Making a House a Home: Light & Bright Kitchen Update
FIVE MONTHS! We have been in our new home for five months and we FINALLY have most of the work in the kitchen done. It was fun to select our finishes, but this process is certainly not for the impatient (it’s me!) because it feels like forever when you are waiting for things to be built, measured, cut, etc. However, we definitely kept busy with other projects around the house in the meantime. We are still painting and unpacking, and we did a lot of decorating for Christmas! We’ll just say that I have more than 1 Christmas tree and less than 10…
The Project.
When we visited this home for the first time, it was not on the market so we did not know what to expect. While the location, lot size, and layout were just what we were looking for…most of the house itself was straight from the 90s. As soon as we saw the kitchen, we knew it was going to be a priority project. We love to cook and bake together, so we wanted the kitchen to be a place we loved.
Except for the appliances, the kitchen was very outdated. It even had a classic 90s kitchen desk and a trash compactor! The cabinets were oak, which I know some folks like (hi, mom), but they are not our style AND they stuck and some of the drawers were broken. The worst part was probably the blue laminate that was on the counters AND on the WALLS. I don’t think I have ever seen a blue laminate backsplash before!
The contractor we used for the kitchen (except the backsplash) was CNC Homes Inc. out of Roanoke, Indiana. If you are local, I highly recommend them for your kitchens and bathrooms.
The Plan.
Our house is in the woods so at certain times there is not a lot of natural light. The wood floors, wood cabinets, and dark countertops made the space dark, so we wanted everything to be bright, white, and light! We chose simple white cabinets and mirror/acrylic details. We also incorporated wood and metal items (like the bar stools) to bring the floor and the cabinets/hardware together.
The Paint.
When we paint, we always use Behr paint + primer in one from The Home Depot. It covers well and is easy to work with. For the kitchen we used the color “barely brown”.
The Cabinets.
Our cabinets were custom made by River Woodworking in Shipshewana, Indiana. They are shaker style and cabinet height. The previous cabinets had a fairly large gap between the top of the cabinet and the ceiling. The island color is Biltmore (Benjamin Moore) and the rest of the cabinets are Sterling (Benjamin Moore). We love the deep drawers in the island, and the other cabinets have trays and pullouts. We also did a pullout trash can and recycle bin (we missed this from our old house), and a tip-out under the kitchen sink.
The Countertops.
The countertops are quartz from Cambria. The design is Berwyn. I WISH the sparkle and shine would show up in pictures! The main reason we chose this one is because of the silver sparkle veins that run through the surface. I might just have to do a video so you can see it!
The Backsplash.
We purchased our backsplash from Lowe’s. It is marble with mirror accents. It looks great with the hardware and countertops, and the mirror details give it some glam and brightness. The grout is avalanche (white).
The Appliances, Fixtures, and Hardware.
At least for the time being, we are keeping the refrigerator, microwave, and dishwasher that came with the house. However, we did order a new range because we wanted a double oven. This is particularly useful so we can cook regular and gluten free foods at the same time. We chose this Samsung range because it checked all the boxes (and then some!). It has a double oven option, but the door can also function as a single door. It also has an air fry option, illuminated knobs so you can see if the burners are on, and a smart dial.
We transformed the desk area into a beverage station. We added a wine and beverage fridge and everything beverage related is stored in this area. I love having a one stop shop for all our hot and cold drinks. We really wanted a dual zone unit so we could store sodas and beer, as well as wine.
Our new kitchen faucet came from Amazon. It is very affordable and well made. Unlike other similar faucets, this one is designed to dispense cold water when you pull the handle forward instead of hot. This is a great safety feature for yourself or little ones.
I chose the hardware for the cabinets before we even selected a backsplash. I knew I wanted something acrylic with some personality. We found a few choices at hardware stores, but they were fairly expensive. We ended up purchasing these from Amazon and they were super affordable in comparison.
The Accessories & Decor.
I am still on the hunt for some kitchen accessories and decor items, but this is what I have purchased so far.
Our range won’t be here until next month, and we need to have some electrical work done so we can change the light fixture above the island…but we are REALLY happy with how it has turned out so far.
Is there anything you would like to change in your kitchen?
Katie G.