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Tag: upgrades to a kitchen

Kitchen Revamp: Before + After

Oh My, where are the days going?  I swear, I wake up and 5 minutes later it is night time.  I can not keep ahead, but thankfully all is good – NO complaints, except for the bitter cold temps.  Some fun news to share…  I was in NYC for a quick trip late last week and met up with some blogger pals – Diane, Kelly, and Denise – for a Better Homes and Gardens event.  BHG, along with BrandSpark, invited some local bloggers to the Best New Product Awards, where we got to mingle with representatives of some big brands.  It was so fun to “get out” and meet others who are just as passionate as I.  I’ll have more to come soon on the products and a chance for you to win some cool stuff.

While I should have my feet up resting (at 5 months prego, my body is definitely feeling aches + pains), I’ve been busy busy with a few client kitchens – all at different phases of construction.  One I just started and have a design meeting for later today, another is mid-install, and another I just finished.  I shared a peak of it the recently completed kitchen the other day, but now it’s time to show more + it’s evolution…

Kitchen Remodel: Integrating / Reusing existing Ikea cabinets with new custom cabinets to match. Transformation is INCREDIBLE!

This kitchen was really wonderful to work on, but a definite challenge. For privacy sake, I can’t show the floor plan, but there was a large area of the “kitchen area”, which I would say technically was the eating area, that was unused.  Then the space for the “kitchen” with the cabinets was very small + tight.  When the client brought me in, she really expressed the want + desire to reuse much of the existing cabinetry.  The challenge?  They were faux wood/stained cabinets from Ikea and to match them exactly isn’t the easiest objective!  My carpenter/cabinet fabricator was up for a challenge…  Could he do it??

Here are a few before pictures…

before pictures of a Kitchen Remodel: Integrating / Reusing existing Ikea cabinets with new custom cabinets to match. Transformation is INCREDIBLE!

Once we discussed the scope of work + the clients needs + style, this was the Creative Vision Board that I created…

Creative Vision Board for Kitchen Remodel

The “known” of the space was the cabinetry.  The client wanted to match the new with the existing.  I spiced it up with the layers + details

>Lighting

>Fabric

>Tile

>Open shelving

These 4 elements brought the kitchen to the next level!

Lighting: The lighting before was very contemporary and did not fit the style of the house, which is old-world eclectic.  Yes, it has modern features, but certainly is not contemporary.  I wanted to bring in a sense of the handcrafted look and chose new fixtures for the space.

New Lighting for the Kitchen Remodel

Fabric: It’s often a challenge in a kitchen to bring in color, but fabric on a window can be the needed element to soften and liven a space.  The client and I looked at several options for window fabric and chose a modern pattern with colors of teal, mustard, and taupe.

Unfortunately, the window treatment is the only area of the space that is still incomplete.  We are awaiting the roman shade for the window.  Here are a few options we looked at before choosing #1…

Fabric Options for the Kitchen Remodel

Tile: Along with the cabinets, the countertop which is soapstone, was also staying.  To balance the darker hues of the cabinets and counter, I knew a lighter natural stone would be the perfect compliment.  The client and I visited a local tile shop and found this beautiful natural tile with light gray veining – the size: 2″ x 8″ – which was ideal.

 Natural TileTile for the Kitchen Remodel

Open Shelving: To break up the monotony of the stained cabinets, I wanted to bring in an opportunity of open shelving to give the space more openness.  We chose for the shelves to be minimal and painted them to match the crown moulding that was added around the room.  The backsplash tile was also continued behind the open shelves to give a cohesive look.

Open Shelving for the Kitchen Remodel

With a few more tweaks + tricks throughout the space, it came together amazingly.  My carpenter is incredible and not only did he match the new with the old, he also used a few of the existing doors and reworked them to fit in new spots.  For example, using one of the old doors, he used part of it to create a pull-out spice rack which now sits next to the new dishwasher.

New spice rack for the kicthen remodel

I love when clients want to work with what they have!  The outcome of this kitchen made me so happy.  Here are some more after pictures…

Kitchen Remodel: Integrating / Reusing existing Ikea cabinets with new custom cabinets to match. Transformation is INCREDIBLE!

Kitchen Remodel: Integrating / Reusing existing Ikea cabinets with new custom cabinets to match. Transformation is INCREDIBLE!

Kitchen Remodel: Integrating / Reusing existing Ikea cabinets with new custom cabinets to match. Transformation is INCREDIBLE!

Kitchen Remodel: Integrating / Reusing existing Ikea cabinets with new custom cabinets to match. Transformation is INCREDIBLE!

Lastly some Before + Afters – sorry for them not being at the same angle…

Before & After of a Kitchen Remodel: Integrating / Reusing existing Ikea cabinets with new custom cabinets to match. Transformation is INCREDIBLE!

Before & After of a Kitchen Remodel: Integrating / Reusing existing Ikea cabinets with new custom cabinets to match. Transformation is INCREDIBLE!

There you have it.  A few more details and the kitchen will be complete!  In the meantime, want some more ideas for upgrading a kitchen?  Check out this post of mine on 5 Upgrades for a Killer Kitchen

5 Upgrades for a Killer Kitchen

more client kitchens coming soon…