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Reality Daydream

The Dream is Free, The Hustle Sold Separately

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Extending Kitchen Cabinets up to the Ceiling

June 8, 2015 by Bethany Sy

 

Recall for a moment what our kitchen looked like just a couple weeks ago. We loved that dark teal with the glossy swirls for a handful of years, but it was just time for a change.

Here is our kitchen before and after the last transformation.

I laid out some more details about why we painted the walls white in this post, and it really brightened up the room sooooo much.

We needed a clean slate, and white walls, to be able to decide what to do next in our kitchen transformation.

To be honest, when I painted the walls white, I wasn’t sure what the *#^& I was gonna do next. I really just wanted a blank slate to make decisions without the distraction of the dark teal.

  • Paint the walls a different (lighter) color?
  • Leave the walls and paint the cabinets?
  • Paint both?
  • Strip the cabinets down to the wood (NEVER) …(EVER) … (IN A MILLION YEARS would I take the time to strip kitchen cabinets) (so this was a hypothetical bullet point)

I usually don’t have a plan… I just go one step at a time, and make decisions as I go. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I WOULD MAKE A TERRIBLE INTERIOR DESIGNER.

But one thing I did know… I wanted the cabinets to extend up to the ceiling. You might remember awhile back I scribbled out a little sketch of what I wanted my ‘someday kitchen’ to look like.

Inspiration sketch for my dream kitchen!

If you take only ONE THING away from the entirety of my story/blog, let it be that someday isn’t EV-VER going to happen unless you make someday today. That’s my little motivational message for the day.

As you know I added a breakfast bar to the island, built two mudroom benches (one built-in and one on casters) and cubbies, That sort of leaves the cabinets. No?

Extending kitchen cabinets to the ceiling.

Friends, let me just take this opportunity to proclaim that I MARRIED THE MOST WONDERFUL MAN. Not only is he capable/knowledgeable/skilled enough to do pretty much anything… he’s also willing. (even though he JUST built the cabinets in our ‘Laundry Suite‘ and more cabinets for the woodshop)

Building additional cabinets to extend up to the ceiling in kitchen.

He’s also an amazing teacher… not that I can take credit for any of this genius.

Building AWESOME custom cabinet doors!

Custom geometric kitchen cabinet doors will look amazing in our new kitchen!

While he was busy building custom cabinet doors, I removed all the existing doors, drawer faces, and hardware. Scrubbed them with warm soapy water, sanded them, and laid them out for painting. (take note of the blatantly obvious reason we will never have open shelving)

Painting kitchen cabinets helps freshen up the kitchen.

Are you ready to talk about paint color? You’re gonna hafta just stay with me on this one.

Lively Yellow by SW

This is called ‘Lively Yellow; by Sherwin Williams. But it has a greenish tint to it… I would describe it as a mellow chartreuse. Don’t freak out yet!

Custom Cabinet doors and 'Lively Yellow' by Sherwin Willimans

I like that it’s a little bit obnoxious, and a lot AWESOME.

Extending kitchen cabinets up to the celing made a huge differenced in our new kitchen!

 

Depending on your computer monitor, this may be showing up just plain yellow. But in real life, it has a yellow/green tint… like a pale chartreuse.

Kitchen update... extending cabinets up to ceiling and painting a fun color!

With the walls being white and the cabinets being bright… the whole room feels so light and happy. And the mirrors behind those top cabinet doors make the room feel bigger and reflect light too.

Lively Yellow by Sherwin Williams

We’re in the process of saving our pennies for new appliances. Ain’t nobody got a few grand lying around. My ‘new’ cabinets are making want the new ones ASAP! Can you picture new stainless appliances in place of the off-white/black ones?

I LOVE our new kitchen!

The funny thing is that this whole kitchen re-transformation started that day when I impulsively took a reciprocating saw to the island to give it a breakfast bar. Sometimes you just need to make a decision to be fearless and start somewhere!

