Scandinavian Cabin Touches
Last week I posted my thoughts of adding more Scandinavian touches to our cabin in the White Mountains of Arizona. The typical decor in our area is mountain-style, lots of carved bears and pine wall treatments. If you missed that post, click here to see some lovely ideas.
Unfortunately, our cabin is a remodeled flip so many of the finishes are over-the-counter hardware store. The choices aren’t offensive, but very vanilla. Without realizing it, I have been collecting items that are along the Scandinavian, Black Forest, European theme.
By the front door, this umbrella stand is painted in the traditional Norwegian style of rosemaling.
Also, in the front entry we have a Black Forest style carved bear shelf with a lodge-like bird/twig mirror.
And there happens to be another carved mirror of similar style on the staircase landing.
Subconsciously, I have been designing the cabin with a more old Scandinavian style. Being a Connecticut Yankee, I am always looking for affordable ways to make changes that can add some charm and warmth.
During my numerous trips to Home Depot, I know they have decorative molding in stock. You can see their vast selection online. Would I be able to add more interest to my very plain kitchen cabinets using affordable hardwood trim?
Using this very inexpensive mitre box and saw by Stanley (also Home Depot), I cut the molding at 45 degree angles to fit inside the existing Shaker style cabinet door.
The molding cut rather easily and fits nicely inside the the cabinet stile. If I am going to add this to all the cabinets, I will definitely use a power tool to make all the cuts.
After all four sides are mitered, I taped them in place. Next I repeated the same process with the narrower trim. At this point, I don’t want to affix anything permanently until I can step back and get a good look at it.
Here is how the cabinet looks with the additional decorative trim. What do you think? Granted the finishes are different but my options would be to stain and finish the trim like the cabinet (and get rid of the dated knobs), or paint the cabinets and the trim? Or just paint the molding?
In order to get a sense of what a painted cabinet looks like, I made a drawing paper template by taping 3 pieces of sketching paper together. Using a leftover can of green paint, I paint the template of the cabinet’s panel.
Unfortunately, I didn’t take pictures of the steps, but you can envision it, right? Next I watched a 3 minute tutorial on rosemaling by Sea Lemon on YouTube (what did we do before YouTube). Here is my first attempt at rosemaling. Try not to laugh.
So this gives you a sense of what a painted, rosemaling cabinet front would look like! Since I really didn’t have an artistic plan, and am using whatever paint is available, you will need to have some vision here. Maybe more rosemaling? Or just a few images on opposite corners would be enough~~or even some squiggles in the middle? Or nothing at all?
Do you like it better before?
Or after? Remember this is just a very rough mock-up. Colors and design can be changed.
As much fun as I think this project would be, I am afraid the granite is all wrong. The color and style is definitely not my choice, but to change it? Yikes. Maybe it would make sense to do something like this on the island cabinets first and see how it goes?
As always, I LOVE your input. There’s so much about this room that needs help. Either I will leave it as is or just jump in with both feet. It’s all a bit intimidating!
As the ideas swirl around in my head, I hope you are having a relaxing weekend. Any projects on your horizon?
P.S. To see more of our cabin from a previous post, click here.
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Simple is always better. I love the molding you put, I think it really creates the look you want. I would however clear coat the moldings to give it a finished look. I think painting the faces of the cabinets is too much, Where the cabinets end on the wall you could add corbels the same color as the new trim that will add to that scandinavin look. Actually, you could paint the trim on the cabinet and then the corbels to match.
Karen,
I think you are right. First of all, I need to complete my current outstanding projects. My fear is that if I do too much in this cabin kitchen, it will take on a life of its own and then it will be overwhelming. My thought was to add the trim, match it to the cabinets and then change the knobs. And then step back…..Always appreciate your comments and suggestions.
I thought of another idea. Go to a specialty shop that does framing with a lot of choices. You maybe able to find a frame (small profile) that would be perfect, maybe a color and /or a destressed look to it that looks Scandinavian. You could then give the frame shop the dimensions and they could assemble them for each cabinet and the corners will be perfect and they won’t look like add-ons. When I couldn’t find mirrors that matched my two bathroom vanities, I went to a frame shop and had mirrors made with frames I found the same color as the vanities.
Great idea! Thank you for sharing!
I love the trim look and your painting. Is it possible to just find colors that go better with the counters and backsplash. Have fun and enjoy the process!
I think it is interesting how your light fixture echos your design… My vote is to paint the cabinets and trim and do your rosemaling – it will be wonderful.
Cindy, Thank you so much. You have such excellent taste so it means a lot that you have weighed in!
Mary,
Your energy and creativity continue to amaze me!!! If you dress up your cabinets with this decorative trim which has detail and movement, one area of decorative painting is probably correct. Then, the great ripple effect begins…your granite countertops will blend with what you are planning but the tiled backsplash and cabinet knobs might need to change.
Another thought, what if you only changed the upper cabinets? Our lower cabinets take a beating and I am trying to visualize the decorative work only on the upper cabinets.
If you decide to change your granite, I have a source in the mountains.
You are so right about the ripple effect! I tried painting another mock panel with the rosemaling in opposite corners, but I think I like the simplicity of only painting one corner. The backsplash would definitely need to go, but I have an idea up my sleeve about that. Right now, I am in playing mode because I know when I start this will be huge undertaking. Maybe just adding the trim will be enough for now. If I need your resource I will definitely reach out. You have such great taste so I appreciate your comments and feedback!
I think you should paint the entire cabinets a light grey. Check out “Seaside Hotel” on Amazon Prime. It is a Danish series set in a beautiful old Hotel on the coast of Denmark. The interior of the hotel is gorgeous though now that I am writing this, the look make be too “beachy’ for the mountains.
I need to watch that program. That sounds lovely too. I definitely need a color plan of attack.
Would you paint the trim you are adding in colors of Scandinavia and then your small painting in the corner? I think it would be good to start small. Give it a try.
Well, since I posted this I’ve had a 100 different ideas! Yes, I think I should start small. I’d like to do it where, if we ever sold the cabin, someone could remove it all if they want. And then I think why should I care! Ha! I’ve taken full kitchen pictures and I need to come up with a color plan and then select an image/stencil to paint. My thought is to do the top cabinets only…and maybe the island.Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Much to consider.