From Lilly:
When we were shopping for our home and walked through what is now our kitchen, I was really taken aback by the dark and cheap looking laminate counters and back splash. However, I thought the ceramic tile floors and off-white cabinets could be a great base for an update. Knowing that those components can be the most time consuming and expensive parts of a kitchen remodel, I felt like we were already over halfway to getting a look that would work for us, and waited for inspiration to hit for the rest.
I grew up in Western Kentucky and also lived in Lubbock, Texas, so I am used to a country aesthetic in my kitchen space. Our house has a mostly mid-century feel, so I tried to go for accents that were a balance of the two looks. Our kitchen counters are the Numerar oak counters from IKEA and were surprisingly easy to install ourselves. We used an eco-friendly mineral oil sealant, Velvit Oil, as the stain and topcoat, and it's held up extremely well. The sink is also from Ikea and the faucet was purchased off of Amazon, which was great because I could read the reviews and it arrived at my doorstep for free two days later for free thanks to my Amazon Prime account.
I purchased the tile off of Overstock.com, and it was another great experience as far as arriving at my house for free. We had the tile professionally installed since it is such a focal point for the room, and there was such a small square footage of space that it only took the team a few hours and was relatively inexpensive.
With new countertops, sealant, tile and installation and a new, eco-friendly dishwasher and disposals, the total costs for the project were around $2,500. We love how bright and full of character the new kitchen is and love spending time making meals here as a family!
Check out more details and photos over on Lilly's blog, Pancakes & Beet Juice.
Thanks, Lilly!
Have your own Before & After project you'd like to share with the editors? Submit it here.
(Images: 1. Lilly Neubauer; 2. Alexandra Minton Photography)
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Super cute!
This remake is absolutely gorgeous! I could have not seen past that hideous countertop. It made the entire room look hideous.
You made it look amazing, though! What a great eye!
Wow, what a difference! I love the backsplash. Great job!
Personally, I don't mind laminate, if chosen right, it can be a great, inexpensive material to use and can last a long time if taken care of.
That said, what was put in, not so much and it DID make the place look cheap (even if it was cheaply done, there is no excuse to have it look cheap though).
The after shot, the whole kitchen looks great, however, if it were me, and it could be done, scoot the fridge down a bit, move the dishwasher down a scoshe, and then move the sink over so it isn't partly under the corner cabinet as it currently is, but more centered over the window to give whomever is at the sink a bit of elbow room as I'm sure that cabinet can be a bit in the way.
Otherwise, great job on the spruce up there!
love the hello kitty toaster!! and everything else, too! :)
Such a great difference for a small price--congrats on the lovely new kitchen!
@ciddyguy, if you look closely, there is a wall next to the dishwasher. What with plumbing and the wall, probably the adjustments you suggest aren't realistically possible (unless a much narrower dishwasher were available...)
Looks great! Of course the much brighter lighting for the photo helps a lot, too, but the overall kitchen is so much more enticing now. Good work!
Wow, what a huge impact you made with relatively minor changes!
However, the price seems a bit steep for such minor changes.
Good job! It looks awesome.
I don't think there is anything worse than not having a double sink in a kitchen.
Love that purple clock and pink blender!
Wonderful job The backsplash tile was a great pick.
There are most definitely things worse than not having a double sink.
Lovely kitchen! I really like the look of butcher block.
I dream of doing this except we wanted to use the LAGAN on ours (but apparently it's no longer available). I think you did an amazing job!
Such small, relatively inexpensive changes make a big impact. Great job!
The irony here is that I had butcher block counters and was deeply encouraged to change them to laminate, anything but butcher block - about 5 years ago before I sold the condo.! Ah kitchens...
Nice job. The biggest improvement was putting in a dishwasher that no longer clashed with the cabinets. The "before" looks like an '80s design with the large white faucet, white sink and un/oxidized copper effect in the laminate. Kitchens are so tied to design fads and it is funny to see how what was once considered "in" and a "must have" is years later considered as something that is hideous and has to go. What is it about kitchens.....
So so so much better! Glad to see the sink and and faucet replacements, too! Enjoy!
I love butcher block counter tops! I was thinking about doing this in the kitchen in my new house (also currently laminate counters). Wondering if anyone has any concerns about wood counter tops around the sink, and whether butcher block counters hold up to water well?
The backspash tile is gorgeous! The only thing I would add is hardware for the cabinets. Not expensive, and they would really add to your country esthetic.
Very nice.
Remodel looks great, but the odd asymmetry of not having the sink under the window throws me off. I would have put a single F&P dishdrawer on the left bank of cabinets and centered the sink under the window.
I've wanted butcher block counter tops for the longest time and finally got the chance last year. Unfortunately, they have already started splitting near the sink area where I can only suspect water has seeped in. I had bought and used the non toxic sealant sold by Ikea but when I saw the wood start to grey in some areas, I bought a much stronger, non food safe product. One oversight probably was in not treating the cut edges before inserting the sink into position. I'm heartsick as the crack is getting wider by the minute and eventually the whole thing will need to be replaced... Not sure I will want to risk it again. Also, beware not to actually use the counter as a cutting board as the wood is softer than one might think...
Woot from another West Kentucky gal! :D
Love the redo. I can't imagine why anyone would have chosen the before counters - that was an ugly look! Love the new counters, but the backsplash really speaks to me - pretty and stylish. Great job!
Id so lose that corner cabinet,but other than that,well done!
A friend of mine has countertops that have the butcher block look, but their kitchen is pretty old! They've had that countertop for more than 15 years (that's how long I've known the family). I hope they keep it if they ever decide to re-do the kitchen - which they really shouldn't!
Lovely!
Look even more closely - it is a frig, not a wall. Of course, there might be a wall next to the frig, so there ya go!
Turning up the exposure compensation helps, too. ;)
Looks great! Love the tile.
Also, what's so great about a double sink? More surface area to clean?
I like the change from laminate to butcher block, but I agree, the corner upper cabinet looks out of sorts. The side wall of cabinets should have gone into the corner without the corner cabinet.
The other is of nit picking, but before photographing for this site, you should loose the "Parade Route" banner, the lacey flower dish towels & the pink clock. You need to pull the accessories together better.
Yep it's a fridge not a wall next to the dishwasher...look closer, it doesn't go to the ceiling.
I agree with losing the corner cabinet- even if you put open shelves there it would have a more spacious feel!
The other idea for that corner might be a european style metal dish rack about eye level with a drainboard underneath, or a decorative wooden plate rack.
Cute and funky, and bright!