This 1980s Dutch Colonial kitchen was probably fantastic for its time. It was committed to deep reds and browns (even on the ceiling), and was the core of this woodsy house. I appreciate the woods, but I LOVE the ocean … and sitting just nine miles from the shore, it was time to let the tide roll in. After the wallpaper came down, the painters started us off with a Benjamin Moore’s Ocean Air — a pale, sea glassy green. It turned out to be more mint green than we envisioned, but it was a start toward our Coastal French Country kitchen dream!

My precious husband picked up the painting baton, and hit the trim with a punishing *three* coats of BM’s Harwood Putty (plus a primer coat, ugh). After that job, he thought he could do no wrong. But the ceiling had to be done, too. No rest for the weary around here. And wow, covering that sand brown color brought so much more light into the room. All that white also had the effect of taking some of the greenness out of the Ocean Air wall paint … we could happily live with it for now.

Stage 2 of this kitchen makeover is chalk painting the cabinets. Before and after photos here.

Or, go to the whole house Before & After Picture Index