This whole philosophy of using what I have to decorate my home and trying to buy things for my home that have purpose is a conscious decision that I’ve made to start 2013. But I’ve realized that I’ve made decisions to work with what I have for much longer than that. Maybe not completely by choice, but by necessity.
When we bought our house over 5 years ago, I was swayed by the neighborhood nestled in the woods, the big backyard and screened porch and of course, the big master closet. I was not, however, swayed by the stunning kitchen. The kitchen looked like it walked straight out of an episode of Family Ties. There were dark wood cabinets with frosted glass and black iron hardware resembling gate latches. The tile backsplash had accents that involved wheelbarrows, garden tools and sunflowers. I’m not saying anything bad about a garden theme… just saying that it’s not my style. At least not in my kitchen.
(a before shot of the kitchen from the real estate listing when we bought the house)
We moved from a house we renovated ourselves (pre-kids)… and that renovation included a completely new kitchen. But, a major kitchen re-do definitely wasn’t (and still isn’t) in the budget in our current home. Having recently been through a remodel, I was determined to abide by a great piece of advice I received and didn’t follow the first time around… live in a kitchen for a year before you start changing it (and being 7 months pregnant when we moved in had NOTHING to do with it!). But I did it… I lived in that kitchen and learned what I liked about it and what I didn’t like… and what I wanted to change when given the chance.
(One of the things I LOVE about my kitchen… the abundant early morning sunlight at the breakfast table)
Now, talk to my hubby and the most I’ll ever get in my kitchen are new countertops and appliances… one day, far, far from now. I spend a lot of time in the kitchen and being in mine with its dark cabinets and garden tiles was giving me a major case of the “I wants”. I saw those dark cabinets and wanted beautiful new white ones. I saw the sunflower and garden tool tiles and wanted white subway tile. I saw my cream/almond/whatever-they-call-them appliances and wanted stainless steel.
Knowing any kind of kitchen upgrade wasn’t an option, I pulled out my paintbrush and determined to make do with what I had. I did the only thing I knew to do… the only thing that I knew would make a big impact on a tiny budget. I painted… everything I could get my hands on. My lower cabinets got a thorough cleaning, some heavy primer and a couple of coats of a greenish-gray color called “White Sage”. The upper glass-door cabinets had their doors removed and were painted the same off-white color as the walls. I added simple corbels from Home Depot to the open cabinets and used painted beadboard wallpaper on the backs.
Open cabinets don’t work for everyone, but I’ve loved them for the 3 years I’ve had them. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to cabinets. It helps that my dishes are white (my mother-in-law has generously handed down tons of white china, including my beloved Johnson Bros. ironstone). It also helps that I kept the doors on several upper cabinets to hide my “uglies”… mismatched glasses, mugs and plastic containers. These cabinets are separated from the rest of the kitchen and sit next to the refrigerator. It makes a great space to tuck the microwave and baking supplies. 
I also knew that new tile wasn’t in the budget. The tile counters aren’t great, but the solid cream tiles worked with what I had. The accent tiles on the backsplash, however, had to go. So, I painted them too… with plain old primer and latex. I wasn’t sure how it would work or hold up, but it anything was better than what was there before. I’m happy to report that 3 years later, the paint has held up just fine. I simply taped off the offending tiles, primed, painted and stenciled over them. It’s a quick and easy fix but makes me feel much happier spending time in my kitchen!
In the 3 years since I took a paintbrush and went to town, we’ve made few changes to the room. We’ve added an indoor/outdoor rug to soften the room and I finally added my perfectly sized butcher block this past summer. I still have big plans for my kitchen and its future (including finding that elusive perfect kitchen table) but I’m happy with the space I have right now… and that isn’t that the whole point behind working with what you’ve got?
Linking up to:
I’m SO ENCOURAGED to see this! We are currently renting my childhood home from my dad (and would love to buy one day). When and if we buy it, I know that there is NO money in our budget for a major remodel. My kitchen is somewhat similar to yours, but the cabinet doors have more of a country style- with bulky trim and “wood panel”s inset (which looks very dated, imo). I’ve thought about taking the cabinets off a long row of 4 cabinets that I have, where I keep most of my dishes. I’ve also thought of similar paint colors. I’m pretty sure I have the same color dishwasher as you (I think the same kind- a bisque Kenmore? or whirlpool? Anyway, similar color. I have been fearful to lighten up the cabinets because of what it would look like. But the BIGGEST BANE of my existence is my fake butcher-block countertop AND backsplash… yep, it goes up the back. I’ve thought of painting my kitchen many times, but between the funky looking doors, dated hardware, and butcher block counter, not sure how much it would help? I have thought of doing one of those painting treatments on the counter and then coming up with an inexpensive backsplash solution. Long-term the counters need to be replaced, but I hate to invest in even laminate. Any suggestions? Should I still think of painting or just live with it?
Your description of your old kitchen made me laugh out loud. Family Ties, great show, bad era for decorating.
Your changes have made such a difference in the kitchen. It may not be your dream kitchen, but it’s pretty great.
I’m not brave enough to have open cabinets, but I love the look.
Sometimes, those things we dream of turn out to be not all they’re cracked up to be. Our stainless fridge gives me fits with streaking and fingerprints and I’ve found that granite can look streaky, too. And don’t get me started on front load washers. We left behind a new top load washer in our old house because the people we were buying our new house from were leaving their front loaders. Well, I miss my top loader every time I do a load. Several times a day!
So, I think your approach to working with what you’ve got and living in a space is very sound. It’s something I need to remind myself to do more often.
You’ve done a fabulous job of making your kitchen light and bright. I’ve heard about living in a space for a year before making changes. I’ve tried to follow that rule in this house, but haven’t always been successful. I think it makes sense to wait, then use what you have even if you can afford major purchases. What you’ve done is very pretty.
LOVE the dining room! Did you make the curtains? I have a similar color dining room but have not thought to have such bold colored curtains. Did you make them… they seem very long… very elegant. LOVE the kitchen ! Great job and happy painting:) did you sand the cabinets before you primed and painted ?
Your kitchen is gorgeous and you should be happy that you aren’t taking the next 20 years to pay it off!
Holly,
Ohhhhhhhh, how I can relate! We moved into our ’40′s house and it had the original countertops. They were so warped. If I had a boy, he would so have loved to use it to play matchbox cars on! Frankly, it was pretty much unusable, although it was otherwise in great shape. It had aluminum edging on it that was very diner-ish looking. I wish they hadn’t been warped, cause I could have worked with how otherwise cool they were.
Luckily as a housewarming gift, my girlfriend bought some stock kitchen counters for me. I chose dark green. What the heck was I thinking!? Couldn’t have chosen beige! Now I look at them and feel “ugh”. I love your kitchen. I, too, don’t have new appliances. I live with them. My major goal is to repaint the cabinets Paris Gray and rip up the five layers of flooring and paint them like you did in the gray and white diamond pattern. I am going to be on the lookout for a butcher block similar to your’s. My kitchen looks roughly the size of your kitchen and it looks great and most importantly, functional in there!
Thanks for reminding me that everything is not hopeless and with just a bit of tweaking, I may get my kitchen to a point that I can live with. Right now, not so much!
Jenny
I love your kitchen….very modern and stylish. I used to think I wanted stainless steel appliances but decided textured white is the best and have kept what I have and love it. No fingerprints. And did the same thing you did……painted the cabinets white and removed some doors. I have ironstone too and love the look of them on display in the open cabinetry. Very country farmhouse euro modern looking.
I think. One thing I did do was update the counters which were butcher block. I changed to black. I love the black but now wish I had kept the butcher
old butcher block. You just couldn’t hurt it. What I am trying to do now is figure out a way to make my refrigerator look built in. I adore your island!!! And your wood floor. xxoo
P.S. I forgot to say. In lieu of the stainless steel appliances, I am looking for some great looking industrial/metal counter stools instead for the worn shiny look.
Oh you are so right about living with a kitchen for a year before making changes, unfortunately, I couldn’t live with mine – only 3′ of counter and 3 cabinets. IMPOSSIBLE, how the heck did anybody live that way??! But now, I know exactly how I would have laid out the space and I’m a little bummed that I can’t change it. Oh well.
I love this makeover, in fact, it’s one of my all-time faves because you didn’t spend a fortune on it and you made it beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
xox
Wow this look fabulous! Dramatic! I can relate to the dark 1970′s looking cabinetry….we just painted ours white and renovated the kitchen a few months ago. White makes it look so much brighter and modern. Love the open cabinet look
Gorgeous! The before picture was hilarious – and you described it perfectly! And painting tile with primer and latex paint – who knew? Such a good tip when you have, ahem, less attractive tile. Amazing job!
Your kitchen looks amazing. I love to see makeovers that don’t break the bank but make a huge impact. It’s the true spirit of DIY! Great job Holly! And props to you for being patient – that’s never easy!
wow! you did an awesome job. I definitely am pinning this.
Lelanie @to-sew-with-love.com
Amazing what a few gallons of paint can accomplish! Love your open cabinets and all your white dishes – and I want that green mixer!
Kelly
I love the transformation. And all it took was some paint and elbow grease and the vision you had for it! I know it was probably hard to wait a whole year, but it looks great. Love that green mixer. It adds a nice pop of color in there. ~ Angie
Holly,
This is an amazing transformation! I’m in awe of the before and after! Thanks for the inspiration!
Beautiful improvement! It doesn’t look like the same space.
A little paint can work wonders.
Now following from my google reader!
Kelly
I love what you did, with paint and determination! Love the open cabinets and the corbels! Brilliant!
~ Laurie @ Vin’yet Etc.
Holly, that’s a great transformation! The kitchen looks so light and open now. I especially love the island. (Congrats on getting this accepted to dwellinggawker!)