This was a big week for the Retro Glam kitchen! We got counters and most of our backsplash, had the sink installed, and most importantly – added all the glam architectural kitchen details we’d been waiting for. Our kitchen is in the home stretch, and I couldn’t be more happy to be rounding the corner. You’ll also get a sneak peek of our new countertops and backsplash (and a giant hole in the ceiling), but all the details will come next week!
Catch up on our progress so far: How to Paint Plywood Kitchen Cabinets, Choosing A Retro Kitchen Floor Tile & Retro Kitchen Details
P.s Welcome to week 4 of the ORC! Make sure you go check out the link-up with all the other linking participants, and check out what the official ones are up to.
*Metrie, Emtek & Hudson Valley Lighting sponsored this post, but all thoughts are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make PMQ for two possible.
I had aimed to have a lot of these things spaced out, and happen in a way that didn’t put 3 contractors in the same space at the same time, but hey! Life happens, and I’m certainly not about to try plumbing or electrical work on my own, let alone hanging pre-jammed doors or crown moulding (well, maybe that last part).
Glam Kitchen Moulding
Our last Metrie project was the renter friendly built-ins we built as an IKEA hack a few years ago. So it’s been a minute since we played around with fancy trim and moulding, but we’re so glad we waited till now, because we finally have a space to use it in!
In the kitchen, we had a significant bulkhead above the kitchen cupboards. There was nothing structural about it (no piping or wiring running through), and instead of removing it (because who wants a gap?!) we decided to add some crown moulding from Metrie’s new line Option M.
They’ve create a few collections of curated trim, casing, architraves etc. to match doors in their collections, but are more generally style based. I found myself drawn to different elements from each collection, but found the Elements of New Traditional to be the closest match for me. I loved that everything was collected to match, it saved me from pouring through endless catalogs like with other decisions we’ve made in this space.
It adds depth, detail, and makes the bulkhead seem deliberate. Not to mention, it adds a thorough touch of glam to the otherwise very retro seeming cabinets. To finish off the look, we then added quarter round above the cupboard doors at the base of the bulkhead, for an extra architectural detail.
You can hang both of these yourself, and we (Dan) did! You’ll need a crown mitre box (available online & at Home Depot), as well as a big enough mitre saw, a nail gun, and some trim caulking to paste the joints. There are tons of tutorials out there on how to do this, so I won’t bore you.
Glam Kitchen Doors
I think I was the most excited about this part. This kitchen has 3 entry points, all of which I wanted to preserve — I like distinct rooms, open concept isn’t for me — but we weren’t loving the bi-fold doors that came with the place. They weren’t as nice as we would have wanted, and they couldn’t stay after we added the retro cement tile, without cutting them.
I also didn’t want to be looking into unfinished spaces for the next few months, so with these doors I’ve got peace of mind.
Did you know Metrie has a new line of doors with Masonite? I had originally wanted to use one of the Metrie line of doors, but once I saw the Livingston, I knew it was meant to be. The step-ins on the door panel play off the crown moulding perfectly, as well as the lower moulding in the hallway. They also feel fresh, and like they’ll age with the house well.
We got them pre-hung, since it would mean less fussing for the installation (who wants to notch a door? not me), and then had a local contractor instal them. This is the kind of job I wanted done right, so it meant paying someone to do it right the first time.
Dan and I are great at learning on the fly, and he’s very handy, but if we had encountered any structural issues in the wall, we wouldn’t have been prepared to fix them.
We then used more of Option M‘s trim to frame the door. We chose this casing, and this architrave, and had the contractor install them at the same time as the doors.
Glam Kitchen Hardware
The finishing touch on the door is the brass handles we got from Emtek. I chose the Myles Lever with Modern Rectangular Rosette in satin brass. I’ll have all the detail and close-up shots next week once I’m done painting the doors. Until then, you’ll have to rely on my Instagram stories for detailed close-ups.
The shape lines-up with the details on the Livingston door, the curves of the lever remind me of the lines in the crown moulding, and the satin brass finish matches all the other brass finishes in the space. Our cabinet & drawer pulls are also from Emtek.
We chose the Jasper cabinet pull in Satin Brass, because we liked the curves and details on the pull, but also the glam touch they would bring to the retro cabinets.
Glam Kitchen Lighting
I have been DYING to show you guys the newer light fixtures we chose for the kitchen. Long story short, these were my original choice, but then Dan said he didn’t want globes so we switched to the ill fated sconces. After a colour issue, we went back to the globes – or Spheres – as they’re called on the Hudson Valley Site, and we couldn’t be happier.
They’ve got a mid century vibe to them, without erring on the kitschy side, and all the while capturing ALL the glamour this space needed (in case there wasn’t enough already).
We got the two different sizes: Sphere No.1 (16″) and Sphere No.1 (11.25″). We put the smaller one over the peninsula, and the larger one over the dining table and seating bench.
Once we finish sanding and painting the underside of the bulkhead above the sink, we can install the final 2 lights.
Week 5 of the One Room Challenge
While this is week 5 of the ORC, we’re actually on week 6 or 7 of the kitchen remodel, since we started all the demo before it began to ensure we’d be done in time.
Dan’s starting to get fed up with spending his nights working on the kitchen – even though I thoroughly enjoy all the time spent together. Needless to say, when I got the new letter board for the kitchen, he appropriated it with his own message.
In case you’re wondering, we’ll talk about the hole in the ceiling next week. Sit tight!
For the record, he did this pose with the drills himself. I did not direct him, or correct him. I’ll let him have his moment.
See y’all next week for the reveal!
Shop the Glam Kitchen Details
