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Hello, I'm Ally of From the Right Bank and I can't believe it's been four months since Lauren asked me to be guest blog here. Let's see . . . back then, cutie pie Justin was still on the way and I was in the middle of moving across the country from Seattle to Atlanta. Lauren asked for a "Before and After" post and I thought, "Sure, no problem. By April, I'll have lots of Before and After's to choose from."
Well, I clearly overestimated my abilities. Or rather, underestimated my slacker tendencies. In any case, I have yet to "finish" a single room in our house. And of course, this just makes how much Lauren has done in her new home that much more mind-boggling! And oh yeah, let's not forget that little business of giving birth
somewhere in there too! I tell you, I would hate her if I didn't love her so much(!)
Well, the closest to a finished project I have to share with you is our kitchen. Here are a few photos of the kitchen just before we moved in:
As you can see, it was a perfectly fine kitchen. Pretty marble, farmhouse sink, custom cabinets . . . nothing offensive. But my issue with it was that everything was a cream/ivory color. While I didn't hate it, I've always preferred pure white to off-white. And for a couple of years now, I've been on a gray kick and I especially wanted gray kitchen cabinets so I thought now was my chance. So after agonizing over paint colors for
weeks, looking at hundreds of swatches and lying awake at night contemplating just how many shades of gray exist in this world (Doesn't everyone?), I finally decided on Benjamin Moore's "Trout Gray." I wanted a true gray - one that wasn't too blue, too green, or too purple and Trout Gray fit that bill. 
The painters removed all of the doors, drawers, shelves and hardware and then sprayed. They also painted the walls (Benjamin Moore White #1). It took days (and days) and this was the state of things during the process:
And here is how it turned out:
I'm still looking for the perfect sconces to go over the sink and I'll be replacing the faucet as well as the lights over the island but it's close. Now as for the rest of my house, that's another story!
Thank you so much for having me today, Lauren! You're a real inspiration to so many of us
and it's been an honor to be your guest! --------------------------------------------------------------
Ally it's so beautiful!!! The gray is perfect and I am seriously jealous!! Thanks for sharing the process with us & can't wait to see the rest of your new house!!!!
xoxo,
lauren
ps- Ally- what are you doing with the faucet you're ditching?? ;) ;)
As a decorator & a textile designer, this is my place to muse... perfection doesn't interest me; Reality and charm do. Fresh floppy flowers from the garden over long-stemmed roses any day, I love it when things are slightly off and tell a story. 
54 comments:
It turned out so great! The gray is so crisp against the white!!
Great job - can't wait to see the sconces you pick out!
Oh my .... indeed, the perfect gray! So gorgeous!!
Love the dark grey. At the beginning of the story I was expecting another light French grey...what a great surprise when I saw the final finish!!!
To divine Ally (and Lauren) this is the first B&A I have seen from Ally's house - nothing on her blog so you are lucky to have it here.
It is indeed the perfect grey and works brilliantly.
xoxo
Lauren {and Ally}: Thank you for showing us the possibilities that COLOR and PAINT can have. I wouldn't have considered re-painting cupboards that were already FINE, especially in GREY, but I absolutely LOVE how it turned out, in the end. Lucky Ally, her kitchen already had great bones! Hope she'll send updates as she adds her finishing touches! xx P&H
It's a great colour choice. The agonising and sleepless nights certainly paid off!!
I am applaunding this update and your commitment to your personal taste!!! It really turned out so well and now the marble looks even more beautiful.
What a lovely transformation - Ally has given what was already a nice kitchen a bit of edge, crispness, and character. It looks great.
Love the gray. I'm so glad painted cabinets are "in" - it's accessible to anyone with an eye for color. For me, it all started with Sally Wheat.
I love the neutral gray color... so soothing! Nice to see you over here as well!
xoxo Laura
Love the gray!
When you first showed the chip of the color you had selected for your cabinets I wasn't so sure...but seeing them now, the kitchen and cabinets look gorgeous! It went from fine to stunning, the gray just makes the room stand out and look completely custom. Great job! Janell
Gorgeous! I love the gray with the warm countertops!
Wow what an amazing transformation. It looks great!
Very nice! It looks like something I imagine as a movie set (which is a compliment!)
ALl that deliberating over the perfect gray paid off...the cabinets are spectacular. And what I really love is that you didn't go with an ultra-glossy finish. This looks so classic! Excited to see the lighting you choose! Marija
The cabinets turned out better than great - they are fabulous. Thanks for sharing. And I love the name - Trout Gray.
