NewlyWoodwards

an unconventional home

Kitchen silver sage refresh

by

When we moved in to our home, we painted every room in the house.

3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, hallways, closets, living and dining rooms and the kitchen.

Plus all the trim and doors. And don’t forget the ceilings.

That was a lot of painting. My shoulders hurt just thinking about it. My mother-in-law helped me paint, and I informed her that I wouldn’t be painting the rooms, ever again.

I made it 2 1/2 years on the promise (with the exception of touching up).

Last weekend, I repainted the kitchen. And, now I’m wondering why I waited so long.

kitchen silver sage

Because it makes it more dramatic, this is where we started with the kitchen:

kitchen foreclosure before

kitchen foreclosure before 3

kitchen foreclosure before 1

We chose to sponge paint because the walls are very old and the texture is terribly uneven in some places. However, I hated the sponge painting from the beginning. I thought it looked like dirty hand prints. But, Ryan liked it – he said. And, I had no desire to repaint.

And after ONE COAT OF PAINT *
(The clock was a hand-me-down from my mom. The birds on the window are vinyl.)
A few notes:

  • *Easiest paint job ever. One coat and 15 minutes of touch up. I first saw this paint at Bryn’s last week. The paint had built-in primer, but I was still skeptical. I thought it would take at least 2 coats to cover the brown, but not so. It didn’t drip, dried beautifully and even and was low VOC so it didn’t gag me with its smell. When it covered so well, I thought it was dry and show the sponge marks through it. But, no. I was shocked and thrilled. If you are painting, RUN, do not walk, do not pass go…. RUN to Home Depot and buy Behr Premium Plus Ultra. (And, Mrs. Behr, call me. I will be your spokesperson. Please, and thank you.)

  • The rooms I like best in the house are blues or greens. Isn’t that funny? So, that’s why I chose this color. I wanted to kitchen to be my favorite room in the house.

  • The color is color matched to Restoration Hardware’s Silver Sage. I’ve liked this color since seeing it in plenty of blog homes. A good mix of grey and blue and green. And, somehow quite neutral. So, when I was in Kansas City in January, I picked up a sample. Home Depot color matched it in satin finish. I wanted it to be wipeable, but I didn’t want it to be shiny, since the color is somewhat innately reflective. One blogger who has used this color all over her lovely home is Linda at Restyled Home. And, if it’s good enough for Linda, it’s good enough for me. Take a look at her living room and bedroom.

  • Having lovely painted walls makes me realize that I need to touch up the white trim. It hasn’t happened (and probably won’t for a while).

  • I didn’t tape it off with painter’s tape. I was too impatient and I never use tape. I find it more of a hassle than it’s worth. Especially with light colors that easily wipe off trim. I find Clorox wipes to be perfect to wipe off paint, better than paper towels. I use an angled brush to cut-in around trim and the ceiling.
  • The texture on the walls is more visible, which makes Ryan iffy about the paint. He loves the color but fears that the imperfections are more noticeable. I’ve decided that it’s an old home, and it’s okay to have the plaster walls look less than perfect. Ryan’s still on the fence.

  • The reason I held off painting for so long (I’ve been considering this for more than a year) is that I was afraid that the countertops would clash with the blue-grey. But, I think that the wall colors actually looks better with the browns, and really brings out the maple in the cabinets and the bright colors of the Fiestaware .

I love it. Dying of adoration. I’ve walked into the kitchen every 15 minutes since painting to smile and pat myself on the back. And sing, “Go Kim, go Kim, it’s your birthday. Paint the kitchen.” (I swear, I sing that song.)

 
Who says modesty is the best policy? Not this lady, that’s for sure.

Comments

  1. Hi, is there anyway you could send me the numbers on the label of the paint? Love love, love the paint and am looking to paint in a few days.
    Love your blog, just discovered it! I really hope you have a few minutes to send me this info.
    Thanks a bunch!

  2. I love the color. Looking to go to restoration hardware in Chicago thus weekend. But is tbs color light silver sage or silver sage?

  3. I’m totally loving this color!! There is no Restoration Hardware any where close to me. Do you happen to have the formula that Home Depot used to color match??
    Amber
    araedub@gmail.com

  4. I painted my kitchen in St. Louis that wonderful Silver Sage from RH. I’m now living in TX and need that color again, but no RH handy. Would you please send me the formula? Thank you!!

  6. Any Chance you still have the painters #s for the color? I love it and since there is no Restoration Hardware near me to buy the paint, I want to have it matched, but am also scared printing off the sheet won’t give me the exact match.

    Please please please share what color code they uses to match it!

  7. do you by any chance still have the forumula on the can? I want to color match to Behr paint as welk, but I don’t have a sample.

    Thanks!

  9. I love your kitchen, so sweet! I may have to print a picture and put it on my fridge for inspiration. We’ll be painting the house soon.

  10. Beautiful paint! Great job – it looks SO MUCH BETTER! I don’t know why sponging always sounds like a good idea…
    I’ve SO been there.

  11. Another ringing endorsement for Behr Premium Plus Ultra (talk about cramming adjectives into one name)! The painters used it for our house exterior and raved about it.

    (I don’t tape either–such a waste of time!)

  12. GORGEOUS GORGEOUS GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!

    So chic and serene. It’s beautiful w/ your cabinets. I’m in love w/ that clock too!

