Wow! That's a very nice transformation.

Very nice molding. Love the BS behind range AND the walnut walls.

You did that yourself?!! Looks great. I'm impressed.

So you're telling us you did this yourself!!!??? Please come visit me!! I want that.

And all painted to match too? Don't tell me you know how to do the returns at the ends.

Ok. You got me. I didn't do the returns on the end. I could probably get away with never doing them because you basically have to climb on the cooktop to see them. But dh said he would do them when he gets home.

The shelves were no big deal. I screwed a cleat across the walnut for the shelf to rest on (made of scrap molding turned upside down). I screwed the crown into the existing window molding and then placed a scrap wood shelf across the cleat and crown. A couple of screws into the top to secure board to cleat and done. (then caulked and painted, of course). So easy. Biggest problem was that the windows weren't exactly the same height (I didn't put those in!), and the difference was exacerbated when the crown curved toward the hood. Turning lemons into lemonade, I added a second board that is wider to the one on the left. That gave me similar height AND a wider shelf to put things on.

I'm impressed that you did it yourself, but even more impressed that you figured out that's what your kitchen "needed". It looks wonderful, and yes, much more finished. Good eye!

My favorite thing is that I can put my little knickknacks without cluttering the counter. Including my no whining sign (the only words in my decorating).

And my grandmother's homemade crawfish magnets that hung in her kitchen my whole childhood. They look like lobsters on that little platter. Cracks me up ever time I walk by.

Awesome!! I am impressed that you did that!

Nancy

So easy.

Understatement much?

Beautiful. I'm moving away from knick-knacks up high, and then you go and make it look amazing. It's lovely!

That is exactly what your kitchen was missing! Beautiful! You should be so proud. :-)

Very talented lady! I'm certainly green with envy of your work.

I follow your tutorial, but do you have any "in progress" pictures to match a visual? What white trim paint did you use?

I bet DH was pleasantly surprised and happy. To think I felt accomplished doing crawl space study/need list while DH was away...no visible accomplished work product at the end. Very nice.

Norcall-cat- that is such a compliment!!! I am generally moving toward throwing knickknacks out (I am starting to hate clutter) but somehow this just felt right. I feel so much better that it looks ok too.

Ooooo, I bet that balances the room very nicely, great job! Every time I see your kitchen a little part of me wishes I got the walnut I wanted, but it wouldn't look right in this house (it's too nice and wouldn't be appreciated when we sell).

Congratulations on a job well done! Love the magnets.

Sparkling water- I didn't take in progress pics. One day I'm going to blog and get in the habit of doing it.

My trim paint is behr hi-gloss ultra pure white. My walls are behr flat powdered snow. It's a good mix.

Here's a basic picture of what I did. My top boards were much wider, and the back piece was a coved molding.

"I screwed a cleat across the walnut for the shelf to rest on (made of scrap molding turned upside down)"

Thanks for the picture. I've often read how creatively scrap molding is used in carpentry. You really dressed your kitchen well.

Very impressive. I agree with everyone above! I wouldn't have known what to add, but that really dresses things up very nicely!

Wow - looks great! You did a fantastic job! (I couldn't do that for all the tea in China!)

Just what the Dr. ordered! Very finished looking! EXCELLENT WORK!!

Love the addition! Makes your kitchen more personal and inviting.

Very smart. It makes a huge difference.

Perfect!

Like the others, I'm impressed. Where did you learn to handle carpentry tools?

Geeze!
I thought the first picture was nice.
Nice.
Even with your beautiful cabinets, nothing demanded an Oh,Wow!

Then...
With just that finishing touch, you went to WOWOWOWOWOW!

Great job.
And even better eye! :)

Self-taught. I got tired of waiting for DH to do projects and just started trying it on my own.

I remember the first project we did 18 years ago- painted a spare bedroom. This year I painted the entire outside of my 3-story house (mostly by myself).

Just do it. You will amaze yourself with what you can accomplish.

I like it! Did you leave the top shelf as a 1x6 or rip it down?

Okay, I thought it was great before, but those crawfish magnets are a hoot! Love, love, love. What a great special something that every space needs.

Actually, I really like your transformation a lot also, Vsalz. I've been wondering about doing something like that but wondering if I had enough room. How much vertical space did you end up with over the shelves? Whatever it is, it's clearly "enough." :)

your's has always been one of my favorite kitchen. How about a shot from the same angle as your before shots? Would love to see from a distance. It's beautiful.

It is perfect! It looks finished.

I did not rip down the 1x6 on the left shelf. I have about 8" above the shelf.
Old photo:

New photo:

"Self-taught. I got tired of waiting for DH to do projects and just started trying it on my own.
I remember the first project we did 18 years ago- painted a spare bedroom. This year I painted the entire outside of my 3-story house (mostly by myself).

Just do it. You will amaze yourself with what you can accomplish."

Made me smile.