"With finishes and styles evolving as quickly as fashion you might be surprised to learn that your faucet is as fashionable as the grunge movement from the 90's."

Is that supposed to embarrass us?

You also might be surprised to learn that your faucet is like a classic little black dress that is always appropriate in any era.

I really like that chalkboard paint idea. It also might perform double-duty as a means of entertainment with the little ones--keep them busy and out of trouble in the kitchen.

That first photo is a reminder why chalkboard paint is never a good idea. It never looks as good in real life as it does for a photo shoot. Just one more surface to wash every day. I much prefer it for items that don't change regularly - like on spice jars - paint a square to write the contents on.

I hate it quite a lot when I put together a dinner for friends and they huddle around my kitchen. For heaven's sake, spread out. I paid all that money for living room furniture so you could sit on it and enjoy it!

I don't understand this chalkboard trend. Who wants all that dust in their home, especially their kitchen?

Someday the trend for twee home design will die out and hopefully take chalkboard paint along with it( and also letter art.) I don't understand why people want their homes to look like a kindergarten.

I have an open loft like space and have actually been longing for a more enclosed kitchen. But I enjoy formal dinner parties and having a place to dump dirty plates and glasses during a party.

How about light fixtures, a new backsplash? maybe even new switchplates?

i currently have ugly 70's brown to beige ceramic tile flooring in the kitchen. I'm going to cover it up with white porch paint so that i can live with it until i am ready to renovate.

Don't go to Anthropologie, go to Hobby Lobby or World Market.

I'm with you, Nailbunny and Cakegirl, chalkboard just isn't that attractive! And having asthma, the last thing I need is more dust.

Chalkboard is twee, and I'm sure that beyond the photoshoot, it never gets used. A shopping list that you then have to transcribe? Oh, and the dust!

As for the faucets? I agree, they are more little black dress than grunge. Certainly not meant to be swapped out on a whim!

Who has grocery lists they want to make public? On house tours, chalkboard walls always have "fresh flowers" "Organic coffee" and "baguettes" written perfectly in 3 colors of chalk. My grocery list is usually "tampons, dog food and vodka, " scribbled on the back of an envelope.

@cakegirl, LMAO!

I chalkboard-painted the inside of my hideous hulking beige metal apartment door, which happens to open into my kitchen. I use it to write down things I need to remember when I leave the house ("Mail check!" "Don't forget lunch!") or notes to visiting friends or my cat-sitter when I'm out of town.

Erasers don't work very well on chalkboard paint (hence the effect on the picture above), but a damp cloth leaves it looking clean and new, without any dust.

I really love that second kitchen, is it aqua? sea glass? Anyway, love it.

Archdarling, I agree.

I don't really mind the trend of chalkboard paint, but ugh, chalk is just so messy and um, chalky. I'd hate to have it in my home from a cleaning perspective.

Cakegirl, FTW!

Cakegirl, too funny.

I have a question regarding painting cabinets. In a lot of posts, people freshen up their kitchens when on a budget by painting their cabinets. Well, I'm wondering about the actual painting job. I painted the inside of a small storage cabinet (not kitchen-related) so that there's color on the inside (the outside is all white). But as I stored stuff in it, mostly creams, lotions and other beauty prodcuts, the items stuck to the shelves a little--because of the paint. When I pick up a jar of cream, there's a ring on the shelf. I did use Valspar, but I didn't use a primer before applying the paint nor after the paint dried. Am I missing something here?

I'm wondering, in case I ever decide to paint my kitchen cabinets, what the most proper technique to painting them would be.

Anita83, I think that proper preparation is essential, as is allowing sufficient drying time. Before painting, remove the doors and drawers and lightly sand them to scuff the surface. You should also thoroughly wash them to remove any grease that may be stuck on. I use a TSP substitute will clean and also de-gloss your surfaces. Select a high quality paint. Some people swear by oil paints for cabinets because they are so durable, but I really like Benjamin Moore's Impervo line which is a latex but has many of the benefits of an oil; it's especially recommended for cabinets. Apply with a foam brush or roller to minimize brush strokes. And allow plenty of time between coats plus several days for the paint to fully "cure" before hanging the doors and filling the cabinets. Painting your cabinets is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to make a huge difference in your kitchen so good luck!

Love the ideas and the kitchens. Chalkboard pens take away the dust and messiness. SO much easier to write in a stylish font and much easier to clean up. All the restaurants with chalkboards use them.

...a great way to inject a bit of botox into into the kitchen space"

Is this a recommendation to introduce poison into a food preparation area?
Or a quick way to freeze all expression of emotion in what is often considered the heart of the home?

"Add a Touch of Chalkboard"

No, no, no, no, no, no, NO.

@MCB IN MD. Great advise. I painted my old dark wood cabinets a few years ago. Washed them with a heavy duty cleaner, wiped well with turpentine, sanded well, cleaned again and then primed and painted with oil paint from Benjamin Moore paint. They looked wonderful for about a year. Then the paint kept getting more yellow and today they look really ugly.

I think going with latex paint is a much better option. You just have to make sure you let it dry well before the more applications.

Same on the shelves. If using latex, let it dry really well before another coat. Give it a couple of days between coats.

I have an actual chalkboard hanging on the kitchen wall-- it's used for shopping lists and meal ideas-- but I wouldn't switch to chalkboard paint.

More importantly, am I the only one who is repelled by those huge sprayer-style faucets? It sends me right back to the days of bussing tables and washing dishes. Yech.

If your dishes are sticking to the paint, line the shelves with shelf paper. That's what I had to do even though I waited *ahem* four weeks before putting items on them. Seriously! Perhaps I didn't let it dry enough between coats...

Aura semi gloss white may not be a good choice for shelves where you might actually need to store things... Even though it's a godsend in the no-smell and great coverage categories.

All I saw was that island in the first pic, love it! Where can I get??