7 Times a Colorful Kitchen Island Made the Room
I have a small kitchen. And most days, it’s cool. I have accepted the fact that I’m not going to have a proper place to make meals (or eat them frankly) until I move out of New York City. That hasn’t stopped me from dreaming about the future—and looking at oodles of kitchen porn to serve as inspiration for my someday reno.
May 3, 2019
This Quick Trick Will Tell You If Your Cutting Board Is Too Small (It’s a Big Problem)
For all the talk around wood versus plastic, there’s very little talk about the SIZE of cutting boards. And this is one case where size really does matter. One of the biggest mistakes we see time and time again? People opting for cutting boards that are too small. A too-small cutting board is not only awkward to use, but it can also be unsafe! We’ve all done it before: You’ve pulled out a little guy, thinking you just have to mince some garlic.
May 3, 2019
Don’t Make Cabinet Hardware an Afterthought in Your Kitchen
When you’re planning a new kitchen, you probably think about the big stuff: the countertops, the cabinets, the appliances, the flooring. But we’re here to remind you that little things can make a big difference, too. Particularly, when it comes to kitchens, that means hardware. Hardware can have a huge impact on the look and feel of your kitchen, which is why we often recommend replacing hardware as a quick upgrade for rental kitchens, or when you aren’t able to remodel.
May 3, 2019
This Crackle Glaze Tile Trend is Taking Over the Kitchen and Bath
#Ihavethisthingwithtiles, and it’s sort of unfortunate because I’ve never actually picked any of my own. I fell in love with subway tiles nearly a decade ago, and I was crushing hard on those matte patterned cement tiles that popped up a couple years ago. I’m even into faux “wood” larger scale ceramic tiles and teeny tiny, mesh-backed penny tiles. And I’m not mad at a fish scale or arabesque shape either.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This 900-Square-Foot Condo Reno Has a $30K Price Tag
This condo’s new owner loved a lot of things about it—high ceilings, good bones, amazing natural light—but felt that the kitchen and living room were “dreary and grungy.” Nearly a year later, this “standard-grade apartment” could be mistaken for a gallery.
May 3, 2019
Glass Front Kitchen Cabinet Doors Aren’t Just Beautiful
One of the most popular (and also one of the most controversial) kitchen design trends of the past few years has been open shelving. Replacing your upper cabinets with open shelving gives your kitchen a lighter, more open look, and it’s a great way to put beautiful dishware on display. On the flip side, it can look a bit chaotic unless you edit rigorously, and then there’s the issue of dust and grime collecting on your dishes.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: A Closed-In Kitchen’s Now Bright and Open
Gina and her partner Max remodeled a small San Francisco house, and while every inch of the home got a makeover, one of the most dramatic spots to see a transformation was the kitchen and great room they created when they removed an interior wall. Gina writes: “The combination of kitchen, dining, and living room is the perfect open concept. While it’s not the largest it is comfortable and most importantly, functional.
May 3, 2019
20 Things in Your Kitchen You Can Purge Right Now
Kitchen clutter is like a gas: It’ll expand to fit the space allowed. If you have a small kitchen, you probably feel like there’s never enough space for your stuff. Well guess what? Big kitchen people have that same problem, too. No matter how many cabinets you have, or whether your countertop is better measured in inches or acres, your kitchen can probably use a little slimdown. So that’s what we’re going to do today. Do a 20-minute decluttering sweep of your kitchen.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Low Budget Kitchen Remodel Was DIYed from Head to Toe
This kitchen’s new owner described it as “functional, but an eyesore” and was determined to make it as pleasant as possible. Nine months and a ton of DIYing later, this “midway” renovation is complete and this kitchen is a totally new room. Reader Erin Corbett was kind enough to submit this project and share details about the issues and inspiration behind it: My little condo was built in 1984 and not much in the kitchen had been touched since then.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: The Owners of This Kitchen Chose Storage Over Sunlight
The owners of this home have lived with—and loved—this kitchen for years, and considered just doing a few minor upgrades, but when they realized that this might be their forever home, they decided to make some major changes so that they’d love this room even more—for many years to come… This is such a subtle, beautiful upgrade by 17 Apart!