The gray is really lovely. The cabinet style looks a little different... is there a space above the doors on the upper cabinets?
When I saw the "before" I was thinking "Gosh, I wish my kitchen looked like that!" but your risk with the grey really panned out. It's really beautiful and you were right to break up the monotonous beige. Lovely!
It's amazing how changing the cabinetry to that grey really made them pop. They look fabulous and very rich. I love that faucet - I think it fits perfectly with the kitchen so if you are getting a new one you can always send the old one to LA - I'll take it LOL! I'm not sure what kind of scones you are looking for - if more vintage or contemporary but rejuvenations has great period lighting - it's a company in oregone and a friend of ours used their fixtures and they look amazing. Ann
Thanks for all the lovely comments, everyone! And thank you again, Lauren, for having me.
As for the faucet, I just had it replaced yesterday and had the old one taken away. If someone needs it, I could probably get it back. :) I'll post some photos of it tomorrow.
Debbie: Yes, there is some space between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling.
Wow, what a difference color makes. I love the gray cabinets and how they highlight the marble now. I have the same faucet and actually, a similar kitchen. My cabinets are a creamy color and I've always wanted them to be pure white. I painted my island black though to add interest. Never thought of gray....
Hmmmmm. Thanks Ally and Lauren for the inspiration.
Debbie: I just re-read your question. Yes, there is space above the doors on the upper cabinets.
For years I had been all about white kitchen cabinets - but lately, I think gray cabinets are just SO cool. Excellent change! Thanks for sharing with us!
Just beautiful. I love the gray. Can't wait to see the rest of your new house.
How beautiful! When I saw the before pic, I wondered why you would choose to change such a pretty kitchen! But those grey cupboards are fab!! It really makes the space pop and makes it much more chic! gorgeous!
Wow, what a HUGE difference. It looks so much more lux now.
It looks gorgeous, well worth all the mayhem during the work
It looks gorgeous, well worth all the mayhem during the work
I am always amazed at how grey or gray ;-) can appear to be warm, cozy, and peaceful, who knew?
how can you not love grey cabinets?!
Love the gray.....but I agree about those faucets. They look perfect to me.
the gray cabinets are perfection!
Its gorgeous Ally! Even your little view from the window, all of it! Now show us more, more, more!!!
My goodness, I must paint something gray!! That looks amazing!!
Ally, it's perfect!!! YOur hunt for the perfect shade definitely paid off!
xoxo
dagny
ally, it's gorgeous! the kitchen was beautiful before but this just makes everything pop. pam
I am so stuck on having an all white kitchen that I forget that other colors can look amazing too! Love the window in the kitchen!
OK, I have to say that you turned a gorgeous kitchen into another gorgeous kitchen! I want it.
When I first saw the before picture I was like, what is she going to do with those they look great. And then I saw the after and I am just floored! They look amazing, what a perfect color- they are beautiful!!
The color choice was definitely worth all of the sleepless nights. Subtle, yet dramatic, that amazing gray brought your kitchen to life. My only complaint-MORE, please.
Such a fan! I love this look, and I also love that it's different. It just doesn't resemble every other kitchen out there. Nice job!
SF
What is not to love? It is stylish, chic, classy and beautiful. I love the gray color you chose and would be willing to give up sleep for weeks in a row for a kitchen like that!
I am with NKP - more, more, more!
Ally and Lauren - you both rock!
ox, Mon
http://www.splendidwillow.com
Looks so chic.
pve
I love Ally's work, the kitchen looks fabulous!
I would never have thought of gray -- but they look gorgeous!
I've just been so inspired to see what different ones are doing with their kitchens these days! My "dream" book has loads of pictures of white kitchens...I am so drawn to that. But now that I'm seeing some truly gorgeous kitchens in other colors, I might have to re-think my white fixation :-)
Goodness, thank you again for such positive feedback. It was a big step for me to go with color too so it's great to hear that so many of you like it. :)
oh my, its gorgeous! Ally you blow me away.
Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Gorgeous!!!
Oh, now that is beautiful! I've just finished giving my kitchen a painted overhaul, and I'm always amazed at what a difference a simple coat of paint can make. Great post, nothing I like better than a fantastic before and after, and lovely to meet you Ally! K xx
ally... i love your kitchen... you did such a wonderful job.. can't wait to see more... xx pam
i love the color of the cabinets! great job!!
awesome - you hit that gray right on - not an easy task! bravo, gal...
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