A Grown Up Kitchen Renovation

In my very first meeting with today’s featured clients they shared how unhappy they were with their current kitchen. We see this a lot actually. Very nice, fairly new homes in great neighborhoods with a big price tag, but a very average builder grade kitchen. My clients felt this was more of a “starter kitchen” that didn’t fit their stage in life or their neighborhood. They asked for a “Grown Up Kitchen”, and we delivered.

A Grown Up Kitchen

So what exactly is a grown up kitchen you might ask? One with style, upgrades, improved function and better use of space. Our plan looked like this: 

1. Cut down and level out the countertop to offer more useable counter space and add comfortable seating.
2. Add decorative molding to the back of the bar to add architectural detail.
3. Paint all the cabinets
4. Replace light fixtures with something more updated
5. Replace barstools
6. Add molding to raise the height and style of the very short plain cabinets
7. Relocate the microwave and build a stylish stove hood that would become a focal point in the kitchen
8. New backsplash tile
9. New countertops
10. New cabinet hardware
11. Add a built in trash drawer
12. Revamp several doors into much more functional drawer space
13. Add an additional upper glass cabinet
14. Add an under counter beverage fridge
15. Replace the oven 
16. Refinish the hardwood floors

So that’s our list. Here are a couple of visuals for you.

And here are a few before and after photos.

You know I love to take down a two-tier countertop. This one turned out so great.

These clients had the most amazingly beautiful dog. His name is Miles Davis. How cool is that? It looks like he has quite a dog modeling career ahead of him. Anyone from Mars Petcare reading this? You really need this dog!!!

My favorite things about this kitchen are the tile and the lighting. I always say there should be one standout feature in a kitchen and for this kitchen it’s the geometric tile. Because the tile is in a neutral color palette, it doesn’t feel busy or compete with other design elements in this kitchen.

The new countertops are Cambia Ironsbridge. These clients were such troopers. The countertop company had a fluke accident and the countertops cracked during fabrication. Because of the new tariffs on goods from China, there was a huge demand on Cambria countertops because they are manufactured in the USA. My clients waited over 3 weeks for replacement countertops without a functioning sink or dishwasher because they had already been removed. And they were champs about it and had a great attitude. It was out of everyone’s control and they just rolled with it. 

We painted the cabinets Sherwin Williams Shoji White which has a very slight gray undertone. It was the perfect shade to pull all the new elements together.

The new wine fridge and upper glass cabinet are a great addition to this previously empty space.

Drawers over Doors

I can’t emphasize this enough. If you have the opportunity in a remodel to convert some door storage to drawer storage, DO IT!! You will never look back. My clients continue to comment about how much they love the new drawers. We took a look at how the client unloaded her dishwasher and added drawers for her most used items and it functions so much better.

And there you have it! A Grown Up Kitchen.

Final photos by Geinger Hill

WE WOULD LOVE TO HELP YOU TOO!

Do you have a kitchen that needs an update? 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.