Sunday, February 15, 2015

Our Kitchen Renovation


Today I am finally sharing our new and improved kitchen.  First, you have to see the before pics to really understand where we are now.  I think I mentioned earlier that we fell in love with the location of our house.  The inside of the house left a lot to be desired.  You will see that the kitchen was just..... ugh!!  My husband just couldn't believe I truly wanted this house!!  I was willing to overlook a less than perfect house to be in a wonderful neighborhood, across the street from my father and around the corner from my sister.

Back to the kitchen.  It was a bright yellow with stark white cabinets, outdated fixtures, tile counter tops and dated black appliances.  The bar was the same height as the counter - too low for eating.  To put it bluntly, it was just not pretty!!  While we chose not to rip out all of the cabinets and start over, we did modify them to make them more interesting.  We added height to the area above the sink with an additional cabinet for increased storage.  We also removed the microwave and installed a vent hood.  There were six small drawers to the left of the stove.  It looked too cluttered to me, so we switched that out for a new cabinet that has three large drawers.  We had to modify this section anyway to fit our refrigerator. We also added a raised bar area to accommodate the bar stools we already had.

These are a couple of before pics: Needless to say, the light fixture and ceiling fan are long gone!

This view was looking from the dining area into the kitchen. I am so happy it no longer looks like this! 

I wish I had a picture of us tearing out the counter tops and back splash!  I never realized using a sledge hammer and a crow bar could be so fun!  It was a mess, but very satisfying!!

I am so happy with the way it turned out!  We painted the cabinets Dover White by Sherwin Williams. The walls are Ecru, also by SW. I would love to have switched out the upper cabinet doors to a much simpler style, but it just wasn't in the budget at this time. We changed all of the hardware to oil rubbed bronze for a warmer look.  The new drawer pulls add visual interest.  Previously, there were knobs on everything.  It looked too busy!! We added a new section of cabinets above the sink.  It is a perfect area for storing my cookbooks and serving pieces that are not used daily.   It is so much prettier than the open area in the "before" picture.

The counter tops are St. Cecilia granite.  My husband and I had a huge debate about the counter tops.  At first I wanted Cararra marble, but I honestly didn't think it was practical for us.  I really fell in love with Colonial Creme granite.  I saw it in a home in Delta magazine, and I thought it would be perfect.  However, Jon reminded me that over the last several years, when we looked at granite I always gravitated toward St. Cecilia....true!  The Colonial Cream is beautiful though - in a totally different way than St. Cecilia.  It is much lighter and "creamier". Jon felt, and I finally agreed with him, that the St. Cecilia would be warmer - especially when paired with the backsplash tile - than the Colonial Cream.  Plus, the Colonial Cream was much more expensive!!  In the end,  I am so happy with our choice! It think it is beautiful.  I love the thicker slab and the rounded corners!   
With the exception of the refrigerator, all of the appliances were replaced.  Although I really wanted double ovens, it just wasn't feasible, however, we did get a gas range and and a new hood.  I love them!   All appliances are Kitchen Aid (to match the refrigerator - yes, we are OCD like that!)  The lower cabinets to the left of the stove are new.   Wide, deep drawers are so much more functional than the six small drawers that were there previously.   

I love having the microwave tucked into what would have been a crowded little corner.  The microwave fits perfectly!  I am so glad we opted to have a true vented hood instead of the microwave over the gas range.  The area above the range hood was built to cover the exhaust.  Plus, it breaks up all the cabinets that were the exact same height.  The top of the cabinets provides a wonderful place for me to display some of my Longaberger basket collection. We also added additional molding under the existing crown molding.  The increased width adds much needed character to the room.

We opted for a porcelain tile with a crackled finish for the back splash. The tiles are by Walker Zanger - the Tuileries Collection - color Breton Beige. This was a hard choice too!  Our first purchase came in and it did not go well with the granite at all.  We ended up sending it back and going to different store and working with a designer who helped us pick out  something that went beautifully with the granite. I love the herringbone pattern we chose for the area behind the sink. It is such a pretty focal point.
We added bead board to the pack of the raised bar area.  It is the perfect place for a quick snack or for Seth to do his homework. 