Sawdust-Embryos_thumb2

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About Bethany Sy

Nick and Bethany Sy are the creative free-spirits behind DIY/Lifestyle blog, Reality Daydream. They recently purchased a historic mansion and have been documenting the ups and downs of renovation and making this home their own... all while sharing tips and tutorials along the way! When they found themselves in the trenches of infertility, they started a journey that would prove to be their most important DIY project ever, and have 3 beautiful girls to show for it. <3

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Comments

  1. 31

    april says

    June 22, 2018 at 1:55 pm

    I’m about to grill you about your cabinets. 🙂 I’m going to attempt to build my own. My plan is also a routered shaker cabinet door, with a few of the doors with glass with colonial grids.
    1. How did you adhere the inside trim pieces to the cabinet doors?
    2. Is that hickory? And did the contrast between the hickory and the oak cabinets stand out when both were painted?
    3. Did you inlay the mirrors or are they secured on the back?
    4.. Do you know what the cost came to for each cabinet?

    Reply
  2. 32

    Alyssa says

    April 26, 2017 at 2:39 pm

    Could you tell me how much space you had from the top of your old cabinets to the ceiling?

    Reply
    • 33

      Bethany Sy says

      April 28, 2017 at 5:59 pm

      Ours were about 14″ from the ceiling before we extended the cabinets. 🙂 Is that what you’re asking?

      Reply
  3. 34

    Cabinetlover says

    June 11, 2015 at 10:32 am

    So I LOVE the cabinets and the color. So bold. So modern. Totally my style. What are your thoughts on the island? I almost think you could do something more modern or bold! For some reason I think black and white stripes. Interested to hear your long term idea?

    Reply
  4. 35

    Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos says

    June 10, 2015 at 5:16 pm

    Hehe thanks Sarah! I knew it would be a ‘controversial’ color… but I loved it, and it’s my kitchen RIGHT?! 🙂 I didn’t want it to look like every other kitchen.

    Reply
  5. 36

    Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos says

    June 10, 2015 at 5:14 pm

    Oh man, those are cool!

    Reply
  6. 37

    Becky Bridell says

    June 9, 2015 at 10:17 pm

    I love that this is so you, and Nick! Still following you even after everything.

    Reply
    • 38

      Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      June 10, 2015 at 5:13 pm

      Awww Becky! I miss you!

      Reply
  7. 39

    Joy Carter Voland says

    June 9, 2015 at 3:16 pm

    I love the cabinets! I’m interested to see what you do with the back-splash to possibly tie the chartreuse and stone from the island together. I’m sure it will be brilliant. Sounds like you have a plan for your pendant lighting, but check out what Macy did to create pendant lights here: http://minimotives.com/2013/08/07/pendant-lights-the-making-of/ Just a fun idea. Look forward to seeing it all come together.

    Reply
  8. 40

    CatwomanMN says

    June 9, 2015 at 9:15 am

    You are such an inspiration! Your husband does wonderful woodwork. I love it! Thank you for sharing Beth & Nick!

    Reply
  9. 41

    Karen Wallace says

    June 9, 2015 at 6:20 am

    The yellow looks fab with the stone on my monitor! The new color and the cabinet extensions took your kitchen straight into home decor magazine territory. Those mirrored doors with the handmade overlays are incredible. You two are so talented.

    Reply
    • 42

      Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      June 10, 2015 at 5:14 pm

      You’re super sweet Karen! Thank you! He’s got skillz, huh?!

      Reply
  10. 43

    Janika says

    June 9, 2015 at 10:46 am

    I l-o-v-e the color of the cabinets, reminds me of Spain <3 Now I want a yellow kitchen too.

    Reply
  11. 44

    Sarah says

    June 9, 2015 at 3:34 am

    What I like best is that you’ve done something totally unique and not just copied the trends on Pinterest. I sometimes worry about what others will think of something in my home and then chastise myself for caring! Kudos to you for doing what YOU like and being different! (And not that it should matter, but I love the color.)

    Reply
  12. 45

    Gillian Morrison says

    June 8, 2015 at 9:11 pm

    That colour is amazing! You always make such brave choices with colour and this looks beautiful!

    Reply
  13. 46

    Kindra says

    June 8, 2015 at 8:21 pm

    I love this. I don’t think I would have picked that color for my kitchen but it looks great in yours.

