Hey friends, happy weekend and welcome to today’s Kitchen Reveal party. Wish I’d baked gingersnaps and made party punch for the occasion. We started kitchen remodeling back in February and finally, we’re crossing the finish line.
A few little odds and ends remain, like finishing the trim paint, ceiling touch up, cabinet lighting etc. But nothing major. The last cabinet door was hung on Wednesday, so woohoo!
You may remember what our kitchen looked like before. (This picture was taken in January.)
And then we had a family demolition derby day in February and it looked like this. (All the holes in the wall are where the former backsplash was. The sheetrock had to be CUT out, as we couldn’t pry the tiles off the wall, no matter how hard we tried.)
We sold the cabinets on Craig’s List and almost got scammed in the process. Almost being the operative word. We learned a lot.
And now… it looks like this! It came out very close to how I imagined it would. (Guessing my Jon is just sighing with relief to see these words, lol.)
We ripped out this side counter and cabinets. Then extended the doorframe to the right by just a few inches so it would accommodate a pantry six inches wider. That’s a lot of extra storage space floor to ceiling, and so glad we went that route.
AND HERE’S THE DOUBLE WALL OVEN AND PANTRY!!!! (I’m not excited or anything.)
We went back and forth about getting a single or double wall oven, but I’m so glad we went with the double.
I’ve already used both wall ovens simultaneously a number of times. We were also able to find a much better deal on a double wall oven and separate 36″ gas cooktop, rather than a single wall oven plus a 36″ slide-in range with gas cooktop, which was the alternative. We managed to save several thousand dollars doing it this way and still got the two ovens and a cooktop, just a different configuration.
An awesome pantry feature is the slide out drawers inside, so it’s easy and convenient to find things. Though I do need a step stool to reach the upper cabinet shelves.
The original stainless slide-in range we sold on Craigslist. It was in great shape, but I was itching for a gas cooktop like we had at our previous home. I really prefer cooking with gas. Thankfully we already have a gas line for the furnace and hot water heater, so it was just a matter of diverting it to the new cooktop.
So I’m thrilled with the new gas cooktop. It’s 36″ wide, which is 6″ wider than the previous 30″ slide-in range was. It’s amazing how spacious that extra 6″ on the cooktop makes it feel. Plus an extra burner in the middle. The double wall oven freed up the space below this cooktop for storage drawers underneath for pots and pans.
Note the pot filler above the cooktop, on the back wall to the right. This was very inexpensive, less than a $100, and a no brainer once the sheetrock was already cut out because of the backsplash. You do have to get behind the sheetrock to plumb a pot filler, so it may not be an option for everyone, unless you can get behind your wall to plumb.
I’ve already used the pot filler numerous times, most recently when making a big pot of pea soup with our leftover Easter ham bone, which is actually cooking in the pot above. 🙂 It was very delicious with homemade johnny cake FYI.
There was an extra three inches of cabinet space underneath the cooktop counter. Our cabinet guy suggested we put in a filler panel, but we’d seen this neat slide-out spice drawer which only takes, drumroll please…. exactly 3″ of space! YES!!!
I’m not necessarily an organized person (I see those smirks) but I’d like to be. And this spice rack is a move in the right direction!
I sold my former KitchenAid stand mixer (from the late 90’s) in a local Facebook yard sale group, and got one a little bigger and more powerful. KitchenAids are a great investment for your kitchen and really hold their value, FYI.
(I found this out when I had more than 25 on-line offers for my old KitchenAid, which was already refurbished when I bought it.)
We chose brushed nickel for most of the fixtures and kept an industrial feel. Some of my favorite features are the pot filler, the faucet, the amazing light over the kitchen sink, handmade by MoonStone Fox, and the pedestal lights suspended over the island.
We also installed a hot water dispenser, so now we can have tea, oatmeal and hot chocolate in an instant without putting on the kettle.
We were able to tie in the breakfast nook on the opposite end of the kitchen, using this scratch and dent kitchen armoire we bought years ago at the Williams Sonoma outlet in SC.
I’ve always loved the clean look, and chose the shaker white kitchen cabinets based on the armoire lines. (Auntie M, note your Thistle Hill Pottery plate on upper left. 🙂 )
Love this pendant fixture. Found it online at Pottery Barn and scooped it up on a one day clearance sale in January. Score! I spend a lot of time working at this table because the lighting is great and the bird feeder isn’t far. I can’t resist a free show!
