Well, here is the first post in my series of “Making a House Our Home.” In case you missed my introduction yesterday, click here.
If there was anything in the house that made me doubt our purchase, it was the kitchen. Oh the kitchen! There was nothing, not one thing, that I liked about this room. It was everything I wasn’t looking for during our search for a new home. But it was a great layout and it had some serious potential. Luckily I have an eye for these things and I was able to overlook the ugliness not so great features of this kitchen in order to see the kitchen I could create.
So here it is, our kitchen circa 2007.
Dislikes:
1. White linoleum counter tops. I had once lived in an apartment with white linoleum counters and swore it would never happen again. Well here we were, once again, with white linoleum. Hubby promised granite – at some point- so I agreed to live with it {for 10 months too long}.
2. White appliances. I used to really like white appliances, honestly. But now I wanted stainless steel.
.
3. The big, bright fluorescent light on the ceiling. I am not a fan of overhead lights, particularly bright fluorescent ones.
4. The Pergo laminate flooring. It sounded hollow when we walked on it and it looked as if someone had ice skated over it. In other words, scratched.
5. I didn’t love the raised bar. I really wanted an island or large counter workspace. Plus I felt it closed off the room.
6. The color. Don’t get defensive, there’s nothing wrong with yellow, it just wasn’t the color I had wanted for my kitchen. But paint doesn’t scare me. It’s an easy fix.
{That’s Mr. inspector man on the left, handsome hubby on the right.}
7. Two-tone, gold and white cabinet hardware. Need I say more? {Sorry, really had to crop this one to show the hideous detail.}
8. Gold switch plates. So shiny I could see my reflection. {Again, seriously cropped.}
I know, yikes, right?!
Ready to see what we did?
1. Granite! Good-bye white linoleum, hello Santa Cecilia granite!
2. Stainless appliances, all of them.
3. A new, hanging light fixture. This took some work because there was a large rectangular hole in the ceiling when “Big Fluorescent” was removed. Hubby had to patch it up with drywall and spackle and then of course, paint.
4. Beautiful Teak hardwoods.
5. Did you notice the raised bar is gone? Best idea EVER! After removing the laminate in prep for the granite installation {tip: HUGE money saver if you remove it yourself}, hubby cut off the drywall used for the raised bar so that it was level with the counter top. The granite covered all imperfections and is supported {because the solid slab is so heavy} with a corbel* and four stair posts.
*a corbel is that pretty piece of molding in the middle of the bar stools that costs a FORTUNE! $50 for that thing! I tell you, if I could whittle wood . . .
6. On the walls: we painted the walls with Ralph Lauren Country Cork, added beadboard under the bar and hubby tiled the backsplash with travertine tiles under the cabinets.
7. We changed the cabinet hardware to nickel-finish knobs and pulls.
8. Nickel finish switch plates replaced the gold.
The view from in the kitchen.
I cannot say it enough, leveling the bar was the best thing we did to this kitchen! I love how open it is to the breakfast room and family room. Not to mention it made the kitchen seem so much bigger and added tons of counter space. This modification made our kitchen perfect for entertaining!
This bar is now one huge space, great for entertaining.
The view from the breakfast room. A better look at the teak floors, bead board and stair posts.
Just in case you forgot, let me show you before and after.
Dislike Love
Dislike Love
The kitchen remodel was complete in November 2007. Let me remind you that all the renovations were done by hubby and me, with the exception of the counter tops. It was not something either of us had done before, we learned along the way. The one other renovation I have wanted to do since is to paint the cabinets white to match the bead board under the bar. The reason it hasn’t been done, I’m terrified I’ll screw it up. Well, my friends, I have finally decided to do it! I went to Lowe’s the other day and bought the supplies I needed to start. Hubby is going to remove the doors tomorrow. Wish me luck! I’ll keep you posted!
Wow What a change. Looks great. I agree, taking down that raised bar made all the difference.
LOVE, too! You've transformed your kitchen beautifully! I love the new countertops, paint and accents. Very inspiring, Becca
http://www.adventuresindecorating1.blogspot.com
It looks fabulous!
wow!!! What a difference…great job.
Wow, looks great! We are getting ready to re-do our kitchen as well, so I love to look at other kitchens to get ideas. Beautiful job.
Totally wish I was remodeling our kitchen today instead of 10 years ago when we made its first transformation from a 40 year kitchen to an updated one. I love all that you've done to your kitchen!!!
I'm speechless! The transformation is astonishing! Awesome job!!
Looks beautiful! We are just beginning our kitchen demo. Any advice on keeping my sanity through this???!!!
Sue @ Beach Bungalow
xo
Hi Jen,
This looks fabulous!! Such a great transformation. I am so impressed that you did most of it yourself. Love your color choices.
Your kitchen looks fabulous!! Love all the changes you've made to it. Painting the cabinets isn't hard at all just a little time consuming. You'll do fine and I look forward to your next post!! Martina
http://northernnesting.blogspot.com
It's beautiful! I had to go back to the top & look at your cabinets, because all the other changes made your cabinets look like new also. Good luck on painting them. I love white cabinets.
CAS
Gorgeous! Its amazing what new countertops and hardware on the cabinets can do. I totally thought you'd redone the cabinets! Nice work. Looks great!
