When Meredith and Stephen moved into their house, they were faced with this dark, dated kitchen. This kitchen had all the usual ugly suspects: dark cabinets with knobs in the center of the doors, a big ugly fluorescent light fixture, and the previous owner's half-hearted attempt at electrical work jutting from the ceiling to the island. It's enough for most owners to bring in the professionals for a rehab but the Heards went DIY all the way!
Meredith and Stephen document their adventures in DIYing on their blog, Welcome to Heardmont because, as they say, "being proud of where you live begins with saying 'I did that myself.'" And this couple should definitely be proud of the amazing transformation of this kitchen.
Aside from the obvious change that painting the kitchen cabinetry made, Meredith and Steven also scraped off the popcorn ceiling, replaced the tired old fluorescent light fixture with modern can lights, and knocked down a wall to open up the space between this room and the adjoining dining room. And because this is the real world, where time and budget are factored into house projects, the couple lived with the old kitchen island for awhile before recently replacing it with a new IKEA island. Also, as budget allows, they have gradually replaced the appliances – only the original range remains, to be replaced at a later date.
Check out all the details about Meredith and Stephen's DIY kitchen makeover at their blog, Heardmont History: The Kitchen and Adding Green in Our Kitchen.
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Luv it!
I love what you've done. Every aspect is wonderful. I'm sure you love it, too. Thanks for sharing.
super cute!!
I'm so glad you kept the original cabinetry including that awesome trim above the sink. It looks amazingly quaint and homey.
Awesome job! I'm really impressed by the lighting in particular.
Although I'm for the most part a DIY-er myself (largely due to budget!), I'm beginning to seriously question the assumption that DIY is somehow more virtuous or admirable (which does seem implicit in this post). I think being proud of where you live can be shown by your involvement in your community, which could in turn be strengthened by providing job opportunities for local craftsmen and contractors. Just something I'm thinking about lately.
It is AMAZING how just a great coat of white paint can totally transform a kitchen! Wonderful!
Looking great! And I really love the curtain fabric & island runner. And the stools :)
Really gorgeous but is that a massive fridge?
WAY better!!
Some stained wooden cupboards are just too ugly not to paint over. The white is fantastic!!!
Looks great! The only thing I'd add would be some art or shelves over the sink.
i'd replace the range hood with a built in microwave/hood combo so you could free up some counter space and repalce the stove with a stainless steel one.
AND...get a counter depth fridge...that sucker in the photos is huge
Yeah, the fridge is pretty dominating. Who has that much food that needs refrigeration/freezing at any one time?
Nice job, though!
What, no idiots lamenting the loss of all that "beautiful wood"? I'm shocked!
I don't blame them for going with the big fridge if they have a family or entertain. Also allows you to stock up on sales. A large fridge doesn't cost much more to run than a small fridge (especially if you keep it fairly full).
Nice job.
Lovely!
so beautiful! all of the hard work definitely paid off.
Such an improvement! Maybe when budget allows also think about adding a splashback like subway tiles and replacing the counter top (butchers block to match the island). We recently replaced our 80s freestanding oven with a 2nd hand SMEG (only 10yrs old in full working order) off eBay for $250.
Agree that the fridge looks quite dominating.
I'm with sunspot -- a big fridge is good when you cook a lot and freeze for the future -- I make my own soups, stews, casseroles, etc and lust after a bottom freezer. Yes, it dominates the kitchen, but I think it's a good move.
Hi All! Thanks for the comments on our kitchen redo. We definitely have plans to continue updating it - new flooring, countertops, backsplash, and range are on the never-ending to-do list. :)
@ladykatey, you read my mind! I'd love a shelf above the sink for easy access to cookbooks.
@Eva Gorman (and others), huh, our fridge does look big in those photos. It's actually only 25 cu ft (smaller than most in homes our size). We looked into going counter-depth but it was cost prohibitive at the time!
Thanks for the suggestions everybody!
What a wonderful transformation! I love the beautiful curtain fabric and runner!
Jessie
www.mixandchic.com
So much better now. Great work!
Very pretty transformation. The island was brilliant! Totally makes the room. I recently saw a similiar redo where the lady did subway tile backsplash with a shelf under the cabinets (the cabinets were lifted to the cieling) I think her name was Anne Turner. Maybe you can google it but, it was georg. Might give you further inspiration as you continue on the nest little finishing steps.
It looks beautiful!
That fridge is not as massive as it looks, it just has a big profile. It is really no bigger than a regular side by side. I've compared them. And yes, some of us really do have that much food that needs refridgerating/freezing. We don't all go to the market every day.
Great. Thanks for keeping the oven. So many times people unnecessarily upgrade an oven that works fine but doesn't match the decor. I think having the original oven helps break the palette to give this kitchen more personality.
Also I love that AT is using 'Rehab' in the title, as if they've passed Apartment Therapy and went right into rehab.
@OggDefying, I googled Anne Turner and you're right! Her kitchen is amazing. Thanks for the tip!
I love the bar chairs!
And what was the previous owner thinking with her/her electric "solution"?
@LauraInCancun, he was a chemistry professor! Doesn't that look just like an electricity pole from a chemistry lab? Ha! :)
@Meredith at Welcome to Heardmont, If you ever do this under shelf thing please post it to your blog. I want to know how it's done. Hoping my landlord will let me do something similiar after we have lived here a year. Actually, I'm planning to use the pics from your redo to show my landlord when I beg for permission to do the project. Thanks for sharing!
Great JOB!
Love it! Did you consider a bigger island? Looks like you've got plenty of room...
Lovely, huge improvement!
@hollogramm, thanks! We did consider a bigger island (the original was quite large), but were pleasantly surprised by the improved flow with the new, smaller one. The storage space in the new island makes much more sense, too!
Looks great. Love the fabric for the shades.
I need this kind of post! It motivates me to finish up our kitchen!
TASTY! I love the look of freshly painted white kitchen cabinets; so clean and cheery.
What a beautiful job you did! I also love the original trim above the sink, but even better in white.
I think its good you didn't change the stove out yet. Why waste a perfectly good stove if you don't need one right now. But when you are ready, I think a stainless with a microwave hood would look great too.
I would replace the range hood with a stainless steel one with microwave that way you save counter space. Those are not that expensive either so def achievable.
Great work! I need to tackle my kitchen (galley style and SMALL).
I love everything about it, and as you mentioned you will replace the stove when your budget allows~it looks fine. I don't know what people are talking about when it comes to the fridge?! it's a fridge, people, it serves a purpose. No doubt they thought long and hard about their needs before they purchased it, and I am sure they are not going to replace it simply because a few AT readers don't like it. Some people have such strange ideas. Anyway, it is a great transformation. I also very much love the island.
Hey I love the island but can't find it on the Ikea website. Would you kindly share the name?
thanks!
Great job!
I love those chairs.
The island looks like:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00116996
@UWS_girl000, @vtthrifter is right - it's the STENSTORP. :)