The Joy of Renovating My Kitchenette
Basement Kitchenette
Deciding to renovate my basement kitchenette was a spur-of-the-moment decision. My little corner of the kitchen wasn’t bringing me any joy, and I realized it had been wayyy too long since my last project. I’ve been taking it kind of easy (from a project stand point) since Chris has been gone, and I just want to maintain my sanity. Lol. I aimed for a budget-friendly refresh: keeping the countertop, changing the sink and faucet, and painting the cabinets and walls. Simple, right? Well, life (as always) had other plans. I posted a reel on this process on my IG. Feel free to check it out for some inspo!
The Kitchenette Sink Debacle
The plan took an unexpected turn when I discovered that my new sink was too small for the existing countertop hole. Measurement mishap! I take full responsibility for it. Would it really be one of my projects without something that simple going wrong? This meant I had to get a new countertop. Bummer, I know. But, go big or go home, amirite? After weighing my options, I decided on a butcher block. We’re planning to entertain in this space a lot when Chris returns and we wanted a prep kitchen vibe. The butcher block was the best and most affordable choice, especially with my time crunch.
Painting the Cabinets
I started painting the cabinets before realizing I needed a new countertop. (I shared a blog post when I refreshed my front door. You’ll see some of the same steps for painting in there.) Here’s a step-by-step guide on how I tackled the cabinets:
1. Sanding: You have to sand unless you use a really good deglosser. If you opt for liquid sandpaper, make sure the sheen is off. This step is crucial for a good finish.
2. Priming: I used a 1-2-3 primer and had it tinted darker since I was going with black cabinets.
3. Painting: I applied the paint using a brush and a foam roller (I prefer mohair rollers but didn’t have any at the moment). Here’s my painting process:
• Sand with 220 grit.
• Use a tack cloth to remove all the dust.
• Apply primer.
• Sand again with 220 grit.
• Tack cloth again.
• Apply the first coat of paint.
• Sand and tack cloth again.
• Apply the second coat of paint.
It’s sooo tedious, but I promise it’ll give a long-lasting, chip-free finish. I used Emerald from Sherwin-Williams, and I swear by it always for cabinets and doors, because it’s a self-leveling paint that gives a super smooth finish. I went with Tricorn Black, mainly because I had it on hand, like with my front door. Haha. And you can put different design elements with this color, and not have to worry about clashing. It can typically be a more pricey brand to use, but it’s worth it in the long run!
The Funky Walls
The walls in the kitchenette were not a great color starting out, and I knew I wanted to change them to make everything look more put together. I’m not sure if I’ll keep the white, but for now, it looks much better than it did when we started! I did have to patch some holes. I went with HGTV Showcase Pure White (flat), because this color will match anything and the matte finish will hide some of the imperfections in the walls.
Countertop and Layout Change
With the new countertop decision, I also decided to make the kitchen more functional. Everyone loves a more functional kitchen space, right? I pivoted from my initial plan and opted for a U-shape layout, and wanted to add a Lazy Susan cabinet. The walls in this kitchen are quirky (and by that, I mean jacked up lol), so there’s still some figuring out to do to make everything seamless.
Wrapping Up
So far, I’ve finished one part of the kitchenette. The rest will follow soon, like appliances and some other smaller details. But the majority is done for now. Stay tuned to see how it all turns out! Renovations can be full of surprises, but they’re always worth it when you see the transformation.
Follow along for more updates and tips from my DIY adventures!