It’s been so hard to keep this a secret, but the big day is finally here: Our kitchen reno is complete, and I’m sharing my top, budget-friendly kitchen makeover tips below!
Here is the kitchen reveal! We painted all of the cabinets bright white (Benjamin Moore Snowfall White semi gloss) and freshened them up with modern hardware from Schoolhouse. The new pendant lights are from Rejuvenation and I love how they add a darker grounding element. I found the Turkish runner on Etsy.
I love gathering inspiration on Pinterest, and this image of a similar kitchen layout gave me the idea to replace our tiny rug with a long vintage runner.
We opened the wall between the kitchen and dining room to create a cozy island with stools. We lost storage and our microwave in the process, but I think it was worth it. It’s my favorite spot to work, and the girls use it for homework, art, and snack time.
The ceramic lights are from Cedar and Moss, and the stools were ordered from The Finnish Design Shop (and were worth the long wait).
Since we lost storage in the kitchen, we updated the dining room cabinets which were composed of old, rickety drawers. We demoed the inside and added large, deep shelving. We use the storage cabinets to house oversized platters, candles, vases, napkins, gifting, and party supplies. I use these storage containers to stay organized.
I finally pulled the trigger and painted everything white. I love how fresh and bright it feels. We replaced our large, white table with this modern beauty from Houzz, and added an indoor/outdoor rug from West Elm to add texture and a bit of color.
As far as renovations go, we managed to keep ours relatively low cost and low impact. You can read my renovation survival tips right here and take a peek at the before pictures below. Here is how the kitchen looked when we bought our house five years ago:
You can see what a massive difference it made to swap out tile and paint everything white. We stayed on budget by keeping the cabinetry and removing the doors for a more modern look.
And here is the dining room before we moved in:
Again, updated lighting and furniture and a fresh coat of paint completely transformed this small, dark space.
We’re loving the transformed space. Even though our home is under 1300 square feet, it now feels open, spacious, and bright.
Special thanks to Vivian Johnson for all of the images and Kelsey Tu Interiors who consulted on the design and décor.
WOW!!!!
Congratulations on the stunning column and kitchen renovation! Inspiring on so many levels.
The before and after photos really show the changes, especially from the dark wood.
Such a beautiful space. It is calming just looking at the photos.
Thank you!
I remember the day we painted all the dark wood a light cream color. It’s an old Craftsman house so it was a big decision. My contractor told me to go to work and, when I came home, I would have a new house. He was so right! I actually think the Craftsman style was better showcased when it was painted. Then, as you know, we knocked out a wall and changed the house that had looked like a school library into a house filled with sunlight. Still working on how to lighten the living room, but there is progress!
Love it! Let there be light!
It looks beautiful! But can you clarify : do you not have a microwave anymore? I don’t think I could survive without my microwave!
Kharla – Yes, we are now microwave free! I thought it would be problematic but we have barely noticed. Also – I learned that heating leftovers in a skillet results in much tastier food 🙂
You have created a beautiful space! Can you tell me where your dining chairs are from that are with the table?
Shannon – the chairs are Eames chairs from DWR. Thanks for stopping by!
Shira thanks for sharing this. Can you please tell me exactly what knobs and pulls you used from Schoolhouse? I am on their page but there are a few variations of the Edgecliff pull in matte bronze. Thanks!
Hi Kathleen,
I used the 4″ pulls in Matte Bronze and the Riverwood knobs 🙂
Shira thanks for sharing this. Can you please share also the exact pulls and knobs you used from Schoolhouse? I am on their site and there are a few variations with the matte Bronze Edgecliff Pull. Thanks again!
Absolutely stunning! Such a transformation. What were the exact paints + colors you used in the dining room? Love that gray.
Thank you! The pain in the dining room is called Nimbus by Benjamin Moore 🙂