Love having my feathered friends nearby. Re: the light fixture above: be warned. It’s a serious dust catcher, but worth it (to me anyway) for the look.
Things we learned:
- We tried not to reinvent the wheel. In other words, the overall layout of the kitchen was already a good design and worked well, so we didn’t mess with it.
- You’ll note there are very few cabinets with doors, mostly pull-out drawers. That’s what’s recommended these days. So much easier to access the prized skillet rolling out a drawer than getting down on your hands and knees, peering into dark cabinet shelves.
- Our subscription to Consumer Reports was helpful, but nowhere near as helpful as just looking things up on Amazon and other sites. Consumer Reports was limited to just the models that they had tested.
- Do your homework ahead of time and always always always compare prices, especially for the bigger ticket items. We compared prices for cabinets and checked out reviews. And we had the quartz countertops quoted at four different shops. It was the fourth one, Granite Plus in Chelmsford, MA we visited that was $1K cheaper, and we got excellent customer service from start to finish.
- There’s a big difference between granite, quartz and quartzite in the countertop world. Granite is a natural stone, less expensive but porous and requires occasional sealing. Quartz is more expensive than granite, man-made, but more durable and virtually maintenance free. And quartzite is natural stone but more expensive than quartz. (Soapstone is beautiful too but out of our budget.) We also considered butcher block, but didn’t want the maintenance.
- We shopped around and shopped around, and Sears was by far the most competitively priced option for the wall ovens and gas cooktop. The customer service however, was a nightmare. Bear that in mind. So frustrating. Sale prices online wouldn’t show up in the online cart, and it ended up being weeks before we finally got everything straightened out with multiple phone calls, talking to people halfway around the world. Sears online and in-store seem to be in competition with each other, making it nearly impossible to resolve anything locally if you have an on-line issue.
- We were committed to doing this project for cash, so we set a budget and stuck with it. While I love how everything turned out, there were many more expensive options and I had to resist splurging. Like a copper hammered range hood for example. Lol. Maybe someday. I did however splurge on a smaller item, the handmade industrial light fixture above the kitchen sink. It was definitely worth the splurge and makes a statement, but wasn’t a huge ticket item.
- So glad we sold everything we could from the old kitchen on-line: stove, cabinets, microwave, etc. That hugely helped reduce our overall cost.
- We were able to avoid replacing the flooring, refrigerator and dishwasher (which was fairly new anyway.) This was a big savings!
- You can pay a lot for Italian subway tile online. It’s lovely, but we didn’t want to spend the pesos there. We got ours inexpensively at Home Depot and used gray grout (rather than white) because it’s easier to keep clean.
- I’m glad we had the cabinets built all the way to the ceiling. It cuts down on dust, and is a cleaner classic look, with great storage in the upper cabinets for things we don’t often use.
What we would have done differently:
- Thankfully, not too much! We did our homework first.
- When the dishwasher is open and the trash drawer on the island is open simultaneously, it’s tight. It works, but we should’ve staggered those better.
- The pot filler should have been installed a little lower, though it works perfectly. I probably would have mounted it one row of subway tile down. It’s tough to figure out where to mount, because you have to plumb it and set the height before you even have countertops or the range top installed. It’s a guessing game. I think we were afraid it might land too low, so ended up overcompensating and mounting it a little high. That’s ok, it still works great, but might be helpful for you to know.
- We would have found a way to make the microwave a built-in, rather than sitting on a shelf. There were many options we looked at, but in retrospect, I think we could have installed it from above, attached underneath a cabinet, as if it were installed over a range. That would have given a cleaner look.
How we saved $:
- Didn’t hire a designer.
- Contracted it ourselves.
- Removed the old cabinets and backsplash ourselves.
- Jon did all the painting.
- Spent time and shopped around for the best prices and value.
- Sold everything we could from our old kitchen to help finance the new one.
- Didn’t get derailed from our budget and splurged on just a few key items: countertops and lighting.
- Amazon was the best for shopping, comparison pricing and on-line reviews. We bought most of the kitchen fixtures, including the stainless range hood on Amazon. Prices were excellent and shipping was free with Amazon prime.
- Kept several existing appliances and the wood flooring.
