The Kitchen

July 1, 2016

 
Our kitchen was one of the very first things we remodeled (secondary to our bathroom) and I have to admit it was slightly thrown together. Not the craftsmanship, but the design. I was very new to the whole remodeling scene and had absolutely no idea where to begin. To say I was overwhelmed is an understatement. Not only do you need to have a layout in mind but it's incredibly important to research the specific cabinetry you love, the reveal you want, hardware, decorative ends or not, countertops and appliance placement. I've personally always loved the fresh feel of lighter cabinetry so having that to initially base things around was extremely helpful in pulling together a look that fit our families style.



 
The room started off as two separate spaces, dining and kitchen (you'll see below). Knowing we wanted a big area to stand around during parties and to cook together as a family required removing that wall to make one large space. The wall dividing the room once was where our island is now.
 


I also wanted to make sure our island was close to the stove so any food prep could be easily moved over to bake.


Jesse made me farmhouse open shelves and they still remain one of my favorite things in our kitchen.


We went with black hardware versus brushed nickel to add some contrast.

 
Our chalkboard was actually a recent addition that Jesse custom built too (yes, he rocks) to write sayings on and our summer, fall and winter bucket-lists that we've been pretty excited about!


Our kitchen gets the most natural light in the evenings, which I love with the window above the sink looking into our also very bright sunroom.


We plan to upgrade to quartz or granite countertops (at the time our budget allowed for one or the other and were recommended to get the highest quality cabinetry opposed to counters as its always easier to upgrade countertops versus cabinets later on). We also need pendant lighting above our island which for 3 years now I've been indecisive on what exactly I want, going back and forth between glass and matte black. (I have found several options from Pottery Barn that I do love.) Lastly, we plan to place a half cast-iron black railing on the steps to compliment our hardware.

Source List:
 Jute Rug from Pottery Barn | Apple wire basket from Kirklands | Weathered Terra Cotta planter tutorial here | 1 gallon glass flour and sugar jars Walmart | iPad cutting board holder Hobby Lobby | Wicker basket planters and sage plants Ikea | glass soap dispenser Ikea | Vintage milk bottle measuring cups Magnolia Market (which since have sold out but similar ones and dare I say better here) | Ceramic white strainer and Large white metal strainer Kohls | Chalkboard Boxwood wreath Décor Steals
 
 
BEFORE: