Kitchen island makeover

This spring has been an adventuresome time for my kitchen.  Not so many culinary adventures, but decorative adventures for sure.  One by one, we're making changes to create a lighter, brighter space that has more of a farmhouse look.

Here's how the kitchen island area started:

And here it is today:

We started the process earlier this year by painting the island a delicious green, Oakmoss by Sherwin-Williams.  Then we added new knobs and drawer pulls, Gilmore from Restoration Hardware.

Now we've finally finished the island makeover.  This final part of the makeover included the easiest project and the most difficult.

We're blessed to have a counter-depth refrigerator in this kitchen, but having that kind of fridge comes with a price: much less space than a full-depth model.  For a long time I've thought that a beverage refrigerator would be a great addition to this kitchen, and I had the perfect spot for one at the end of the kitchen island.  The island had large cabinet at the end that I formerly used for storing miscellaneous items.  Let me tell you:  getting rid of miscellaneous items is good for the soul!

I knew that do this bit of cabinet surgery was not a DIY job--not for me, at least!  After I ordered the right size beverage refrigerator (I chose a U-Line), I called in the pros.  If you follow me on Instagram, you've already had a sneak peek of the process.

And here's the finished product:





For such a low-profile appliance, the beverage fridge holds a LOT:



This model includes dual temperature zones: the top racks are the right temperature for chilling bottles of wine and the bottom area is colder for other beverages.  The very bottom is a half shelf, and it seemed a good place for storing lemons and limes.

As difficult as adding the beverage fridge was, the other improvement was simplicity itself: adding new pendant lights.

I wanted a brighter, more old-fashioned, farmhouse look, so I started searching online--and to my utter delight, I found just what I wanted at Ballard Designs.  The best part?  These are simply adapters that screw into existing can light fixtures.  The only skill needed to install these is a little patience when it comes to getting the cords all the same length.

I like the way they look with Edison bulbs.  Tip: Amazon.com is a great source for vintage-style bulbs! (affiliate link)

Here's how they look all lit up:

So now I'm one giant step and one baby step closer to having the farmhouse kitchen I've been wanting!  I'm hoping to reveal the whole makeover in the next couple of weeks.  I'm really eager now to get this project finished!

**Update: After many years of having maple cabinetry, I decided to update my kitchen further by painting the cupboards white. You can see the newly updated kitchen and read about the changes here. But I still LOVE the changes I made to my island in 2014, so it remained the same. 

Have you completed any projects in your home lately?  

I'm linking to these wonderful parties:

The Scoop at Stone Gable

Inspire Me Monday at Sand and Sisal

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

One Project at a Time at A Bowl Full of Lemons

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style