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The Kitchen Chronicles: Part 2

July 7, 2014 by Brynne 25 Comments

Blogging has to be THE most motivational experience.

I told you guys I was finally going to get started working on the kitchen and putting that resolution “on paper” was absolutely instrumental in driving me to actually begin. I can’t bear to disappoint – you guys keep me accountable. 😉

So because I told you I was going to strip the paper off the walls, and believe me – for that reason alone, I actually started, persevered, and finished stripping that darn paper off the walls.

Thanks to you.

I love you.

Remember the kitchen “before” pictures?

kitchen before

Here we are two weeks, 16+ hours of wallpaper stripping, and 20+ episodes of Bones on Netflix later:

kitchen-wallpaper-free

Allow me to introduce you to my wallpaper stripping tools – my new best friends and worst enemies:

wallpaper-scraping-supplies

Three simple supplies – dish soap, spray bottle (this was not in fact full of Perfect Bathroom cleaner – it was empty, so I reused it because I am cheap green), putty knife.

I’ll describe the method that worked best for me, even though I would be surprised if you ever find yourself in the exact same situation.

I filled the spray bottle with hot water from the sink and added in some dish soap. The paper on the wall was in two layers – the brown paper decoupaged on top, and a manila-yellow lining paper beneath.

First, I stripped off as much brown paper as I could by finding an edge and sliding my putty knife beneath it. Then I sprayed a section of the wall liberally with hot soapy water (being careful to avoid water running into outlets or switches – I used a dishtowel to catch any runs above those) and let it sit for a minute or two. Once soaked, the brown paper was fairly easy to peel off, leaving the lining paper behind. Then I re-sprayed the lining paper with hot soapy water, let it sit, and scraped it off with the putty knife.

The drywall beneath is a mess, as you can tell from these pictures. I still need to wash the remaining glue residue off and do a lot of spackling. (Ugh: my favorite part… #sarcasm)

But look how much brighter the kitchen is now!*

*This is a polite way for you to affirm my hard work and the fact that a change has taken place in the kitchen without actually being forced to say it looks better. You’re welcome.

 

 

 

kitchen-wallpaper-free5

So the next step is getting these walls ready to paint the lovely gray-green-blue color from my kitchen moodboard. It’s Pensive Sky by Behr.

 

modern-glam-kitchen-moodboard

So that I can begin working on refinishing the cabinets. So I can replace the countertops. So I can install the sink/faucet. So I can build the range hood. So I can tile the backsplash… It goes on and on. But I can’t wait to keep working on this all as soon as I get back from Haven (it starts this Thursday you guys!).

Thank you for keeping me motivated, you guys! All my love,

Brynne
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Filed Under: DIY Project, House Tagged With: Kitchen

Comments

  1. Cassie @ Primitive & Proper says

    July 7, 2014 at 3:19 pm

    wow way to rock it out!!!! awesome work!

    Reply
    • brynne@thegatheredhome.com says

      July 8, 2014 at 3:12 pm

      Thanks Cassie! It really did pay off!

      Reply
  2. Katja | Shift Ctrl Art says

    July 7, 2014 at 4:12 pm

    It already looks a 1000 times better. Great blank slate for your make-over. I love the wall color you picked I think it will play very nicely with the green in the dining room 🙂

    Reply
    • brynne@thegatheredhome.com says

      July 8, 2014 at 3:14 pm

      Thank you Katja! I'm glad to hear it actually looks better 😉 I've been in love with that wall color for a long time now and I'm so glad I'll finally get to use it!

      Reply
  3. sandpaperandglue.com says

    July 7, 2014 at 4:22 pm

    It looks sooooo much better already– excited to follow along with the rest! 🙂

    Reply
    • brynne@thegatheredhome.com says

      July 8, 2014 at 3:24 pm

      Yay! Thank you so much Stephanie 🙂

      Reply
  4. Trisha D says

    July 7, 2014 at 5:17 pm

    Girl, even if it's just temporary the white really lightens up the space. I'd say you deserve a nice break from living, breathing, and sweating wallpaper for so many days… Inch by inch you'll get there girl!

