Looks like he added a ton of storage space....nice job on the new layout too!

@YUL - What would you have them do, bright purple cabinets? The "before" kitchen didn't stand out at all. It was boring, bland, and beige. The new kitchen, while being updated in a way that seems common, stands out because it's very well-designed and draws attention to those very high ceilings.

So much could have been done with the previous kitchen - decluttering, paint, hip accessories. This mania for the "new" . . . . . don't know.

Before kitchen, while out of style, was lighter and more open. By choosing dark counters, dark cabinets and dark floors, the overall effect of the new space is dark. And busy with those oversized cabinet pulls. I think they added too many cabinets for the space, and the fridge placement seems to be crowding the space. But maybe it's just the pictures. It's hard to get good pictures of darker colors when light is coming in the windows.

And I LOVE the cabinet hardware. I can't stand puny knobs and pulls. But as I've said before, what a dull world it would be if we all wanted precisely the same thing. And Frank can hang a dish towel any where he wants :)

With these links back to old posts, I sometimes forget where to put a comment. I accidentally put the following on that old thread...

Impressive job, but you lost me at the 240 boxes. The only person I know who did an Ikea kitchen ran onto the same issue -- everything big and small came in its own box. How can that be Eco friendly or efficient? When I did a kitchen remodel, the semi-custom cabinets came in a truck, all at once, with minimal wrapping.

I can't see how Ikea can keep the profit comIng in if two computers and five hours of an employee's time are tied up on one kitchen order. It seems to be a poorly planned use of resources.

Mid-C Frank, I love that you used a schluter at the edge of your wall tile. My big pet peeve is an unfinished edge being exposed when the tile abruptly ends. Good job!

Those giant cutlery???!!!!

Wow, so many negative comments. My first thought was "Oh, please..let it not be another white kitchen. I LOVE everything about this kitchen including the large 'forks' on the wall.
I actually think the floor plan is perfect with all the storage and love the handles. I would love to do this same thing with the exception of the cabinets..I want smooth cabinets...no design on them at all...flat fronts.

For those complaining about the big pulls, just look at the utensils hanging on the wall. It is obvious Frank has enormous hands. Give him a break. ;-)

Frank, I like the pulls - I had some simalar to these on my Bulthaup cabinets in my old place.

That layout is an improvement, including the use of the closet area for cupboards. The emphasis on the vertical space is a great improvement. It is much calmer than the previous space, and when you're working with the tasks of food preparation and storage, it's better to have a calming space (new kitchen) than a frantic one (previous kitchen layout and design).

I do, however, have one question. Where does the broom go? (Mop, vacuum, etc.) I've been looking at house plans and am surprised by how many do not have room for the storage of basic household necessities like that. Do the people who design houses not actually live in houses? Is there still a tradition of men designing houses with little regard to the traditional female responsibilities of caring for the home and the needs associated with cooking, house cleaning, laundry, child care, etc.? The kitchen triangle (which was developed by a woman) is in general use, but that is an exception to many common-sense advances in efficiency that should be incorporated into good home and appliance design.

@ADonuts - I don't keep a broom, mop, or vacuum in the kitchen. Those items are usually in the pantry, garage, storage closet, or front hall closet. I know people who keep their vacuum in a guest bathroom...nowadays, your broom, mop, and vacuum go wherever you want it to go.

All those sharp-cornered handles at hip/groin level make me cringe a bit.

Well, I have pretty much the same kitchen as Frank. Same cabinets, very similar granite counters, and very similar pulls. Oh, and green paint as well. I guess we are not that original, but those "before" cabinets had to go and if budget is a concern, IKEA only offers a handful of choices. There have been about 5 milion all white kitchens on AP now- I would think some darker shades would be a welcome change at this point.

LOL Duane Hill! :)

Those handles look so ouchy! I'd be bumping into them and bruising myself all the time while cooking, etc. I would have opted for something flatter. Otherwise I like the redesign.

congrats on the new kitchen,
it looks pretty good!

However, the handles look pretty bad, its a minor fix, and your kitchen will look 10x better!

keep them for the tall cabinets, but switch ALL of the ones on the wide and square ones, it's pretty distracting in a bad way, opt for something more simple on those ones like a simple stainless steel pull or peg

Ding ding ding! Winner winner, chicken dinner! Wow! It's like you took a rental apartment kitchen and swapped it out for a high-end gourmet kitchen out of a mansion!

