Modernizing Old Cabinet Fronts

<center></center><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4012.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_4012.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Our house is full of these country-style 80's cabinets, but I didn't want to have to replace all of them, since they work fine, they just weren't pretty at all.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo dIMG_1543.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/dIMG_1543.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">To start, I carefully measured the fronts of the doors at wherever was the thickest part of the door. The nice people at Home Depot cut down very thin, but super sturdy 1/8" hardboard to the exact sizes I needed. This is the same material I used to add <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/08/diy-plank-walls-and-painted-mudroom.html" target="_blank">paneling to the mudroom</a>. It takes paint very well (on the brown side, not the slick white side) and is an easy product to work with because it's so lightweight.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3726.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_3726.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I used a bit of Liquid Nails Paneling to adhere the hardboard to the cabinet door. I didn't use too much because I wanted the hardboard to sit really flush and tight against the old door.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cIMG_3731.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/cIMG_3731.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I thought I might have to throw in a few finishing nails to keep everything together, but the Liquid Nails ended up being enough and there was a really tight seal on the edges. It worked surprisingly well!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3729.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_3729.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After everything had dried for a full day, we caulked the edges and gave everything a coat of primer and two coats of paint before installing the doors again and adding the hardware from Anthropologie.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cIMG_3999.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/cIMG_3999.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's not perfectly perfect, but it was like $10 of hardboard to update these cabinets and I like them a million times more now!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3776.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_3776.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Some of you noticed that my <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/06/kitchen-mini-reno-cabinets.html" target="_blank">kitchen cabinet door fronts</a> had a similar old style. I used this exact process in our kitchen too before adding the corner moulding! It's so easy and cheap and really doesn't change the weight or the thickness of the doors in a major way.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cIMG_4937.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/cIMG_4937.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aaDSC_0431.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/aaDSC_0431.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm eyeing my <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-laundry-room-redo-and-5000-laundry.html" target="_blank">laundry room cabinets</a> now. :)</div>

Modernizing Old Cabinet Fronts

Our house is full of these country-style 80's cabinets, but I didn't want to have to replace all of them, since they work fine, they...

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Kiwi Crate!

<center></center><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Kiwi4.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda008/Kiwi4.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />The good people at <a href="http://9nl.eu/wuef" target="_blank">Kiwi Crate</a> saw my post where I mentioned that I've been trying to come up with fun craft activities for my girls now that school's out. They have the coolest product (seriously, it's award-winning - all you design-loving moms will totally approve!) - once a month a box arrives at your doorstep, beautifully packaged with 2-3 kid-focused activities. (Here are the <a href="http://9nl.eu/ic5o" target="_blank">most popular past crates</a>.) Subscriptions start at $16.99 and additional boxes for siblings are only $9.99. Shipping is always free.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Kiwi.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda008/Kiwi.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">They also send a copy of their adorable Explore! Magazine.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Kiwi2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda008/Kiwi2.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Kiwi Crate we got this week was called Farm Fun and it had a little planter box where you can plant real seeds, and this felt finger puppet project inside.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Kiwi5.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda008/Kiwi5.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The bookshelves were finished this week, so I loved that I could sort of let the girls loose on their projects on the floor of the library while I was putting away books. Each project comes with very clear picture instructions, so even my Evie could make the puppets on her own.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Kiwi6.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda008/Kiwi6.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It ended up being <i>hours</i> of quiet play time, which have been few and far between around here lately. Two thumbs up from this tired and busy mom! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Kiwi7.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda008/Kiwi7.jpg" /></div><br />PS!! Get <a href="http://9nl.eu/9rue" target="_blank">25% off your first month's subscription</a> to Kiwi Crate with the code LGN25. The summer crates will all be about exploring the great outdoors! :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Kiwi3.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda008/Kiwi3.jpg" /></div>

Kiwi Crate!

The good people at Kiwi Crate saw my post where I mentioned that I've been trying to come up with fun craft activities for my girls now...

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Guest Bathroom Sink

Things are moving along with the guest bathroom reno! Since we saved so much money on the <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/04/black-clawfoot-tub.html" target="_blank">clawfoot tub</a> (only $200!) I felt like we could spend just a little more on the sink, so I went to my stone guy (where I bought the <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/11/finished-fireplace.html" target="_blank">black limestone</a> surround for my firebox) and looked in his remnant section for something to make a sink out of. I wanted a white marble with really heavy veining, like a statuary marble. I found <a href="http://instagram.com/p/n_WYxXwW9S/" target="_blank">this large remnant slab</a> that I really liked but it was polished and I wanted a honed finish. After finding out the stone was only $10/sq ft I felt like I could afford to have the stone honed, which added only a couple of dollars to the price per square foot. It's White Horn marble and the veining is so pretty!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4893.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_4893.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I bought a smallish undermount sink from Signature Hardware. The whole sink is 40" wide and I wanted there to be a shelf and plenty of space on the countertop for putting toiletries, so we decided on something roughly 20" wide.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5113.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_5113.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I got the sink back from the stone fabricator yesterday and I'm in love!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5257.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_5257.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><a name="more"></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cIMG_5242.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/cIMG_5242.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I think it will look beautiful with the tile we chose (that still needs to get installed!).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5253.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_5253.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5256.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_5256.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />The only thing we're waiting for is the sink base. I found a commercial metal worker just on google maps who was willing to take on side jobs. He was such a nice guy (email me if you want his contact info) and he gave me a great price for the sink base and two side table bases. I gave him a really rough sketch and here's what he showed me after a really quick work up using 1" square iron rods. (it's sitting on a brace here)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cIMG_5221.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/cIMG_5221.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I was mostly checking for shape here and I told him I loved it, but asked for the curve to get shaved down a little to be a little more smooth.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5223.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_5223.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Then yesterday I stopped by to check on the new curve and the color. I wanted the sink base to be a dark color to contrast against all the whites in the room. He got the iron a really dark but still industrial feeling black in the upper right corner here below. Just what I was hoping for! And the curve is perfect too. I wanted it to feel a little like hairpin legs. It's hard to see with the shadows, but I think it's going to be just right. :)<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5228.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_5228.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5231.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_5231.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />So after the color goes more uniform and black, the metalworker will build some little tabs to help us connect the sink with the base. Also I'm probably going to have to build some sort of french cleat situation to ensure everything stays where it's supposed to on the wall, but it shouldn't be too big of a deal. I'm really happy with the progress so far! Now I just need to get going on all that tile!

Guest Bathroom Sink

Things are moving along with the guest bathroom reno! Since we saved so much money on the clawfoot tub (only $200!) I felt like we could sp...

Read more »