Kitchen Remodel Complete

Kitchen Remodel Complete – I say this with a giant smile across my face!  Have you ever done a total kitchen remodel?  This is my second time to gut a kitchen and start from scratch.  The first time was in our country home in Texas.  I loved that kitchen but wanted a new look for my kitchen in North Carolina.  I notice as time goes by my “likes”are changing.  For me the style of the home and the location play a large part in design concept.

When I did the kitchen in Texas I had much longer to think, peruse design and home magazines, and plan for a look I desired.  My situation was distinct as we had a strict deadline to meet.  We had to be out of the home we’d rented for the past 2 years and into our new home by mid-October…PERIOD!  I hired a woman contractor – highly recommended if you want someone who pays attention to detail!AEK Interior Design Sorry guys…women are also good listeners.  The biggest detail was the time frame and we pulled it off in 5 1/2 weeks.  That’s right an entire kitchen gut job, master bath demolition, a partial re-do in the second bath, fresh paint in every room and all wood floors redone.  Amazing to say the least!

So here is the original kitchen – I say “original” because I don’t think much had been changed since the house was built in the late 60’s.  Oh, one or two home owners had laid linoleum over linoleum, that’s fun to rip up!  Someone had built a peninsula adding counter space yet blocking a portion of one window – why? The drawers…well I don’t know who thought that drawers 6″ wide served any purpose in a kitchen!  Navy blue tile backsplash and yellow walls – a bit nautical, we’re 3 hours from the coast so those too had to go.  Let the remodel begin!

I spend an enormous amount of time in my kitchen.  It’s my happy place.  I chose a sleek, clean, slightly contemporary look. Custom stained, in Granite Gray, solid wood cabinets, with soft close doors and drawers, roll out shelves, deep lower cabinet drawers, wide drawers for utensils and gadgets, stainless steel appliances and flooring that would work should I ever decide to make some changes.

Here is my “Kitchen Reveal”.  Many of you have asked to see the final product.  I couldn’t be happier.  This kitchen, for what it is, is as good as I could imagine.  It’s got the “triangle” thing going on and it’s wide enough to not feel crowded yet everything is in close proximity. I’d get a kick out of hearing your thoughts, what you like, what you don’t, what you’d do different if it were your kitchen.  You won’t hurt my feelings!

Here ya’ go! One more round of before – with cabinets and old appliances ripped out and the laundry room, which is off of the bar end of the kitchen.

Now for the actual reveal.

Looking from the island to the sink. We sit here to enjoy coffee and sometimes dinner. I’m totally digging the subway tile with it’s sandy grout and the granite counters are incredibly intriguing.

I chose this super sized farmhouse sink not only for it’s looks but it easily accommodates all of my oversized pots and pans.

Looking from the dining room into the kitchen. The laundry room at the far end has a counter that serves as our coffee bar and I slipped a wine cooler in there too!

A gas range – this was on my bucket list 🙂 The narrow cabinet next to the stove is a great place to store cookie sheets, trays and cutting boards. It’s full! Also the big deep drawers make lifting out pots and pans effortless. Notice the speaker above the stove-it keeps my music sounding good all day long. I may store a few of my favorite cookbooks up there too – haven’t decided yet, as I like this clean look.

Deep drawers on this side hold containers for leftovers, utensils, bowls and items I grab daily. Measuring cups, strainers, etc. The pullout to the right of the sink contains trash and recycling – convenient and unobtrusive. Since I listen to music all day long having my iPad handy is important.

Loving the clean white tile, light granite with a unique mix of gray, sand, garnet, charcoal and pale sea green. Fresh fruit on the counter – a must!

Clean white walls are most appropriate to show off the Coca Cola sign. Sun shines in the kitchen from early morning until late afternoon making it a happy place to hang out.

Under cabinet lights and a clean white ceiling fan keep the kitchen light and bright even on cloudy days.

In the near future I’ll share photos of the bath remodel too as the transformation is wonderful.  60’s bathrooms weren’t all that great and my master bath is tiny but wait till you see how we changed it!  I’ve got some yummy recipes I’ll be sharing later this week to so see ya’ then!