I wish I had a cyber tour bus to drive in front of my kitchen, just so I could drive it off, thereby making the big reveal dramatic! and exciting! I would jump up and down — propelled by the overwhelming spirit of joy and gratitude — screaming and crying about how amazing it is, and about how getting a new kitchen has changed the very core of my being. But that would be untrue, because (let’s face it) macaroni cooked over a bunsen burner in a dorm room is the same as macaroni cooked on a brand new stove in my pretty new kitchen.
But that don’t make it any less pretty.
Remember when I first enlisted your help with my junky kitchen a looooooooong ass time ago?
Yes, the red is very charming (unless you have to live with it), but everything else in the kitchen deserved to be burned in a pressure treated blaze of glory. Trust me, it was a LOT WORSE than it looks in my awesome picture. Well, a mere six months and 10k later — with only one week to spare before the baby is due — it looks like this:
I know, I know! You miss the tile and the bank of head bonking cabinets, the chipped almond formica and the spectacularly filthy appliances, but at least the rugs are cute, right? In all seriousness, this was crazy hard to shoot because the light was not cooperating and the paint wants to read as brown instead of gray, but hopefully you get the idea.
We still have a lot of trim issues to deal with and loads of accessorizing to do, but it’s 95% done! Hooray! And despite what must be universal hatred of barstools, I love that we have some extra seating near the kitchen instead of wasted space on the living room side, like we had in our old kitchen. Plus, you have to admit that my vintage Thonet stools are pretty fly.
Hallelujah, you can even see into the living room without busting your head open on a fortress of low hanging cabinets! Downside: I have the sudden urge to replace those hideous ceiling fans, STAT! Any recommendations?
So, what did we do in here, anyway? I detailed the floor renovations a while ago, but you can read about them here. We yanked out all the old oak cabinets and mounted them in the garage (whee! extra storage), then replaced them with Ikea Abstrakt gloss white cabinets, and Ikea Applad black cabinets mounted to form a pantry wall.
So much better than the floating fridge situation we had before! Oh, and surprise! I am the kind of person who sticks stuff all over the refrigerator. Hunny Bunny hates it, but how else will I know where to find my Babies R Us coupons? What do you think of my crazy Moroccan brass tray up there? I know it’s kind of passe to stack stuff on top of your cabinets, but because our room is vaulted, it felt really naked without something…
The peninsula was ripped out and HB built a new, taller wall for the bar to anchor the cabinets onto. He and Matty bear also tore out the old post and replaced it with a smaller, dry walled post. The counters are Ikea Numerar in oak, and the backsplash is soapstone, which Matt installed. Karly bought the vintage Danish pendant lights on Ebay and decided they didn’t work for her. Bonus! They are perfect in my house. I got a new stove on sale at Lowes, the Datid hood for half price at Ikea, and I am unnaturally obsessed with our new Ikea spice rack. Now I just need three more spices to fill it…
On the sink wall, Matt installed a soapstone tile countertop in a very labor (and dust) intensive process so that the countertop looks like a slab. No grout, and half the price! He did a super excellent job, and if you live in Austin I highly recommend you contact him for all your handyman/renovation needs.
We bought a Kohler cast iron sink that has a very low divider, so it’s kind of the best of the single/double sink worlds. Love it! The faucet is also Kohler, and the dishwasher was on sale at Lowes. I had the vintage light fixture already and it’s ok (I like the brass), but I think I could do better. Someday. Maybe. Oh, and the reversible cotton rugs are from Ikea, of course.
The window wall feels a little unfinished, so we’re planning on putting up a couple of shelves where I can display cute dishes and whatchamadoodles. What do you think: glossy white? black? or butcherblock? Who knows when we’ll get to it, since we’ve only got a week until the baby is due and still need to clean renovation dust out from under the furniture, but we can dream, right?
So, that’s it for my kitchen tour. We hatched a half baked plot in November of last year, started gutting in January, and “finished” just days ago. I think our original idea was to slap some paint on our ugly cabinets and call it a day, but I’m glad we took the advice that many of you gave us — which was to rip it out and go for it. Including the appliances (except for the fridge), the floors, counters, sink, hardware, cabinets, lights, paint, and Matt’s labor, we came in at around 10k, which was pretty close to my original estimate. It took the short side of forever to complete, but because Hunny did most of the work himself and Matt helped out a lot, we were able to spend most of our budget on materials instead of labor.
So far, we’re super happy with it, but I’ll be sure to let you know if any of the walls fall down…
Related posts:
Can you hear me clapping madly for you all the way in Geogia. Erin, it looks positively fantastic!!! The three of you did an amazing job with the budget…looks like an uber expensive tricked out kitchen, in my opinion. Definitely magazine worthy! Bravo! And I love the beautiful would grain of the counter tops juxtaposed against the sleek, modern cabinets. Especially when you throw in soapstone to really mix things up. I hope you enjoy every single bit of a job well done as you put your feet up and ogle the view from the sofa. The baby will be a breeze after what you’ve been through! Right?
Congratulations! XO-nkp
Wow! Wow!! Wow!!!
What an incredible transformation. Excellent vision. How lucky are you that your hubby and friend are so wildly talented? And devoted to you and your happiness??!!
I love, love, love the barstools (and, like you, usually am not a big fan but they do come in handy) and I LOVE the spice rack.
You have just made the world a more beautiful place…
Bravo! It looks wonderful. Opening it up to the living room makes everything look bigger, brighter, more connected. Well done.
Oh my – that looks absolutely FANTASTIC! and for 10K!?!?!?!?! I’m jealous! And that spice rack is hot!
as far as your whatchamadoodle shelves I would go with glossy white if I were you so that your whatchawhatevers can have all the glory..and as far as the ceiling fans I am a chandelier junky so thats my advice…
Love it! Totally showing this to my hubby tonight!
Absolutely MARVELOUS!!!
HOLY SHIT!!! That is the only appropriate response here.
OH MY GOD that looks fanTAStic, Erin. WOW WOW WOW WOW. Congratulations!!!!
It looks completely amazing!! Your old kitchen has the same tile as mine, except that yours wasn’t full of cracks from an uneven subfloor. Hooray! Haha.
I’ll be following your blog from now on, looking forward to reading about your other projects!
It looks AMAZING! And the spice rack is my favorite part.
I vote butcher block for your window wall shelves.
HOLY HOLY WOW.
Amazing! It looks AMAZING!
Erin! it does, it looks totally amazing! and just a week before babe comes? that’s really something. what that must do for your nesting urges i just don’t know. (all pregnant women should qualify for a new kitchen it now occurs to me) it all looks so clean. and clean is a great and beautiful utopia. *rapturous applause*
It’s so beautiful I thought for a moment that it was your inspiration pic. And it looks so great that I’m considering getting knocked up myself if it will get me a new kitchen (excellent suggestion nath). Those butcher block counter tops are freaking awesome, and I find myself with a serious case of Kitchen Envy. I do maybe vote black lacquer for your shelves. Congrats on all your hard work!
PS my boss has a kick ass ceiling fan, if she ever decides to mosey into the office today I will be certain to give the deets.
PPS I have the song “Final Countdown” stuck in my head regarding the imminent arrival of your ovum-lord. Best wishes for a speedy and SAFE delivery!
Oh, Woooow! It looks fantastic and if you never would have said 10K, I never would have believed you. That’s it, I’m forcing my hubby to go to handiman school. Great job and congrats on your fabulous new Den of Domesticity!
It’s gorgeous! I love the light fixtures. And your mix of cabinets, wood and soapstone. So fabulous! You’re amazing — you guys did an amazing job!
Holy cow.
your kitchen is beautiful.Almost have the urge to gut my 6 month old kitchen to start afresh. Congratulations. My day is almost over and i am ending it with the beautiful tour of your kitchen. This is the first time i have visited your blog . Will add you to my reader to follow updates from you. Take care
Rashmi. Bangalore India
Wow, you guys — I just logged on and don’t even know what to say! THANK YOU so much for all your kind comments!
The Hunny was very nervous about posting the pics because it’s not 100% finished and he worked sooooo hard on it that he only sees the wonky parts. I’ll try to post more pics once we get it fully tricked out, but in the meantime, thanks again for all your support and advice!
Many of you made suggestions that went into our design (thanks Anna for suggesting I paint the wall black — I love it!), and many of you inspired us to just go ahead and rip it out. It’s been a long, uh, gestation, but it was totally worth it!
um. hot damn. that is truly gorgeous. love the white cabinets. the new appliances. the lack of cabinets. the low storage. mmm mm. congrats!!!
Your kitchen is super dreamy gorgeous!!! It’s so perfect-looking, and I love the stools.
I do have a question about the spices, though (because it looks so good there and that’s the coolest spice rack I’ve seen ever): I’ve heard it’s not the best idea to keep your spices right near your stove. I think it has something to with the heat diluting the flavor of them. Anybody else know if this is true?
HOLY SHIT BABY MAMA!!! It looks INCREDIBLE!!! I’m so excited for you… and nice job on the timing, too! So so so excited!
Alison, welcome and thanks!
