you live?

Anna

momof3girls said...

I am in love with your kitchen!! I have bookmarked this page to show my hubby!!

Patina Soul said...

WOW!!...Enough said!!
What a sweet guy Layla! God is amazing isn't he!!

Katie said...

That looks so good! I'm so incredibly envious of those cabinets....

Elizabeth and Gary said...

Hi Layla,
I just found your blog and have enjoyed my visit today. You and Mr. Right are doing a great job makeing your home "your home". My husband likes to say it's all about team work and I must say, you both are quite the team!. Stop by and visit me anytime you like.
Enjoy your day,
Elizabeth

Sunny said...

Layla and Kevin: what an absolutely adorable Renaissance Couple! You both do it all! I come visit every day to see what's new in The Lettered Cottage, and look forward to the next beautiful solution and engaging post. Please don't let your first post be your only, Kevin.

Anonymous said...

I *love* what you have done.The kitchen looks fabulous. it's amazing what a little creativity can achieve.

Kate

The P*dunc's said...

there IS hope for my kitchen, then? it looks amazing! great job and THANK YOU for the tutorial!

one question: did you have to prep or sand you cabinets before you painted them black?

Rebecca said...

I will keep this idea in mind. the extension really does make a vast improvement on the looks of your cabinets. Your instructions and pictures are a great reference. Thanks

Sharon said...

Kevin, you are a cabinet-customizing guru! I think you should start your own creative handyman tips blog - great work. Thanks to a cute and creative couple for sharing your inspirational house transformation. Hugs to you both, Sharon

Kimberly said...

Thank you so much for the tutorial!! The kitchen is amazing and you make it look so simple. I have purchased my primer, paint and started to sand...we'll see how it turns out! I have a 17 year old son who gives you great street cred for being in a band...told him you were touring in Texas, and he wants to know who your band is! My husband is grateful you have inspired me to clean out the cabinets!!!!!!!!!

Candy said...

Wonderful job! I love what you all have done and your love for not only your house, but eachother, shines through your work and your "talk." Congrats!

Gretchen said...

Kevin your awesome! Lyla you're blessed. Together you're unbeatable.
Love the new kitchen look and would of never guessed it could go from before to after with such great results.
Thanks Kevin for your wisdom, advice and great tutorials.
Gretchen
http://www.mimitoriasdesigns.blogspot.com

Sandy aka Doris the Great said...

Just an amazing make-over you guys! Well done!

Deb said...

New to your site- found you through Southern Hospitality....love your everything! I searched and couldn't find the paint color used on your kitchen cabinets...wondering if you'd share! Great job Mr. Lettered Cottage- hope you're feeling better soon!

Kim G. said...

I think it's safe to say the kitchen makeover was a success! Wow!

Anonymous said...

Oh my, your photo tutorial was exceptional. I'm a handy woman that lusts after cabinets that look like your "afters"...and you make it look almost doable (except for holding the wood on an angle, may have to hold off on this a bit more). Love that you said "i'm down with that" about the fridge cabinet. Sorry about your back and will say a prayer for you to be back again soon.

Anonymous said...

Also, make sure Mrs. Lettered Cottage gets some pics of YOU next time doing the heavy lifting. I just ordered one of her quote jars just now. too cute.

TAL said...

wow guys I'm very impressed.

You did a great renovation of the kitchen. I would not even think I was looking at the same house! The wood crown molding and added height of the cabinets looks amazing!

Again, great job.

Timothy

Anonymous said...

Its amazing the effect crown moulding has...totally elevates the space.
BTW congrats on your Washington Post mention today!

Anna Whiston-Donaldson said...

I am beyond impressed by your kitchen transformation! I want you to come here and fix mine up, too. And Kevin? Adorable AND Handy? You are one lucky girl!

DoriDoo said...

Your kitchen is amazing! And you guys are very inspiring.

Unknown said...

Awesome cabinets! "A little caulk, a little paint, makes a carpenter what he ain't!"

Its So Very Cheri said...

Layla-and Mr Wonderful--LOVE the cabinets.

Cheri
www.itssoverycheri.blogspot.com

Barbara said...

Layla -
love your blog and your creativity! Here's a great idea you may want to try, it's so inexpensive... we're giving our fridge a stainless steel facelift - we're basecoating black then applying stainless steel contact paper - also called foil - made for appliances! (I have nothing to do with the manufacturer) - see before & afters at http://fauxstainlesssteel.com/FauxStainlessSteelFilm.php

Maggie Pelton said...

I hope your email notifies you when someone like me comments on an old blog! I found your blog through Emily at Chatting At the Sky and I'm in LOVE with your kitchen re-do! We're about to move from a brand new home to an older home (bestill my heart!!) and I'm thrilled about all of the home re-do projects that await me! What color would you paint the cabs if the countertops are black granite??? I don't think I could convince my honey to tear out perfectly good granite, just because it's black. Any ideas?? The cabs are currently white.

Natalie said...

LOVE this! What a fantastic idea. We are in the process of renovating a 1920's farmhouse and have been talking cabinets all week long. We wanted to incorporate some of the old cabinets along with some new ones and you guys have me so excited to get started! My husband will be really interested to read this...Thanks!

Carrie said...

Wow! What a beautiful job you did! This is very doable....Thank you so much for sharing the before and after and the in between!! It's given me hopes of doing my own kitchen.

Lori said...

You're a doll.

Gail said...

Wow! What great ideas! You both are incredibly creative and inspiring! I heard about your blog from a friend of my sister's and now I'm an avid reader! I LOVE decorating and design...so this is awesome! Keep up the good work. ;0)

-Gail

LightningBug said...

I was getting ready to paint my tired oak cabinets white until I found your space on RMS and FELL IN LOVE! You guys are inspiring in so many ways! Thank you!

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

Mr. Lettered Cottage...you two make an awesome team! I love this idea...and it looks great! Thanks for sharing the how to. I've used a miter box (not fun) and would love to try my hand at a real machine...would definitely go a lot faster! Great job!
Susan

Candy said...

Whoa. GO!!! HUBBY!!! that's wonderful. I am going to show my husband this post from ur man. He is handy too and maybe it will give him inspiration to come by my blog with a word or two. :) great idea

Jenn said...

Hi. I just LOVE this kitchen, can you tell me how you ended up painting the cabinets? We are looking at painting our cabinets black and want to make sure we do it right! Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Mindy said...

I am linking to this post because I followed your instructions and added the molding to my cabinets. They're not painted yet, but they look great!

Thank you so much! You guys are amazing!