Nice job! Like the crisp look of the new galley kitchen

Wow-that's quite the transformation-it looks fantastic! And I have to ask about those 3 pendant lights-where did you get those? I love them!

Looks fantastic! I love the upholstery on the dining room chairs. Great job!

Losing that upper cabinet was such a smart decision. It opens up the space so beautifully!

Well done. My only suggestion: either drop the tryptic mirror behind the sofa down a little or better yet, a nice big piece of art.

oh WOW! This looks fabulous! I especially love those 3 kitchen lights and that wild upholstery on the dining room chairs. Great job!

those before shots give me a lot of anxiety..

Nice job Freddie!

What a difference removing that bulkhead made! What was it's original purpose I wonder?

Really smart re-design overall--ditching the U-shape and getting yourself some nice open space below the window to make a tight kitchen feel comfortable.

So many bonuses achieved here. Did you have to install a gas line or was there already a hookup?

Great job!

Excellent job! Do you mind sharing the make/model of the refrigerator?

Looks a million times better. I also appreciate how the couch remained, but it looks so much nicer in its new location and with the chairs complementing it. It is nice to see that there is hope!

Wow! I love the addition of the window. Great job!

What a woman can do ;-)

Good job Freddie! I'm not keen on your furniture, but I definitely like your kitchen.

this really is awesome. lol @ libbysal's comment!

There isn't much point in saying something was done "on a budget" with no explanation. Nearly everyone has "a budget" - whether it is $5000 or $25,000. I know some people are leery of sharing costs but it would really make a big difference, and be so helpful, to those of us who are still trying to figure out how to attach a price range to a photo.

Now for the kitchen itself - I'm saving this for inspiration! The white cabinets and wood countertops look beautiful and the new layout is very clean and inviting. You did a great job updating the living room too - what a transformation! You lost a significant amount of cabinet and counter space, but it actually looks much more usable now. The window was so worth it. Beautiful job. I would love to see more details about the whole house!

libbysal, you're not the only one who experienced anxiety with the Before shots.

And is that a talking fish over the dining table? Yeah, that had to go.

Beautiful job! I love the new window, it really brightens the space. And I like how the cabinets reflect the lights. The whole home looks bigger now.

Wow!! What a difference! It looks so much bigger and comfier now! Love the new kitchen, the new home for the couch, and the matching chairs with different/complementary pillows. I agree, though, I think artwork would look better over the couch. I would also like a number on the budget, at least for the kitchen re-do.

Funny, the kitchen remodel I'm working on is taking a galley to a U shape! I can't stand galley kitchens! So much wasted work space! But then I cook. A lot!

Though his after does look great.

Of course the window made a huge difference, but I can't get over how much better that looks with those cabinets removed from above the sink/counter.

Lizliterarius, I'm not sure how I understand how a galley wastes work space. The after kitchen above looks like a much more functional space than the U-shaped before kitchen, and the owner actually seems to have gained more space in which to move around.

I completely agree with sagekitten85. "Major budget" for some of us can be beyond-our-means or pocket change for others.

Regardless of budget, nice job!

Thanks so much for all of your comments.

The kitchen has made a huge difference -- it works so much better and we cook a lot. Now two of us can actually be in there at the same time. Sylvia Brown at designHouse in San Francisco designed the kitchen for us and helped us do it affordably. If you didn't guess, those are Ikea cabinets and countertops. All the appliances are Kenmore. We added a gas line and tile floors which were a little bit of a splurge.

Sorry to be vague about the "budget" but I know it was well under 15K (probably closer to 10k). Hard to price it exactly as we redid the whole pad.

The pendant lights are from West Elm.

We tried to use as much of our old furniture as possible and yet we wanted to give the place a more updated look. We initially had art over the sofa but the mirrors helped reflect light from the sliding glass doors (the living area is a bit of a cave). But you are right, the mirrors are too high.

Perhaps I'll post some other before and after photos. You'll love the old vertical blinds in the bedrooms!!

Thanks for looking everyone!!

WOW! This looks fabulous!

Catsb,

Great looking place! I have a couple of questions on the kitchen.

Did you cut and finish the butcher block yourself? Was it difficult? Did you use Ikeas product to finish them with?

The cabinets look glossy white to me. Are they the foil finish? They sell a few varieties of white. I just wonder the benefits of using one over the other.

I really like their beech cabinets (Solar I think) with stone countertops, but what you did sure looks great (and for much less $$).

Thanks

Catsb, thanks for sharing the budget estimate! That is impressive with all the changes that were made. Would love to see more before and after photos!

Yeah, "major budget" implies (to me) that it was big bucks, which this is not.

I think "minimal budget" or "with major budget restriction" is what was intended.

a wonderful redo of the space! so open and minimal

Too much clutter in before, all cleaned up in the after. Makes a huge difference. Our SF apartment actually has a galley kitchen with those old cabinets. I love it. Cooks easier than the U-shaped one in our 70s house.

Stunning job! Talk about being able to breathe in there after all the decluttering. So much lighter and more spaceous as well! Couldn't agree more with the positioning of the sofa now either.

Wow! It felt so cluttered in the "before." The "after" is a place I'd definitely like to hang out!

It seemed very cluttered before, but now, wow what a difference! Good Job!