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Rental Galley Kitchen Gets a Total Transformation for Just $400
This yellow and brown cooking area felt outdated and not aesthetically pleasing to tenant Gabrielle Delaney and her boyfriend Dan Scura, who share a one-bedroom apartment in New York. Although they are renters and therefore limited with what changes they can make, this didn’t stop Delaney from transforming the kitchen that made her “unhappy.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: An Incredibly Cool, Modern Kitchen and Dining Room Reno
Name: Russell Whitehead and Jordan Cluroe of 2LG Studio Location: Forest Hill — London, England Years Lived In: Owned 3 and a half years, but we have lived in Forest Hill together for almost 12 years. Every now and then you come across a remodel that just sings right to your soul, even surprising yourself.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Cherry Wood Kitchen Is Now a Riot of Color and Pattern
If you’re assuming that these early-aughts cherry cabinets are going to be replaced with white ones, you’re correct (but only half correct). This brown-beige-black kitchen now glows with a riot of color and pattern. Reader Jessica Leas’s new kitchen is so amazing. It’s hard for anything to compete with those gloriously ornate Mexican tiles, but for me, the gorgeous green cabinets more than hold their own against them.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: A Timeless Update for a U-Shaped Kitchen
This 1981 kitchen had some plumbing and cleanliness issues, in addition to the overall ’80s vibe that needed updating. Enjoy those turquoise countertops while you can because they are not long for this world. Reader Mike Groner shares some insight into the project: When I purchased the condo in December 2015 not much had been touched since the building was originally built in 1981. The cabinets were all contractor grade from that period.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: IKEA Kitchen Cabinets Kept This Remodel Affordable
We’ve seen this kitchen a million times before: aggressively honey paneled cabinetry, dark mottled stone countertops, beige floor, and an above-window wooden flourish—plus a bonus ruffly ceiling fan. Will the cupboards be painted white?
May 3, 2019
Before and After: A New Look for an Old Kitchen Breakfast Nook
This kitchen had a sweet little eat-in area, but its owners were less-than-thrilled with its aesthetic, so they replaced this intensely brown and beige dining spot with a jazzy breakfast nook. First, a little insight about the kitchen as a whole: My husband and I were excited about the size and footprint of our kitchen in our first home, but were less thrilled about the orange oak-y style. Orangey-oak is my style nemesis, so I can’t wait to see its opposite . . .
May 3, 2019
Before and After: 3 Changes Made a Big Difference in This $12K Kitchen
When the new owner of this loft realized that completely renovating the kitchen would be quite expensive and not all that exciting, a “refresh” was undertaken instead—and three big changes made an enormous impact. First things first: The tiled countertops have been replaced. The new quartz countertops are a major upgrade, and I enjoy the fact that both horizontal surfaces are organic, forming a counterpoint to the sleek black cabinetry.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: There’s a Lot to Love About This Kitchen Makeunder
A couple bought this house on the condition that they’d renovate the kitchen right away, but seven years later, the room was still mocking them, unrenovated. But now they finally have the kitchen they’ve been dreaming of all this time. This amazing renovation is intriguing: The new kitchen isn’t dramatically different from before, and yet it’s so different. Annie Meisel made smart, stylish changes that made a world of difference.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Kitchen Is Now the Opposite of Dark and Dreary
For its 40th birthday, this home received the ultimate gift: a completely new kitchen. With the renovation supervised by a toddler, this overhaul was completed in just a month and a half. Here’s a little backstory about the process: We bought this house six weeks before giving birth to our baby. We had really hoped to find a house before he was due and after searching for literally a year, we found this one.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: A Dated, Dark Wood-Paneled Kitchen Gives Way to Wow
No matter how much one might love wood paneling and/or brown, this kitchen featured a little too much of both. Between the orangey brown, the above-sink scallop, and the avocado stove, this kitchen was a ’70s triple threat—but not for long. According to the owner, the kitchen was pretty indicative of the house as a whole: [The entire house] had boxed-in living spaces, dark paneled walls, and carpet or linoleum covering up gorgeous original hardwoods.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: A 115-Year-Old House Is Updated on a Budget
