Our New Kitchen

Warning: This is a lengthy, photo-heavy post.

I'm finally sharing the transformation of our kitchen!  There are still some design elements missing - namely, island lighting, new stools, window covering - but nothing that affects the functionality of the kitchen.  This post is more of a photo gallery, as I plan to dig into the renovation details in future posts.

The kitchen renovation kicked off in late June 2015.  With the exception of the backsplash tile work (which my hubby did), we hired a contractor to do the work in conjunction with the new hardwood floors.

This is the mostly original 1955 kitchen that came with the house...

EVERYTHING was in complete disrepair.  Cabinets were falling apart, appliances weren't working, lighting was terrible, and the kitchen floor was horrendous.  But with a few pre move-in updates, we were able to make due for two trying full years before we did the renovation.  This gave us time to really evaluate the kitchen flow and determine what we needed.

We had three weeks before we were scheduled to move in to freshen up the original kitchen, along with some other initial renovation projects.

We demo'd the peninsula area to completely open it up to the great room.  This single change "doubled" the kitchen space and made a big difference in the traffic flow.  It also allowed more natural light to filter in.

An old pantry cabinet was removed, which also concealed an inactive gas line (perhaps there was a water heater there at one time?).

Dated wallpaper was removed and walls were painted.  New sheetrock was installed where cabinetry was removed, and the entire kitchen ceiling was resurfaced and painted.

Recessed lighting was installed throughout the kitchen.  I also thought ahead and had our contractor pre-wire for future overhead lighting (perfect for the island we now have!) and re-work light switches to accommodate multiple light sources.

The old cooktop was replaced with a $50 newer second-hand find.  The double ovens and dishwasher that came with the house also did not work (we knew this from the inspection and negotiated a credit).  Since we knew we'd be renovating the kitchen sooner than later, we held off on replacing appliances until the renovation.

I snapped the following photos on my cell phone just minutes before demolition.  It will give you an idea of the kitchen we lived with for two years.

For more photos and details on the "before" kitchen, click here.

While the kitchen did require a full gut renovation, it had a great layout and "work triangle".  Our kitchen is an L-shape, which works great for having a large island and maintaining an open flow.  We saved money by using the same footprint.  There was no need to move plumbing or gas lines to accommodate the sink or appliances.  We did have our contractor install new, additional electrical sources, as well as a water line for the refrigerator.

Click here to see the mood board, kitchen finishes, and layout plans.

This is what the kitchen looks like today...

Left to right: May 2013 (close of escrow), June 2015 (pre-renovation), March 2016 (post-renovation/kitchen today)

Lastly, a peek into all the storage and function we incorporated via the custom cabinetry!

SOURCES: Cabinetry (custom); Aged Bronze Cabinet Hardware (Build.com); Backsplash (Dal-Tile); Quartz Countertops (Pental); Single-Basin Cast Iron Sink (Kohler); Faucet (Kohler); Appliances; Hardwood Floors (SLCC Milky Way Collection)

We are so happy with how the kitchen turned out!  I cook almost every day, so this is definitely a "workhorse" kitchen AND the "heart" of our home!

Just a few more items and the kitchen will be done-done:

• Island lighting
• New light fixture above sink?
• Window covering
• New counter stools

Sharing with: TDC, Create Share Inspire, Home Stories A to Z, Remodelaholic