Before and After: HGTV’s “Farmhouse Fixer” Transformed This Dull, Cramped Kitchen with Aqua Cabinetry and Brass Fixtures

There are fewer things more rewarding to a home reno aficionado than bringing new life into a historic home while preserving its original charm. That’s exactly what Jonathan Knight, New Kids on the Block member and experienced renovator, aims to do in each episode of his new HGTV show “Farmhouse Fixer,” which is all about restoring historic New England farmhouses in need of an update.

In the most recent episode, Knight helped out Kimberly and Bill, a young couple with three young kids who inherited their house in Ipswich, MA, from Bill’s grandparents. The house had been in the family for over 65 years, so Kimberly and Bill wanted to honor the home and their ancestors while updating it to suit their family’s needs and style.

One of the rooms that needed the most TLC was the kitchen, which Knight immediately understood when he walked right into the high chair positioned in the doorway. With an extremely cramped layout — including the dishwasher that, when opened, blocked the entrance into the living room — he wanted to create more space for the family to enjoy prepping, cooking, and spending time with each other.

In order to do that, Knight knocked down the wall that divided the kitchen from the dining room, creating an open layout that had room for a large kitchen island. Kimberly and Bill yearned to add some color into their home, so Knight went big with aqua colored cabinetry adorned with brass accents, plus he added an aluminum hood to give the space some shine. After adding new floors, modern light fixtures, and white countertops, the kitchen officially went from dull and dark to bright and colorful.

In its original state, the living room suited the family’s needs, but they desired more playfulness and the removal of some dated features (like the acoustical tiled ceiling). In order to achieve this, Knight removed the tiled and wooden beam look by painting the ceiling completely white to match the rest of the room, then brought in more pops of the blue-green hue with the sectional couch and modern wall art.

By opening the entryway a bit more, Knight was able to create more flow between the living room and the kitchen area, tying the entire design together through the cool colors, brass accents, and white foundation.

To see the entire reveal — including the priceless reactions that you know are filled with emotion — head to HGTV to watch the episode.

Farmhouse Fixer airs Wednesdays 9/8 central on HGTV.