When Oriane and Chris Williams walked into this house they knew it was the house. But then Oriane made a list of everything they would want to update to make sure the 115-year-old house was really in the cards—and budget—for them. She budgeted everything from moving walls to door knobs on a spreadsheet and gave both a low- and high-end estimate of what she thought it would cost.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: A Dead, Empty Entryway Gets a Very Useful IKEA Upgrade
This blank empty space was the first thing this family saw when they walked in their home’s entryway, and not only was it underperforming in the looks department, it also just wasn’t as useful as it could be. Over the course of just one week, this space was transformed from a dead zone into a new household favorite. Before we get to the big reveal, here’s a look at the corner again, from head to toe. Not much to see here, other than some beige walls and a dog crate.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: These Vintage Kitchen Cabinets Are Now Unrecognizable
This kitchen had everything: tile countertops, plywood cabinetry, a built-in oven and microwave, square recessed lighting, and so much beige. In six short weeks, it went from dated to wonderfully now. After living with the original kitchen for two years, Studio Plumb was able to do a major upgrade, replacing the floors and countertops, painting the plywood cabinetry, replacing the appliances, painting the walls, and restructuring the fridge/microwave cubby and the island.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This DIYed Kitchen Will Never Go Out of Style
This kitchen had a lot of problems—the ubiquitous over-sink scallop is just the beginning—so its intrepid but inexperienced new owner decided to DIY an entirely new kitchen by herself, including electrical work.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: An Outdated Condo’s Budget Boho Remodel
Hannah Wilson and her husband own a home remodeling/design company called Blank Slate Renovations, and the home they currently live in is a 1,300-square-foot condo in Dallas, Texas. They had to remodel the whole space and they had to stick to a pretty low budget. Now finished, it’s got a minimal/modern/organic/Scandi/boho style.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Is Not One of Those Wall-to-Wall White Kitchen Remodels
These classic ’90s honey cabinets are about to get a major makeover, and those tiny backsplash tiles are not long for this world. And while there might be subway tiles involved, this is definitely not one of those wall-to-wall white remodels. Here’s the backstory on this renovation and what the homeowner was going for: Our ’90s kitchen had good bones but dark, dated features and oak cabinets that were begging for some color.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: These Kitchen Cabinets Got An Unexpected Paint Job
While this kitchen was quite tasteful and full of quality finishes, it didn’t fit in at all in the rest of the colorful, relaxed, free-spirited home. With just $80—and plenty of hard work—its owner gave it a fresh, fun new look. Here’s a little more information about the kitchen and the home, and what led to this undertaking: My kitchen was very dark and traditional before. Our cabinets were a dark cherry wood.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: A Welcome Cure for a Cramped and Outdated Kitchen
This kitchen was very cramped, what with all the intense wood paneling, small size, and free-range dishwasher. Over eight years, this 40-year-old kitchen in a 140-year-old home has been updated, and the fabulous results suit the house much better then all this ever could. Reader Chrissie Brackett is here to share a bit more about this kitchen and its challenges: Our kitchen and porch in our 1870s Victorian hadn’t been updated in about 40 years.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Remodeled Scandi-Style IKEA Kitchen Is *Chef’s Kiss*
This kitchen had a lovely window, but thanks to dark, abundant cabinetry and a peekaboo wall, not much daylight flowed through the space. After living with the less-than-ideal arrangement, its owner was finally able to renovate—and the results are sunny and fun. The kitchen is now so nice and open, awash in natural light reflected off the white, yellow, green, and silvery finishes.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Remodeled Farmhouse Kitchen Has a Huge 16-Foot Island
Welcome to one of the most mysterious kitchens in Before & After history: A kitchen trapped in an octagonal pen, with a built-in fryer and an oppressively low ceiling that spits in the face of the home’s gloriously high ceilings. After a major investment of time, money, and effort, this kitchen is less… unique, but still full of personality. This full-length shot reveals how incredibly high the ceiling is and showcases the odd, church-like feel of this kitchen nook.
