Before & after pictures of my kitchen. The house was built in 1986 but we purchased it in 2000. The kitchen had been decorated in an apple theme by the original owners. After we moved in someone commented that my kitchen had an "80's Country Woman style" so I knew it was time for a change. Due to a limited budget so we focused on opening up the space & updating appliances & other essential elements. In the future we'd also like to replace the flooring.
Flag This Item?
Please provide the reason why you think this item is inappropriate.
From Dated Kitchen to Dream Kitchen: Our goal was to take a dated, dysfunctional kitchen and transform it into a functioning heart of the home with classic style.
We bucked the popular trend of using stainless steel appliances, opting instead for white to create a kitchen with truly timeless appeal but modern function. The dual-fuel Aga professional range provides three ovens and a 5-burner cook top in a compact 36” package with vintage style. A skirted, old-fashioned wall-mount sink completes the look. Carrera marble on the custom 8-foot island is paired with budget-conscious butcher block from IKEA on the perimeter counters.
The breakfast nook in the bay window, which had been rarely used, now makes a cozy gathering place for friends and family around the hearth. The arch of the fireplace is a design element repeated throughout the kitchen.
The formerly textured ceiling is now planked and beamed. The Amish-made custom cabinets were distressed to give the appearance of “reclaimed barn wood” to complement the distressed engineered hardwood floors. Seven drawers concealed in the toe kicks are perfect for storing platters and trays. Spice and oil drawers are cleverly concealed in the decorative wood work on either side of cook top and range making ideal use of these tight spaces. Even a cubby was designed for housing a flat screen TV which sits above the corner plate rack.
Careful space planning and an eye for vintage detail have resulted in a classic kitchen with timeless appeal.
*** Because You Asked***
The light fixtures WERE a challenge! I looked at more than 400 before finding these! We bought them online from Lighting By Lux in Georgia. #2334-47 Manhattan 4 Light Iron Pendant from World Imports. Here is the link: http://www.lightingbylux.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=2334-47
RE: Island Design - We really do love this raised style. It adds dimension to the space, storage, and cover for messes! ;o Yet it does not reduce the workspace - it's 2 feet deep and 8 feet long which does not include the raised area or the lower space around it.
Wall Color: HC-3 Greenmont Silk, Benjamin Moore Paint.
THE DESIGN: I am an interior decorator and have helped many others create their own dream kitchens. When we moved into this house, I started reworking the space "in my mind". I knew I wanted to reorient the island and to put the fireplace in the bay window. Over the year+ that we lived in the house before remodeling the kitchen I made a list of what I wanted in the new kitchen. I went thru all my kitchen files and old issues of kitchen magazines and collected pages/photos of what I wanted. (It's easier for carpenters, contractors, painters, cabinet designers to "get" what you want if you can show it to them!
I hired two different people who created 3-D designs of kitchen. The first one was done just months after we moved in. That was the plan I worked off of and "tweaked". When we were ready to build, I had another virtual design done. I gave her all the pieces and parts and then she put it together so I could show my husband and everyone who was working on the project what my vision was. She's super talented and was helpful in making suggestions and actually tried a couple different versions trying to get in what I wanted. While her final version wasn't perfect (i.e. the island wasn't the style I wanted but it was in the right position, it really enabled everyone who was working on the project to "get it." Well worth the investment of time and money.
Although it has charm, this kitchen is not so functional. What I don't love is lack of informal dining space and lack of storage space. What I do love are the colors, cheerfulness, and bright sunshine that filters in.
Flag This Item?
Please provide the reason why you think this item is inappropriate.
**UPDATE**
Wow, thanks for the comments and ratings, all appreciated, be you from HGTV, twitter or facebook!
Since the adjoining spaces have been mentioned, I thought I'd upload some pictures of them too, in case it helps with more great ideas. Above our kitchen is just a crawlspace, and vaulting/ skylight is an option, though nothing we can afford now (or anytime soon.
Oh, and yes, you spotted one of our little guys in that cat tree, we love them a lot and did indeed make a catwalk for them to get from one tree to another.
**END UPDATE***
Breakfast nook with bench seating and a large window on one side, dated wood paneling and tile surround updated stainless appliances. Bay window overlooks fantastic front patio. Kitchen begs to be opened into living room behind the refrigerator/ stove. Sink window looks into garage add-on. Energy saving appliances used, including a on-demand hot water system.
Flag This Item?
Please provide the reason why you think this item is inappropriate.
My dream kitchen consists of a variety of different materials. Oak hardwood floors granite countertops natural cherry cabinets a stone cooktop surround with stainless steel backsplash. The island is incredible you can grab a snack prep for cooking clean up - it's got it all and boasts a 3" thick maple countertop.
Flag This Item?
Please provide the reason why you think this item is inappropriate.
Large open Kitchen with attached Dining room. Every thing was Blue when we moved in and lots of space near the window so we decided to make use of it and added a window seat. My husband is very handy! Warmed up the space with the dark brown paint and chair rail.
Flag This Item?
Please provide the reason why you think this item is inappropriate.
We remodeled our kitchen with a budget of $3,500. we did not exceed it. Take a look at the before picture.
We did all the work ourselves. I love my new kitchen.
Flag This Item?
Please provide the reason why you think this item is inappropriate.
Ikea Adel birch cabinets. Ikea appliances, sinks & faucets. Porcelain tile floor, glass tile backsplash, black laminate counters, Ikea beech butcherblock island. Proline island range hood. We did most of the work ourselves. We installed 27 drawers and use every one of them. A great carpenter installed the skylight, opened up the wall and installed a hidden beam, new subfloor and drywalled the space. We did the demolition, electrical, plumbing, cabinet assembly, installation, painting and tile work. Things I love: Tons of storage and drawers, pullout pantry, counter depth refrigerator, range hood, backsplash, second sink, 30" convection oven. Things I might reconsider: black ceramic gas cooktop-hard to keep clean, 4" recessed lights - 6" would have provided more light.
Start to finish pictures here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51495099@N04/sets/72157624348526797/
and here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51495099@N04/sets/72157624348769333/
Our 40+ year old kitchen has had a few coats of paint and new counter top in the past but needed it again. Kitchen renovations are extremely costly, with a little investment and alot of elbow grease you can make a big impact.
Flag This Item?
Please provide the reason why you think this item is inappropriate.
This is the last room that is left of our total house renovation. We bought a 1890's farm house that we have gutted and gutted again.... And so, here is the last room of the renovation process.....
Flag This Item?
Please provide the reason why you think this item is inappropriate.
transformation of my black and yellow 1950's kitchen into the "vision" that was so hard for my wife to see. Gutted the whole thing down to the studs, removed a wall and threw up a flush mount beam (as easy as it sounds, assembled cabinets, installed mosaic floor, built and installed concrete counter tops, installed penny tile back splash, installed new apron sink, and fixtures taaaadaaaaaa ready for the next project!
Flag This Item?
Please provide the reason why you think this item is inappropriate.
We bought our house a little over 2 years ago and my first big project is to redo the kitchen. It is very small. When my husband and I are in there together we are always in each other's way. Not enough counter space or cupboards.
Flag This Item?
Please provide the reason why you think this item is inappropriate.
I like to cook and entertain, and this kitchen doesn't let me be with guests, see beyond the kitchen and hurts my head when I work on the counter with the low hanging cupboard.
Flag This Item?
Please provide the reason why you think this item is inappropriate.