    Reply
  14. 47

    Elizabeth Rice says

    June 8, 2015 at 2:13 pm

    I don’t think the chartreuse goes with the faux stone you have on the island; you have modern, bright cabinets paired with a warm, rustic island. The actual DIY you guys did looks well done, but I cannot get behind you on the paint color (if you have to give a disclaimer that it doesn’t look that bad, I’m not sure if you’re entirely on board either).

    Reply
    • 48

      Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      June 8, 2015 at 2:23 pm

      Hehe! That’s ok Elizabeth… to each their own! If you read my blog, you know my design decisions a pretty eclectic and off the wall. and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I said what I did because I knew it wouldn’t be everyone’s cup’o’tea, and I’m ok with that! I’m glad you could appreciate the craftsmanship that went into the cabinets even if you don’t love the color. 🙂

      Reply
  15. 49

    Crystal says

    June 8, 2015 at 1:16 pm

    I’m not a fan of the color either, kinda of scares me. Lol. But I love that you are brave and total jealous your husband is so handy (and you too).

    Reply
  16. 50

    Dana Alley says

    June 8, 2015 at 12:15 pm

    Can’t say I’m a fan of the color but everything else rocks!

    Reply
  17. 51

    VikkiB says

    June 8, 2015 at 11:53 am

    You truly hit the jack pot when you won Nick, cha ching! However, you know what they say…behind every great man is an even greater woman. You two make an amazing team. Love the new cabinets and your selection of color. Vikki in VA

    Reply
    • 52

      Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      June 8, 2015 at 2:23 pm

      Thanks Vickki! I’m definitely keeping him! 😉

      Reply
  18. 53

    Paige T. says

    June 8, 2015 at 11:48 am

    love!

    Reply
  19. 54

    Debra Thompson says

    June 8, 2015 at 11:12 am

    Love it. It’s not boring and like 95% of all kitchens!

    Reply
  20. 55

    Kierstan says

    June 8, 2015 at 10:56 am

    LOVE the bright color!

    Reply
  21. 56

    Melissa says

    June 8, 2015 at 4:53 pm

    I love the cabinets!
    My preference would be white, but I am afraid of color 😉

    Reply
  22. 57

    Angie says

    June 8, 2015 at 10:19 am

    Love this!!!!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. DIY Kitchen Renovation Ideas from Bloggers & Real Life People | Designer Trapped says:
    June 7, 2017 at 7:06 pm

    […] Extending Kitchen Cabinets Up to the Ceiling by Reality Daydream- Y'all, my friend Bethany is amazing!  She walks you through exactly how she and her husband extended their kitchen cabinets all the way to their ceiling by building cabinet extensions.  And how gorgeous are the details on the doors that they made?!  Head to her blog for all the details! […]

    Reply
  2. DIY Kitchen Renovation Ideas from Bloggers & Real Life People | Designer Trapped says:
    January 6, 2017 at 10:00 am

    […] Extending Kitchen Cabinets Up to the Ceiling by Reality Daydream- Y’all, my friend Bethany is amazing!  She walks you through exactly how she and her husband extended their kitchen cabinets all the way to their ceiling by building cabinet extensions.  And how gorgeous are the details on the doors that they made?!  Head to her blog for all the details! […]

    Reply
  3. How to Paint your Kitchen Aid Mixer - Sawdust and Embryos says:
    November 3, 2015 at 9:16 am

    […] my Kitchen Aid Mixer so often, it holds a pretty prominent position on my counter top. But after we painted the kitchen cabinets, the tangerine orange was making me […]

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  4. Embroidery Hoop Pendant Lights - Sawdust and Embryos says:
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    […] know what you’re thinking:   ‘DOWN GIRL…YOUR CHARTREUSE CABINETS ARE STATEMENT […]

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We are Nick and Bethany! Welcome to our blog, Reality Daydream where we share our DIY adventures!
Click here for lots of art projects using only wood stain on furniture!!
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Attention: Almost any do-it-yourself project involves risk of some sort. Your tools, materials, and skills will vary, as will the conditions at your project site. Reality Daydream has made every effort to be complete and accurate in the instructions of the plans on this website. Reality Daydream will not assume any responsibility or liability for damages or losses sustained or incurred in the course of your project or in the use of the item you create. Always follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions in the use of tools, check and follow your local building codes, and observe all commonly accepted safety precautions.

 

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