It is much darker, but that's a STYLE folks. Some people prefer darker kitchens (and homes) with richer hues. I think it will age perfectly fine, and it looks like it will be easy to update as time goes on.

LOVE IT!

@PI - the devil's advocate might argue that the broom and mop are going in the garage, pantry, or wherever because there is no place for them in the kitchen.

It does seem that broom closets have fallen out of favor. Perhaps we can start an architectural trend of turning all spear closets into actual, usuable closets. Swiffer, spear - same general size and shape :)

I don't understand what people expect. They yawn about a white kitchen, they yawn about a wood kitchen. Kitchens are expensive, and they need to be built to last. It's not a place to be crazy trendy.

I think it looks lovely, and I like that you turned what had been a closet into a little bar type area with a prep sink (love prep sinks!) - but I'm a little sad that you seem to have closed up the entranceway to the dining room a bit. I'm curious about why you did that?

hey! I have the same (before) cabinets! Would've loved to see something done with the old ones by repainting or something instead of completely replacing them.

First thing I notice is... (gawd forbid) Kitchen Fire! now you only have one exit where before you had two. Not well thought out. :o(

I think it's lovely, pulls and all. I would enjoy cooking in that room.

Actually, I kind of like the retro feel of the old kitchen floor and the black/white backsplash.
If I were going to do a makeover with the existing old kitchen, I would have painted out the cabinets, gotten rid of all the stuff on the fridge, and de-cluttered a bit.

I am not a fan of the long pulls/handles on the new cabinetry, but the space does look fresher and more modern. I'm sure Frank enjoys cooking and even cleaning up, in his new kitchen.

I don't get it. Everyone here raves and raves about kitchens where every last surface is painted white, but a great looking combination of wood and stone is boring? I for one love the changes and would be happy as a clam if I never saw a white on white on white kitchen here again. WHITE is boring.

I cannot believe someone commented that the before "had charm." I mean, I can, because there are always Those People on a before and after post, but that before was truly unloveable. Of course he picked stainless appliances, what was he going to choose, black?! God.

I think it looks very masculine and cozy, Mid-C Frank. Not every kitchen needs to be white and bright. The pulls are cool.

And by the way, you can paint out those crappy laminate cabinets with the built in handles ALL DAY LONG and they will still look like crappy laminate cabinets with builts in handles. This was not a 40s vintage kitchen people. Get a grip on yourselves.

Also! Did you not notice that he made major changes to the layout? It's actually bigger AND more functional. This wasn't just a quick cosmetic makeover.

Not my taste but nice job. I am happy to see a kitchen that does not have a magnetic rack of knives. When I see them, I can't help but think that DeMagneto will pass through the room and someone will lose a foot or the cat will lose an eye. Irrational I know but I am irrational about knives.

OK. Some people love white. Some people insist on wood. Some people think kitchens need to be classic for resale. Some people say the owners MUST express themselves.

But seriously, I never thought I would live to see someone write, "I kind of like the retro feel of the old kitchen floor" about SHEET VINYL. Retro? The devil's handiwork is now "retro"? I've had that exact stuff people. Yes, it's all some (me, for instance) can afford at times, but God bless them, and let's hope their fortunes increase.

Happy Frank was able to realize his dream kitchen. Would that we were all so blessed. Don't see much of improvement in the overall layout although, admittedly, I would have likely make the same decision(s) given the options while attempting to stay within budget. Love the double wall ovens. Sometimes, ya just gotta take the bad with the good. Job well done!

On a purely personal note, I have those same, hideous, 'before' cabinets....which I'm about to paint to buy some time til I can afford my own dream kitchen. Yup, they'll still look like what they are. But in all their painted glory, they'll make the environment in which I spend much of time time much more inviting. When my dreams are finally realized, my kitchen will not remobely resemble Frank's. Neither will it be all white. For the life of me, I cannot understand why people invest so much with resale value in mind. Life's too short, Really.

Go Frank Go!

*remotely* (and various other, less critical, typos)

Definitely a worthwhile update. The layout and the cabinets are a smart change. But the Ikea lighting and the door pulls seem a little off. Those are two things that would have been good to source someplace other than Ikea.

