Well, it’s taken long enough (ha!) but we’re finally done updating our modern farmhouse style kitchen! When we moved into this home six years ago, we made a few updates to the kitchen on a seriously tight budget, like DIY concrete countertops [HERE] and chalk paint for a cabinet refresh. While those were awesome DIY’s for that particular season of life, we were excited to update the space with finishes that are bit more permanent and long lasting. Scroll through to find out which white paint color we went with (after LOTS of testing…!) and a complete source list!

COUNTERTOPS:

To update the countertops in keeping with the modern farmhouse vibe we were going for, we chose Silestone quartz countertops in Calcutta Gold [HERE]. I liked the subtle yet noticeable pale grey veining running throughout the white stone which harkened back to the pale grey of our grey DIY concrete countertops.

WHITE PAINT:

Not sure if there’s anything more frustrating than trying to choose a paint color, especially if that paint color is white. HOW MANY WHITES can there really be?! Apparently on gazillion, because it took me a good minute to figure out where to even start! Because our new countertops were a bit on the cooler side, it made our Alabaster by SW cabinets read suddenly very yellow. We had used a DIY chalkpaint on the cabinets six years ago, and it was time for a refresh anyway. Thus began the hunt for the (new) perfect white with neutral-to-cool undertones.

A few tips on choosing paint colors:

1. Use a blank sheet of printer paper to lay swatches on, and it will help your eye zero in on the underlying color tones. I thought I loved the bottom left swatch in the photo until I laid it on the pure white paper and saw they grey/purple undertones. It’s a really helpful trick!
2. Buy a couple of poster boards on which to paint giant swatches of your top contenders, and then move the boards around the house for a few days to make sure the paint doesn’t suddenly change tones in different rooms/lighting. Better to spend a little bit on paint samples and know FOR SURE you love the color than have to repaint an entire space!

In the end, the best paint color for our project was Pure White by Sherwin Williams! It is a nice neutral white that leans more towards cool than warm…but not too cool. 😉 We chose a semi-gloss finish for our cabinets to combat heavy use and stains, and we hired a professional painting crew to help us with this part to ensure a smooth finish. The paint color and countertops blend so nicely now, and it feels fresh and revived in here!

FIXTURES AND HARDWARE:

I wanted the modern farmhouse feel in here, and I tried to achieve that by using lots of whites and natural colors and pairing those with modern brass touches like the faucet, hardware and fixtures. I love that “old” schoolhouse light above the sink paired with our more whimsical backsplash that we were able to save during demo. Modern meets vintage, and I love it!

SOURCE LIST:

Light fixture – [HERE]: we went with the 17in width dome and spray painted the metal with an antique brass paint to blend with the room.

Cabinet hardware – [HERE]: such a great Amazon find! 10 pulls for $35 and they have a great antique brass (not shiny or yellow-y) finish on them.

Faucet – [HERE]: this was a bit of a splurge, but I also found similar vintage style brass faucets [HERE] and [HERE]!

Farm sink – [HERE]: our previous farmhouse sink was acrylic, and while it was a great budget buy, it didn’t hold up. I researched and decided on fireclay for a more permanent option, and we were pleased!

Backsplash – [HERE]: love the whimsical pattern mixed with the modern farmhouse vibes in the kitchen.

Bar stools – [HERE] …but buyer beware! We purchased these stools during a 60% off post-holiday sale because I LOVE the brass legs and cognac bi-cast leather combo. However, the kitchen project then stalled out for months and we didn’t open the stools in that time. We opened one a few weeks ago to gauge size and color, and after a bit of general use, it’s covered in stains and marks from spills and fingerprints. Now, it’s too late to return them come to find out that they stain so easily! 🙁 Since we are stuck with them, we’re trying to save the remaining four by using a bi-cast leather protectant and hope for the best. Any tips? Leave them in the comments below!

And there ya have it! We’ve had so many little hiccups during this kitchen update project from the wrong countertop size being cut and only realized mid-install to a painter who ghosted us on the first round, but finally FINALLY….it’s done! Hopefully watching this process was helpful if you are considering a kitchen refresh, and click [HERE] to see some of the budget-friendly DIY’s we did in the space when we first moved in about six years ago!
❤️ERIN