May 3, 2019
5 Brilliant Ideas to Steal from Julia Child’s World Famous Kitchen
In 1976 Julia Child wrote an essay for Architectural Digest about her home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In it she called her kitchen “the beating heart and social center of the household … both practical and beautiful, a working laboratory as well as a living and dining room.” Sounds so lovely, right? We—as her humble servants, now and forever—can’t get enough of her kitchen either.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Newly Reconfigured IKEA Kitchen Has a Bit of a Twist
An interior designer helped update this San Diego kitchen for her parents, who requested “a fresh, modern yet classic style” with a generally black-and-white palette. To keep the budget under control, the family turned to inexpensive IKEA cabinets, then gave them a boost with Semihandmade doors. Beth of 1111 Light Lane did a fantastic job giving the kitchen an update that definitely feels fresh and classic. The Shaker cabinetry is a great balance between modern and traditional.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This New Kitchen Has a Very Unique Tile Backsplash
This kitchen had a ton of pros—stainless steel appliances, wood flooring, tasteful paint colors, granite countertops, a window—but its cons were difficult to work with. The owner called it, “poorly lit, claustrophobic, and tight.” With the help of some professionals and the removal of a wall, the kitchen is now light, bright, and feels much more roomy. Jenn Hair of Jenn Hair Photography is the proud owner of this jewel of a kitchen.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: $800 Went a Very Long Way in This Newly Redone Kitchen
Take this warm-toned kitchen, add one or two gallons of paint and some well-priced accessories then subtract one wall and the textured vinyl floor, and suddenly there’s a brand-new kitchen, full of life, light, and color. And all for only $800. Kelsey Sigars—@kelseylenesigars on Instagram—made smart, thrifty choices that have transformed this kitchen.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Kitchen Has a Budget Solution For Dated Cabinet Doors
This kitchen had tons of storage space, a generously proportioned island with a breakfast bar, plenty of lighting, and a nice-sized window. But as its owner explained, “It’s actually a great space and it could be way worse but it’s definitely not my style.” Time for a budget-friendly upgrade! Bre Bertolini—@brepurposed on Instagram—transformed this kitchen, mostly thanks to paint.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Formerly Dated Kitchen Now Belongs in the Current Decade
While this floral fabric is definitely fabulous, the table has tons of rustic charm, and the kitchen as a whole has enviable amounts of both storage and daylight, it was ready for a change. Enter honeycomb tiles, a tulip table, and a whole new look. Tiffany Kalloor—@tiff_kalloor on Instagram—breathed life into this kitchen by going back to the classics: a black-and-white palette, subway and honeycomb tiles, a tulip table and shell chairs, and a simplified ceiling and cabinetry.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Gutted Kitchen Is Now Both Hard-Working and Serene
The Philadelphia row house hadn’t been upgraded much in sixty years, so Kristy knew it would be a fixer upper when she bought it. Kristy loves to cook and wanted to create the perfect workspace, so she put a lot of attention into the kitchen. Because of the nature of the renovation loan Kristy took out, she had to hire approved contractors to do most of the work. But that doesn’t mean it was easy.
May 3, 2019
Before & After: This Kitchen’s $7,500 Facelift Was a Smart Use of Money
When Heather Knight moved into her new home, she had to focus on more urgent repairs and wasn’t able to put as much money into the kitchen as she would’ve liked. While the space was in good shape, it was dark and a little too dated for her tastes. With some pretty clever spending, she pulled off a pretty impactful renovation project.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Kitchen Flips the Script on Beige and Boring
Ida recently stumbled across images she took the day she closed on her condo. Apart from the fantastic light, which is one of the reasons she and her husband were sold on the place, the kitchen was pretty basic and humdrum. It’s come a very long way in the three years since this photo was taken. What was a beige and boring room now feels warm and welcoming. Ida did a wonderful job reviving this kitchen into something totally new, without changing the layout or moving things around.
