Kitchen Renovations of All Shapes and Sizes
Fall is here and soon we’ll all be spending a lot more time indoors. It’s always at this time of year that many people start looking around their house for projects. And, the kitchen is always at the top of the list! People sometimes shy away from the kitchen, assuming that it has to be a major project. But, we have tackled all levels of kitchen renovation, from simply painting cabinets to large scale, down to the studs projects. It is not an all or nothing project, and this week we’ll be covering the whole spectrum of possibilities!
Let’s start with a project where we focused on making minimal changes. The original kitchen was relatively new and the cabinets and appliances were in very good condition. But, the aesthetic was growing outdated and not to the owner’s taste. So, rather than starting from scratch, we kept the layout in tact and used the existing cabinets and appliances. We focused on cosmetic changes only — painting the cabinets, changing the countertops and backsplash.
I love how the counter stools in this kitchen really set the tone for the space with their unique style. Swapping out your counter stools is a great way to shake things up in the kitchen.
If you’re considering painting your cabinets, here are a few of my favorite paint colors. In the kitchen on the left, we used one of my go-to shades of soft, warm white, Benjamin Moore’s White Dove. On the right, we were looking for a crisp, bright white. Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace fit the bill.
If you’re looking for a bolder option and want to incorporate some color in your cabinets, we have a project in the works using Farrow & Ball’s Railings. It’s a deep, rich shade with hints of blue, green and black. For a softer hue, perhaps consider Farrow & Ball’s Lichen.
Another one of my favorite kitchen projects involved simply repainting kitchen cabinets and replacing the countertops. We decided to take this project one step further and paint the floors. In this relatively small space, the wide stripe really opens up the space, and makes a statement that this is family is not afraid to have some fun!
If this seems like a lot of work, there are small things that you can do to give your kitchen a clean, refreshed look. First, clean off those countertops! If you don’t have space to store everything, invest in neat, simple containers that you can proudly display. I love the idea of keeping all of your cooking oils on a beautiful tray. And, why not replace that Brita pitcher (you know you have one) with a beautiful water carafe?
Before
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Sometimes a full scale renovation is the way to go because the kitchen has become dated and the layout just doesn’t work anymore. In this project, the existing cabinets were in good condition, but they did not allow for enough space to incorporate the professional level appliances that the homeowner desired. So, in this whole house renovation, we brought the kitchen down to the studs and started from scratch.
As always, it’s time to share some of my personal favorites for the week. And, because it just won’t seem to stop raining, there’s a healthy dose of rain gear for you!