Crisp, classic, and warm! I love it.

I don't mean to diminish the work you did - it looks very nice. Although the remodel looks nice, it is a pity that for reasons of style alone you felt a need to get rid of an entire set of kitchen appliances - microwave, fridge, oven/range and dishwasher. What did you do with the preexisting appliances? Are they now in a landfill? Even if you bought Energy star appliances, it is still more environmentally friendly to use the old ones for as long as possible before switching over.

Beauty beauty beauty.

the butcher block looks so much better than the laminate! your kitchen looks great!
Somehow I doubt the appliances are sitting in a landfill, more likely they gave them away or sold them to someone.

How do you know they didn't sell them? I wouldn't make assumptions Sasha2.

Hi Sasha2, we would NEVER just thow appliances into a landfill. We did sell them on craiglist to a happy landlord. If we had not sold them they would have gone to Habitat Restore since we're lucky enough to have a location in Durham. Thanks for checking in though we have to keep each other accountable!

So nice! I love all the colors - and the bamboo shades and butcher block counters really warmed things up. I love it!

I love all the updates except for the microwave - That's just too low!

Amy obviously answered Sasha's questions very nicely. But I also would describe the change in stoves as being one of "style alone." Changing to a gas stove = cooking awesomeness. I would rather have a cheap gas stove than the most high end glass surface electric range.

It looks wonderful! So much warmer with the butcher block and love the texture of the shades. My husband and I just installed an over the range micro and there was a definite recommended distance for gas stoves (vs. electric) and it seems a little tight.

I really like it. The new countertops look fantastic. And I also like the wall color. :)

I'm really starting to love AT's loose definition of "budget."
Because butcher block countertops and subway tile certainly aren't in mine.

Beautiful! Not only does it now look "Chad and Amy" but it looks like agusta too! I love that you kept the cabinets! It's amazing what a little paint and some new apliances can do!
Great Job!

It looks so much warmer and cozier. Love the re-do!

You have done such an amazing job turning this room around (not that there was anything wrong with it in the first place). You have managed to make it really feel like a home as opposed to just another room in a house.

Medeina @ http://whencatsfish.blogspot.com/

Great job, very well done. The self appointed judges now have their answer as to what was done/not done with the old appliances, happy now. Never "ass"ume anything.

Who is Brad?
Or is he Chad?

I swear, why is it every time someone has to push thier own personal agenda on here. This article was about a makeover not recycling. Nice job Amy!

Love the butcher block counters, though I agree w/ bodicegoddess that they are not typically a "budget" item.

Also, it looks like you added crown molding - is it real and did you do that throughout your house?

*moulding, I meant

What treatment was used on the countertops? I have the same and am still in the midst of sanding and oiling (and sanding and oiling). Mine certainly don't have the lustre/shine I see in these pics.
Nice job btw.

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!! A flawless example of keeping some period detail, while updating the kitchen with the neccesities for modern life. And to discover it was thoughtful in terms of environmental impact is the icing on the cake.
Man, I can not say enough great things about this makeover.

Much better! Very impressive! Looks very cozy and inviting.

"I'm really starting to love AT's loose definition of "budget."
Because butcher block countertops and subway tile certainly aren't in mine."

Just because they're not in YOUR budget doesn't mean they weren't within someone elses.

"Love the butcher block counters, though I agree w/ bodicegoddess that they are not typically a "budget" item."

You might be surprised to know that you can get a 12' long maple butcherblock countertop from Lumber Liquidators for $369
http://www.lumberliquidators.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=1471&WT.mc_id=CSE_Cashback_07
That's a great deal less than granite or solid surfacing...

Sweet, and gigantic! I'll save this post for daydream inspiration.

Amy, may I ask where you got the bamboo shades? I know I can probably find one just about anywhere, but yours look so lovely in your kitchen and I am in need of some new shades! Please share! :-) Your kitchen redo is beautiful!!

"I'm really starting to love AT's loose definition of "budget."
Because butcher block countertops and subway tile certainly aren't in mine."

..have you not seen the butcherblock counters at ikea yet?

I understand they may have not even come from there, but at this point they are just about the most affordable countertop option on the market.

..It is amazing how impossibly judgy many of the AT posters have become as of late. So much of the negative postings smacks highly of jealousy.

To the owners: This is a great redo! I really like the cabinet colors, and the curved open shelving. We highly considered a Butcherblock counter top as an affordable replacement to our white laminate, but my wife is certain we would destroy it. It definitely warms up the space.

To address a couple questions brought up, I copied this from Amy's website:

"Our new butcher block beauties came from IKEA and we paid less than $350 for two 8 foot pieces. Four coats of Waterlox sealer keep them shiny and wipe-able."

Budget envy appears a lot on AT, yet even the least moneyed of us commenters might seem enviable from the perspective of most people living today. Conversely, that some have less and some have more--always--doesn't make it wrong for me to enjoy what I have for now. Disparity is part of the human condition, and won't be resolved on AT.

Subway tiles are very inexpensive at any discount hardware store. I love the butcher block counter top! I've been considering the same one for my kitchen. You've also inspired me to do my bottom cupboards a darker color than my top cupboards. It looks amazing!