I think it's a great improvement and I am one of those who favor and love white kitchens. The only thing that I don't like about this one is the choice in counter top ( backsplash tile is lovely). Black counters just make me think of modern 80's furniture.

Are you people crazy, 'the before has charm'?! WHAT?! While I prefer a bright kitchen, the after looks far better. And I don't know why people complain about the fridge being too close or cramped. I don't know about you, but if I'm cooking, I want the refrigerator close to me not on the other side of the room. By the way, so what if it's 'generic' and common, the before cupboards were the generic and common ones from about 10-15 yrs ago. I'm very curious what makes your kitchens so original, are they made out of crack or something because then I'd understand your comments. :D
I really like the hardware choices and the black brick backsplash.I think you did a great job, Frank!

I personally really like the before with all its potential for a fun makeover with no major changes. So much character there already...

But, even though the before is a little more my style, I think they did a great job. They added a lot more storage, the layout has better flow, and it looks sleek. And the hardware, while maybe not my style, gives it character. And don't forget the giant flatware... :)

Good lord, the before didn't have charm! I've had those cabinets and they are pure ugly, and not well made at all. I think it's a big improvement.

I think this was a tremendous upgrade to your home. I have an Ikea kitchen too, it's white and fun. But no matter what the color is,, I think new "gourmet" kitchens with their stainless steel appliances (like my own) need to carry charm and it's pretty much up to the individual to bring character to it. Could the first kitchen have been transformed without a reno? I think so, I've seen sooo many homes here on this site where people show inventiveness, creativity, and an awesome eye for style and they seem to beautifully recreate the old! The new kitchen is more updated and created way more functional and who can complain about wanting more cabinet space or a more comfortable area to cook and entertain, c'mon! So bottom line is, what a great job, it doesn't matter so much to me that I have seen quite a few of the same cabs/handles/appliances, it was a great job (gee, just removing the old, overpopulated with magnets fridge is such a relief!!!)

I love it, handles and all.

When did 1980's era builders grade kitchens become charming? The new kitchen is a huge improvement, no matter your taste.

What a great redo! I love it. I have that awful linoleum in my all white kitchen too and I hate it. Can't wait to rip that stuff out. I'm totally inspired by your changes. Thanks for sharing it.

I love the handles and would imagine that it makes opening the cabinets faster and easier. I'm pretty clumsy and have large hands, so those handles look like a dream to me.

I have those cabinet pulls and I totally love them! They are like jewelry... some people like a lot and some a little. I like a lot of jewelry and really big statement cabinet pulls.

To JukesGrrl
You wrote:

But seriously, I never thought I would live to see someone write, "I kind of like the retro feel of the old kitchen floor" about SHEET VINYL. Retro?

Well, you did it, girlfriend. You lived to see someone write,"I kind of like the retro feel of the old kitchen floor"...

It was I. I did it. I said it. I didn't know it was linoleum. So sue me for being ignorant.

And thank you for the well-wishes. I hope my fortunes increase, too.

I have those same "before" cabinets in my apartment, and believe me people, they are anything BUT charming. No amount of paint or anything could make them better, I promise. This is an improvement, big-time, and while it is not my taste to go that dark, it is well-done and it suits THEM. Good thing you folks that don't like it don't have to live with it. I would probably love how I could hang my towels all over those handles.

I like it!

Most of the handles look good, but the smaller cabinets/drawers need smaller pulls :(
The kitchen has been done well and it's a shame that 50% of the handles are distracting (especially in the first picture.)

If you can get handles that are the same (or smaller) length as the "inner indent" (is there a term for that?) of the cabinet face, it would make it look really polished and complete. As somebody said earlier, the taller cabinets look great with the handles, because they aren't overpowering.

The materials are beautiful and it must've cost a bundle. It's interesting what people prioritize. Frank has made the kitchen even more private (narrowing one door and closing off another). Faced with this remodel I would've been compelled to take out part of the wall and gone for the dining room counter/bar reach through to be able to recruit cooks and chatters around dinner time. It's interesting to see a post that retains the closed kitchen. Thanks for sharing your hard work.

Good job Frank! Looks about a million times better.

