Our Favorite Kitchens
The kitchen, moreso than any other space in the house, needs to be clean and functional… but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring. These kitchens are some of our favorites of 2014, not least because they managed to pack a whole lot of personality into a very utilitarian space. Take a look. Open the slideshow to see all the spaces. Love these rooms and want to see more? Click the links below the photos in the gallery to see the full tour of each house.
Dec 27, 2014
Before & After: Small Changes Make a Big Difference in a Little Kitchen
Last week, we witnessed the transformation of Elizabeth’s tiny bathroom, and today we’re taking a look at the rest of her tw0-bedroom co-op. When Elizabeth bought the place, she originally planned to only remodel the bathroom, but her contractor helped her realize that with only a few small changes, she could have a whole apartment that she was really happy with.
Nov 21, 2014
Before & After: A Fresh Kitchen Makeover for $500
If you’ve ever done a kitchen makeover or thought about it and did a little research, you know that things get really pricey, really fast (I can speak from experience). That’s why I was so impressed by Brooklyn Berry’s $500 kitchen makeover. That’s almost like pennies in the kitchen makeover world. The key is being a really savvy shopper, getting creative and getting your hands dirty to do most of the work yourself.
Nov 20, 2014
The “What the Architect Might Have Done Today” Kitchen Makeover
Makeover by: David (check out David’s bathroom makeover, too) Location: Glendale, CA We purchased our mid-century ranch house in 2012. We were only the 3rd owners. The first owners commissioned Robert L Earl architecture to build the house and it was complete in 1962. They lived in it for ten years, the second owners for 40 years.
Nov 19, 2014
Before & After: A Colorful & Cheery Mid-Century Kitchen Renovation
Kelsey and her husband Heath had their work cut out for them when they moved into their new home with an outdated kitchen. But they worked with the home’s bones for a makeover that both fits the house and their personality! From Kelsey: This project is/was the most time and energy intensive DIY renovation we’ve sunk our teeth into, but it has also been the most gratifying.
Nov 8, 2014
Before & After: A Fresh Kitchen Makeover For Under $500
We’re all about the affordable makeovers that completely transform a room for not a lot of money. And though this kitchen does get a new floor (the price of which is not reflected in the $500 budget mentioned here), pay attention to the rest of the room where the $500 was spent. Alex got creative and outlines everything done to achieve a fresh new look. From Alex: I’ve wanted to redo my kitchen since I bought the house five years ago.
Nov 2, 2014
A Gallery of Minimalist Kitchens
If you like sleek, pared-down modern interiors, you’ll love these 12 kitchens. With simple color schemes, minimal detailing and just the right amount of texture, these spaces prove that sometimes, less really is more. Above: a minimal black and white kitchen from A Merry Mishap. White marble and white cabinets in a kitchen by Fiona Lynch. A lovely understated kitchen by UK architects Feilden Fowles. This kitchen from Design Milk has a beautiful simplicity.
Oct 27, 2014
Before & After: A “Cozy Modern” IKEA Kitchen Remodel
Six months after moving into their home, Jill and her husband were ready to tackle the kitchen remodel. The plan: IKEA cabinets and appliances, moving the cooktop, and adding bold tile. The result perfectly embodies the “cozy modern” style they love. As with all remodels there were a few bumps in the road—namely the project took about twice as long as they’d anticipated—but they got their dream kitchen when all was said and done.
Oct 13, 2014
Before & After: A Simple & Subtle $250 Kitchen Update
Sometimes when faced with a very outdated room, say like a kitchen, your first instinct could be to pour a lot of money into it to try to bring it back into the present day. But as Sabrina proves with this simple and subtle redesign, you can make a big impact on the look of a space with very small but potent changes (and only a bit of money). From Sabrina: Believe it or not, I bought this home at an estate auction, and these people were looking at it as well.
