I mentioned a while back that my parents had begun renovating their 1990s builder grade home (which is basically in original condition). It'll be an on-going project, but they have started renovating the 90's kitchen and it already looks like a completely different space! The old oak cabinets got a fresh coat of white paint and we painted the small island a contrasting gray to mix things up (Sherwin Williams Functional Gray). My parents chose to hire a professional painter to tackle the cabinet makeover, which I believe was a wise choice. Painting kitchen cabinets is not a quick weekend project and the paint will peel if the cabinets are not prepped correctly (been there, done that). If you choose to DIY, make sure you take the time to clean, sand, and prime the cabinets and allocate mutliple days for the whole process (it took their professional painter about two weeks with drying/curing time).
Like a lot of 1990s kitchens, the cabinets had the original brass hinges. We had a few options here: paint over the hinges, replace the hinges, or leave the hinges as is. The previous owners of the Brooklyn Street House had painted over the hinges, and they actually held up okay, but we haven't had much luck when we've tried it ourselves. In fact, we renovated my parents' half bath a few years back and tried spray-painting the brass hinges, but it was flaking off in no time. The other option was to replace, but one thing I've learned in our years of home renovating is that retro-fitting can be a tricky task. Not all hinges are created equal, and I didn't want to get in a situation where we are boring out new holes to fit a different hinge. Which leaves us with our last option - keep 'em. Its cheaper, faster, and easier. My three favorite words. :)
I had a feeling that we could bring the 90's brass hardware into the 21st century by complementing it with just the right cabinet door knobs and pulls. If you can't fight the brass, join it - am I right? I went to my go-to hardware source, D Lawless Hardware, on the hunt for something to match the 25+ year patina of the old brass hinges (a little intimidating, I will admit). I stumbled upon these Hickory Hardware Windover Antique cup pulls and these knobs and based on photos, thought they were worth a shot. Plus, for $1.79 and $1.49 respectively, I knew I wasn't going to find a better bargain. Holy moly guys, they are almost a near perfect match. If I didn't know better, I would think the hardware and hinges were a set. If you find yourself in the same brass hinge predicament, I cannot recommend the Windover Antique finish enough. One thing to keep in mind is that depending on the age of your kitchen, the brass may not have the same color to it as the ones in my parents' home. I would suggest buying a sample before committing to the entire kitchen. Look at how similar the hardware is to the hinges!
Gorgeous, right? Honestly, even if we weren't tied to brass hinges, I'd use these selections again in a heartbeat. The dark oiled rubbed bronze/gold-ish finish is just lovely; this may be my favorite hardware that we've ever installed. Here are a few photos to show the progression of the kitchen renovation so far. Brian added crown molding and an X-detail to the island a few weeks back and I think those little projects help to make the kitchen feel a little more high end.
Can you believe how different this space looks already? They are going to install new countertops next and then we can tackle the backsplash. They have the original white laminte counters in now, and honestly, they still look brand new. Sometimes when you paint something white next to something old that is/was white, the older finish will look dingy. That is not the case at all with their countertops. In fact, if it wasn't for their neighborhood price point, I would tell them to keep the laminate - it still looks that good. If you want to read more about our experience with Formica counters, check out this post. It is a GREAT option for a high-end look on a lower-end budget.
I know I've mentioned D Lawless Hardware about a thousand times on my blog (Sea Spray Condo Kitchen, Pink Dresser Makeover, Farmhouse Dresser Makeover, Myrtle House Kitchen, Avenue House Kitchen, and Denmead Kitchen just to name a few). In my opinion, they offer a lot of value that other retailers simply do not. We have used them now for five kitchen remodels and I can attest first-hand to their durability and design, especially considering the price point. Instead of simply taking my word for it, I thought it would be fun to show you a comparison of a D Lawless Hardware piece compared to high-end retailers' version. See my examples below with their more expensive counterparts. If you are renovating on a budget (like most of us are), you don't have to sacrifice design or quality!
