Before and After: Knocking Down a Wall Was a Game-Changer in This Kitchen Redo

Written by

Sarah EverettAssistant Editor, Home Projects
Sarah EverettAssistant Editor, Home Projects
Sarah is an assistant editor at Apartment Therapy. She completed her MA in journalism at the University of Missouri and has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Belmont University. Past writing and editing stops include HGTV Magazine, Nashville Arts Magazine, and several…read more
published Jul 14, 2023
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About this before & after
Home Type
Project Type
Skill Level
Rental Friendly
Wall in dining/kitchen area before renovation.

Some folks have hot pink kitchens, others prefer dark and moody cabinets, and still others prefer an all-white look that leans toward farmhouse style. Homeowner Donna Martinez (@martinez_232323) is one such farmhouse fan, and she went all in on that look for her kitchen redo. In place of her closed-off kitchen, Donna says she wanted “a classic farmhouse oasis” and a true cook’s kitchen. 

Before, an inconvenient wall made for awkward function and flow in Donna’s kitchen, and the cherry wood cabinets were a time capsule of 2004, the year the home was built. Donna wanted to majorly open up the space and give it a much more modern look, too.

For a moment, Donna and her husband, Armando, thought about selling their house and finding their dream kitchen elsewhere — but when they looked at the prices new houses are going for these days, they decided to renovate instead. “We came up with the layout years ago,” Donna says of her vision for her more open and bright kitchen. “We have wanted to do it for years.” 

The couple brought in pros to transform the space into something completely unrecognizable. Donna says the biggest difference-maker in the space was removing the wall; this allowed the couple to instead add more cabinetry along the back wall with a designated dining space (with a window seat bench!) at the end. 

The old brown cabinets got a room-brightening white paint job, and the new cabinets have cathedral-style doors to match the old ones. An ultra light gray paint on the walls rescued the room from its yellowish beige beginnings. 

In addition, Donna and Armando ordered a new range hood from Amazon, which incorporates some of the wood tones Donna loves in farmhouse-style spaces. Beams that were left around the island for structural support bring a little more of that natural wood look. Classic white subway tile, plus a farmhouse-style sink, light fixture, faucet, and dining table that all came from Amazon complete the look.

“The hardest part was being without a kitchen for two months,” Donna says of the project. (For tips on how to get by during a kitchen reno, check out these five in-a-pinch solutions.)

In the end, the hot plate meals were worth it, because Donna and Armando now have an incredibly large space to cook in and a designated spot for dining. “This is my dream kitchen; it’s perfect for entertaining and holiday gatherings,” Donna says. 

For more farmhouse-style kitchen inspo, take a glance at these 25 rustic but beautiful kitchens.