We just finished up our home office for the One Room Challenge a week ago. The fortunate thing about my weekly blogging for the six weeks of the challenge is that I feel like I am now in a routine blogging mode.
The time is now to update you on all we did to renovate our kitchen. Here are the past two post on our kitchen: Initial kitchen reno post | 2nd kitchen reno post
BEFORE PHOTOS - HOW IT HAS BEEN FOR 18 YEARS
As we have lived in this home for 18 years along with our four children, an exchange student, and three different dogs, the kitchen had become quite worn and drab.
WHAT WE DID
sand, prime, and paint the existing cabinetry in Benjamin Moore Hale Navy
replace two upper cabinet door panels with glass inserts
replace old tile countertops with new quartz countertops - we had a fabricator do a template and install for us
install new stainless steel sink and brushed nickel faucet
install new tile backsplash (to the ceiling on the sink/window wall)
remove one upper cabinet adjacent to the window
install custom-made, stained shelves from 2-1/2" thick lumber (we made these)
paint walls Benjamin Moore Alabaster in a matte eggshell sheen
replace window trim at sink window
update cabinet hardware with modern chrome drawer pulls and knobs
last summer our original (17 year old) dishwasher went out so we replaced it with a quiet, stainless steel model
replaced our struggling 18 year old white refrigerator with a counter-depth stainless still refrigerator
SELECTED MATERIALS
THE REVEAL
Keeping it in the family; all AFTER interior photography by our son Alex Hill Productions.
We maintained the existing footprint or layout of the kitchen, especially since the cabinets were in decent shape. We did almost all the work ourselves with the exception of installing the quartz countertops.
KITCHEN ISLAND - LOOKING TOWARDS SINK
DETAILS - OPEN SHELVING
SINK AREA TO BREAKFAST NOOK
A favorite feature of our backsplash tile was taking it all the way to the ceiling and working in the custom-made, open shelving.
When we replaced our failing refrigerator, we deliberately chose a counter-depth model so it would fit more compactly in the refrigerator cabinet niche. It is notable how much more visual and usable space we have between the refrigerator and island with the more shallow unit.
The one thing we were well aware of was, in moving to a cabinet-depth unit, that there would be an adjustment in the cubic square foot capacity of the refrigerator and freezer compartments. We went from a 26 cubic square foot unit to one that is 22 cubic square feet. Just something to keep in mind when selecting refrigerators.
Eventually we would like to extend the oak hardwood floors into the adjacent family room and dining room plus darken the stain in order to move away from the orange tone of the red oak. That is a major project for another time. First we need to recover from so much construction and weekends spent on home renovation, but it will happen sometime. (Apologies to my hubby - another project is coming our way sometime in the not-so-distant future!)
I love to hear from you, so please send me any questions or comments about this kitchen project or anything design related. You can comment on Wix (you'll need to set up an access name and password), email me at valerie@hillandvalleydesign.com or DM me on Instagram.
