Kitchen makeover

So it's been a little quiet on here again...Truth be told, I'm not entirely sure where this blog is staggering to... Life and responsibilities seem to trip it up, and every so often I manage to dust off it's bruised little knees, bandage it up with a few words and a few snaps, and send it into the big wide world that's the web. Let's hope this time it takes more than a few tentative steps, and manages to take big, confident strides towards the next post!

I have been contemplating a few changes to our little kitchen for some time now. It is probably the busiest room in our home, as I spend most of my time here preparing meals for the family...boy, do they eat a lot...and often! I have teased that perhaps it's time to invest in a cement mixer which I can just shovel heaps of food into, so the little gannets can have a constant supply of calories churning! Apart from meal times, we spend quite a bit of time at the kitchen table too, doing homework, drinking cups of tea, chatting and Skyping family back home in South Africa. I get bored very easily with the same interior after a while, so needless to say a change is what's needed in here. That, and also the fact that the walls are looking a little tired. Now, I'm not talking major makeovers. The budget and space does not allow for this at present. Just a little investment in colour is what's needed!

Our kitchen table was one of the first pieces of furniture that we purchased for our home, about sixteen years ago. We bought it from the Greenwich Antiques market, so it has certainly clocked up some mileage! It started life as a dark oak table, and since has had the legs painted. For the last seven years it paraded in a very respectable satinwood cream, but I decided once again that it was time for a change. Along with the chairs, the table has been given a new lease of life with a tin of Annie Sloan.

I have never shied away from bright colours, so I opted for a very vibrant Antibes green for the table legs. Yesterday I was asked why I only painted the legs, and not the whole table. I suppose it is to keep a little piece of it's original existence alive, and I do like the contrast of the bare wooden top with the brightly coloured legs. From a practical point of view, I am also frightfully aware of the fact that the table top takes quite a beating in a house of five, what with all the food preparation, eating and crafting that goes on...And who knows, dancing on the table might be on the cards too!

As for the chairs, well, a rainbow of pastels are in the making. I have chosen more yummy colours from Annie Sloan...Antoinette, Henrietta and Louis Blue...As for the fourth chair, I am still undecided. Perhaps a lovely sunny yellow? The best part is that I managed to get away with sample pots instead of large tins. A sample pot was more than enough to give a chair the two required coats for a good finish. Hooray shouts my thrifty soul! You will notice that the furniture has been distressed after painting. I don't like things too perfect...I prefer the lived in look. As it stands, the furniture will get knocked about quite a bit, and if it's already distressed, the odd scrape will blend in just fine!

This is a work in progress...I will undoubtedly be sharing more snaps with you as we progress with the kitchen's mini-makeover. There are still two chairs to paint, the walls to do and a lot of sorting and faffing. Watch this space! I would love your thoughts on picking a colour for the fourth chair!

Blessings