Next up on the kitchen refresh: ditching the microwave, replacing the range, and painting the base cabinets black.

I refuse to use a microwave for anything, so we removed the old one above the range and dropped it off at the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore. The oven was not working and I knew that I would rather replace it than repair it.  As luck would have it, I was strolling through Home Depot in search of something else and stumbled on a floor clearance sale on the EXACT GE Artistry gas range that I was considering.  It was half the price of a new one and in perfect condition (well, sort of perfect…someone had stolen the knobs off of it, but replacements had already been ordered, so I just had to wait a few days).

I love the simplicity of it–no goofy digital sh*t to deal with, plus it’s kind of retro and I miss my old 1960 O’Keefe & Merritt from our previous home.

As for the base cabinets, I gave them a quick 120 grit sanding with a multi-tool to take the shine off.  I then painted 2 coats with Behr Premium Plus Ultra in black Exterior Satin Enamel–no primer (it was a paint + primer in one deal).  I have to say, I am super happy with the results.  The satin finish looks great and the paint is sticking well.  I haven’t had any problems with chipping or scratching.

Bettie Lu was bored with the painting process and decided to sit this one out.

Lots more to come, stay tuned!