May 3, 2019
Curvy Kitchen Islands Are Trending, and I’m All In
Kitchen design has kind of been the same for a few years now—subway tile backsplash, splashy pendant lights, as big of an island as possible, and maybe some open shelving for good measure. Cabinet color has started to shift a little bit from all white to a little more bold in some instances, but it hasn’t fully taken off yet.
May 3, 2019
13 Classic Kitchen Staples We’re Buying at IKEA for Under $10
The only thing better than a stylish kitchen utensil is one that didn’t cost you an arm and a leg. Luckily, IKEA is brimming with inexpensive, Scandi-style kitchen essentials that probably cost less than your fancy morning coffee. From wine racks to colanders, here are 13 go-to kitchen wares at IKEA for under 10 bucks.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Kitchen Goes from Dark and Cramped to Light and Bright
This kitchen was small and it didn’t help that it had a tiny, barely usable breakfast nook just off to the left. Honestly, I don’t think a bagel, let alone a human, could fit in that space, so it just didn’t make sense to keep it. On top of that, the small kitchen was dark and uninviting.
May 3, 2019
Your Knife Block Is Full of Mold—Here’s How to Clean It
Here’s the thing about knife blocks: We don’t really recommend them. They can dull the blades of your knives as you drag them in and out of their holders, they’re often sold as an expensive set with knives that you really don’t need, and they can harbor some serious mold (and maybe even bacteria) in those dark, hard-to-reach slots.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: A Home’s Remodeled Floor Plan Shows How to Maximize Space Wisely
This 925-square-foot apartment was renovated in about 3.5 months.
May 3, 2019
Before & After: A Brown, Dated Kitchen Gets a $40K Remodel
Name: Claire Armstrong, boyfriend Andy, and two cats, Toki and Aspen Location: Glassell Park — Los Angeles, California Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 4 months, owned This house was built in Mar Vista in 1939 and moved to the current lot in Glassell Park in 1956 along with a detached garage from South LA. It has only had one owner who tended a beautiful garden and had interesting taste in wallpaper and DIY improvements.
May 3, 2019
DIY Wood Planked Ceiling
I have to admit, I’ve never really thought of the ceiling as something you can DIY. Christina proves that you not only can, you can do it beautifully. And while this project may not be for the DIY-faint of heart, it can definitely provide some inspiration. Skill Level: Moderate Time Required: Weekend Cost: $100 2x4s Tongue and groove wood planks Wood stain Crown molding Saw Build a frame on the wall out of 2x4s. Stain the wood planks ahead of time.
Apr 30, 2019
Phil and Bowha’s Open and Airy Family Kitchen
Project by: Phil and Bowha Location: Bakersfield, California This beautiful home is located in the Southern California community of Rosedale, which was historically a country town that was founded as a colony of English farmers back in 1891.
Apr 30, 2019
A Wonderfully Easy & Quick Kitchen Cabinet Pull DIY
An easy way to dress up any kitchen is to switch out the dated drawer and cabinet pulls. With so many options out there it can be hard to narrow down the search (and it can be easy to spend much more than initially planned). But have you ever thought of making them yourself? Sarah did just that! After painting her rental’s super basic kitchen cabinets a dark moody color (Behr’s Submarine Grey) she installed her DIY leather pulls and took her bland stock kitchen to a whole new level.
Apr 30, 2019
Wishing for a Colorful Smeg Fridge? Here’s How To Paint a Vintage Refrigerator Instead
Everyone loves the look of a vintage refrigerator — especially a colorful model. If you’re really lucky, you bring home a brand new Smeg, or Big Chill for your kitchen. But if you’re a purist, or on a slimmer budget, you make your dream of a colorful vintage refrigerator come true for much, much less by rolling up your sleeves and doin’ it yourself.