Oct 11, 2014
Before & After: A Dream White Kitchen Renovation at Half the Cost
Jordan and her growing family were looking for a home, but knew with San Francisco’s high prices they would probably have to settle for a home that didn’t quite match their dreams. Even though friends warned her of the high prices of renovating, discounts were searched for and they did a lot of work themselves. From Jordan: My husband and I recently bought our first home together in San Francisco. We wanted a large home that had space for our growing family.
Oct 4, 2014
Parental Wisdom: 3 Tips for Organizing Your Kitchen Cabinets from My Mom & Dad
This week marks the start of a new chapter for my mom and dad. After four pleasant years spent in Northern Virginia they’re loading up the car and, along with the dogs, hitting the road for their new home in Atlanta. This isn’t the first, or even the fifth home they’ll be moving into during their thirty-one year marriage, and they’ve become quite adept at quickly and efficiently organizing a new space.
Oct 2, 2014
The Inside Scoop on IKEA’s New Kitchen Cabinet System: SEKTION
Important Update: We’ve got all the finalized details on the new IKEA kitchen! Click here for our new post filled with photos, prices and tons of info on sizes, finishes and features. I’m sure you’ve heard the not-so-secret rumor that IKEA is transitioning to a new line of kitchen cabinets in 2015 and it’s all true – it’s definitely happening and the new system, called SEKTION, is on its way and will be in US stores soon.
Sep 17, 2014
Before & After: Kerry’s Colorful & Quick Rental Kitchen Makeover
When you’re faced with a bland, beige rental kitchen in an apartment you otherwise love, what do you do? If you’re Kerry, who has a gorgeous New Orleans apartment, you infuse your rental kitchen with some color! From Kerry: I’ve lived in my 800 square foot French Quarter apartment in New Orleans for five years now. I have the perfect combination of low rent and a hands-off landlord. This summer I decided to make some big changes.
Sep 6, 2014
Out of the Ordinary: 10 Kitchens with Unique Open Shelving
A lot of the open shelving we’ve seen falls into one of two categories: simple floating shelves, or cabinets sans cabinet doors. But that doesn’t mean yours has to. Take a look at these ten inspiring examples of unique open shelving… and then maybe get inspired to build your own. Above: how beautiful are is this brass and glass shelving unit? The whole kitchen is gorgeous, of course, but it’s really the shelves that steal the show.
Sep 5, 2014
Apartment Therapy Blogger Style: Erin’s Own Kitchen
Welcome to the most chaotic, most used, most loved room in my home, my kitchen! Now, this kitchen certainly isn’t the biggest I’ve lived with (That award goes to my first place in Houston. It only had one cabinet, but technically the kitchen was 12 by 15 feet!) or fanciest I’ve ever had (That would be my first kitchen in NYC.
Aug 13, 2014
Before & After: A Kitchen Nook Gets a Creative & Clever DIY Makeover!
It’s not that Pauline was ungrateful for her kitchen nook — it was a convenient corner with a desktop that could be a great place to do work. It’s just that it didn’t fit her needs (or aesthetics). So she came up with a plan to mold it to be a space she could use, came across some surprises while tearing out the old stuff, and got clever to finish out what turned into a very creative corner! Bonus: There’s inspiration (and a link to instructions) for DIY art inside!
Aug 10, 2014
Before & After: A Cold, Compact Kitchen Gets Cheery With Color!
Jenny describes the “before” of her compact kitchen best: it was safe. White walls, white cabinets. Not a lot of color, accessories, style or windows. It gave off about as much charm as a doctor’s office. So she decided to add color — but in a practical way. She’d keep the black floor tiles that hide dirt, but add a cheery pop of color in an unexpected place, and throw in some efficient storage ideas for good measure.
