The kitchen was an entire project unto itselfbut we weres o happy at the results of the transformation from dark and dreary to a light and bright cottage kitchen!
I hope you’re ready for another photo bomb of before and afters!!!!
Here are the links if you missed the living room or bathrooms or porch.
Here are the links if you missed the living room or bathrooms or porch.
When we took back possession of the house, it had a ton of cosmetic problems, it was just a mess.
There were so many other things to do at the house, I knew I had to be creative with the kitchen and stay on a strict budget. So our main focus to save money,was to use the cabinets we already had.
The cabinets were awesomely sturdy, oak cabinets, but the kitchen layout was whack. If you notice, the dishwasher was jammed right up against the oven….hhmmm…that doesn’t seem like such a good idea to me.
And sometime in the 80’s someone was going for more counter space, so they did a weird extension into the other part of the kitchen,but I don’t know if this was the right solution. Did they never hear of a thing called a kitchen island? it actually took up most of the table eat-in area, and it was so super ugly from the front door.
Not to mention the hideous ceiling fan.
So we pulled down the cabinets and it immediately opened up 2 feet to the wall.
It was so open! When we removed the cabinets, there were places on the floor that they just dind’t feel like finishing the floor tile. Again, weird.
We started finding cabinets at the Habitat for Humanity Restore to make the configuration we needed.I knew I was going to paint them so the finish didn’t matter. In fact the cherry cabinet became open shelving. Total cost for the cabinets…$75.00.
We started finding cabinets at the Habitat for Humanity Restore to make the configuration we needed.I knew I was going to paint them so the finish didn’t matter. In fact the cherry cabinet became open shelving. Total cost for the cabinets…$75.00.
Once we had our configuration, it was time to pull the lowers and paint, the uppers in place and get ready to put the floors in. And paint the walls.
I added trim to the top to dress them up a bit.
I painted them a color called Old Prairie by Ben Moore. I love that color, it’s like the color of steamed, creamy milk. It went well with the Alabaster by Sherwin Williams on the walls.
I didn’t really want bright white. This house didn’t have that feel to me.
I painted the door a light grey.It’s them same Useful Gray as the back bedroom.
Once we had ALL of the painting done,it was time for hubby to lay the floors. And he did an awesome job too!
The ceramic tile was trashed and chipped, but we were not about to rip it all out. The nice thing about a floating floor is you can go over any existing hard floor.
Once the floors were in, we reset the painted base cabinets. Please do me one favor. If you ever put done a new floor,always go all the way under the cabinets. If you don’t and you have some kind of water leak you will never know until it’s too late. It will run right under the cabinets and floor,and that’s just bad.
We were ready for the countertops!!!We went with Wilsonart HD,and look amazing!
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We are ready for the big reveal!!!Now I have to preface this: This process looks fast, but really, the kitchen was an on-going 3 month long thing that we started the first day at the end of May and did not end until a week ago in August.From our end there was no “fastness” about it. So if you are in the middle of a remodel and feel like it’s taking forever, it does, but it will end…eventually. If you are feeling a bit down about it and need a pick me up, read this.
There is nothing fast about a remodel.
Just to give you the full effect, here is the before again.
And the After!!!! Welcome to the Cottage kitchen!
I think the configuration is much more user friendly! With a kitchen island there will be plenty of prep space.
I love the new darker countertops and the contrast with the lighter cabinets. And I love that making an open shelving cabinet was as easy as removing the floors and painting the inside.
And I love the Moen faucet, it lends such a sleek modern touch.
We added a stainless oven range to tie in with the faucet.
We separated the dishwasher and oven and added a molding piece.
I love how bright the open shelving is.
And it feels so bright and spacious.
Here is the eat in area from the other side.
We found an old work bench to use for table. That’s coming home with me when the house sells. 🙂
I wish I could take the Lampsplus chandelier
home too.
I love how welcoming and homey feel the house has now.
Can you tell this is my favorite view? I really want this in my own house.
Rehabbing this house has been such n adventure. My hope is a new family will find it to live in and enjoy…soon!
this post was partially sponsored,but all of those decorating ideas and opinions are all my own,and that chandelier I might sneak out with.
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*This was posted Via Jennifer Rizzo. com
love the transformation, eek that old ceiling fan made me laugh
The whole house is absolutely gorgeous!!! You guys must be very proud. Your kitchen is my inspiration, Jen (not this one – YOURS) and it couldn’t be any nicer. But this one is beautiful. Great job. I agree, I hope the house sells very quickly.
Darling transformation. Just darling!!!!!
Darling transformation. Just darling!!!!!
It’s amazing, Jen! Everything you’ve shown us so far has been so beautiful and inspiring!
🙂 Linda
Nice job! I love the dog dish in the middle of the floor in the before shots – every time that photo showed up in your post I had to laugh.
So much better now – great work!!!
Almost unrecognizable Jennifer!!!! Love all the choices and changes you guys made!
I love watching the transformation of this house. You and your husband have done a remarkable job. It all looks so fresh and pretty.
What a transformation! Love how it turned out. I’m getting ready to redo mine and I’m a little nervous to start it! Pinning!
You do the best kitchens! We are starting our own remodel this fall and I’m straight-up stealing some of the ideas you used in your own kitchen. Can I just say? If you flip the back door, it can stand open while someone is at the stove. And? I LOVE the view from the living room into the kitchen. It’s going to be a quick sell!
A wonderful improvement — someone will snatch it up soon!
Beautiful job! Looks so fresh and inviting.
What an awesome makeover! Luv the new floor…open cabinet and the countertops.
Blessings,
Linda
What a beautiful transformation! Love a white kitchen and I’m sure you enjoy it very much.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
Jennifer, that is one gorgeous kitchen…..you did miracles with that little house. I love it all the French door divider, the colors, the new kitchen arrangement….so very well blended and such balance and interest in the arrangement of the furniture. I just know that little cute house will sell right away with a reno done right!! Congratulations on a job very well done!! Blessings, Linda
Wonderful transformation!! It’s amazing how bright and open it is! It’s a whole different house!~~Angela
WOW Jennifer you and your husband did and AMAZING job! It looks beautiful and I bet it will go fast!
xx
Anne
Such a cute house and what a transformation in the kitchen. Beautiful, as always!
Wow! What a transformation. I think that is the same counter top we put in the house we just sold. Complete with gorgeous white cabinets. I painted the walls “Grey Matters” by Kelly Moore paint. What little wall was there was (and the adjoining laundry at the end of the kitchen) really popped the subtle greys from the countertop. It was a horrid little galley kitchen with horrid laminate mdf cabinets with the plastic pulls (the kind you find in laundry or garage) but someone had put them in the kitchen. My husband had bought the house before we even knew each other existed- so bachelor appropriate I guess. Anyhow- big changes, got it the way I liked it and we sold (fast), I knew we were gonna sell and move, but figured I’d have at least a few more months with it. Anyhow- Great job!.
What a transformation….and I adore how you took the time to fix the layout!!! that would have bugged me for years, LOL.
Great job! I know how frustrating it must have been for 3 months living in a state of reno and mess…when I did my kitchen it didn’t take 3 months but not being able to cook or having to keep up on the dust and debris was tiring. All your hard work paid off!