Hmmm, I do not know about the spices, but wouldn’t be surprised at all if it were true. Any cooks on who know something about this? Jesse, where are you when I need you???
And DB, I’d like to thank you for encouraging me to rip it all out. YOU WERE RIGHT!!!
Your kitchen looks fabulous!!!!! Thanks for all the ideas you’ve given me.
Um, I can sleep there when I visit in October, right?
You should hide that incredible brass tray, because I’m gonna try to sneak it out in my handbag.
P.S. You can now add “Kitchen Design Consultant” to your business card. I’ve seen kitchens with “real” designers involved that didn’t look 25% as spectacular as yours.
Raina, you’re spoiling me! And you want to sleep in the kitchen?!
I can’t take credit for all the design decisions, though… you helped, too!
wawaweewah!!!! that is one fine kitchen! congrats on both your new babies
OK.. WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have so much to say- but I’m at my new job ( i’ll fill you in on a phone call)
HOWEVER__ do not buy 3 spices. I will be mailing you some to fill your jars with. I am sending you something from the Mexican grocery Store ( Mexico Super, Hayward, CA)
Ok….
reply to be continued.
HUGS>
LOOOVE IT!!! Maybe now I can finally come over and cook y’all a real MExican Meal- sans meat. Hmmmm
it looks AMAZING!!! ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!! FUCKING WELL DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!
how am i supposed to go back to my crap kitchen after seeing your stunner?!?!?!? green over here. i tell ya, GREEN!!! meaning: green with jealousy!
Congratulations, Erin, it looks freakin’ fantastic! I can not believe you did this yourselves. I’m blown away, especially since I’m totally incompetent and wouldn’t have even dreamt of doing something this major on my own. Love the colors, the materials, the Moroccan tray, . . . all of it. You guys deserve some serious R&R after this. Good thing the baby is coming soon! Congrats, again.
Fabulous! Simply fabulous! and to be honest – I was expecting nothing less!
I think the brass tray looks perfectly at home up there! & the thonet stools – long time love! (they would also look very awesome painted black -or red for some extra va-voom!)
I love the redo, you guys did an amazing job. ANd not sure if anyone has said this already, but you wanting to replace the ceiling fans stat says to me you are nesting and that your baby is coming very soon. I know it’s almost your due date, but I think he’ll be here before that. Also, love the spice rack. And – our fridge is covered as well.
Wow, that is my favourite kitchen, no uppers!! How great is that before and after! I love it!
Hooray for you! It looks terrific! And now you’re ready for baby!
wow!!! it is amazing. i could have had a baby in the amount of time it’s been taking to finish our kitchen. and now i’m seriously thinking getting knocked up might be the only way to get my husband to finish it.
congrats!
Heather — not sure I would recommend you emulate my model here… if we hadn’t finished on time, I probably would be having a cow instead of a baby!
OMG!!!! gorgoeus!!!!!
Amazing job! I love the spice rack ,white sink, lamp, and the gray wall.
Now it’s time to cook!
For $1000 you did an excellent job.
Oh my Gawd!! I just fell in love. It is perfect and I want to live in it. Bravo, darling. Bravo!
I LOVE your kitchen. We’re starting a renovation soon and are planning to use Abstrakt white cabinets too and are a little worried about how the “interior” corners will look. Yours (left of the stove) looks great! Do you have two cabinets installed adjacent to each other? Are there any interference issues? And how do you like your soapstone? I keep reading people’s comments which swing widely in both positive and negative directions.
Just beautiful! (I’m so psyched that I like yours so much, because our design is so amazingly similar!)
your kitchen is beyond dope.
what handles did you use for your abstrakt gloss white cabinets?
Hi Eilene, and thanks! We used Ikea’s Klippig handles:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80153659
Been trying to find a good photo/image of white kitchen with butcher block, mostly so that my husband ‘gets’ the look of it.
Such a great kitchen renovation!!
[...] a galaxy long ago and far away, I had gross beige tiles with grosser brown grout in my kitchen. When we decided to redo it, I toyed with the idea of putting in checkerboard floors before we [...]
grey kitchen cabinets, grey kitchen cabinet, kitchen cabinet…
[...]Design Crisis » Blog Archive » Erin’s Extreme Kitchen Makeover: Panic Edition[...]…
What an amazing reno for that price. Is the black benchtop also from IKEA and was it difficult to get the join in perfect. I have some lovely white glass cabinets and I am doing everything to keep them since they are such a feature in my lowset post war 2 bedrooom renovators dream. After doing a HUGE bathroom reno – there is no money left with a kitchen looking very sad…. I love your reno – well done.