Oh my goodness! I am in love with your kitchen. It looks awesome! My cabinets are actually that same color and you are inspiring me because I've always thought that my kitchen looked kinda blah, but yours looks fabulous! Good job!
Stunning. A night and day difference. Great job.
What an incredible transformation. I am so impressed. Thanks so much for linking up to the party.
BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!
I having been dreaming of kitchens. Fiancée and I are working through the house fixing up as we go and the kitchen is on the list. I ADORE the openness you have now!
Awesome!! I love the corbel… all $50 of it!! And I agree, removing the raised bar did wonders for the view from every angle! Fabulous job and thanks for the sweet comment on my blog! I'm your newest follower!
Such an amazing transformation, it's stunning!!
Stunning! Great remodel.
Wowza!!! Looks SO GOOD! Love, love, love it!
beautiful job!
Holy Moly! Seriously? What a change! I love it!
I LOVE this!! I would love for you to share it at my Linky Party!
*ENTER LINKY PAR-TAY Here! *
xoxokara
Wow! I love what you have done with your kitchen! It is beautiful!
Beautiful! I love the black in your accents like the bar stools! I envy you for being able to hang art on your stainless fridge, mine is not magnetic
Linking up from seven thirty seven blog!
~Rachel http://cookscleansplayswithpaper.blogspot.com/2011/03/vintage-book-centerpiece.html
Wow, your kitchen looks great! I love the transformation!
Jodi
What a transformation!!! Amazing! I love everything about it! I especially love your counter bar!
Hi Jen, Your kitchen is beautiful and what a fabulous job the two of you did. It is an amazing transformation. I am now a follower.
Hugs,
Sherry
Spectacular!! You definitely had a vision.
Absolutely gorgeous! I want my next kitchen to be nice and open and looking out over the family room. I don't have the option in our current house, but I will be putting a pass through into the living room VERY SOON!
Thanks for linking with sugar & spice.
Looks great I must say. I had formica countertops too and hated them. I lived with them 5 years before I got Quartz. I love my kitchen now. Yours is beautiful.
OMG…we have the same high wasted countertop that looks just like your before! I can't wait to show your pictures to my husband. We are planning to get new countertops and appliances and I am wondering if we could lower ours too…I sure hope so…I love the look! Good luck with your cabinets…I bet they're going to look awesome!
http://thepleasuresofmylife.blogspot.com/2011/03/painted-kitchen-before-after.html
I have been in this kitchen a million times and never knew what it looked like when you first moved in! My question is how did you know you'd need the corbel and posts for the countertop? Did you and John think ahead on that one? You are really good at envisioning the final product!
BEAUTIFUL! I have been looking for stools like that everywhere for my island. They fit under the lip much better dont they? I would be delighted if you could link this up to my VIP party tomorrow. http://www.designergarden.blogspot.com
Sommer
what a transformation. i love the bar, the legs are a very cool addition. i have a party going on if you'd like to link up.
http://typeadecorating.blogspot.com/2011/03/anything-goes-party-7.html
looks gorgeous! what a renovation…doesn't even look like the same space as before…i'm sure you're enjoying cooking in it a whole lot more these days.
blessings,
alison
stuff and nonsense
So cute! I love the flour and sugar canisters too!
Holy wow! I love it! I'm so liking all the details you showed. It really shows off the transformation. Thanks for sharing!
Your kitchen is gorgeous!
Congratulations on your beautiful kitchen…It looks beautiful…nothing like a fabulous kitchen to spend your time in….please visit and follow along with my new blog if you'd like…thanks
Mariaelena
It looks amazing! I love seeing kitchen makeovers. =) We just started remodeling ours, I can't wait till I love mine too!
I absolutely LOVE it! The granite is gorgeous, and I love all the details, especially the posts supporting the bar area. Lovely!
Wow, what an amazing transformation! It looks gorgeous!
I am a new follower from Chic on a Shoestring, I would love if you could stop by http://www.mooseandtater.com
Amazing, what a transformation, I also have natural cabinets just like yours, trying to live with them and just upgrade to granite countertops since they are ony 8 years old and in great shape, would love to paint them white someday though, lookign forward to seeing the pictures and hearing about how it went!
very pretty. this is an amazing transformation.
Fabulous. Definitely, lowering that bar makes all the difference. Looks great!
~Pam
pamspaintparlor.typepad.com
Love everything you've done! It's beautiful! Can't wait to see when you finish the cupboards!
~Amanda
WOW! What a transformation! Great counter choice!
Removing the bar top from the counter is just what this space was screaming for! Great new look!
Sue
http://www.elementsofhomecleaning.blogspot.com
That looks so great! I can't believe how different it looks, you did an awesome job!
I love your new kitchen! You did a wonderful job! I love everything about your blog!
I am your newest follower! I am looking forward to getting to know you! I hope you will come by to visit my blog sometime!! I am a brand new blogger; therefore, I am just learning!
~~~rhonda~~~ xoxo
Love how you have transformed your kitchen! I have the great Oak cupboards also! Trying to talk my husband into painting them white. Can't wait to see your finished kitchen. I am your newest follower, and your blog is really cool!! Keep up the posts for all the rest of us DIY out here.
Annette- bluedaisy1766@gmail.com
wow! you lucky girl! your kitchen looks great!
gail
Beautiful kitchen!!!