Aug 3, 2014
Before & After: A Breakfast Nook Gets a Bold Blue Look Under $600
Project by: Lauren N. Sellers/Trust the Vision Decor Location: Yardley, Pennsylvania You know those beige breakfast nooks that sometimes show up in the corners of otherwise lovely homes? Don’t start your day off boring when you can surround yourself with bold. Designer Lauren N. Sellers of Trust the Vision Decor turned this nook into an exciting place to drink morning coffee with only $600 and just over a week of time.
Jul 27, 2014
Before & After: A Dated Kitchen’s Fresh Facelift on a Budget
Compared to their last kitchen, the kitchen in Anna’s new home was amazing. Two people could cook at the same time, the appliances were made in her lifetime and it was bug-free. Once with newness wore off though, it was time to tackle all that wood that did not fit their style. The challenge? How to make this dated kitchen look brighter and more modern with the tiny budget of $2000!
Jul 20, 2014
Before & After: A Kitchen Goes From Garish To Gorgeous
Yellow kitchens can be cheerful and sunny or they can leave you feeling kinda queasy. Katrin, who blogs at Taking Notes, found herself with an acid bright kitchen that fell firmly into the latter camp. But armed with a paint brush and various shades of white and grey paint, she has worked a magical transformation.
Jul 1, 2014
Before & After: A Bright, Budget-Friendly DIY Kitchen Makeover Under $1500
Tanya and her husband have been slowly updating and decorating their house on a small budget, just completing a remodel of their kitchen. In their previous home, they played it safe with design, concerned about resale. But in this home they did whatever they wanted, making some pretty dramatic changes in the kitchen that brightened and modernized the small space.
Jun 22, 2014
Before & After: A New Bold Butcher Block Island
Kendra started her own business in 2011, REmix Design, a perfect way to use her interior design skills plus her passion for home design and working with tools. She loves saving furniture that “has seen better days.” She mixes old with new, rusty and shiny and this $10 table turned butcher block island is a perfect example! From Kendra: I took it home and immediately began tearing off the metal top with the help of my dad.
Jun 22, 2014
Before & After: A Kitchen Gets a Dramatic Transformation with Paint & Hardware Under $700
Have you ever hated the outdated look of a room so much that you wanted to paint every single surface? Tasha didn’t love her kitchen, and paint on every nearly single surface (along with some new hardware and furniture) helps transform it into a completely new space! Tasha says: Our kitchen was functional and in good condition, but outdated in style. We totally transformed it into a space that we love for under $700, including new hardware and furniture.
Jun 21, 2014
Before & After: A Small Beige Kitchen Gets an $80 Shake-up!
Sometimes our favorite before and after projects are the ones that take a small addition to a home and create a big impact on the look. This tiny kitchen is a great example. Christina made a small but bold choice —and it really paid off! From Christina I recently bought my first condo — a small and beautifully renovated 475 square foot one bedroom.
Jun 15, 2014
Before & After: A 1950s Kitchen Gets a Modern DIY Makeover
When Kelly and her husband moved into a 1950s fixer-upper in late 2012, they knew their kitchen — with original (in Kelly’s words, grime-encrusted) pine cabinets, aluminum-wrapped laminate counters and linoleum floors mixed with asbestos — would need some aesthetic upgrading. They even started working on this room two hours after closing on the house! From Kelly: To say that it was a labor of love is an understatement.
May 17, 2014
Before & After: A Brown & Tiny Kitchen Gets Brightened!
This cramped and outdated kitchen almost prevented Christina from buying the house! But it was a charming 100-year-old Craftsman-style house that won her over, and she made the goal of brightening up the kitchen and maximizing space a priority! From Christina: When we toured this house, the kitchen was the reason why we almost didn’t buy the 100-year-old Craftsman-style house. It was so small, so brown, and so ugly!
May 11, 2014
5 Tiny Kitchens with Style
A tiny kitchen (in my opinion) is one with a small refrigerator, a sink and a stove, with little to no counter space. I’ve had plenty of tiny kitchens in previous apartments and despite their coziness, I always dreamed of the day I would have something a bit bigger — in case I might want to make two pies for the holidays that year. However, I would give that dream right up for the chance to cook a meal in one of these stylish kitchens.
Apr 22, 2014
Before & After: A Seriously Stylish Kitchen Renovation on a Budget
Does this kitchen look familiar? It is the Apartment Kitchen. I believe it was installed in every apartment built between 1978 and 1995. It is difficult to hate the Apartment Kitchen — it just is. But there is not much to love about it, either. So when One Kings Lane editor Kerstin, who had the Apartment Kitchen, met stylist Megan Pflug, who was looking to do an “easy but stylish” kitchen before and after, she jumped at the chance. Yes — it is the same kitchen. I know.
Apr 11, 2014
Before & After: Lisa & Brian’s Brooklyn Kitchen Transformation
Yikes. That’s what I thought when I saw the ‘before’ version of Lisa and Brian’s Brooklyn kitchen. Old cabinets covered in so many layers of paint the doors would no longer close, peeling vinyl flooring, ancient wood-grain (!) laminate countertops — this kitchen had it all. And not in a good way. Oh, and also the oven didn’t work. It was time for a change.
Apr 10, 2014
Before & After: From the 1960s to Today!
The retro look might be back in, but this kitchen that hadn’t been touched since the 1960s was a little too retro for the owners of this beach house on the Sunshine Coast in Australia. The kitchen needed a total upgrade (and a small bathroom in the house also needed renovating) but there was a small budget. With the help of a designer, clean lines, IKEA products and a neutral color palette turned this dated kitchen to a modern breath of fresh air.
Mar 29, 2014
Before & After: A Refreshed and Revamped Kitchen For $1000
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to dramatically improve the look of a space, as proven by the kitchen Julia and her boyfriend share in Montreal. Some budget ideas, affordable products and a lot of DIY labor made this kitchen brighter and more pleasant. From Julia: My boyfriend and I bought a duplex house in Montreal less than a year ago. We were able to buy in the city, but we didn’t have much money for renovations after.
Mar 22, 2014
Before & After: A Narrow Galley Kitchen Gets an Urban Update
When first-time homebuyers Nadine and John Paul bought a century home that was split into a duplex, they decided to rent out the bottom half and live in the top half. Now with a little additional money to spend on their new purchase, they decided to tackle the kitchen first, which was tiny, uninspiring and not at all luxurious. From Nadine: My partner, John Paul, is a carpenter by trade and owns a business building custom furniture.
Mar 15, 2014
Before & After: It’s All About the Details in this Kitchen Makeover
Kimberly of Swoonworthy and her partner Wayne did a great job renovating their old kitchen, but Kimberly wasn’t entirely happy with the results. She is a girl who requires more drama from her interiors. A couple of simple DIY projects later, she’s added some glitz and glamor to this space. And here it is, in all its sparkling glory.
Mar 11, 2014
Before & After: Rental Kitchen Gets a Stylish DIY Upgrade For Under $50
Gem, from the blog Blackbird, recently moved into a new apartment in Auckland with her husband. Because it’s a rental, they did not want to do any big renovations, but they did want to give their kitchen a stylish upgrade. With a little cash and some elbow grease, they turned their kitchen into something they are both happy with. First, with the permission of their landlord, they painted two of the walls with paint they had left over from another project.
Feb 13, 2014
Stylish Storage: 10 Smart Ways to Organize Your Pantry
For years I’ve coveted pantries, and now that I have one… it’s kind of a mess. Keeping a well-stocked pantry user-friendly is definitely a challenge, but the wisest minds online are here to help… From across the web, here are some of the best ideas for keeping your pantry organized. You’ll never spend 15 minutes digging around for the sugar ever again. Open + Industrial Perhaps the best way to keep your pantry looking its best? Make it public.
