Since the washer and dryer turned out so good, I’ll admit it- I feel pretty fearless about attacking my appliances with a paint brush. It has opened up a whole world of possibilities. I JUST NEVER REALIZED… sigh, so much time I’ve wasted being normal in the appliance department. Well-
NO MAS!!!! I will never again settle for white and almond and black. Not to mention that because I have kids, I have a serious aversion to stainless steel. Fingerprints, you know… they never look clean. And if your fridge is used like ours is (every five seconds someone is looking in there to see if a feast has magically appeared in the fruit drawer) then it’s kind of worth it to have the coolest fridge on the block.
Ok, perhaps my fridge isn’t the COOLEST on the block, but I’m pretty sure no one has ever had a fridge that looks like this. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
So we start with an anemic looking white fridge, covered with drawings, cards from loved ones, recipes, and photos of some of our favorite folks… and the top of the fridge is covered with stuff I like to keep off the counters- like the bearded dragon food. Yuck.
And, of COURSE, my two favorite magnets. Which are hilarious, both because of what they say and because they are being held together with copious amounts of glue… (ceramic magnets are NOT my friends)
Of course, we begin with Rustoleum Protective Enamel paint, available at your local walmarts of home improvement store. For this particular project, I bought several of the mini cans, at about $4 each, to get a big variety of colors.
I pulled all the crap off my fridge (including a permission slip from last September I never could find), scrubbed it clean, unscrewed the handles to paint separately and got down to the fun part.
I taped off the basic outline of my design, including a spot that would be painted later so we could still access the contents of the fridge.
I then began the process of making a sky, using blue and white mixed together on a small foam roller, with the colors not mixed together well, to give it an authentic coloring. This took a good couple hours because I’m anal retentive about stuff like this, and I just kept at it till the color was blended perfectly like I saw in my head. (What, you don’t see colors in your head? Sure ya do!)
I then removed the tape, and got to work on the sun in the corner. (Yep, that’s the leftover yellow from the washer and dryer. Waste not, my friends.)
Then I headed outside and sprayed the handles with the Rustoleum gloss enamel spray paint that I used on my kitchenaid mixer, but in blue.
Next, I pulled the fridge out and began working on the green for the grass. It was also here where I realized what a crap job I had done on the side because it was hard to reach. So I fixed the sky, and then painted my grass off.
Then I decided to let it dry overnight.
The next morning, I was feeling much more adventurous about the whole shebang. So I started with the fun stuff. Like puffy clouds…
And a little house with a welcome mat…
And grass mounds and flowers… (colored in with sharpie markers)
And birds flying in the sky…
And then I reattached the handles. Next, the family helped me paint some rock magnets that we hot glued magnet disks onto…
Then I printed off some pictures my husband created in photoshop of our family. I mod podged those onto a printable magnet sheet (cause my jacked up printer kept jamming)…
Cut them out with scissors and an exacto knife so they look like this on the fridge…
And then, the whole thing is finished!!!! (Excuse the load of laundry waiting to be folded next to the fridge. I’m human, and laundry sometimes stays unfolded for a couple of days… 
So, gang, what do you think? Like it?
Not that it would matter if you didn’t. Cause I LOVE IT!!!
Seriously, though, have any of you tried your hand at painting your appliances yet? If not, you need to get hopping. This is a great way to change the way they look, and the possibilities are endless! So get to it! And email me your successes at charlie@alittleoffcolor.com and show me what you’ve done!
I can’t wait to see!
You are so creative and FEARLESS about it! I love it!
Love it! Loved your washer and dryer too! If we didn’t rent, I would follow in your foot steps.
Your fridge makes me smile!
Very creative!!
This is soooooooooooo cute! The people magnets totally make it!!!
Nice job! In college I took one side of a white fridge and drew the album cover of The Who’s “Quadrophenia” on it. And, I do believe that was the last time I dabbled in appliance art. Sounds like I’m due.
I love the fam on the magnets. What a hoot and so refreshing from the usual family of stick figures on the back of the mini van. Every time I read about your projects you make me smile. Is crap-ton really a word? Even if it’s not I using it anyways. Love ya kiddo.
Hi Charlie, I don’t think you know me but Cindy had told me about your blog a while ago and I saw you on her facebook and finally decided to check it out (I’m also Steve Russell’s wife)…anyway, I’m so glad I did! This is crazy cool and I love the washer and dryer too…and fell in love with your mixer and may have to give it a try myself! Can’t wait to see what you come up with next!
Wow! This is so fun! The bf wants to paint our fridge now. He’s thinking chalkboard! We’ll see
Oh, also, I’m glad I’m not the only one who has laundry sitting for days
This is so crafty! I have a black fridge so do you think I would be able to paint mine too? Or would it not work since it’s black?
What does the texture of the paint end up feeling like? I’d be worried it would feel dry and “painty” rather than sleek and appliance-y.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this fridge. I saw this with my husband overlooking, and he just rolled his eyes and walked away. I think he could see the wheels in my head turning
you are amazing as usual and I absolutely LERVE it
very snazzy
super cute! What a fun fridge!
Came across your page today and I love it! The washer and dryer is fantastic! I think I’ll take that challenge once we get settled in our new home
Here’s my adventure in fridge re-decorating!
http://saucedsocialite.wordpress.com/2011/08/12/re-fridge/
That is awesome!!!!! I would so do that to my fridge if it wasn’t part of the rental we are in.
I love it! I found your washer and dryer on pintrest. I have always hated laundry so decorating my laundry room/area has always been a priority to me. Thinking, “If I like the area then maybe I will visit more often!” But wow you take it decorating to a whole other level!
That is honestly the most awesome fridge I’ve seen! You did a great job. I wish I could persuade my partner to let me do something like this XD