I love it when I come across a space that has great bones. Often, these spaces do not need a major overhaul, but just a few cosmetic changes to really refresh and bring it to life. It's truly amazing what a cosmetic facelift can do (yes, I'm still talking about interior design).
This kitchen was one of those spaces. I loved the existing layout and the oak cabinets (is anyone else "team bring-color-back-to-kitchens"?!). It also had great countertops and a butcher block island, which I definitely wanted to utilize. But there was something lackluster about it... It was "fine," nothing wrong with it, but it felt generic, uninspiring, and a little dated.
Before:
After deciding that I wanted to keep the existing oak cabinets, countertops, and island, I thought about what changes I could make that would create the biggest impact, updating and transforming the space without doing a full overhaul.
Paint
It is amazing how much paint can transform a space! The first thing I did in this kitchen was paint the walls and the kitchen island. It's hard to tell in the before picture above, but the walls were a very light, baby blue color, which was not doing it for me. Instead, I painted both the walls and island in Sherwin Williams Alabaster. A classic, warm white which really complemented the warm tones of the cabinets and countertops. Painting alone immediately brightened up the space.
White Subway Tile Backsplash
The next project was changing the backsplash. The prior backsplash had very small blue, green, and ivory tiles, which felt overly busy and clashed with countertops. In my opinion, you can never go wrong with a classic white subway tile, and this absolutely proved true in this kitchen!
Lighting
I decided to install recessed under-cabinet lighting and replace the hanging pot rack with two pendant lights above the island. WOW. What a difference this made in terms of brightening up the entire space. These pendants from Rejuvenation are some of my absolute favorites. They are classic, timeless, and immediately gave the space a sophisticated feel.
Decor
With the paint, subway tile, and added lighting, the old, steel barstools seemed much too harsh against the rest of the kitchen. I swapped them out for these comfy, woven chairs from Pottery Barn which felt more appropriate for the space.
Last but definitely not least, I added the colorful Turkish Oushak rugs to tie it all together. I loved the rich, bold colors in these rugs - the red really pulled in the warm tones of the oak cabinets. Also, I think there is something so cozy about big rugs in a kitchen.
After:
Overall, by working with the existing layout of the space + making these small changes, this kitchen underwent a complete transformation. It is now a warm, inviting, and unique space where the homeowners and guests alike can gather and enjoy.
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