I’m so glad we kept the kitchen island countertop free of sinks, cooktop, etc. A lot of designs featured built-ins like that. But our kitchen island is invaluable for entertaining with extra seating and space for food. It’s also perfect for rolling out cookies and pie dough. We installed outlets on either end and that works great for mixers/blenders and plugging in my photography lighting.
Jon and I also recently discovered late one night last week that the island makes an awesome laundry folding station when we’re working in tandem on mega laundry.
All along, we kept in mind that a kitchen remodel is one of the best investments you can make in a home. You nearly always get your money back in the long run. And since I’m a food blogger, it was a no brainer for us.
I’ve had friends ask, after seeing the finished kitchen – ‘how in the world did you even know where to start?’ Well, we just went step by step, like everything else, in layers.
Looked at design pics. first to figure out what we liked. Then started with pricing the biggest pieces of the puzzle: the cabinets, appliances, countertops and contractor labor.
Once we found our contractor, we talked through timing, pricing and availability. Once we had those big pieces in place, I started shopping on-line for lighting fixtures, sink, sink fixtures, cabinet hardware, etc. So we went from broad to narrow, and that worked well for us.
We also ordered everything ahead of time and had it here waiting in the garage before the contractor even arrived, with just a few exceptions. This saved time, money, and kept us from wasting the contractor’s time too.
Many thanks to everyone who has been cheering us on during this project, thank you. It’s been fun cataloguing the journey here.
It was quite a marathon, but is already making such a huge difference to work/live in a light and airy, bright kitchen with great storage. We’re thankful and blessed.
Please don’t hesitate to ask questions about the process or share your thoughts. Always love hearing from you.
Wishing you a peaceful, joyful spring weekend doing whatever you love. (I’m potting pansies today.)
Marilyn says
So gorgeous! You guys did a great job! My kitchen is sadly needing a remodel. I will consult with you when we are planning.😉
Allie says
Hi Marilyn, thank you so much! We really enjoyed doing it. I’ve got my B.A. in interior design but rarely get to use it. Hope you get to redo yours soon too. It makes a world difference!
Paula says
Ali you make it look so easy! Not sure I have the sense of style one must posses to pull it off…..you did an awesome job. The kitchen is the heart of the home….you made a beautiful one.
Allie says
Paula, thank you SO much. I had so much fun doing it, though I’m so glad to be on this side of it now. Hope all goes perfectly this coming weekend, thinking about you and your family, excited to see Elle for a bit before she gets to you. XOXO
Julie Hipke says
It’s amazing. What a beautiful job you guys did …what a beautiful gift to you!! So happy for you!
Allie says
Many thanks J – couldn’t have done it without you on several levels! 🙂 Thanks for sharing the joy!!! XO
Kellie says
Allie it is absolutely beautiful!!! I love every detail!! You and Jon did an amazing job. And I loved all your tips too!
Allie says
KELLIE!!! Loved hearing from you, thanks so much. Your kind words mean a lot my friend. You know what goes into these kinds of projects. 🙂 Love ya.
Joya says
I have been fortunate enough to see it in person, it is a dream kitchen!! so, so beautiful…….
Allie says
Thank you so much Joya… loved doing this remodel – so glad you could come, loved our time together. xoxo
Sue Umbaugh says
What an amazing kitchen-absolutely perfect!! So happy for you!
Allie says
Sue, THANK YOU!! Can’t wait for you to see it, really enjoyed the process. Except for the no sink/dishwasher/stove/range part. That was tough. XO
Tina says
love, love, LOVE it!💕
We need to do ours, but I’m feeling a bit {lot!} overwhelmed!
Allie says
Tina, thank you!!! So enjoying it. It’s not too bad once you get going with it. You know how it goes with big projects. Once you commit – that’s all you do for a while…
Kate says
Oh my word, I love it so so much Auntie Allie 😍 so happy for you 🙂
Allie says
KATE – I’m so glad you love it! ME TOO!! 🙂 And to think, you were THERE when it all started. Good memories in Portsmouth and lunch too. Love ya!