Feb 7, 2014
Before & After: Lynn’s Lightened & Updated Kitchen Corner
Lynn and her husband, an energetic couple in their early 60s – 70s, had a dream to “age in place,” and planned to do so in a 27-year-old condo they purchased in its original, uninspiring state: vinyl flooring, wall-to-wall carpeting, almond-colored appliances, Formica countertops and more. They gave every inch of this condo a face-lift, and this cute corner of the kitchen is a taste of their simple but effective updating style.
Feb 2, 2014
Budget Before & After: 1980s Kitchen Ditches Its Dated Past
Annie’s Sydney townhouse had a seriously circa-1980 kitchen when she and her husband moved in three years ago. But, it was their first home purchase and didn’t have a budget to completely redo the kitchen, so they decided to give it a minor update that would freshen up the space but stay in keeping with the feel of the place. This kitchen is a great example of small changes making a large impact. A few cosmetic tweaks later, it feels instantly updated.
Dec 10, 2013
Before & After: Lisa’s Brooklyn Kitchen Makeover on a Budget
This is Lisa’s old kitchen — complete with tiny old stove, wonky old cabinets, and a backsplash in a particularly delightful shade of green. And then there’s the part you don’t see: hiding behind the sink cabinet is a big hole in the wall. This past summer, after having lived in the apartment for a year (and with her fancé about to move in), Lisa decided that it was time for a change.
Dec 9, 2013
Insider Info: IKEA Employee Shares Tips for Buying IKEA Kitchen Cabinets
Today, I’m sharing some great insider info found in our comments section. Drew wrote: I worked for IKEA for four years—one as a kitchen planner, three as an interior designer. If you buy an IKEA kitchen, specifically the Akurum fitted line that the rest of the world outside the US calls Faktum, you can get a great product. The question is what’s your time worth to you?
Oct 17, 2013
Before & After: Drab to Fab, the Kitchen Edition
While house hunting, Holly and Ryan nicknamed this 1974 abode, “The Depressing House” due to its dark, cave-like feel.  They bought it anyway.  Want to see this kitchen today?Over the course of a year, they tore down the upper cabinets to open up the sight lines, ripped out three layers of linoleum and painted the cabinets a chic gray (Martha Stewart Zinc).
Aug 15, 2013
Before & After: Kitchen Banquette from Scratch
Tonya lives in a “fantastically old” house that’s filled to the brim with home improvement projects. The target for one of these projects was a blank corner of her kitchen that needed seating beyond just the high chair that usually lived there. Check out what she was able to do with this little corner in just one weekend.  The idea seemed logical and simple and kind of a no-brainer.
May 28, 2013
Before & After: Kimberly’s Overflow to Organized Pantry
Who hasn’t opened their pantry or cabinets to a mess and thought — there’s not even any “real food” for dinner? Kimberly’s pantry needed a clean out and some order. If this ‘before’ photo looks familiar to you, check out what some labels and dollar bins did for her: From Kimberly: I decided I’d just take one shelf at a time one night a week and organize everything. That idea lasted until I finished the first shelf.
Mar 5, 2013
Before & After: Joellyn’s Grandma Kitsch to Modern Kitchen
I had the great fortune of moving into my grandparents house on our family farm a couple of years ago. It hadn’t been touched much since it was built in 1971, so we saw it as an opportunity to make it exactly what we wanted… starting with the removal of the mostly original carpet. It covered the entire house from kitchen to bathroom!  Since it’s a working farm, our house projects are limited to winter time.
Feb 5, 2013
Before & After: DIY Custom Kitchen Island
When Liz and her husband completed their kitchen renovation, they still couldn’t agree on whether or not to add an island. Liza was a fan of the idea, but her husband was concerned about overwhelming their space. After months of debate, and recent entertaining experiences, Liz decided to take the bull by the horns.Once Liz started searching for an island with the proper measurements for her kitchen, she realized that such a specific size might require a custom solution.
Nov 8, 2012
9 Steps To Arranging A Well-Organized Kitchen
Whether you’ve just moved into a new space, are settling into a summer rental, or are just frustrated with your kitchen, here are some ideas to help you arrange your kitchen for maximum cooking and cleaning efficiency that will making mucking about in the space a lot more fun.Start with what you have: You may love them, you may hate them, but unless you’ve got the money for a full scale renovation, your sink, stove and refrigerator aren’t going anywhere.
Jul 25, 2012
5 Places You Should Be Using Recessed Electrical Outlets in Your Home
Just like suitcases with wheels, recessed power outlets are one of those “I can’t believe it wasn’t around ’til now” inventions. But even if you know they exist, you might not know how to use them. Here are five places around any home, apartment or loft where you should install this space-saving electrical hardware.Recessed outlet hardware has a faceplate that is set deeper into the wall than a regular outlet.
Jul 23, 2012
Before & After: Upgrading a Builder’s Grade Kitchen
When Kalie and Travis moved into their house a year ago, they knew they had a lot of things to change to make it feel like home. Thrilled to finally have an outlet for their passion for decorating, they have been gradually implementing their big plans in their self-defined little house.They changed out the light wood floors for dark, and installed new custom cabinets built by a friend.
May 23, 2012
20 Small Kitchens with Style
Small spaces are often tricky, and given how much gear goes into the kitchen, it’s undoubtedly one of the most difficult areas to keep compact, functional, and stylish. Here’s some inspiration to help you infuse your tiny kitchen with character and convenience.Obviously the aesthetic possibilities of the kitchen can range just as widely as that of other rooms.
Apr 5, 2012
How To Stop Annoying Smoke Detector False Alarms
“You know you’re a bad cook when you use the smoke detector as a kitchen timer.” Har har. Real funny, guys. The reality is the false smoke alarm thing happens to everyone at least once—whether you’re a skilled home chef, a frozen pizza in the oven type of cook, or someone who likes a hot, steamy shower. Here are a few ways to shut the thing up safely. Whenever you’re tampering with a safety device, you want to tread lightly.
Jan 20, 2012
Before & After: $60 Galley Kitchen Transformation
Dana and her boyfriend Ryan love their beach getaway at Cape May, but nothing could make them love its outdated galley kitchen. From the mixed wood tones to the plastic backsplash, this 1980s kitchen was not the rustic coastal kitchen they knew their vacation home deserved. Despite the tiny budget, they managed to make big changes that capture the relaxed attitude every beach home should exude.
Jan 9, 2012
Make Your Kitchen Kid-Friendly with Laminated Cotton
With three kids, I can’t keep a tablecloth clean for more than a few hours, and my adorable Orla Kiely for Target tablecloths are completely stained with various food splatters. I need a tablecloth that can be wiped clean but doesn’t look like a cheap, plastic picnic table cover. The answer to my problem? Laminated cotton!I just read a great article about this wonder fabric over at Oilcloth Addict.
Oct 12, 2011
Before & After: From Breakfast Bar to Storage Space
Remember when every home we saw on HGTV was being renovated with a breakfast bar? They have their place for sure, but they don’t really lend much in the way of design as far as storage or even looks go. Many homes, rentals, and apartments have them, but did you know that overhang of countertop can be doing more for you? Want to see what this space looks like now? Should I keep asking silly questions?
Aug 18, 2011
Before & After: The Chezerbey Kitchen
In case you’ve been missing out on Chezerbey, a blog chronicling a young architect couple’s ongoing renovation of a 1910 fixer-upper in Seattle, this reveal of their new kitchen is an excellent start. The chic “after” bears zero resemblance to the “before.”Lauren and Kyle Zerbey (their bathroom was featured on Apartment Therapy) saved cash with IKEA cabinets and put the savings into better countertops (lyptus butcherblock and silestone quartz).
Aug 3, 2011
American Style Through the Decades: The Forties
The 1940s were a tumultuous time. It is impossible to understand those years outside of the context of WWII. The war not only defined the decade but from a design perspective, split it virtually in half. During the first half of the decade, new design was halted, as supply shortages and rationing demanded that all available resources — material and otherwise — be directed towards the war effort…Socially, the decade featured a similar split.
Jul 14, 2011
Before & After: Jessie’s Bright White Kitchen Reno
This kitchen seems to be suffering from a bit of a brown overload. With the combination of wood cabinetry and hardwood floors, plus the black appliances and dark green paint, this kitchen is looking a little dark. Jessie agreed with that assertion and decided to lighten up the room:Isn’t it amazing what a little white paint can do? Of course, it’s a lot more than just a little white paint at work here.
Jul 6, 2011
Before & After: Derek & Jennifer’s Subtle Kitchen Upgrade
A little over a year ago I shared with you the house tour of Derek & Jennifer’s Dashing Digs. It’s an homage to mid-century furniture that they found on craigslist and got amazing deals on. Even though their apartment is fancy and quintessential city dwelling; they’re actually very budget conscious, which is why their subtle budget friendly kitchen renovation is inspiring.
May 23, 2011
Before & After: Faux Marble Countertops & Backsplash
Danika found herself in a spot that many renters and homeowners can relate to — her countertops were dated, and a “real” renovation wasn’t in the cards. Fortunately she has some impressive painting skills, and her kitchen has seen one good-looking makeover.While in my mind “faux” can often immediately go to “tacky,” these results prove that categorization to be unfair.
May 20, 2011
Tips for Choosing Grout: Tiled Bathroom & Kitchen Floors
When tiling a kitchen or bathroom floor many people spend days agonizing over the choice of tiles: What kind of tile (e.g., ceramic or glass); what shape (e.g., hex or penny round); and what color (neutral or colorful). Selecting the grout that will divide and frame the tiles is often a mere afterthought. But grout deserves more attention and respect… … says David Goodman, a tile contractor for This Old House.
May 17, 2011
Darby & Justin Rejuvenate an Outdated Kitchen
One look at this kitchen sends me back to the early 1980s, when I was a wee lad ambling about the kitchen in my parent’s Indiana home. This kitchen reminds me a lot of my childhood kitchen, complete with dark wood paneling and yellow appliances. A lot has changed since the 80s… and now it’s time for this kitchen to get with the times, too.Looking at the before photo, it would be easy to think that this kitchen was beyond help.
May 13, 2011
Before & After: Brightening Up the Kitchen Cabinets
We’ve seen the transformational power of paint here at Apartment Therapy many, many times. And yet I am still awed when I see that, with a little paint on the cabinetry, an entire kitchen can be transformed …Kimberly, over at Restoration House, has slowly been rehabbing her kitchen over the past five years. She had already added a backsplash, switched out the countertop, and traded out the old appliances for new stainless steel units.
May 4, 2011
Before & After: Alana’s Painted Kitchen Cabinets
Faced with two sets of mismatched cabinets in her otherwise dreamy kitchen, Alana decided to paint the lower deck of cabinetry to complement the upper deck. After a lengthy color selection process, Alana dived into the project and the results are gorgeous!The upper deck cabinets in Alana’s kitchen are the vintage windowpane variety that were original to her bungalow — but the lower cabinets are all new.
Mar 21, 2011
Before & After: Kitchen Reno on a Near Zero Budget
Late last year, Edgaroso shared his “Brave Bathroom Renovation” with Apartment Therapy. Well, he’s back with another room makeover in the small home he inherited from his grandmother — this time he tackled the sweetly retro kitchen on a truly miniscule budget.
Jan 25, 2011
Color Combo: Olive Green and Sky Blue
Green and blue is an all-time favorite combo of ours. It can go very springy, but darken it up a bit and tame it down with dark olive greens and dusty blues:The kitchen up top exemplifies this color combo, with muddy green cabinetry and crisp blue walls.
Nov 26, 2010
What Do Those Microwave Settings Actually Do?
We can install our own surround sound and hack wires to do what we need, but somehow, the microwave still eludes us. Yes, our microwave has a “beverage” button. No, we don’t know exactly what it does. Instead of living life in the dark, we wanted to find out exactly what all those crazy microwave settings are designed to do.If you’re equally confused by your own microwave, the first step is going to be reading the manual.
Sep 29, 2010
Avoid These 8 Common Dishwasher Mistakes
Life lessons happen less frequently as you get older. After years of getting to know the ins and outs of the world, you find you’re a pro at life—navigating your once-foreign city with ease and troubleshooting the office coffee maker. Yeah, yeah. But you’re probably still loading the dishwasher wrong. Sorry. Don’t feel bad. There’s a reason these are 8 common dishwasher mistakes.
Sep 8, 2010
Is This Normal? Standing Water Left in the Dishwasher
One of our tips for “How to Know When to Replace Your Dishwasher” was to check that your dishwasher is draining properly by looking out for water leftover after it runs a cycle. But the truth is, not all standing water is a bad sign. After a few awesome commenters asked about their own water woes, we’re here to help set the record straight.How much water should there be?Anywhere around 1 cup of water leftover after a cycle is normal.
Sep 3, 2010
A Dish Rack Roundup for Those Without Dishwashers
If you are lucky enough to have a dishwasher, well, aren’t you spiffy. I, on the other hand, can’t remember the last time a machine did my dishes for me. I guess living in an old San Francisco apartment has its sacrifices. Since some of you undoubtedly share this plight, here’s a roundup of dish racks that should meet a wide ranging set of needs.System Dishrack by simplehuman.
Mar 18, 2010
5 Places To Put A Compost Bin In A Small Kitchen
Many of us are all for composting, even if we don’t have a lick of outdoor space to call our own. Some have the luxury of slightly larger kitchens of cabinet space, but others are doing good if they can open their oven and refrigerator doors at the same time. If your kitchen feels a little small, here’s 5 places to place a compost bin and a few of our favorite resources for making it happen!1.
Mar 16, 2010
Before & After Kitchen Remodel
Our Homies winner in the Kids at Home category, Meg of Whatever posted Before & After images of her kitchen remodel — and it’s a total transformation.The massive makeover took 3 months and involved tearing down a wall to transform a porch into an expanded family area of the new kitchen.You can see more pictures of the process Whatever | Before and After and see a great list of FAQ and resources from Meg in a follow up post Whatever | Questions.
Jan 12, 2010
10 Space Saving Wine Racks
As we enter the entertaining season we find ourselves stocking up on bottles. They aren’t all for ourselves, of course. There’s one for the host, a couple for the dinner party, one for that recipe and, well, maybe a couple for us to keep at home.Unless you are purchasing wine that will be stored for a later date, storing bottles in the kitchen or dining room is fine. Instead of shelving them above the fridge (gasp!
Oct 13, 2009
Kitchen Spotlight: Lori’s Serene Farmhouse
Look at this simply lovely farmhouse kitchen from Lori in Long Island. She just finished renovating this old farmhouse kitchen on a budget, using a mixture of modern, serene colors and old-fashioned industrial fittings. • Click here for full post: Kitchen Spotlight: Lori’s Serene Farmhouse
Mar 18, 2009
Before & After: A Modest Galley Kitchen Makeover
Let’s just say the kitchen was not what attracted us to our new home. Country rooster decor was in abundance and so were peeling vinyl floor tiles, 80s lace valances, and honey-stained cabinetry — not exactly our dream kitchen. However, coming out of grad school, we weren’t really in a position for a total dream kitchen remodel, so we prioritized our list of essential updates, enlisted a handyman friend, and went to work…FIRST ROW• 1 Before & After views.
Mar 13, 2009