Disagree with Yul. It's classic, not generic. Anything that veers towards the international style of modernism is frowned upon by the posters on this website. The handles are fine because the wood need to be broken up and balanced with a different texture. Though it would be an improvement to get smaller ones for the sliding drawers.

The amount of space is sacrificed for the placement of the refrigerator, but it's the right choice. Functionally, it's good to have the ovens in the less cramped part of the kitchen. And aesthetically, it gives warmth to the space.

"When did 1980's era builders grade kitchens become charming? The new kitchen is a huge improvement, no matter your taste."

Totally agree with this comment. The new kitchen is not really my style, but who cares. It's eons better than the old one, which was cheap and nasty.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to jazz up the original cabinets without painting/replacing? We have the exact same ones in our apartment. They're super gross.

Looks fab!

One big difference I see is the lack of clutter in the new kitchen. More cabinets = less stuff out and more counter space. Can't see the new frige but I bet it doesn't have 50 magnets on it.

Wish the stove was gas but that may not have been available.

Good job Frank! Not every man is up for remodeling kitchens :)

Anyone who thinks that the before kitchen had charm is more than welcome to the same cupboards from my place. Heck I'll even deliver them, speak up if you want them. Love the after space, that's the one I want when I get rid of my 'charming' old stuff.

Beautiful job. But for the life of me, I don't understand why people don't incorporate counter-depth refrigerators when buying new appliances for a complete remodel. And there was room to spare if he had done so.

@AROMINES -- I had the same "before" cabinets in my old kitchen. Because I was on a budget and new cabinets are often the biggest expense, I kept the old cabinet frames/bases and had my contractor make simple new doors out of wood. And then the entire cabinets were painted white. I also got new countertops, backsplash, floor, appliances and knobs. It looked like an entirely brand new kitchen (and it was, except for the cabinet bases/frames). Saved money but I probably wouldn't make the same choices in a "forever" home. The old cabinets frames were still fake wood, but then so are Ikea's.

Sorry - just noticed that you want ideas that do not involve painting. I don't have an answer for that. I considered painting just the "wood" trim gray as a temporary fix but ultimately renovated instead.

Sadly, Ikea does not cater to the very small kitchen such is found in city apartments. I was promptly dismissed at the computer layout program in the store and by the sales associate when my L-shape kitchen plan couldn't accommodate the corner cabinet. I guess one size fits all is only for lofts and those suburban mac-mansions.

Lebec - bummer that you had a bad IKEA experience. I am in the process of doing a reno on a very small apartment kitchen, and couldn't be happier with the help and attention I received at the Boston-area IKEA (and that was on a busy weekend!). I'm doing mine in the same cabinets (Adel MB) as Frank's, and anticipate my kitchen turning out just as beautiful, albeit quite a bit smaller. :-)

Wow. Love the drama of seeing that change. Fantastic job!

Looks a lot better than before for the obvious reasons, but...there are a few things that leave me grinning my face. The lighting selection is to be desired. It's a little too disconnected for my own tastes and looks like it came from a LOWES or Home Depot. I love large handles but they shouldn't take up the entire cabinet door. A few inches of space above and below the cabinet door would have been more optimal. The small backsplash you added above the one floor cabinet looks awkward. I would have just used a 4-6" granite backsplash and not the tile. Just seems out of place without there being a wall cabinet above it. You did a great job with accessorizing the space.

After doing way too much research, it was this kitchen that finally persuaded me to go with an Ikea Kitchen. They come with a 25 year warranty. If something isn't to snuff, you bring in your part, your receipt, and they replace it - they really do. If you are considering a kitchen reno and have a budget that doesn't include custom wood cabs and have an Ikea somewhat near you, you should definitely consider them. I am very happy with my large kitchen, which cost less than 8k to completely redo (cabs, appliances, tile, floor, paint, decor...100% everything).

Nice, but not very mid-c, is it?:)

If the cabinet box is sturdy, new doors can do wonders. I had a master carpenter cut taller door openings, then make new doors and refit the drawers in my old kitchen. Along with a new laminate countertop, it cost $600. Unfortunately, the kitchen in my current home is an unholy mess of substandard materials & construction, so when funds permit it'll be a gut job. I'd have taken a different approach than Frank & Alan, but appreciate the changes they made and am glad they shared. And let me be the sole AT defender of sheet vinyl floors: when you have a posse of rescue dogs, it's an extremely forgiving choice.

