As a cookbook writer {and professional} meals blogger who can be a busy guardian, I take advantage of my kitchen loads. A LOT! As a result of it’s not solely my residence—it’s my workspace, too!
After 10 years of regularly re-designing our small kitchen in our heads, Alex and I lastly took the plunge: we moved! The brand new kitchen we discovered had nice bones, it simply wanted some design aptitude. So, we spent hours and hours on Pinterest designing our dream area. We’re so excited to share it with you at present, so that you could have kitchen design concepts in your personal tasks!
The look we needed
I’m so excited to share with you the way this kitchen renovation got here out—particularly if you happen to’ve been studying since our first kitchen renovation in 2013 and this kitchen refresh in 2021. (Trying again particularly on the primary one, it’s attention-grabbing to see how kinds have modified!)
You’ll not consider the quantity of hours I spent on Pinterest making an attempt to determine how to do that!
Alex and I really like the present pattern in British designed kitchen (notably DeVOL), which makes use of conventional design shapes, unlacquered brass fixtures, and basic historical-inspired colours.
We additionally needed to design one thing that seemed like a cooking present set, since we use this kitchen in our Instagram cooking movies.
After we priced out some issues with a designer and builder, we determined with Alex’s constructing expertise and my design expertise, we might try this kitchen renovation ourselves. (Eek!)
Doing the work ourselves was less expensive. It was additionally much more tense (clearly). This additionally meant we might design as we went, making it a enjoyable (and generally tense) collaborative challenge for the 2 of us.
(Right here Alex and I are on the finish of the challenge: we did it! Since we’re not skilled designers, we weren’t truly certain if we might.)
The design challenge: earlier than
After residing in the identical residence for 10 years, Alex and I not too long ago moved to a house on the identical road. (Let me let you know, transferring 6 homes down is simply as painful as transferring throughout city!)
The home was constructed within the 1920’s initially, however was fully flipped by a contractor. They added some good touches, however the kitchen design was fairly generic. What we cherished about it was the bones: an enormous island, an precise stroll in butlers pantry (objectives!), and a espresso bar space.
What we didn’t love: the generic really feel, the blueish greenish grayish cupboard shade that was all over the place (an excessive amount of!), the higher cupboards above the vary (making it really feel closed in), and the unfinished really feel of the espresso bar space.
The kitchen renovation—after!
Welcome to our new, heat inviting kitchen area! A number of the {hardware} and lighting within the “earlier than” kitchen design have been decrease high quality metals and off-the shelf designs. We realized to get the customized look we needed, we’d want to switch loads of the {hardware}.
Fortunately, we have been in a position to companion with our dream model: Rejuvenationto carry this area to life! (Nonetheless pinching ourselves that we started working with this unimaginable model.) All of their {hardware} is so prime quality: each useful and delightful, which is what we’re obsessive about in the case of design. (And recipes, truly!) They offered among the {hardware}, lighting, and bars stools in these pictures to assist carry our imaginative and prescient to life.
Right here’s what we modified:
1. Modified out all of the {hardware} to unlacquered brass.
We love the way it got here out: it feels so heat with historic vibes. You’ll not consider the distinction {hardware} makes! If you wish to make a serious change to your kitchen area, think about simply altering out the {hardware}.
We used these Massey bin pull, Ball knobs, and Grace drawer pulls from Rejuvenation.
2. Tore out the higher cupboards and constructed a brand new hood.
This was essentially the most dangerous a part of the design! We truly pulled off the cupboards ourselves (which was terrifying!) and designed and constructed this hood that could be a extra right dimension for the vary. We love how open it makes it and it’s a pleasant white backdrop for our cooking movies.
We additionally put in an off-the-shelf open shelving unit that we painted to associate with the cupboards. We like how the open shelving shows our most used and cherished kitchen objects. In fact, we all know many individuals have opinions on open shelving! Be at liberty to share them within the feedback.
3. Bought a brand new AGA induction vary.
Isn’t she fairly? That is the AGA Elise 36″ induction vary. (We acquired a small low cost from the model for that includes this product—thanks AGA!)
We’re 100% obsessive about cooking on induction, so we knew we needed to vary out the fuel vary for induction. Right here’s why we like it: It’s higher for the atmosphere, means simpler to scrub, and heats up so quick: you’ll be able to boil an enormous pot of water in simply 1 minute! The expertise is magnets, so it’s safer than burning fuel in your house.
Learn our complete put up about Why We Love Cooking on an Induction Vary right here.
If you happen to bear in mind our final kitchen renovation, we had the ILVE Majestic II. We truly just like the Elise significantly better—however undecided if you wish to go into the depths of induction vary nerdery. In case you have particular questions, please ask within the feedback beneath!
4. Modified out the sink and pot filler.
We modified our sink and pot filler to the Rejuvenation Davoli faucet and pot filler. They’ve a extra traditional-looking design, and we love the way it got here out! It actually made an enormous distinction to the general look as soon as we acquired them in.
Is a pot filler in a kitchen value it? Functionally, I might say no. The kitchen we purchased got here with one, so we changed it within the design. I do love the way it appears! However I wouldn’t say it’s that rather more useful than going over to my sink to fill a pot. (Simply my opinion!)
4. Modified out the lighting.
This made a HUGE distinction. I’m obsessive about these Rejuvenation Viola Pendants. The second we acquired them put in, it made the area. They’re elegant, refined, and stylish: not making an attempt too laborious.
5. Painted the cupboards.
The colour we inherited made the kitchen have very cool tones and we needed to heat it up. So after a lot debate, I discovered a paint shade that I cherished: Sherwin Williams Sandbar. We went for it and acquired fortunate! We love the way it warmed every thing up whereas nonetheless remaining impartial.
In a super world, I’d love wooden cupboards and/or a picket island. We should still sometime substitute the island to be wooden, however for now we left the unique shade. I really like a contrasting island and it really works right here.
6. Added some stools, pot rack, and little particulars.
I additionally actually love how these Harper stools warmed up the area! One other large change was hanging a brass bar to showcase our favourite pots and pans. We modified out another little particulars: modified outlet covers to be unlacquered brass, added a tiny lamp, and so forth.
