As a cookbook creator {and professional} meals blogger who can also be a busy guardian, I exploit my kitchen rather a lot. A LOT! As a result of it’s not solely my residence—it’s my workspace, too!
After 10 years of regularly re-designing our small kitchen in our heads, Alex and I lastly took the plunge: we moved! The brand new kitchen we discovered had nice bones, it simply wanted some design aptitude. So, we spent hours and hours on Pinterest designing our dream house. We’re so excited to share it with you at this time, so to have kitchen design concepts to your personal initiatives!
The look we wished
I’m so excited to share with you ways this kitchen renovation got here out—particularly in case you’ve been studying since our first kitchen renovation in 2013 and this kitchen refresh in 2021. (Trying again particularly on the primary one, it’s fascinating to see how types have modified!)
You’ll not imagine the quantity of hours I spent on Pinterest attempting to determine how to do that!
Alex and I really like the present pattern in British designed kitchen (significantly DeVOL), which makes use of conventional design shapes, unlacquered brass fixtures, and traditional historical-inspired colours.
We additionally wished to design one thing that seemed like a cooking present set, since we use this kitchen in our Instagram cooking movies.
After we priced out some issues with a designer and builder, we determined with Alex’s constructing abilities and my design abilities, we may try this kitchen renovation ourselves. (Eek!)
Doing the work ourselves was less expensive. It was additionally much more anxious (clearly). This additionally meant we may design as we went, making it a enjoyable (and generally anxious) collaborative challenge for the 2 of us.
(Right here Alex and I are on the finish of the challenge: we did it! Since we’re not skilled designers, we weren’t truly certain if we may.)
The design challenge: earlier than
After dwelling in the identical residence for 10 years, Alex and I just lately moved to a house on the identical avenue. (Let me let you know, shifting 6 homes down is simply as painful as shifting throughout city!)
The home was constructed within the 1920’s initially, however was fully flipped by a contractor. They added some good touches, however the kitchen design was fairly generic. What we beloved about it was the bones: an enormous island, an precise stroll in butlers pantry (targets!), and a espresso bar space.
What we didn’t love: the generic really feel, the blueish greenish grayish cupboard colour that was all over the place (an excessive amount of!), the higher cupboards above the vary (making it really feel closed in), and the unfinished really feel of the espresso bar space.
The kitchen renovation—after!
Welcome to our new, heat inviting kitchen house! A whole lot of the {hardware} and lighting within the “earlier than” kitchen design had been decrease high quality metals and off-the shelf designs. We realized to get the customized look we wished, we’d want to switch plenty of the {hardware}.
Fortunately, we had been in a position to accomplice with our dream model: Rejuvenation, to carry this house to life! (Nonetheless pinching ourselves that we started working with this unbelievable model.) All of their {hardware} is so top quality: each purposeful and delightful, which is what we’re obsessive about on the subject of design. (And recipes, truly!) They supplied a few of the {hardware}, lighting, and bars stools in these photographs to assist carry our imaginative and prescient to life.
Right here’s what we modified:
1. Modified out all of the {hardware} to unlacquered brass.
We love the way it got here out: it feels so heat with historic vibes. You’ll not imagine the distinction {hardware} makes! If you wish to make a serious change to your kitchen house, think about simply altering out the {hardware}.
We used these Massey bin pull, Ball knobs, and Grace drawer pulls from Rejuvenation.
2. Tore out the higher cupboards and constructed a brand new hood.
This was probably the most dangerous a part of the design! We truly pulled off the cupboards ourselves (which was terrifying!) and designed and constructed this hood that may be a extra right dimension for the vary. We love how open it makes it and it’s a pleasant white backdrop for our cooking movies.
We additionally put in an off-the-shelf open shelving unit that we painted to associate with the cupboards. We like how the open shelving shows our most used and beloved kitchen gadgets. After all, we all know many individuals have opinions on open shelving! Be happy to share them within the feedback.
3. Bought a brand new AGA induction vary.
Isn’t she fairly? That is the AGA Elise 36″ induction vary. (We obtained a small low cost from the model for that includes this product—thanks AGA!)
We’re 100% obsessive about cooking on induction, so we knew we wished to vary out the fuel vary for induction. Right here’s why we find it irresistible: It’s higher for the setting, means simpler to wash, and heats up so quick: you’ll be able to boil an enormous pot of water in simply 1 minute! The expertise is magnets, so it’s safer than burning fuel in your house.
Learn our complete put up about Why We Love Cooking on an Induction Vary right here.
In the event you bear in mind our final kitchen renovation, we had the ILVE Majestic II. We truly just like the Elise significantly better—however undecided if you wish to go into the depths of induction vary nerdery. You probably have particular questions, please ask within the feedback under!
4. Modified out the sink and pot filler.
We modified our sink and pot filler to the Rejuvenation Davoli faucet and pot filler. They’ve a extra traditional-looking design, and we love the way it got here out! It actually made an enormous distinction to the general look as soon as we obtained them in.
Is a pot filler in a kitchen price it? Functionally, I might say no. The kitchen we purchased got here with one, so we changed it within the design. I do love the way it seems! However I wouldn’t say it’s that rather more helpful than going over to my sink to fill a pot. (Simply my opinion!)
4. Modified out the lighting.
This made a HUGE distinction. I’m obsessive about these Rejuvenation Viola Pendants. The second we obtained them put in, it made the house. They’re elegant, refined, and stylish: not attempting too exhausting.
5. Painted the cupboards.
The colour we inherited made the kitchen have very cool tones and we wished to heat it up. So after a lot debate, I discovered a paint colour that I beloved: Sherwin Williams Sandbar. We went for it and obtained fortunate! We love the way it warmed all the things up whereas nonetheless remaining impartial.
In an excellent world, I’d love wooden cupboards and/or a wood island. We should sometime exchange the island to be wooden, however for now we left the unique colour. I really like a contrasting island and it really works right here.
6. Added some stools, pot rack, and little particulars.
I additionally actually love how these Harper stools warmed up the house! One other massive change was hanging a brass bar to showcase our favourite pots and pans. We modified out another little particulars: modified outlet covers to be unlacquered brass, added a tiny lamp, and many others.