The kitchen cabinets really brought the mood down and appear too dark for that room- "ice white" it the new stainless steel for kitchens- I would have gone all white, with maybe a few brushed silver and glass accents (like the cabinets). Plus, I hate dark floors- they hide dirt- I don't want a dirty kitchen floor- its like an invitation for critters and bugs.

I can't believe no one else has said this yet, but it's so NICE to have floorplans!!! I wish all the house tours, and ESPECIALLY the before and afters on this site had a requisite floorplan. Its so key to my understanding of what the f- is going on in the space. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!

O dear, not that crazy about it. It's grand, just not what I'd expect to see featured on a site like this. I personally find all the handles a bit busy and the feel in the photos is quite cramped and dark.

I'm sure Frank loves it tho! Everyone loves a new kitchen ;)

It's ok; certainly better than the before, but personally, a little too dark. Like the vertical handles, but the horizontal ones seem too big and busy. Three giant ? forks? Three giant "No!s.

yeah as one who had those old white/wood cabinets, they are terrible quality and ugly. I was happy when my kitchen caught fire and they had to be replaced.

Mid-C Frank here -- wow, lots of comments -- thanks for the supportive ones!

Taste issues aside, the main point of the renovation was to repurpose the space to be more functional, and believe me, it is a wonderful kitchen to cook in and just plain hang out in. I think the original tour does a better job of explaining that - you should click through to read and see it. Also, for those of you pining for the original, the "before" pictures are actually very kind: it was too white (the room is VERY well lit with sunlight), the vinyl floor was poorly laid and was curling up in front of cabinets, etc., and was generally in tough, worn our shape. Most important, half the kitchen was useless with the large doorways and the double-sized closet doors -- in essence it was a small kitchen in a large room. And in our condo community the bad condition and cheap cabinets were definitely resale killers.

Our kitchen renovation was reposted because Alan and I presented it to the NY AT Design meet-up last week. Yes, you can say it's just an Ikea kitchen, but our point was to demonstrate that you can use Ikea products to solve a problem, and still express your own style -- these are Apartment Therapy community values, and we were happy to get up in front of a room full of people and talk. It was a real pleasure.

Again, thanks for the positive comments.

PS - The title should have read "Alan and Frank's" kitchen!

And no one has mentioned the two sinks!! TWO SINKS!! sooo jealous! so useful!

Love it, especially the closet conversion. Huge improvement.

Terrible transformation, it just needed a bit of de-cluttering and creativity, it's so impersonal and no charm..

Yes I liked the before version more than the new one. The new is functional for Frank. But I prefer the before look.
Before people call me crazy or less financially fortunate or other disparaging comments, this is my personal opinion. We can agree to disagree.

QUOTE: "When did 1980's era builders grade kitchens become charming? "

LOL @ moopt. They didn't. I suspect this term has been [mis]appriated by those who have something worse - provided there is such a thing.

"appropriated"

Lack of character mah behind!!! I would kill (or at least break some major lease agreements) to have a kitchen like the remodel! So nice! So much more counter and cabinet space! It's crazy how the same space looks so much bigger and more efficient by just switching the layout around a bit.... I mean he even has a bar in there! And the huge forks and pictures and paint color add flavor to a modern space.