This is the view looking from the bar area into the kitchen.  The two areas of glass front cabinets allow my collection of Ironstone to be displayed. Our everyday dishes are on the left of the sink.  They add a cheerful pop of color to the kitchen. We also added under-cabinet lighting throughout the kitchen to help "show off" the beautiful subway tile and the items being displayed on the counters.

A collection of Etta B pottery plates and bowls complement the color of the counter tops and back splash.  A vintage scale that my husband gave me for Christmas one year adds charm and is perfect for holding fruit.  

 Simple, clear canisters keep necessities close at hand. 


A small "Happy Everything" cookie jar is the perfect size for keeping utensils handy for cooking. 

So, there you have it!  Our "after" kitchen!!  We are very pleased with the results. It is functional, pretty, and practical. We put a lot of thought into where we could splurge and where we needed to rein in our "wants" - thus the absence of the Carrara marble,a farm sink, and double ovens.  I believe that by choosing classic materials with a timeless color scheme,we will be happy with our kitchen for years to come! 

Thanks for visiting Buttercup Bliss! 

45 comments:

  1. Wow! This is amazing! I completely understand putting location first, and am a firm believer that a dose of imagination plus hard work can work wonders! You've put it all together in grand style!

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  2. Lisa, your kitchen is so pretty! That backsplash is fantastic with the granite. I'm thinking that might be the same granite I have. I like it because it's beautiful but pretty neutral. I don't blame you one bit for picking the neighborhood and then making the house what you want it to be.

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    1. Thank you for stopping by and for the sweet comment!!

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  3. I haven't visited in some time, but I love your new kitchen!!! We are moving to a new home this year and I've thought about using Dover White myself. It looks gorgeous on your cabinets. Your finishes are beautiful! Enjoy cooking in your new elegant kitchen!
    Blessings,
    Leslie

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    1. Leslie, Thanks for stopping by! Congrats on moving to your new home! I will be excited to see pictures when you share them!!

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  4. It is so lovely. I like all of your choices, especially the addition of molding and the color of your granite. Can't wait to see more of your home. Everything you have done is so neat and classic.

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    1. Thanks so much for visiting and for your sweet comment!

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  5. Beautiful kitchen! What a transformation using the same cabinets. I have the same granite, and are those Longaberger baskets on top?
    Lori

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    1. Thank you so much!! Yes, they are Longaberger. I have collected them for many years. I lost most of them in Katrina, but a Longaberger consultant helped me replace them - even some of the special ones :-)

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  6. We have almost identical kitchens...though I have more golden walls and black pearl granite for countertops and backsplashes. The layout and white cabinets match. Small world. Your update is very pretty.
    Sheila@mykentuckyliving

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    1. Thank you for visiting and for the sweet comment!

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  7. Your kitchen reno turned out great! I, too, long for marble but unfortunately I am a messy chef and would spoil such things. Your granite was a pretty choice! Thanks for sharing with all of us!

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  8. What a beautiful kitchen! I love all your finishes - so my style! You must love cooking in there now!
    Shelley

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    1. Shelley, thank you for visiting!! We are definitely enjoying the new and improved kitchen!

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  9. Your newly improved kitchen is beautiful! We are about to start painting our cabinets and installing a backsplash. Your kitchen remodel has inspired me to get busy. Thank for linking to the Share Your stye party.
    Hugs,
    Sherry

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    1. Sherry, thanks so much! I will be looking forward to seeing your kitchen! Thanks also for hosting the Share Your Style party!!

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    1. Thank you! Thanks for hosting the Share Your Style party!

