Do you ever get to the point where you just can't stand it anymore? Everytime you walk into that room, it glares at you and you cringe back. Like a scratch on your brand new car. You want to change it, fix it, but it never seems to be in the budget. As long as it works, other things take priority. Well that's how I felt about our kitchen. Such an odd layout, two entrances, so tiny snd outdated. Very "builder grade". Oh...and no dishwasher. NO DISHWASHER! Can you believe it?! My dear, sweet husband, hand washes all of our dishes. Our family of six creates a lot, although you'd think we were a family of 16 based on how many drinking glasses get accumulated each day!

kitchen before flooring and cabinet paint

The list goes on: blue and pink faded linoleum tiles, the countertops are a nondescript color of beige and there is still no backsplash, seven years later. But these are updates for another day. Don't get me wrong, back then we were thrilled to be the new homeowners of this late century raised ranch! However, as our realtor friend advised, we really managed to find the worst house in the cutest neighborhood.

Most recently, however, the thorn in my side has been those cabinets. You know you've seen it...grainy, mid-nineties oak cabinetry. We've tried small updates like painting the walls a cheerful, beachy blue. We added beadboard under the breakfast bar and swapped light fixtures. We've recently even switched out the linoleum floors to barnwood-style laminate. (Hello, Chip & Joanna!) Until recently, all those changes felt made in vain next to the dull brown cabinets.

As many parents know, it's hard to get dinner on the table in 30 minutes without the ducklings wandering about, let alone keeping them out of the kitchen long enough to paint. I don't have a lot of patience when it comes to tackling home projects. Once I set my mind to something, I want it done as quickly as possible! So when I came across a number of detailed posts on Pinterest for "how to paint your cabinets with chalk paint", I was intrigued. One woman boasted it was so easy she didn't even have to take the doors off! Sign me up! I was at the local retailer that week!

I happily did my homework by watching my fair share of YouTube videos and researching online posts from DIY blogs. I even did my own sample before and after on a nightstand. Ta-dah! I couldn't believe how easy! (I even let our 3 year old help out for good measure!) Just two coats of paint and an application of soft wax that is wiped off right after with cheesecloth. No sanding and no priming! After the hardware was added, it finally felt complete.

pre-drill holes through front, use screwdriver to secure hardware from back

If you're anything like me, looking for instant change in your home with minimal cost and preparation, give chalk paint a try! They are meant to look "rustic" and distressed but we opted to leave them "as is". They will not be mistaken as custom cabinetry, no smooth glossy finish here. It was exactly the look we were going for! I was pleasantly surprised at the ease in which our whole kitchen seemed to get a facelift!