    Reply
    • brynne@thegatheredhome.com says

      July 8, 2014 at 3:25 pm

      The new look is totally livable, right? 😉 I love the space so much more now that that oppressively dark paper is gone!

      Reply
  5. Run To Radiance says

    July 7, 2014 at 6:53 pm

    Can't wait to see! Love the mood board and YES it looks better…and I totally feel your wallpaper stripping pain. It. Was. Everywhere. Proud to say we are finally 90% wallpaper free. YAY!

    Reply
    • brynne@thegatheredhome.com says

      July 8, 2014 at 3:26 pm

      Thanks Tania! I'm so glad it wasn't anywhere else in our house – I think I would run away crying 😛
      We are 90% popcorn ceiling free, but I'm currently in denial that the other 10% exists.

      Reply
  6. Caroline Nolazco says

    July 7, 2014 at 8:40 pm

    Already looks so much better! Your before looks like my before- oak cabinets and green laminate countertops. But your after moodboard blows mine away! I'll be sulking in the corner 😉

    Reply
    • brynne@thegatheredhome.com says

      July 8, 2014 at 3:27 pm

      Aw, haha, thanks Caroline! We'll see if I can manage to actually materialize that moodboard 😉

      Reply
  7. Selene @ Restoration Beauty says

    July 8, 2014 at 12:32 am

    It already looks so ,uch bigger in there after the removal of the wallpaper!

    Reply
    • brynne@thegatheredhome.com says

      July 8, 2014 at 3:28 pm

      Right?! It's amazing what colors and textures can do!

      Reply
  8. Julia Konya says

    July 8, 2014 at 1:53 am

    What an improvement! So bright!
    I always watch Netflix when I work on projects too.

    Reply
    • brynne@thegatheredhome.com says

      July 8, 2014 at 3:28 pm

      Thanks Julia! Netflix is SUCH a life saver. I can't focus in silence – I need interesting background noise!

      Reply
  9. Lets just build a house! says

    July 8, 2014 at 3:51 pm

    wooohooo all your hard work is paying off!

    Reply
    • brynne@thegatheredhome.com says

      July 8, 2014 at 6:07 pm

      Thanks Trina! 🙂

      Reply
  10. Amber Wills says

    July 9, 2014 at 2:57 am

    Flex that muscle girl!! I knew we would be bests. I mean DIY while watching netflix is pretty much my MO. 🙂

    Reply
  11. Michelle {Jarrah Jungle} says

    July 9, 2014 at 3:05 am

    Its coming together nicely! Renovating is hard work but once its all done you look back with such pride and satisfaction it makes it all worthwhile 🙂

    Reply
  12. Gilly says

    July 9, 2014 at 4:33 am

    Loving that mood board! Gorgeous and I love the splash of yellow.

    Reply
  13. Kimberly Hughes says

    July 10, 2014 at 7:40 pm

    Oooh!! Yes, it's looking so much better and brighter already! I so wish me talking about doing stuff on my blog was enough motivation for me, I'd have LOADS done by now 😉 But seeing fully stripped walls is SO satisfying – we'll be tackling the same in the guest bedroom soon, will use your post as my motivation!! xxx

    Reply
  14. GnomeLover says

    July 11, 2014 at 12:59 am

    What a huge difference! You are amazing! I don't think I would have it in me. Great job! Or great muscles! It is true that blogging is a great motivator.

    Jenni

    Reply
  15. Miss Charming says

    July 16, 2014 at 5:13 pm

    Removing that wallpaper has made such a difference! I'm so excited for your kitchen makeover–especially that totally gorgeous range hood! Build me one, too. (I'm sure it would look great over my tiny, ancient builder's grade stove!)

    Reply
  16. Kim @ NewlyWoodwards says

    July 20, 2014 at 2:25 am

    Ugh. I hate removing wallpaper. But it makes such a huge impact. Hurray, for progress!

    Reply

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