Apr 30, 2019
A Kitchen Opens Up for Entertaining
Project by: Rebecca Chan Location: Toronto, Ontario My kitchen used to be a small extension of the main floor, cut off from the rest of the living/dining area. Opening up the wall was our main priority, which would make the whole main floor feel much larger and open concept. We had to move our electrical, main stack and water lines, which ended up taking a whole week to move. This ate up a big chunk of the budget, but it was so worth it to do.
Apr 30, 2019
A Lovingly Made “Take Your Time” Kitchen Makeover
Project by: Émilie Location: Quebec City, Canada We bought our 1970s bungalow almost six years ago and we’ve been renovating it ever since, from the roof to the basement. Our biggest and most challenging project was definitely the kitchen. My husband, who is quite handy but no professional carpenter, decided to make all the hardwood cabinets by hand.
Apr 30, 2019
A Dangerous & Dated Kitchen Gets a Much Needed Makeover
Project by: Nadya Location: Brisbane, Australia Our small home was built in 1959, and when my husband and I bought it, I really thought I could deal with the “charming” old galley kitchen.
Apr 30, 2019
Before & After: A Beach Condo Kitchen Leaves the Sea of Beige Behind
Wendy is doing Florida her way. After snatching up a beach condo with a view, she set about giving the outdated kitchen some much needed pizzaz. Treating her new digs as a blank slate, she added color and mid-century flair, giving the kitchen updated style. From Wendy: Move over snowbirds, soon the sounds of The Rolling Stones, The Cars and even a little Pink Floyd may be drifting through your condo corridors as your new Baby Boomer neighbors move in.
Apr 30, 2019
A Modern Copper Kitchen Hanging Rack You Can DIY
Melissa and James are just renting this cozy Cape Town apartment, but as avid entertainers (and Melissa a soy candle maker), updating the kitchen was a necessity. Old, dark wood cabinetry was given a crisp coat of white paint. And an eye-catching cut vinyl piece above the stove adds pattern and drama to the room. But while the whole kitchen features lovely elements, there’s one item that stood out the most to me: the hanging copper pipe rack.
Apr 30, 2019
This Is How Much It Costs to Cover Your Rental Cabinets in Washi Tape
There are two house tours in which the renters decided their apartments’ plain, boring kitchen cabinets weren’t cutting it. Renovating wasn’t an option, but these clever renters found a way to add color and pattern anyway: with washi tape! Both examples are vibrant and unique, but how much does it cost to cover your kitchen cabinets in tape? And how long does it take to do it? We got the lowdown.
Apr 30, 2019
Before & After: A Cookie Cutter Suburban Home-Turned-Vintage Surf Hideaway
Name: Rachel and Nick Kuchar Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii Size: 2,040 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, owned We turned our cookie cutter suburban home into the vintage surf hideaway we had dreamed of. We were given a 1950s Gordon & Smith longboard from a relative and that began our love affair with the era. I asked my husband, a graphic designer, to make some art for the house since I couldn’t find anything that was just right.
Apr 30, 2019
A Renovated 1950s House Is Full of Colorful Tile Inspiration
Name: Stacy and Ben Location: San Diego, California Size: 2,930 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, owned It was the enviable views of the ocean and quirky mid-century details that appealed to Ben and Stacy when they bought this house, which hadn’t been renovated since it was built in 1958. Located in a bohemian beachside community in San Diego, the couple was expanding their family and looking for a place to settle where growing kids would feel comfortable for many years to come.
Apr 30, 2019
3 Reasons You Should Label Everything at Home
Here's why labeling is key to a well-maintaned organizational system
Apr 28, 2019
Before and After: Pops of Pastel Bring Spring Cheer to This $10K White Kitchen
It was blessed with good bones, but also cursed with a purple laminate counter—and swinging saloon doors.
Apr 25, 2019
Do You Really Need Both Dish Soap and Hand Soap in the Kitchen?
In the age of trendy multitaskers like concentrated cleaners, staying eco-friendly and saving money are, understandably, top priorities. If you can have one product that does a lot of things well, why spend your whole paycheck only to waste plastic and take up hard-fought storage space? Which begs the question: Do we really need both dish soap and hand soap in the kitchen if just one could do the trick?
