A more appropriate title would be “Random Kitchen Stuff we Finished Over the Weekend.”
First up, we got glass in those cabinet doors. Wednesday morning, I removed the doors from the cabinet frames, leaving the hinges and knobs on the door.
The boys and I hauled the glass-less frames to a local glass shop. While holding E and keeping my eye on V, I carefully started unloading the boxes from the trunk. Luckily, the man working there saw I had my hands full and took the doors out of my hands.
Once inside, E pointed out the taxidermy elk and deer (so Montanan) while the kind man and I discussed the doors. Yep, I want plain clear glass in each of these. He told me about their process and the precautions the take to prevent damaging the furniture. That made me happy. After giving me my total, only $30.60 for the glass and installation, I asked when the doors would be ready. His response: well, we open at 8:00 tomorrow, so come in any time after that. What?! That’s quicker than I thought it would be. Wahoo!
Sure enough, on Thursday afternoon, I picked up the ready and waiting doors. And they looked wonderful. Driving slower than a 90-year-old lady, we finally made it home. Shortly after hauling the doors in the house, I decided I couldn’t wait to get them back up. Four screws later, the cabinets were officially done.
Sorry for the glare, too.
On Sunday, Ben finished up some lighting. Specifically, rope lights inside the glass-fronted cabinets. He started with two packages of rope light and several strips of rope light channel.
After cutting, peeling, and sticking the channel, it was simple enough to push the lights in. The lights were a little long for the cabinets, so we coiled the extra length at the top of the cabinets.
During the day, the lights barely highlight the dishes. At night, the real magic happens.
I think our dishes now look like a jewelry display at a department store. And I love anything shiny or sparkly. The soft glow is pretty kick butt, too.
Update: We’ve had questions on the lighting placement. Our cabinet face frames overhang the cabinet by 3/4 inch, so we stuck the channel to the back side of that face frame.
Then the lights run up the side, and coil around the top front (to stay out of sight), and back down the other side.
Remember this ugly stove leg situation we have because our cabinets are taller than your average bear cabinet?
Well, it was finally time to take those legs from frumpy to fabulous. After discussing our options (painted PVC pipe, wooden legs, adjustable bolts, etc.) we decided to buy blots and 1 1/2 stainless steel pipe for a slip cover effect. Ben called from the hardware store to tell me they didn’t have brushed stainless pipe, only polished. I told him to get it because a. we didn’t have a better option and b. fine sand paper should fix that.
When he got home with the pipe, he pointed out it was stainless plated brass. I started sanding with 400 grit paper, being careful not to sand through the plating. Happily, it worked like a charm. See the difference?
While Handy Sammy held the stove front up, Ben screwed in the bolts, adjusted for height, and slipped the pipes over the bolts.
Oh, and I added a small strip of left over rope channel to secure the loose end of the rope lights.
For only a few bucks, we made matching stainless legs. With the height adjustment, the top of the stove sits nicely against the counter tops, too. While none of these projects will make a dramatic impression, it certainly helps the kitchen feel more polished and finished.
Just a little more sanding (the ceiling) and this small patch by the dining room, a few more trim pieces, some paint and we’re finally done with the kitchen.
What have you been working on this weekend? Any sanding? Installing lights?
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Ohhhhhhh- I LOVE the rope lights in the cabinets. That’s so clever and so pretty!! I’d be tempted to buy blackout curtains for all my windows and make as dark as possible in the house all the time just so I could see how pretty those cabinets were all lit up- wow!! I love it. Nice work!!
The glass and lights look awesome! I would be so eager for the night to arrive just so I could turn them on!
Like you, we got a lot of little tasks accomplished this weekend that ultimately made a huge difference – mainly painting our side door: http://anexcellentadventure.blogspot.com/2012/02/lighten-up.html
Love it. Really nice work. I am sure you are happy to be done. Enjoy your fantastic new kitchen.
The lights in the cabinets look great! I really want to do glass front cabinets when we redo our kitchen!
Love love love the updates!! Seriously…the light is SO dreamy!! loving it! Great job!!
Love, love, love those glass cabinets and all the little details you’re doing are making it look flawless! So, stupid question, but where did you put the lights/channels to get that effect? Under each shelf?
Hey Emily, Ha, that would be pretty funny. The lights are that awesome, though.
Hi Lizzy! Your kitchen is coming together! Keep me posted. 🙂
Hi Sara-Nadine, Aww, thanks! We’re loving the kitchen, but we’ve still got a few tiny things we’ve still got to do. Hopefully soon!!
Hey Ashley! For the price, I think glass doors instantly make a kitchen feel more custom and expensive. I’d definitely suggest going with a glass door or two when you’re at that point.
Hey Melissa, Thanks so much!! You’re too sweet. 🙂
Hi Sallyhp! Thanks so much!! That’s not a stupid question. I should have taken a picture for you. There face trim of the cabinet overhangs the cabinet sides by about 3/4 inch, so the channel is stuck to the back side of the front face. Does that make sense?
Thanks!
Amanda
Amanda, I have the same question as Sallyhp and saw your explanation, but a picture would do wonders! I have these corner cabs with glass doors and wood shelves and the rope light just runs along the inside top of the cab. It doesn’t make anything in the cab shine! I’d love to add more light… P. S. Gorgeous kitchen! I’m having so much fun following your reno!
Hey Michelle and Sallyhp1 Check out the post again. I just added two pictures to show the lighting detail. Let me know if you still have questions! 🙂
Thanks!
Amanda
LOVE the glass cabinets! And the lights just set them off perfectly 🙂 Great job Ben and Amanda!
Hey Kim! Thanks so much! Glad you like them!
Happy Valentine’s day!
Amanda
The cabinets with rope lights turned out BEAUTIFULLY. You’re so right in saying they look like jewelry display cases (in a good way!) Fantastic work!
Amanda, THANK YOU! After I read your comment above a couple more times, I was starting to picture it, but the photos are really helpful!! (My shelves aren’t recessed slightly like yours don’t leave room to string an uninterrupted row of lights easily…I’ll think of something…
Thanks Amanda! Happy Valentine’s Day to you too 🙂
Hey Michelle, Are your shelves removable? If they are, you could cut 1/2 inch off the backs, giving you space along the front to run the lights… Just a thought. 🙂
Thanks!
Amanda