As an interior designer, working through and updated kitchen design in my own home is an exciting prospect, but it can also come with some reservations and even challenges. Thankfully, my experience (both as a designer and having now lived in my kitchen for 4 years) served the process well!
Shortly after purchasing our 1805 House, we began our first round of renovations – one of which included our kitchen. And in the fall of 2019, the first rendition of our kitchen was completed. For those of you who might be new to FunCycled, when we purchased this home, we deemed it the Repurposed Idea House. Repurposing has always been a a key component to FunCycled, so keeping that at the forefront for our new home seemed appropriate. approaSomehow we just knew that with each step, new ways of repurpos
Before the Update & Renovation
I want to share with you the very first before pictures. Those that we encountered when we first saw our home. When designing any space, I think it is important to remember how things begin. During any renovation, discouragement or concern can creep in, so having a benchmark from where things started is key to keeping you focused, recognizing that the process is and will be worth it!
As you can see, this was not exactly the kind of foundation needed for a truly functional kitchen, so we first decided to do a complete renovation of the space. Kitchen renovations are at the top of many homeowners’ lists. If you have never completed a renovation project before, here are some answers to some frequently asked questions:
Full kitchen renovations can typically cost anywhere from $50K to as much as $400K.
Saving money on a kitchen renovation is not a lost cause. Keeping the same footprint and layout along with reusing some materials, especially the existing cabinets can really add up the savings. Consider painting your cabinets rather than purchasing new or sourcing materials that have been discounted.
A full kitchen remodel can include a large range of components, especially if you need to change the structure and layout which will include plumbing and electrical work and even architectural work. A typical remodel will encompass updating cabinets, counters, floors, backsplash, and fixtures. It often includes updates to lighting and appliances as well.
The length of your project is contingent upon several factors. For light remodels, your project may only take 2 or 3 weeks. For larger scope projects that include significant changes, your timeline can take as long as 3 or 4 months.
First Kitchen Design – Round One
This was a huge project the first time around! As you can see, we did ALL of the MAJOR work at this point! And, truthfully, it was fantastic! I mean what an improvement, right?
You can see the whole story behind the kitchen renovation project, linked up below:
Update & (RE)Vision – Time to Tweak Things
After having lived in our kitchen for a few years, it was time to make a few changes to the kitchen. Everything still functioned well, so thankfully, we didn’t need to replace any appliances or “bigger ticket” items. When faced with updating or re-designing your space, you need to answer a few questions. What is my goal here with this update? Are there things that don’t function well and need to be reevaluated? Am I hoping for And what exactly needs toSo what exactly did we need to do? And what exactly was the goal? was needed? The goal of my interior designer kitchen makeover was to….
Goal Number 1
DEPTH & COLOR
We would do this by painting our cabinets and balancing out the colors and textures around the room. Swapping the counter stools in a shade that mimics the hardware is one way we chose to create that balance. We also added plants around – this creates warmth and texture.
Goal Number 2
COHESIVE CHARACTER
Featuring unique items and vintage inspiration would enhance the character of the kitchen. We also needed to make sure that the items we selected would remain cohesive with each other. The antique brass
Goal Number 3
FILL & PERSONALIZE
Making sure the kitchen felt full or life, specifically my family’s life was important. We decided to add in artisanal & functional pieces that we acquired from our travels & journeys both around the world and locally. Placing items on the counter and filling in the spaces up and around left our personal touch throughout.
The Final Reveal – A Kitchen That Reflects My Style
I absolutely LOVE our updated and refreshed kitchen! It has charm, character, color, function, and completely full of life and energy!
Kitchen Styling with a Vintage Vignette
It’s not that I did not care for this shelf after the first go around. Actually, I really liked it (and still do). But it didn’t have the fullness I really wanted to capture. The nature of the exposed wallpaper (original to the home) elicited the need to extend the story of this wall. I saw no better way than to add special vintage collections curated from my journeys.
Designing with Color
Don’t get me wrong – white cabinets and white subway tile, complete with black grout, fixtures and counter created a timeless farmhouse vibe for our kitchen. Over time, though, I realized that I wanted to add color and warmth to our kitchen. Painting the cabinets and adding copper antiques alongside plants added the warmth and depth I was looking for.
Showcasing Character
It might be hard to see, but I first styled the wall behind my island with a collage of dishes, DIY’d and patterned with undulating gold lines to create a Faux Kinjutsu plate wall. You can learn more about the Kinjutsu technique here. The idea is super cool and I loved the creativity behind this, but the white plates on the white wall fell a little flat after a while. So, it was time to tell a new story! After spotting a couple of these old brass pots and ladels at an antique store, I began a healthy search and scoured one local community until I had enough to fill the wall. I love how it turned out, and I guess I ended up with a few stories to tell in the process!
Enjoying the Details
Looking for More Inspiration & Help?
We have completed hundreds of kitchen renovations, makeovers, and updates throughout the years, and I would love to help you with yours! Let’s get connected. You can fill out the contact us form or feel free to drop us a comment or question below so we can best direct you! I have also pulled together some helpful links which will inspire you on your journey!
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We offer interior design, kitchen cabinet painting, and custom built tables, barn doors, and repurposed furniture. Thank you, again, for working with us and for taking the time to spread the word about what we do.
Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ; )
Exquisite Spaces. Sustainable Designs. Brighter Futures.
