Farmhouse Breakfast Bar

My idea: I have been wanting to rearrange/update the kitchen for awhile now, and I really wanted to add a breakfast bar. I knew exactly what I wanted, but since I'm not super handy, I needed to find some HELP with this project. Dad came out of carpenter retirement {{{squeal}}} Yaaaa!! the project was a go!

The base: a basic white board & batten cabinet + a weathered wood counter top, nothing fancy, just your basic farmhouse-style snack bar. Since I have an eat-in kitchen, I wanted to keep it to a 2-person size, with room enough for mixing if I needed the extra counter space.

[source for the next 9 pictures: Pinterest]

I ultimately, chose a style that was simplest yet gave me the look I was going for. I wanted the cabinet on one end, with a support attached to the wall on the other end and the counter top running the whole way across, similar to the next pic........this way, I wouldn't have to mess with the molding and the stools would fit under the bar perfectly on either side.

The top: my dilemma was the wood counter tops. I searched Pinterest and had pretty much narrowed it down to buying the thickest planks I could and "weathering" them like below.

When I'm doing a project I can become quite obsessed with it, even "fall asleep thinking about it" obsessed, so one night it hit me!! I had THE PERFECT boards sitting right in my shed!!!! I couldn't wait to get up to go out and measure them. oh.my.goodness...They were PERFECT!!!! :O) :O) :O) Our kitchen table originally came with 2 benches that I stopped using a few years ago. They have just been sitting there, all this time, waiting to be used again! We had redone the table a few years ago and it had turned out so well, I was excited to see if these would work for the counter top project.

Nathan pulled them in from the shed, and even screwed all the tops off, but was very skeptical (which I'm used to by now). We put them in place just to get an idea of how it would look and yes, they were indeed perfect!! {{{squeal}}}

So, a few days later, Dad got started on the cabinet part of the project. This poor cabinet has been used and reused, but I think it has finally found it's permanent home. Remember the kitchen island project?? I loved it, but it needed to go once I added a breakfast bar. {I also finally moved out the pie safe Dad made back in the 80's!!! I'm sad that I just can't make room for it anymore, but I really need a new look, and I definitely won't be getting rid of it {it will be more storage in the shed - for now}.

Luan + plank trim = my new board & batten cabinet

Here's a few behind the scenes pics....

So, Dad finished the cabinet part, and fast forward to Peter getting home. His job was sanding the boards. He did an amazing job on our kitchen table so I anxious to see how this would turn out.

The boards were gorgeous{if lumber is indeed gorgeous} LOL and even more gorgeous with a coat of stain on it!

now to add a coat of wax.....

I painted the base white and Dad came back to attach the top.
Then Peter finished up the trim.

First look.....

{side note: the tile grout needs cleaning!!} :O(

LOVE!!!!!!

I ended up ordering the bar stools online from Target since they were not available at the store. :O(

They were on sale + free shipping, so I got both stools w/tax for $123.19. :O) I LOVE them!!!

I absolutely LOVE this new space in the kitchen! It's exactly what I pictured in my mind {even when everyone else is skeptical when I share my ideas}. I have used it every day since it was completed and I think it really added a nice, farmhouse touch to our kitchen. :O)