Shabby Chic Style Kitchen

Seven years ago when we bought this house, my mind was full of ideas on how I was going to decorate and paint our tittle house. I painted murals on ceilings, the walls and the kitchen cabinets, replaced windows, etc.Everything turned out just like I wanted. My sense of style changed a little; now I really like white decor. All my furniture said paint me! When I painted my kitchen cabinets the first time, I wanted to match my dining table--a dark mahogany color. I found a technique on how to paint faux mahogany. It took me a long time to paint those cabinets, specially painting the grain of the wood. When I finished, the kitchen appeared  smaller and dark, but I was satisfied with the look.  I want to share with you how I decorated my kitchen cabinets this year. I love the beautiful Louis XVI furniture; the carved details, and the garland appliques is what inspired me. My kitchen looks more like a collage style, but the beauty of the furniture applique brings an elegant chic style to my home.

I used All-Purpose Joint Compound to make the appliques using a cake decorator kit. After the compound floral motifs are dry, primed and painted they will look just like those commercial furniture appliques. If you don't feel comfortable using a cake decorator, I am sure a good friend can help you. I encourage you to not be afraid to try new things, practice on a piece of wood.

 The kitchen cabinets before.

My house was built in 1948. The kitchen cabinets are old, but I love them; it's amazing how with the magic of paint you can transform an ugly duckling into a swan. The faux mahogany turned out beautiful, but its time to paint the cabinets again and brighten up my kitchen; this color is too dark for me.

 Making furniture appliques--rose motifs. 

 Drying the floral appliques.

 My kitchen after

 I really love my kitchen; the carved details all along the door panels, the swags and floral wreath.

 We bought a chandelier; I didn't like the ceiling fan that I had before. The chandelier had a gold finish, but I painted it white, and wrapped it with pearls and beads.

I applied swags and floral wreath on my dishwasher. First I primed the dishwasher door panel with a primer for metal, then I decorated it with the floral motifs. After the appliques had dried completely, I primed and painted the surface. Now the dishwasher matched the rest of the cabinets. I really love how everything turned out.

Furniture appliques on my kitchen island.

 The appliques bring a cottage chic elegant style to my kitchen. I didn't want to make it look faded because I wanted it to happen with time.

My next project will be focused on the counter top of the kitchen; I don't like it.

 Pearl and beads chandelier.

  

 I used 4 m m pearls and gray beads for this project, and pearl buttons.

I just wrapped the beads around the chandelier; using fishing string. 

~Have a wonderful day full of beautiful things~