the kitchen chronicles – Part 11

Range Hood ‘How-to’

You may notice I didn’t call this a ‘tutorial’, but rather a ‘how-to’.  The reason is this:  Since Mr. Charming and I were totally flying by the seat of our pants on this one, I’m sure I haven’t written step by step instructions.  I honestly can’t tell you how many times we changed our minds and changed directions on this project. 

Instead, this ‘how-to’ will give you some understanding of what is involved with making your own range hood.  Since many of us revamp our kitchens by painting our cupboards, there’s nothing stopping you from installing a painted range hood for that added custom look.

The first step is buying a fan insert.  You might be able to rework your own fan into this project, but as with everything in my house, my fan came as a complete patchwork job when I bought the house.  So it had to go.

I used a Broan PM390 . Don’t forget you’ll also require a liner.  The liner looks like this (model LB30).

Our hood is made from MDF and will be made to fit this space. I wanted the hood to cover the bulkhead and go to the ceiling.

For that reason, you can see the sides of the hood have the extra piece that will reach the ceiling. Start by cutting the sides. We only mitered the FRONT. You wont need the back mitered.

Cut pieces for the back that act like braces against the back wall.  Make sure to take an embarrassing picture of your mans backside at the same time.

Measure and cut your FRONT piece with the sides mitered.  We cut two pieces of MDF to place on the inside corner of the mitered joint for support.

   Using carpenters glue, glue the sides and screw them to the front piece.

Glue up the joined sides and place the back frame on top of the front.

Now you have a shell that looks something like this.  I should mention that the front could be as long as the sides, but we were short of MDF and decided that that short piece would do since we were adding something to the bottom anyway. 

 We added a couple of spare pieces to attach our decorative front to. 

Then a couple of coats of primer, and a FEW coats of paint.

We used hardboard for the front. It’s thinner, lighter in weight and was the right thickness for what we needed.

We attached our painted beadboard with adhesive and then trimmed it with a painted L- profile wood trim.

I doubt this is how the pros do it, but I needed some weight to keep the glue together.  I knew I saved those granite samples for something.

Now, if you remember our little mantle piece that we made in an earlier post Kitchen Chronicles – Part 9.  This was constructed to fit on the front.

 

Keep in mind that anytime we added something or changed anything we always made sure the inside of this frame remained 27” (the measurement of the liner).  Very important to ensure the fan insert and liner fit properly.

Enlist cheap family labor (love you Michael!) to help with the heavy stuff. If your ductwork lines up properly you can hook up to vent outside. If not you’ll need to get a charcoal filter.

 
Once the hood is secure, insert the liner and fasten to inside and pop in your fan. Add trim and finishing touches. 

(Light valance not up at this point.)

 

  

Before

After

Amazing what a little blood, sweat and tears can do.

Next up…  Entire Kitchen Reveal


Showing off @ It's So Very Thrifty @ It's So Very Chreri
Funky Junk Donna's SNS @ Funky Junk Interiors 
Make Your Monday @ The Twice Remembered Cottage
Just Something I Whipped Up @ The Girl Creative
Market Yourself Monday @ Sumo's Sweet Stuff
Made by You Monday @ Skip to my Lou
Be Inspired @ Room to Inspire

springy pastel decor

While Spring is not my favorite season by any means, I do get that uplifting spurt of energy on those (scarce) warm, sunny days.  For the most part, Spring is a mess of leftover brown crusted snow, lots of rain, and what I like to refer to as worm season.  But I digress. 

On the odd sunny day we do get, I love to throw open the windows and freshen up the decor.  I do love Easter and I LOVE pastel colours.   There's something so pleasing to the eye, so warm and inviting in a pastel room.

Robyn Karp Interiors

Robyn Karp Interiors

myhomeideas.com

Coastal Living

Coastal Living

Coastal Living

Country Living

House to Home

Country Living

House to Home

Country Living

Dont'cha just wanna colour Easter Eggs now ????

the kitchen chronicles – Part 10

Wine Rack to Open Shelf and New Pantry

When I bought my house I knew the kitchen needed a major overhaul, but one thing that really bugged me was this little wine rack that really served no purpose , as it was impossible to find any full size wine bottles that would fit in it.  So out it comes.

The dowels that were used for the rack were both glued and screwed into each side, which made for some really nasty holes that were impossible to fill and smooth.  Bead board to the rescue.

  Bead board was used for all three sides, while a smooth, thin hardboard was used for the top and bottom.  With the addition of a shelf and some fancy trim, the useless wine rack becomes a practical, decorative shelf.

 

As for the new pantry, let me remind you what it looked like before with those, um.. ‘lovely’ plywood doors!

Here is a look at the new pantry doors.

We put a rope trim on the edge of the pantry, that matches the rope trim on the edge of the black island.

We’re making great progress… the range hood will be up this week followed by the finishing trim work . I’m so excited!!

 

Linked up to Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch