We've had the kitchen done for a while now, but here is our official "Before and After" post.
If I haven't said this yet, there were drop ceilings throughout the house when we bought it. It was a foreclosure and looked like it either had been rental property or someone was trying to convert it into rental property. The first thing we did was rip out all the carpet (it was old!) and remove the drop ceilings. (They made you feel claustrophobic!)
For the kitchen we completed the following renovations:
- Scrapped the old tile floors (there were several underneath the top layer of linoleum) to reveal the pine wood floor. Tommy sanded and finished the floor and it is beautiful!
- There was no stove, so we bought and installed a new stainless one along with a microwave and dishwasher. (There was a washing machine where the stove should have been when we first moved in.)
- Removed the cabinets and reconfigured some of them on another wall (painting them as well using a Rust-Oleum Cabinet Transformations Kit), along with restaurant-style open shelving from IKEA.
- Gutted, insulated and put up new drywall.
- Installed a restaurant-style sink with a sprayer (I love to cook). We purchased the sink and sprayer from Wild Oats when they went out of business years ago. It's truly awesome and professional!
- Brought in our trusty old GE fridge and painted it from jade green to white. We can't bring ourselves to replace it with a new one yet. It's quiet, efficient and drinks stay super cold! The freezer is small, so we have a chest freezer in the basement.
- Though you can't see it in the photos, we removed a part of the wall by the refrigerator to create a doorway into the dining room. This opened the space up quite a bit.
- Installed a new window.
- Removed a wall panel to reveal a brick chimney.
- Painted, installed new lights (track and hanging) and an industrial-style ceiling fan.
- Installed new counter tops.
Though our "open kitchen" concept may not appeal to everyone, I've loved it and will do the same renovation in our next house if it doesn't already have it. I love being able to see my dishes and be able to grab them at a moment's notice when I'm cooking. Having open shelving also helps me see what I have instantly and helps me not forget I have certain things. I also like our stainless cart because it serves many purposes. It is a table for eating, extra counter space for cooking, storage for my large kitchen tools and is a great buffet table during a party!