I like the repurposing of the spaces - using the closet to make a prep area with a second sink, narrowing the door to the dining room, closing off the hall door to provide more storage space. I do find it dark, for me - they were perhaps trying to get rid of the old too much white, or perhaps purposely going for that masculine, dark look - I need a bit lighter. Could do this easily with lighter color Ikea door in same or similar shaker style (which I like better than flat doors), or by mixing up dark and light wood colors - perhaps lighter for the upper cabinets, darker for lower - I'd like that. The only place the doors and countertop don't seem too dark to me is back at that sleek prep area, probably because there's the glass doors and not deep counter and big skylight above - also, the darker stuff there is a nice transition to the dining room. Love the new outlets. Like that they put a landing area on the far side of the fridge. Would have definitely sprung for a counter depth fridge - would have made the room not narrow so much there, though I don't know if Ikea sells them, and I think they are much pricier than regular deep fridges. Wouldn't use the pantry next to ovens to store food - think it dries it out with the heat - but one of those pantries (the one on the far side from the cooktop) would make a great broom closet for me. Ikea sells great broom closet inserts for storing all kinds of stuff in their tall cabinets, even vaccuum hoses and accessories. Would have done lighter floors (hate dark ones in kitchens), lighter counters in main kitchen (I like mixing up counter materials and colors, as well as door colors, for a less generic look) and while I like having some of those pulls, they do bump into hip bones (especially female ones), and I would have liked the look better if they mixes them up with knobs in the same metal tone on the smaller fronts. Would have done a somewhat lighter backsplash probably, and lighter wood blinds. Thought generally the layout and use of space were great - a huge improvement. Though I may have put sink centered in front of window, with DW on an adjacent wall next to sink wall...would have to walk through if that would work functionally ... perhaps it doesn't and what they did is best for loading DW ... just don't like sink off center and near corner where cupboards turn the corner...I seem to spend a lot of time at the sink, and like space on both sides of me when I am there...maybe its that wider hip thing again...though I know you can't always do a layout getting everything you want. Nice job. If you've seen those particular builder's cabinets they had in person, you know that they do need to go...they are really cheap and horrible. Ikea kitchens, while often a bit generic looking, are fantastic quality (I had one in the last place I lived in) - at least the cupboard boxes are - I might spring for solid wood doors to put on them bought from elsewhere, as none of Ikea's door options are solid wood anymore, sadly, as a few used to be, back when the previous owners did my kitchen and used one of the solid wood door styles, which I liked. Yes, you can put in nicer kitchens than Ikea, but you can't get anywhere near the cupboard quality for anywhere near the price, and the doors are a good deal, too, if you like any of them enough...that's why people go through the brain damage of ordering all the parts and dealing with the delivery snafus - for the price, it is worth the time and aggravation, if you have the time and the patience. So you can get a fairly nice kitchen for way less than you'd pay for a similar look, in worse quality, elsewhere. The generic quality comes partly from using all Ikea stuff, but mainly from the trend of using dark granite and dark woods, with everything matching, which is a trend in kitchens in general, not just with Ikea.

I do get the comments about the old kitchen, though - many have never had a kitchen that looked so nice. I've only had one that looked better - all my rental kitchens looked much worse. Those old cabinets are shit though, they just look good in that picture somehow. And if you own a home, you want to have a kitchen that looks ok, given current trends in your area, when you go to sell...or else it will be hard to sell to anyone who wants a nice kitchen and wants to not have to do a reno to feel like they have a nice kitchen. They certainly improved the value of the apartment by doing this. (Though some buyers like me would pass it up, in favor of the old one, so as not to be paying for a new kitchen we don't like so much - next time, I want to reno my own to my taste.) As long as one recylcles the appliances and stuff to good homes, or somewhere who will see that they get there (and belive me, there is no recyclable use for those particular old cabinets), I'm fine with people renoing and keeping up their property values. I'd hate to rip out a new kitchen I didn't like, which is why I'd either find a reno I like (part of why it took so long for me to find a place to buy the first time), or next time, I'll get one not redone so I won't feel bad about recycling really old used stuff with not that much life left in it. I do think the hardest part about finding a place to buy is finding a kitchen and bathroom renovation one doesn't dislike...or maybe that's just me, with my particular, but not generic, style preference.

The refridgerator IS counter-depth; however, they do stick out futher than standard counters because of electrical and water hook-ups behind them. It does not stick out as much as it woudl seem in the photos, and does not intrude on the room at all -- jsut seems that way in the photos.

Beautiful! My husband and I bought our home a year ago, complete with the same cabinets they originally had. We have done many projects in our kitchen this past year, including tearing up carpet and putting down tile, taking down wallpaper, and removing some of our top cabinets to put up open shelving. However, we have to live with our old cupboards for at least a few years and I need to know the best way to get paint to adhere to them! Even with a couple of coats of primer, the paint chips easily after it has dried. Does anyone have some tips?

hmm...personally, i'm not really into wood furniture, moreover for kitchen cabinet.. seems so cold somehow..