THIS OLD KITCHEN AND A FACELIFT

My kitchen renovation

This old kitchen is not so old. We built this home in 1998 but I've been wanting to update with new countertops and backsplash and white cabinets for a classic, timeless look.  My kitchen project began a few years ago when we added the veranda across the back of the house. I replaced the doors with the french four pane doors you see in the photo below. While dragging my feet with this project, the microwave just quit! I decided to just go ahead and replace all the appliances.  I replaced all of my black appliances with stainless. I moved my fridge into the garage and donated the others. Last summer we finally started the kitchen demo and and finished the work last fall. A few setbacks,  one was the wrong countertops were delivered and had to be sent back and that took a little over a week. I think we did pretty good time wise. The main part of the project took about six weeks including the week waiting for the right marble.
Please join me for a look back on my kitchen renovation project. Be warned, it may be a little long.

After the facelift

This old kitchen,"before"

Breakfast area looking into kitchen.

Notice the flat cove molding on top of cabinets

 Entrance into kitchen from back foyer, my second front door

Kitchen and breakfast area

Open shelves opposite the kitchen sink

The "Facelift"
Selecting the perfect countertop 

Granite, quartz, marble, and sandstone, endless options. 

Meet Travis. He was so nice and patient helping me find just the right slabs of white carrera marble. I thought about granite and love it but decided to follow my dream and go with marble. I decided on white carrera with soft gray veining. I didn't want a dramatic kitchen and using a marble with bolder veining would not provide the look I was after. Although I love bolder veining I was going for classic, timeless and neutral. A kitchen I could change on a whim with accessories and color. I painted the walls a medium grey, Benjamin Moore smoke embers. The grey is a good contrast with the white cabinets and adds a light and airy feel to the room. I also carried the color into the family room, back foyer and hallway, back bath and the powder room off the main foyer. I plan to paint the remainder interior this year.

Using templates to layout the countertops

Demolition day for countertops and backsplash

I kid you not, it was like moving!

Hanging plastic over doors and openings

Meet Dwayne, my cabinet man. He custom built my cabinets all those years ago and  he was the man to "tweak" the changes I wanted to my cabinets. Here he is removing the flat cove molding and replacing it with crown molding. It was primed for painting so one less step for the painters. Dwayne is such a talent, he can do anything with wood!

I wanted my center island painted black. I love how the black contrasts with the white cabinets. The very plain island needed something so I ask Dwayne to build raised panels. Primed and ready to paint. 

Marble countertops installed

The tile on the countertops and backsplash were a nightmare to remove! A good portion of the drywall went with it and had to be patched. 

Subway tile backsplash being installed

Tile work finished

Painters are here! They started with the island and here is the French hutch getting a coat of primer. The hutch and island are the same color. The square colors on the walls are color samples. I looked at so many grey colors, then narrowed it down to six paint samples.

Stained shelves get a coat of primer after sanding. All cabinet doors were removed and painted at the painter's shop.

This old kitchen, "after"

My dream kitchen come true! I love how the black island anchors the kitchen. The contrast of grey walls, white cabinets, black island and hutch and the stainless appliances has exactly the look I love. 

New light fixtures

Remember those open shelves, I asked Dwayne to cover them with new doors. A new home for a Quimper collection.

Curtains are custom, linen in a darker silver/grey and natural

Kohler apron sink and Pfister bridge faucet

Chandelier from Horchow

The French Hutch painted black

Grey porcelain hardware from Lowe's

"Before"

"After"

I really have enjoyed this new look. No, not perfect but a look I love and hope to enjoy for years. Not exactly a DIY, but my husband and I did all the planning, hired all the subcontractors and Jim replaced all the under counter lighting. We did it on a budget that didn't break the bank. A few more"tweaks" to go before I'm finished.  I'm still looking for the perfect chairs to go with my antique table and plans to refinish the floors in the kitchen and family room. Our sweet springer spaniel, Bentley, left his scratch marks on the floors, but that's ok! New rugs are also on the wish list.  I am still enjoying finding just the right look, this may take awhile!

If you are still here, thank you. I do appreciate everyone of your comments. Hope you will leave a comment so I will know you stopped by..

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