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Question
-- Our country kitchen was last updated in the 70s and has the flat-faced white laminate cabinets with the wooden handle bars so popular at that time. We're ready to replace the old appliances, but the cabinets are still in good shape. How can we get a more authentic country look without ripping them out?
Answer
-- There's no reason to go to through the mess and cost of ripping out perfectly good cabinetry when you can change the appearance with a few paint tricks. There are also some other details that you may want to consider for your kitchen update to enhance the country style you love. By utilizing elements of Shaker style as I did here, you'll have a kitchen that is a peaceful and happy workspace. We can all learn from the sense of simple practicality that is the cornerstone of Shaker style.
The laminate cabinets were prepared for paint by first sanding and then applying a high adhesion primer meant to cover slippery surfaces. The base coats were two tones of blue, a dusty pale blue for the uppers and a muted medium blue for the lowers. To create the illusion of inverted panels on the doors, two L-shaped stencils were cut from Mylar (plastic stencil sheets available at craft stores). The ends of the stencils were cut at a 45-degree angle so that the painted panel strips would look mitered. To make the shading appear real, note where your light source is coming from. Ours was from a window on the right, so the top and left shadow lines are lighter than the base
color. The lower and right lines are a few tones darker than the base coat.
The Shaker style peg rail is an ingenious way of keeping the floor clear of clutter and easy to sweep clean. The rail is made from a 1 x 4-inch strip of wood with wood pegs inserted at regular intervals. The wood can be painted to match the room trim or the cabinets. The Shaker plate rack is a functional design that is a popular space saver not only for country kitchens but also in contemporary rooms, where it may be constructed with plastic or metal. The original plate racks were built with pine boards and dowels.
A colorful rag rug, hand-woven baskets and traditional white and blue crockery are all features that add to the homey atmosphere of the shaker tradition.
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