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Kitchen Makeover Reveal

I’ve been promising to post this kitchen makeover reveal for weeks, and I finally decided done is better than perfect, haha! I was planning to get some pro photography and really “do it right,” but as it turns out, my iPhone and a little Lightroom “magic” works just fine.

When we discovered this house (exactly two years ago this month!) there was so much about it I fell in love with. It was everything I ever wanted in a forever home, and then some.

The one major exception was the kitchen — not the layout, but the finishes and decor.

This house was built almost 20 years ago, so the cabinets and countertops reflected that era of earth tones and tuscan decor. It didn’t help that my last house was the same age and that kitchen had a very similar look and feel.

I liked it at the time, but I’d lived with it for 13 years, and I was ready for something fresh and light and airy. I knew when we bought the house that I’d want to do a kitchen makeover some day.

Well, some day arrived last month. With the holidays behind us, I decided it was time to tackle the kitchen project.

It seemed like a good winter project, and my goal was to have it all finished by the time we opened our pool, so we’d be ready in time to host spring/summer get togethers.

First, I’ll show you how it looked before.

Kitchen Before:

This is how we found it when we moved in.

After living here for a year and a half, it looked like this.

Basically all we had done was add counter stools and replace the pendant lights.

Oh, and we painted the entire house (with the exception of the dining room and the guest bedroom) Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray.

I couldn’t wait to replace my black appliances with stainless.

This desk area was not getting used as a desk; rather, it was a place to gather clutter.

Kitchen Progress

After some debate, we decided against a total gut. Instead we would paint the cabinets, replace the countertops and appliances, and add a tile backsplash.

The appliances were the first step in the process, and we decided to go with Bosch for the dishwasher, fridge, double ovens, and microwave.

We knew all along we wanted the same Bosch 800 series dishwasher we had in our last house.

We actually upgraded to a slightly nicer model, and we are beyond thrilled with it. (Pardon the messy counters!)

We also ended up going Bosch for our fridge and double ovens.

I fell in love with the fridge, mostly for the interior layout, and also because it’s one of the only counter depth models tall enough to fit into our space perfectly — see how there is no space between the top of the fridge and the upper cabinet. It’s the little things!

Because the fridge is Bosch and they are side by side, we went with the Bosch double oven so the stainless finish and the handles would match.

I do not love this oven, though. I wish we had upgraded to the 800 series. I thought I wanted knobs, but they are not operational in the traditional sense, and they make the interface a lot more complex than it needs to be.

I almost had them switch them out, but I decided it wasn’t worth the hassle and the restock fee. It works fine; it’s just rather frustrating to operate, but we’re getting used to it.

What we learned from all of our appliance research is, no one brand does them all well. Usually there is at least one weak link, and in Bosch’s case, it’s the double ovens.

I’m thrilled with the fridge and dishwasher, though, and at least the ovens look nice!

We also decided to remove the lower cabinets in the desk area and make it into a drinks station. We found the company that made our existing cabinets, and they were able to find a close match.

They designed the area to include a pull-out microwave and a 24″ French door beverage fridge.

The reason we went with a pull-out microwave is because we wanted to put in a proper vent hood over the cooktop, where our microwave used to be.

The next step in the process was to get the counters installed. We looked at granite, quartz, and marble; but we ended up choosing a gorgeous slab of Zermatt Quartzite.

Quartzite is an all-natural stone mined the same way as marble and granite, but it’s supposed to be the hardest of the three. When sealed properly, it’s very durable.

And also gorgeous! I love the shades of white and the subtle gray veining throughout the Zermatt stone.

The guys who installed my counters also installed my new cooktop. Here is where we went rogue; but this time, I actually did my research.

Rather than sticking with Bosch, we decided to go with a local brand called BlueStar that’s made right here in Pennsylvania.

We wanted an induction cooktop, but they all operate differently. Many seemed very confusing and unintuitive, but this BlueStar model has knobs that actually do what they look like they should do. (Unlike my Bosch ovens, ahem…)

Also, we liked the idea of supporting a local company, so BlueStar it is!

I was afraid I’d regret not going with gas, but I LOVE my BlueStar induction cooktop.

So here’s how it looked after the counters and cooktop went in. At that point, all that was left was the cabinets and the backsplash! But of course, that was a big piece of the project.

I hired two sisters who have made a business out of painting cabinets, in fact, they call themselves the Cabinet Sisters. They were so much fun to have around, and they did a great job. If you’re local, I highly recommend them.

Magda from ReImagine Interiors helped me on this project yet again (she has helped me on all of my big home decor projects so far) and we decided to paint the island Sherwin Williams Iron Ore, and the cabinets Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace.

Here’s now it looked after the island and cabinet boxes were painted.

The painters took the doors to their shop to spray them, so I lived like this for about a week before they came back and put it all back together again.

And here’s how it all came together!

Kitchen After:

I absolutely love the Zermatt Quartzite. I think it’s my favorite part of the whole kitchen, although it needed the cabinets painted to make sense in the space.

