As a cookbook writer {and professional} meals blogger who can also be a busy father or mother, I exploit my kitchen rather a lot. A LOT! As a result of it’s not solely my house—it’s my workspace, too!
After 10 years of continually 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, with the intention to have kitchen design concepts in your personal initiatives!
The look we wished
I’m so excited to share with you the way this kitchen renovation got here out—particularly when you’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 fascinating to see how types have modified!)
You’ll not imagine the quantity of hours I spent on Pinterest making an attempt to determine how to do that!
Alex and I like the present pattern in British designed kitchen (significantly DeVOL), which makes use of conventional design shapes, unlacquered brass fixtures, and basic historical-inspired colours.
We additionally wished to design one thing that regarded 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 abilities and my design abilities, we might try this kitchen renovation ourselves. (Eek!)
Doing the work ourselves was less expensive. It was additionally much more nerve-racking (clearly). This additionally meant we might design as we went, making it a enjoyable (and generally nerve-racking) 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 positive if we might.)
The design challenge: earlier than
After dwelling in the identical house for 10 years, Alex and I just lately moved to a house on the identical road. (Let me inform you, 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 colour that was in all places (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! Numerous the {hardware} and lighting within the “earlier than” kitchen design had been decrease high quality metals and off-the shelf designs. We realized to get the customized look we wished, we’d want to switch lots of the {hardware}.
Fortunately, we had been capable of accomplice with our dream model: Rejuvenation, to carry this area to life! (Nonetheless pinching ourselves that we set to work with this unimaginable model.) All of their {hardware} is so top quality: each purposeful and exquisite, which is what we’re obsessive about on the subject of design. (And recipes, truly!) They offered a number of the {hardware}, lighting, and bars stools in these photographs 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 imagine 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 may be a extra appropriate measurement 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 go together 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 happy 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 received 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 wished to alter out the gasoline vary for induction. Right here’s why we adore it: It’s higher for the atmosphere, method simpler to scrub, and heats up so quick: you’ll be able to boil an enormous pot of water in simply 1 minute! The know-how is magnets, so it’s safer than burning gasoline in your house.
Learn our entire put up about Why We Love Cooking on an Induction Vary right here.
Should you bear in mind our final kitchen renovation, we had the ILVE Majestic II. We truly just like the Elise a lot better—however undecided if you wish to go into the depths of induction vary nerdery. When you have particular questions, please ask within the feedback under!
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 received 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 to be like! 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 received them put in, it made the area. They’re stylish, refined, and stylish: not making an attempt too onerous.
5. Painted the cupboards.
The colour we inherited made the kitchen have very cool tones and we wished to heat it up. So after a lot debate, I discovered a paint colour that I cherished: Sherwin Williams Sandbar. We went for it and received fortunate! We love the way it warmed every part up whereas nonetheless remaining impartial.
In an excellent world, I’d love wooden cupboards and/or a wood island. We should sometime substitute the island to be wooden, however for now we left the unique colour. I 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 huge 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 many others.