If subway tiles are out of your budget, then check building and construction recycling centers, which collect the new, in-box leftover tiles. You can get them for a song.

Love the butcher block counter!!

And also the blinds on the french doors.

-Chic Done Cheap

Thanks guys! We agree that the microwave is too low. We are definitely looking into better options - likely a new slimmer hood and microwave on the long counter. Thanks for all the feedback!

looks super. I hope you're very happy with all of the changes, Amy. :-)

Great job! This is a perfect example of how to modernize your kitchen, or make it to your taste without a total gut. Please, AT, more of these!

AmyWhited --

I've seen on HGTV where they've had thier handyman modify existing cabinets to allow space for a micro-hood - Seems that with your creativity and connections, you could get help to accomplish the same thing in your space.

This is 'budget'? Classy, Classy!

@janet2333, I found this link to the blinds in the Copy That section of their blog; they said they were the same ones they have:

http://www.amazon.com/Lewis-Hyman-0108134-Alternating-Matchstick/dp/B000O29TLU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1291232957&sr=8-1-catcorr

Love the reno!

The tiles are laid in a subway style. They are just regular 3 x 6 tiles - I just saw them at Home Depot for 33 cents each.

If your budget doesn't allow for 33 cent tiles, perhaps you're not ready for a kitchen renovation. Stop crying.

Wow! Lots of haters. I think the kitchen looks fantastic.

Love the red accents. I've been adding a few of those into my beige and white kitchen and love the pop of color--the lamp is awesome. It would be a joy to cook in this kitchen!

Great job! It's inspiring what can be done with budget friendly upgrades like tile and butcher block counters and some elbow grease.

my husband and I are remodeling our really crappy looking house. It has good bones, but gosh it is GROSS. We are on a very tight budget...so plan on purchasing the *ikea* butcher block and simple white subway tiles from Lowe's!! I think it is the most affordable way to get the look we like, and it will be a much-needed improvement from our current kitchen of ugliness.

The one redeeming quality is that our kitchen is almost 500 square feet!!! I can collect kitchen gadgets and odds and ends to my heart's content!! :-)

I love what you have accomplished in your budget kitchen update... I would surely love to move in to this kitchen after the update!

Personally, there is the whole different strokes for different folks in every encounter and AT is no different. But I'm surely envious of your kitchen!

I think you did a lovely job. It's EXACTLY how I envision my own kitchen remodel right down to the shade of green!

love the red lamp!!!!

Hadn't even noticed the crown moulding until earlier poster pointed it out, but does it ever add that lovely final touch!
Impressive reno. Sweet one, too.

Great Job! Would love to know paint color. Thnx!

Beautiful and very well done!

Although some of the finishes may not be to my personal taste, the overall look is very very cozy!!! I would love to wake up to that kitchen any day. I love the darker lower cabinets. I didn't notice it at first, but it really helps to draw the eye upward. The open end cabinet additions are a great idea too. Thank you for sharing your inspiration with us.

wha, pretty =)=)

but the "Before" looks very neat and 'poised' too, I like the before act.. =( well, the world's made up of diff people!!

Very nice. Very close to what I want to do in my kitchen. Butcher block countertops are actually very affordable, they are available at Ikea and Lumber Liquidators (a little thicker than Ikea) for a very good price. And, you can use them with an undermount sink.

May I ask what color you used on the lower cabinets?

Glad you kept the existing cabinets. They have a lot of charm.

Love the two different color cabinets, really great. I think the butcher block was an excellent choice, really fabulous in your style kitchen. I am not normally a fan of a desk in the kitchen area, but I think you integrated better than most of those Mc Mansion type layouts. Lovely job indeed. Bravo!

Lovely - very well done, and beautiful choices of quality without extravagance.

Can we please stop attacking everyone's feedback?

It's a very nice kitchen! Butcher block is a nice choice, not my thing, but it really helped to warm up the space!

I also love that you kept the original cabinetry and went with a fresh paint job. The only problem I have is that - from the photos - it looks like the bottom cabinet next to the fridge is different than the side with the sink. I'm a little OCD with continuity. :D

Very nice!

From their website: "bottom cabinets are Benjamin Moore’s Brandon Beige and our kitchen walls are Glidden’s Gentle Tide"

Gentle Tide was also used in Young House Love's first house

This is a really beautiful reno! I agree that the microwave is low, but that's easily fixable down the road.

I really like it Amy... good job!

May I ask where you found the red lamp? LOVE it!!

Also love the subway tile. We did the backsplash around our entire kitchen in black subway tile this summer--in a pretty decent-sized kitchen, the tile came in at less than $60 total. I'd call that a definite budget choice (certainly compared to the glass tile I originally wanted, which would have come in at about $500), and I love how it came out!

Fresh and warm - it must make you smile every time you walk into the room!

Amy--
Which Ikea counters did you get? The birch or the oak? I'd like to do the same thing, and want my counters to look exactly like yours. I'm even contemplating a trip to Askew Taylor (from all the way over in Chapel Hill).