As you can see, I decided against messing with the corbels and support columns on the island.

I wish I’d looked into switching them out when I had the chance, when the countertop was removed. We did talk about it, but I just couldn’t visualize it at the time.

Now that they’re painted and the countertops are on, I figure it’s better to leave well enough alone.

We swapped out my counter stools for backless models that slide easily underneath the island when not in use, and everyone loves them.

They’re very comfortable, and it’s so nice not to be fighting with those heavy, high-backed chairs anymore.

Here’s a good view of the paint color on the island. It usually looks more gray and less blue.

We left the wood floors as they are, and I like the way they warm up the space with so many cool hues going on.

We installed under cabinet lighting, which we leave on all the time. Paul has it on a timer, so they turn off overnight, but they’re always on when I get up in the morning.

It’s so welcoming, especially considering I usually get up when it’s still dark out.

And my vent hood is installed, but it’s not hooked up yet. I’m still waiting on the replacement parts, so that’s why it’s so dark under there. Eventually I’ll be able to turn on that light as well.

We also picked out a really pretty white 2×20 polished subway tile with wavy edges for the backsplash.

I didn’t think I wanted subway tile because it seemed too predictable. But in the end, I decided this particular tile was unique it its own way, and it keeps the kitchen neutral and classic, which is something I was trying to achieve, with resale in mind.

We aren’t planning to go anywhere anytime soon, but I tried to pick finishes that look modern but will stand the test of time.

The door handles and knobs are brushed chrome (or brushed nickel?)

I sort of wanted black, but I like how the silver coordinates with the appliances.

Here’s how the drink station turned out. We absolutely love it.

I moved the coffee maker over there, and I put all of our mugs and extra coffee in the cabinet above it. Then I moved the wine glasses over to the cabinet on the far right, over the drink fridge.

Another thing we added was a wine rack in the opening above the new drinks station. You can see the strip of gray paint that needs to be touched up on the right.

I also love having a big, deep sink.

And our new faucet is streamlined and sleek.

So that’s about it! I couldn’t be more pleased with how it turned out.

As I’ve shared before, I know it’s a great space, and it was lovely before, but I’ve had brown wood cabinets in every home I’ve ever lived in. It’s so nice to have a bright, white kitchen for a change!

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46 Responses

  1. Your kitchen is lovely!  We also moved into a pretty house two years ago and have been updating things and our kitchen is still on the list…can’t wait to paint my cabinets  white too!   Thanks for sharing! 

  2. This looks amazing, Jolynne!!! Love it all so much. We have a desk area in our kitchen similar to yours- and junk just seems to accumulate there. I would love to turn it into a drink station like you have. So nice! 

  3. Your kitchen is so beautiful  having a proper vent hood and using each time you cook will spare your white cabinets. It’s also so awesome that you were able to design your space in a way that works best for your family.  It’s rare to find that already established when you purchase a new home. ENJOY!!!

  4. I love everything!  I just bought heavy, high back bar stools…hmmm…I like yours better.   Another great post.

  5. We have the same dishwasher & love it!!  It’s so quiet, which was our main concern. It’s at the end of a peninsula of cabinets, so it really needs to be quiet. 
    Your makeover looks great!  

  6. Love your kitchen! I think it was a good choice to go with the silver handles and knobs. And I love the quartzite countertops – every time I see a kitchen makeover where they use that material, I always feel like that’s what I’d choose, too. So glad you kept the hardwood floors. You wrote exactly what I was thinking about balancing everything with the warmer tone. Beautiful!

  7. Oh my goodness it just looks LOVELY!!! So light and bright!!! I’ll be anxious to hear about the induction cooktop. I have the old ceramic cooktop and I dream of replacing it with gas. But I’m not sure I want the hassle of keeping it clean as I really do cook every night. Do you think gas cooktops are hard to keep clean? I’m thinking that induction looks pretty easy to keep clean!!! My kitchen cabinets are dark, and I like them, but I would love to have a white kitchen (all my kitchens have been stained wood cabinets). I mentioned one time to my husband about painting them . . . you would l have thought I had asked him to cut off his right arm LOL. Maybe one day!!! I so enjoy your posts!! Please keep sharing!!! We all need something “normal” in these days of nothing being normal!! Blessings from Missouri!

    1. I’ve had gas and it’s a lot more work to keep clean. The induction is even easier than a ceramic cooktop b/c liquids don’t harden on or burn on like they do with a traditional electric. It’s quite amazing, actually!

  8. You’re kitchen is Gorgeous! I especially love the drink station and the island. Love the color. We remodeled our kitchen last year with appliances, counter top and backsplash. We had our cabinets painted also. Our house was built in 1967. So any improvements would be appreciated. We are enjoying! I’m sure you will enjoy yours for many years to come!! Have a Great Day, and Stay Safe and Well!!❤🌹🌷
    ……Linda W.

  9. Your kitchen is lovely. I also recently installed quartzite countertops. What do you use to clean and disinfect?

  10. Beautiful!  And I too love Edgecomb gray. It’s every where except my living room and bathrooms. which is Camouflage (also BM).  Our bathrooms needed to stay as they were since we chose not to trash a few grand worth of cultured onyx. The surround has a streak of burgundy so I painted the oak cabinets a very very dark purplish black. I used the Rustoleum kit. 

    Sometimes I think we were mother daughter separated at birth LOL. We have the same basic shape except my 15 extra pounds, and I’m blonde going gray slowly. I love gray walls just not gray hair. I have same Nespresso as you and I adore your stacked cups. Next house will have beverage area. 

    I love your kitchen. It’s inspired me to finish mine although I’m not keen on going to Home Depot or Lowe’s right now. 

  11. Beautiful kitchen Jo-Lynne. You did a great job!  I’m just curious about your fridge. I will be replacing mine soon and wonder if you like the freezer on the bottom as opposed to the side by side?  I’m considering the bottom freezer style but have heard they are short on storage. Also, do you miss having the ice/water feature in the door? I appreciate your classic style and really enjoy your posts. 

    1. Hey Debbie, I do actually like it. We never kept our freezer super full anyway. And not having the water/ice on the door looks sleeker, and it frees up a lot of room inside. I’m very pleased!

  12. So beautiful and great job on your part. As I’ve said before you get things done so quickly. I’d love to have a whole new house makeover but have no idea what to do or where to start. Not my gifting. 

    1. Honestly, it’s not mine either. I owe it all to Magda at ReImagine Interiors. She brought me a few choices for each thing, and I just picked one. I couldn’t have handled seeing ALL the choices.

  13. Just absolutely beautiful, you did a fabulous job!  When we remodeled our kitchen I ended up with appliances from several different brands. Like you found, not one brand makes the best in everything with all the specific features I was looking for.   I was afraid it would really bother me that they didn’t all “match”.  But I took care to pick models that had similar features, as in same handle style, etc…  And it has worked out just fine.  Enjoy your new space!

  14. Absolutely beautiful and so bright!! I know what you mean about all companies not being the best at all appliances. Our oven is the only GE product left from when we built 13 years ago and I love it.. the others not so much, as that’s why they ended up being replaced🤷‍♀️.

  15. Your new kitchen looks gorgeous!!😍 How you were able to do it so quickly amazes me. Congratulations! It makes sheltering in place a bit easier being in such a pretty kitchen. We have the same dishwasher and kitchen faucet: love ’em!
    Thanks for sharing. We were all curious.

  16. Love your kitchen. I’m wanting to grey and white so can’t wait
    To show my husband how great hours looks.
    Thank you for sharing.
    I was going to use Sherwin Williams peppercorn color but
    Do like the iron ore.

  17. What a great looking kitchen Jo-Lynne. Your kitchen reminds me of our. We just did our counter tops last year. Went from black granite to white quartz. Attempted twice to do our cabinets that look very similar to style and color as your old ones. Had two companies come over to give us estimate, but unfortunately we had a gut feeling that they were going to mess up our cabinets. We custom built our home 16 years ago and are so worried about the job being messed up or having our wood cabinets ruined.
    Can you please tell all of us “how” the process was done? Did they take the cabinets our of the home to paint them? Thats what one company was going to do. We read the reviews on that and people said they were supposed to bring them back in a week and it took many weeks for them to bring them back. How did they paint them? What was the process they used? How long did it take? Any info on the company and process would be so helpful. I know you would have done research of the process and the company you hired or maybe you had a recommendation from a friend.
    Your kitchen looks so great. You have the same Nespresso machine we have. Isn’t it great.

    1. Hey Jo. So yeah, I did ask around and get recommendations on two painting companies. One is a bigger commercial company that is very well respected in our area and does tons of kitchens. And the other was this small sister team that I went with. Both recommended the same thing – they painted the boxes in place with small rollers and brushes, and they removed the doors and drawer fronts and took them to their shop to spray. They look great, very professional. They had them out of the house for about a week, so it wasn’t too bad. I think asking around and getting personal recommendation is the best way to go.

      Yes, I love my Nespresso machine!!!

  18. Absolutely gorgeous!!!! It’s so fresh, light and airy and looks bigger. I can’t wait to get a new kitchen, but we only plan to be in this house about 3 more years, so I don’t want to dump any money into it. Can’t wait to have a kitchen I love again!!! XO

  19. Absolutely gorgeous! I can’t believe how much I’ve missed…I saw the link in today’s Coffee Talk and immediately had to click over to check it out. It came out beautifully! I’m one that has always preferred white cabinets and probably still will long after their moment has passed. They just make a space feel bright, open and clean. And I love the accent color you chose for the island. It all looks amazing.

  20. Wow!! I absolutely love the kitchen makeover!!! What a difference it made to the appearance and even the size of the room!!!
    Thanks for sharing!

    Xo
    Cindy

  21. You have a dream kitchen, love the subway tiles and counters; color of the knobs/pulls are perfect I too fell off the yoga bandwagon (knee problem)for a few months but have just started back with Adrienne’s 30 day program; love her.

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