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  11. Lisa,
    I adore your kitchen befores and afters, dear one!!!
    We are in the process of "renewal" in our 1970's Galley Style Kitchen here on the Prairie!!!
    We, too, after 13 years are saying good~bye to yellow hued walls!!!
    I see many similarities. . .and I definitely understand budgetary constraints!!!
    Thank you for sharing all your renovations!!!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  12. Absolutely beautiful! Love it all and the tile is gorgeous!
    Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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    1. Thank you so much!!! I am so excited that you featured our kitchen on your blog! Thanks again!!

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  13. What a beautiful kitchen! I love the choices you made in there. Your new appliances are fantastic. I would love to have stainless steel appliances. I know you must love cooking in it.

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  14. Your kitchen looks fantastic! You made great choices and your kitchen really shines! We underwent a kitchen reno last summer and making all those choices can be overwhelming at times and I won't even talk about living through the mess! I'm sure you are loving it all and are thrilled to have it done! Visiting from Amaze Me Monday. :)

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  15. It looks fantastic! Kitchen remodels are some of the most difficult but also very much worth the effort! You made some great decisions and it really shows.

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    1. Thank you for the sweet comment and for stopping by Buttercup Bliss!

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  16. I love your kitchen makeover, but to be honest with you - I liked your kitchen before, too! :-) A question for you though...you said you were glad you opted for a vent hood over your range instead of of a microwave with a vent hood. Why is that? Just curious, as we need a new vent hood and I've been wanting to put a microwave above the range instead of another vent hood. My microwave takes up too much space on my countertop and I'd love to have more space!

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    1. Hi Melanie, Thanks for visiting Buttercup Bliss! I can't wait to check out your blog! With regard to the vent... I guess it was mainly a personal preference. I really like the look of the hood. We have had a microwave/vent in the past and to me it didn't seem like it vented as well (i.e. not enough suction - if that makes sense.) The gentleman who sold us our appliances felt like the vent hood was a more powerful option. There are a couple of fan speeds on our new hood, so it works really well! Hope this helps!

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  17. Hi Lisa,
    Just happened upon your blog for the first time and am so happy that your kitchen reno was featured.
    I love what you did with on a budget and not tearing out perfectly good cabinets. It looks wonderful!
    We are in the process of finding backsplash tiles and love yours. Would you be willing to share the info we would need to find them. I love that they seem to have a glaze on them which would be great for cleanup behind our cooktop. Also wondering what flooring material you used. Can't quite make it out in the photo! I will be subscribing to your blog and look forward to your future projects. I too love reusing and redoing. Just love the lamp project you did for your son's room.
    Thanks for the inspiration!

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    1. Thank you so much for visiting Buttercup Bliss! The backsplash tiles are by Walker Zanger. They are part of the TUILERIES collection. The color is Breton Beige. If you google it, you can see pics, etc. We purchased them from a local stone/design store.

      The floors are stained/scored concrete. We would have loved to put in hardwood throughout the house, but it just seemed more practical to keep the concrete for now. We did, however, have it cleaned and resealed before we moved it. I have actually grown to love the concrete floors. They are a beautiful color. We have areas rugs around the house to warm things up! (We were fortunate to be able to stay with my dad for about six weeks while we renovated the house. The house we bought is across the street from him.)

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  18. Lisa - your remodel is AWESOME! I love all your choices and reasoning behind each choice.
    Very very well done. Love it.

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  19. Squeal!!!! I love it, beautifully done. I love your taste. Everything flows perfectly too. I'm hopping over from the Scoop. Hugs P.S. I invite you to share at my Thursday hop too

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    1. Thank you!! Thanks also for visiting Buttercup Bliss. I will definitely join your Thursday hop :-)

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  20. Gorgeous. I love the thicker slab of granite. We just did our counters and now I have to look for a back splash. I love all the ways you made the kitchen much more custom and interesting looking.

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  21. This looks beautiful! I'm thinking of using the same tile for my back splash- what grout color did you use?

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Thanks for visiting Buttercup Bliss! Your messages mean so much to me! Lisa