Apr 17, 2019
Before & After: 15 Creative Kitchen Renovations
There’s a big misconception in the renovating and real estate world that kitchen remodeling needs to be flashy and expensive to be good. That’s simply not true! We’ve found that with a little creativity, some reuse, a new coat of paint — and sometimes not even that much work, kitchen renovations can be not only eco-friendly, but also inexpensive. Here are our 15 best before and after kitchen posts of the year!
Apr 7, 2019
Before & After: A Tudor Kitchen Catches Up To The Times
Erin and her husband Ken purchased their 1934 Tudor-style home in July 2015 and spent that summer and fall renovating much of the house. They were working with a very tight renovation budget, which made tackling the kitchen a particular challenge. It had bug-infested cabinets, a crusty radiator, and a tin backsplash held on with double-stick tape. Since Erin is a DIY blogger and Ken is a commercial construction manager, who better to handle the project?
Apr 6, 2019
6 Common Things That Make Your Kitchen Look Messier than It Is
Whether you’re sprucing up for company or just trying to maintain a tidy home on the reg, there are several things that can hinder your efforts. Kitchens are a notoriously tough room; no matter how often you scrub, sweep, and organize, if you do any of these six things, it will still look messy. This one may be obvious, but too much stuff on your countertops is a total no-no.
Mar 26, 2019
8 Mistakes You’re Making When It Comes to Organizing Your Freezer
Your freezer is a magical place. It’s a place for pints of ice cream (to devour while binge-watching whatever is new on Netflix); for giant ice cubes (to make adult cocktails); and, most importantly, for nourishing meals (to sustain you when you think your only option is takeout). Obviously, you don’t have to be a wizard in order to take care of this magical place. But you—and your freezer!—will be better off if you know to avoid these common organizing mistakes.
Mar 20, 2019
10 Brilliant Ways to Make Your Tiny Kitchen Look and Feel Much Larger
Try these tips on for size.
Mar 19, 2019
5 Kitchen-Organizing Ideas to Steal from Savvy Dollar Store Shoppers
It's easy to think you need to spend a lot of money to get a well-organized pantry—but you'd be wrong.
Mar 17, 2019
Tips for Keeping a Clutter-Free Kitchen
With the rise in open space floorplans, having a neat and tidy kitchen has become increasingly important. If not kept in check, kitchen clutter can soon take over the entire space. And a cluttered kitchen is a sure fire path to frequent take-out ordering. Here are tips for keeping your kitchen clutter-free and ready for meal prep.• Keep the countertops clear – Coffee maker, toaster, mixer, blender … so many little appliances, so little space.
Mar 12, 2019
Before and After: A Super Low ($150!) Budget Kitchen Spruce-Up
And it only took four hours.
Mar 1, 2019
How You Can Use Chopsticks to Seemingly Double Your Fridge Space
This quick trick instantly delivers more space—just by raiding your utensil drawer.
Feb 27, 2019
Why You Should Put “Clean the Fridge” at the Top of Your Grocery List
I hate to toss around tired old adages, but the truth of the matter is that taking care of a problem when it’s small is far easier than addressing a bigger problem once it’s grown. “Stitching in time” is particularly relevant when it comes to home-keeping—where procrastination, like not sweeping dirt from hardwood floors, can lead to major tasks like eventually refinishing your scratched-up floor.
Feb 25, 2019
Before and After: We Did Not See This Kitchen Paint Job Coming
But we're so glad it happened.
Feb 22, 2019
3 Big Kitchen Trends You’ll See All Over The Place This Year, According to Etsy
When it comes to kitchen decor, some things never really go out of style. (We don’t see the modern farmhouse look going anywhere anytime soon, for example.) Other things, however, have a slightly shorter shelf life. (We’re talking about you, cacti, pineapples, and flamingos!) To find out what’s hot for 2019, we reached out to Dayna Isom Johnson, Etsy’s trend expert.
Feb 19, 2019