There are several VERY nice neighborhoods in our area that were built in the late 90’s- early 2000’s during the height of the Tuscan style home decor. The home I’m sharing with you today is behind a well guarded gate where I literally have to show photo ID and be put on a guest list to enter. Our clients can borrow sugar from neighbors Alan Jackson, Justin Timberlake and Oprah’s dad. One thing all these homes have in common is that they all have/had dark faux finished walls and ceilings, busy fantasy granite countertops, multi colored back splash tile with huge contrasting grout lines and wood cabinets.
These clients contacted me with hopes of opening up the wall between the kitchen and living room and lightening up the entire downstairs. Here is what the space looked like before:
Modern maple kitchen before update
Dark walls, modern wood cabinets that really didn’t fit the old world style of decor, busy granite, and dated tile.
And then after we finished:
Newly updated kitchen.
In addition, the kitchen didn’t have great function. They had very little continuous countertop for entertaining and serving food. The cooktop in the island pretty much took up the entire island countertop. Whenever possible, I like to move a cooktop out of an island. It frees up soooooooo much counter space.
Cooktop in the island, no doors on spice cabinets
Relocated microwave and cooktop
The two-tier countertop also split their useable counter space in half. The top half was really too narrow for laying out a party spread.
Two tiered countertop, wall separating the rooms, dark paint
After new countertops:
New cambria torquay countertops
Tuscan Modern Kitchen Update- Action Plan
The clients had done their due diligence and consulted with a structural engineer prior to our first meeting. They knew the wall they wanted to remove was load bearing, so we needed a plan to make sure the new smaller wall was well supported. We brought in a General Contractor who handled the heavy lifting. Once the wall was removed we had to bring in someone to refinish all the wood floors on the first floor.
removing the wall really opened the space
Our carpenter jumped in and rebuilt the island to have more drawers and spice pullouts.
We built a new island, new cabinets on back wall and added four tall glass cabinets.
He built a new cabinet for a microwave drawer. We all spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to figure out where to put that drawer microwave because it was deeper than the all the cabinets where it could possibly work. Then one day our GC suggested cutting out the wall in the pantry behind it to make it work. BRILLIANT!!
New microwave drawer
We also hung 4 glass cabinets over that wall to bring in some light and balance.
Our carpenter built a new stove hood. Our client had a great idea of cutting out the shape in cardboard so she could take it for a test drive before she committed. Love it!!
cardboard stove hood cut out
New stove hood
He also re-worked the double oven cabinet and refrigerator cabinet for new appliances.
They had new countertops installed- Cambria quartz- Torquay. And new modern silver glass subway tile.
New modern glass backsplash tile
Relocated cooktop, new modern glass backsplash tile
Cambria torquay quartz
Cabinet Refinishing
Next up was cabinet refinishing. Our carpenter had built several new pieces for this kitchen including several new replacement doors. We cleaned, sanded, primed and painted all the wood to unify the kitchen. The client and I worked together to come up with a fun updated color palette. We painted the upper cabinets SW 7043 Worldly Gray.
Upper cabinets and tall pantry were painted SW Worldly Gray
Upper cabinets were painted Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray.
The lower cabinets were painted SW 7622 Homburg Gray.
Lower cabinets were painted SW Homburg Gray
We installed new gold cabinet hardware for the finishing touch.
We painted all the walls on the first floor BM-HC-172 Revere Pewter and all the dark trim got a bright update with BM-OC-65 Chantilly Lace. All the interior doors were painted SW 6258 Tricorn Black to add a modern update.
Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter was used on the walls to lighten things up.
We selected a patterned Thibaut grass cloth paper and had it installed on the back walls of the entertainment center to add some contrast and texture.
Built in with Thibaut grass cloth wallpaper
The client updated the living room and dining room furniture and installed a new light fixture. Several new recessed lights were also added. Here’s before:
Dining eat-in area before
New furniture, light, and Gina Julian Art
I try to bring some cool accessories when staging final photos.
I brought several pieces in to stage the house for final photos including this amazing painting by Gina Julian. And this vintage rug runner.
Vintage persian rug runner.
The client ended up buying the rug from me, so I’m on the hunt for a new one.
A few more before and afters.
Modern maple kitchen before update
Tuscan Modern Kitchen after update
Tuscan style decor with wall blocking kitchen before.
New open floor plan
Wide open spaces
The clients are thrilled with their new kitchen. We would love to help you fall in love with your kitchen too. Whether you are ready for a full kitchen update or just in need of cabinet refinishing, we would love to help. We do everything from custom cabinet refinishing and painting to full kitchen project management and design. Fill out the form below if you’d like more information.
Final photos by Geinger Hill.
You might also like these kitchen updates and cabinet refinishing projects:
Take Down that Wall- Kitchen Before and After
Not Quite Right Kitchen Island- Before and After
Shiplap Island and Natural Wood Accents
How much does it cost to remodel your kitchen?
[…] seen. It curves around forever. Y’all know how I feel about a two-tier island. See HERE, and HERE. I think they should come out in order to have a completely updated space. There is also a smaller […]