    I don’t see any wall imperfections so tell R that FC approves. Because I’m sort of a big deal. Dammit, where’s that sarcasm font?!!

  14. I think it is gorgeous! I am glad you had such a wonderful experience with the Behr paint, I definitely didn’t. Our Dining Room walls were light grey/blue and textured – it took three coats of Behr Ultra. Ick. I really love the silverware clock!

  15. What a pretty color. A new coat of paint makes a world of difference. Where did you get the EAT sign above your door? I love it!

  17. That is a really great color. I love how fresh it makes your kitchen look. I also love all of your kitchen accessories! Too cute.

  18. Oh, it’s lovely! We also have plastered walls with some imperfections–it bothered me at first (and admittedly still does on occasion) but I’ve grown to accept them. It is an old house and imperfections are part of it. Your kitchen now looks so soothing and fresh–a place I’d for sure want to spend time in!

  20. Kim, your kitchen looks so beautiful! Thanks for the shout-out…it really is a great colour, isn’t it? I love what you did, you must be so glad you bit the bullet and did it!

    Cheers,
    Linda

  21. Love the color! I had heard some good things about that paint and your review makes me want to try it even more. Hmmmm…what to paint?

  22. Thanks for all the kind words. You know how to make a girl’s head get big(ger than normal).

    The spice rack is also from BB&B, and apparently the clock is, too. Although I don’t actually remember.

    The Eat sign is from Pier One. I picked up two (Eat and Dream) on sale for $9.99 a few months ago. I couldn’t pass them up.

    The leather bag is from LL Bean, courtesy of my favorite mother and father in law.

    Hope this answers all questions. =)

  24. That is fantastic! I love the color, and it totally works with all the other elements. Thank you for mentioning the Behr primer/paint mix but John was turned off by the cost (and the amount we need since we need so much), but your post helped him change his mind (insert my sign of relief). When you painted the whole house (trim, ceiling, etc.), how long did it take? That is what we need to do and I’m trying to plan to get it done before moving day. Sorry- that was so long.

  25. I love the color! It reminds me of the color in my kitchen. I want to know where you got those cute birds on the window and where you got that great spice rack??

  27. Oh I love it!! Your kitchen looks so inviting by the way, makes me want to go in there and start baking or just sit by the window with some tea talking with friends 🙂

  30. It looks great, K! M husband always laughs at my saying, “Why be modest when you can be honest?”

    It’s not bragging. You did a great job!

  33. Very exciting what a coat of paint can do for a room! I have a feeling that our kitchen will be the first room repainted too… 🙂

    Also I love the clock and remembered seeing it at Bed Bath & Beyond, in case anyone wants to get one of their own. It’s too cute!

  35. Looks great! Would you mind posting (or emailing me) a picture of the color formula on the can? Thanks
    -Alyssa
    alyssamazing@gmail

  38. Love it and think it looks great with the counters!

    Our walls have an older, plaster-type finish on them, but I still paint them solid colors in eggshell. I love my walls “pock-marks!” I agree with you, the house is older and this is what its supposed to look like!

  41. wow, what transformation from when you guys moved in. You had the same mustard yellow we did when we first moved into our home:) too funny. Our kitchen is now more a sage green also. a little more grey than green but very similar to your kitchen. Love the EAT letters above your backdoor. Did you make those?

  43. I like it! I think sagey colors are so kitcheny. Good choice. And I agree with you about imperfections in older homes. I think they are charming.

  45. It’s soothing and neutral, and calm and serene. And fresh and modern. all in one. 🙂 Love the color,and I have to confess, I love it WAY more than the sponge job. 😉 And, I love the fork and spoon clock. So whimsical!

  46. Oh I LOVE LOVE LOVE the change too! I think it brightens the room but is really calming.

    Great choice!

    And as for the imperfections in the plaster being more visible I think that’s one of the great parts of living in an old home.

  48. Kim, that is incredible ! One coat of paint in a kitchen, and what a transformative effect. I cannot get enough of that color, I adore it. I’ve used in in my powder bath and I’m still delighted with it. I’m like you ! I find soothing greens and gray blues are the most serene colors on the walls for my home too. And BTW, that clock is unbelievable ! What I would pay to have a clock like that – it’s so perfect for your kitchen. And that picket fence coat rack is TDF.
    🙂 Kate

  49. I like it A LOT!! Reminds me of our bedroom color (BM Quiet Moments) but a little more green. Very nice. (And way better than the sponge paint; sorry.)

  50. Looks great! I used Behr primer/paint in my basement and LOVED it. I also used it when I painted my doors but since the doors required so many coats I didn’t truly appreciate it until I painted the basement. It still took two coats for me but that’s only because I was painting on brand new drywall that soaks up the paint.

  51. love silver sage (not sure why I don’t have it in my house, now that I think about it) and LOVE this! and I’m totally with you on the wall texture, it’s an old house, no one expects it to be perfectly smooth.

  55. Ohhhh yeah, that looks good Kim, real good. In fact, I love it. And your kitchen makes me happy, its very homey/cozy. And please tell me you do some sort of 90’s dance when your singing. I picture that. And I want it to be true.

  56. my mom is a housepainter, and told me to use behr paint plus primer when i did our guest room chocolate brown over neon green. one coat and it was pretty much perfect! it was like pudding 🙂

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