The hardest part of moving into our current apartment project was the kitchen. We haven't had a proper kitchen for years, and spent over three years cooking on a set of electric catering burners, and yet it wasn't clear that this would be much of a step up.
The stove was clean, and we were rough, and not just cosmetically. Think sagging shelves, cracked doors, and lots of opportunities for splinters. The poly finish on the countertop was flaking — everywhere — and the sink needed a serious scrub down. The whole thing was intimidating, and our budget to address it was approximately zero dollars. So, paint. Paint would be our friend.
When we went looking for a color, we wanted something that felt traditional, but not frozen in time. We loved the idea of a green kitchen, but didn't want to go too saturated as we've seen lots of dark green kitchens lately and, while timeless, our eyes are a bit tired of them in this particular moment. We also wanted a color that took advantage of the abundant light that comes in the west-facing windows.
When we picked Tavern Gray (CW-40) by Benjamin Moore, we knew we'd hit the right note. It's not gray at all, so you need to kinda ignore the name. Instead, it's an earthy green that sings next to the rich wood counters.
After giving the cabinetry doors and casings three coats, the kitchen was transformed. Less than $50 later, we had a kitchen that we want to be in. I'll count that a win.
