Cottage Charm

Get ready to be impressed. This couple tackled a remodel and got the most splash for their cash. Now they enjoy cooking delicious dinners together.

Shannon and Scott Satterwhite are proof that you don't have to spend a lot of money to create an inviting and efficient kitchen. Visit their adorable Birmingham bungalow, and you'll be convinced.

They began with the reality-a small, dark kitchen-and a vision of a cheerful place to prepare meals. The couple also wanted the room to appear original to their 1927 house. So Shannon and Scott rolled up their sleeves and recruited the help of friends. They tore out the old, put in the new, and preserved what they could. "Now it's a bright and inviting room where we love to cook our favorite foods," Shannon says.

During the week, the couple shares cooking duties, but on weekends they prepare food that can be frozen and reheated on weeknights.

Beaded Board Basics

One of the best ways to enhance the cottage theme is to install beadedboard paneling. Scott and Shannon used it along the backsplash and as wainscoting on the adjacent walls. Sold in sheets like plywood at homeimprovement stores, beaded board is relatively simple to install and offers a less expensive option to a tile backsplash. Painted a glossy white, beaded board's charm is undeniable.

Table for Two

One corner of the room is reserved for cozy, casual meals. Scott built simple banquette seating that Shannon topped with plywood, batting, and fabric. She stapled a large tablecloth, purchased at a home-supply store, to the plywood for a no-sew upholstery solution.

Scott also built the tabletop, and then attached ready-made legs. Shannon used a dry-brush paint technique on the table for a weathered look.

Island Inspiration

At the room's center is a small unfinished cabinet with doors on one side. The couple turned it into an island simply by adding paint and an oversize top. They liked the look of butcher block but didn't want to pay the price, so Scott glued, clamped, and nailed together wood planks instead. The sides are trimmed with thicker wood pieces. The base of the piece is painted white. The countertop, stained and oiled, extends on one side so stools can be tucked underneath for more seating.

Bargain Shopping

To keep costs down, Scott and Shannon shopped at discount retailers and compared prices on appliances. They found the large sink at a bargain center and the light above it on the clearance table at a home-improvement store for $5. For the countertops, they chose black plastic laminate. Simple and versatile, the dark surface provides a nice contrast to the white cabinets.

Floor Makeover

Shannon and Scott removed two layers of vinyl flooring to reveal the original hardwood floors. Because they took out a wall to enlarge the space, they had to patch the resulting gap in the floor with new planks. They chose to paint the floor rather than attempt to match the stain on the old wood. The checkerboard design adds graphic punch for a small amount of money.

SCOTT JONES, AMY BICKERS MERCER

Get the Look

Painted floors add instant character. You'll need sandpaper, a paint roller, oil-base primer, two colors of oil-base exterior paint, a 12- × 12-inch tile, a pencil, a yardstick, painter's tape, and a paintbrush.

* Sand floor thoroughly, and clean. Use a paint roller to apply primer to the surface, followed by one or two coats of oil-base exterior paint. Allow each coat to dry completely before continuing,

* Decide how large you want the squares to be. Use a 12- × 12-inch tile to help you envision the end look.

* Start at the center of the room, and use the pencil to trace around the tile. Use the yardstick to extend the lines around the room. Tape off every other square with painter's tape. Paint these squares using a paintbrush and a different color exterior paint.

* To preserve the look, apply a coat of polyurethane to the floor. Or forgo the sealant to develop a livedon, aged appearance over time. Be sure to wait until the paint is completely dry before walking on it or moving furniture into the room.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Feb 2005
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved