New Reno Series! Get to Know Graeme, Rebekah & Their Kitchen Project
Name: Graeme & Rebekah Molloy
Type of Project: Kitchen Remodel
Location: Chautauqua Park, Des Moines, Iowa
Type of building: 1920 Tudor
The Renovation Diaries are a collaboration with our community in which we feature your step by step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here.
Welcome back to another Reno Diaries series! This time around we head to Iowa to follow Graeme & Rebekah as they renovate their outdated kitchen. Join them on their journey to a dishwasher, complete with old-house problems, scheduling snafus and charming Pinterest finds!
From Rebekah & Graeme:
When we initially moved into our home we knew the kitchen was something we would need to tackle at some point. With multiple doorways creating a difficult space, a small footprint and a lackluster aesthetic, we went back and forth with different design ideas for SEVERAL years before saving for and deciding on a plan. And even THAT plan has changed 3 times once we started talking to our contractor. Bless his little cotton socks for dealing with us!
We’re so excited to expand the room and create a more cohesive space that will work well for entertaining!
Oh. And to finally have a dishwasher. We’re pretty excited about that.
The biggest problem is the size of the room. My husband loves to cook, and I love to drink and watch him cook…and we have a difficult time doing this together without being in each other’s way. Add our dog, and any guests, and it is a nightmare. We decided to remedy this by knocking down the entire wall that separates our kitchen and dining room, essentially doubling the space. We are also closing off one of the entrances to the room to create more cabinet/counter space.
Storage and counter space is hugely lacking as well. We made the most over the years by utilizing a kitchen cart (which i love and will still try to incorporate into the new design) but ANY food prep has always taken up every bit of counter space we have. It is complete chaos anytime we try to cook for anyone besides ourselves.
Our stove area is one hot mess and probably the most annoying area in the room. Since since there is zero ventilation in the room, our plaster walls have absorbed everyday wear and tear and splatters. No matter how much I scrub, it won’t get fully clean. It is completely disgusting to me and I hate having guests in that room.