Susie Mandel says
STUN.NING. Allie, your kitchen is absolutely spectacular!! And thank you for all the wonderful advice. So glad it’s over and you and Jon and your sweet family can enjoy the fruits of your labor. BTW, I LOVE my KitchenAid, too! It was Jac’s first Christmas present to me after we got married. Loving the new one you got! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!! xoxo
Allie says
Susie – THANK YOU!!! So glad we are on this side of it. Can’t wait for you to see it in person. Jac was so smart to give you a KitchenAid and it has lasted for many years!!! Awesome gift. XOXO
Ellen says
Yay!! You survived a kitchen remodel. It looks absolutely amazing. So happy for you! Your blogging pictures will be amazing in the space. I know you will enjoy it for years to come. Kudos!! Can’t wait to see it in person very soon 🙂
Allie says
Yes!!! ‘survived’ being the key word. It’s crazy isn’t it. Your kitchen remodel was definitely part of my inspiration. Not that they look the same, but just that if YOU did it, I knew I could too. 🙂 See you very soon. XO
Nancy says
What a dream kitchen. So many great details. You have done a fantastic job. To me a kitchen is the heart of the home. Lots of heart in your home. Enjoy for years to come.
Allie says
Nancy thank you. So much. I loved doing this project and so glad to be on this side of it now. Julie was a big help in helping me figure out some of the details, like the light above the kitchen sink. She has that same light fixture in her kitchen, just in a different finish. I walk into the kitchen, and hard to believe it’s mine! 🙂 So fun. xo
Carolyn Voegtlin says
It’s beautiful – thank you for the tour 🙂
Carolyn V
Allie says
CAROLYN!!! – Thank you so much, thank you for coming ON the tour. I don’t know if Kate told you she went to Portsmouth with Jon and me when we first started looking at cabinets last fall. We didn’t end up buying them there, but it was a fun trip with lunch afterwards and she is so interested in interior design, so it was really fun. Love to all.
Yvette Ratson says
I am green with envy, but oh what a beautiful kitchen you have now. You are going to have so much fun working and living in that room, the heart of your home.
Allie says
Yvette, thanks for dropping by, you are so kind. I sincerely hope you get the kitchen of your dreams one day. I’ve watched many of my friends get beautiful kitchens over the years and never thought it would be me. Funny story, sort of. Last summer we were selling our house and buying another. Our buyer fell through and so we lost the house we had a contract on. It happened all very suddenly and it was heartbreaking. It had a white kitchen similar to mine now, but smaller and not quite as nice, in retrospect. Anyway, it was SO hard. I loved that kitchen. I’ve always had laminate countertops in my kitchens and that one had granite. And I lost QUITE a few tears over losing that house. The real estate market around here is so tight, hardly anything for sale. Then we finally found the house that we live in now, but you saw the kitchen. Not bad, just dated and nothing like the pretty white kitchen in the house we lost. Anyway, my husband promised me we’d update the kitchen. So that’s the story! I’m so grateful, and glad you dropped by. Thanks for sharing my joy. xo
Elaine Murphy says
Oh Allie your kitchen is absolutely beautiful! You have amazing patience to live through such a remodel! Kudos to you…we have the same taste you built what I want! Enjoy…
Allie says
Hi Elaine, thank you SO much. It was so much fun. I’ve been wanting for years to do something like this. And I have to pinch myself. This is MY kitchen!!!! 🙂 Honestly I’m so incredibly grateful. Jon bent over backwards to pitch in and do a lot to help make this happen. He’s a gracious man. In fact, he just finished painting the last of the trim tonight. Thanks again! I was just telling someone about the stonewall kitchen outlet in Rochester the other day, thought of you. xo
Barbara Ruka says
I have been waiting for this post! Great job Allie! I know what you mean about the pot filler. My husband and I were measuring like crazy, pulling out my tallest pot to check for height, etc. In the end, I wish it was about 2 inches higher. But it works as is. My kitchen is done except for the banquet (kitchen booth) area. My husband had to put a new vanity/sink in one of our guest rooms, so it had to wait. Served breakfast today for the first time for guests here at the b&b. A little awkward to remember where everything is, so took a little longer than usual. But sooo much fun! Pictures coming soon!
Allie says
Hi Barbara – So thrilled to hear from you!!! Funny – your pot filler was low and mine was high. Like Goldilocks and the three bears. But don’t know who got theirs juuuuust right. Not you or me, that’s for sure! Great to hear you are enjoying your kitchen and you’re off to a great start for the season. That’s awesome. I can’t remember where my things are either, and I still have some kitchen stuff in boxes from when we moved last summer. Eek! I’ve GOT to get this stuff done and finished. We are having an issue with our hot water dispenser. It keeps leaking. We have contacted technical support and did exactly what they said. The water pressure is not low, nor is the line kinked – which were two suggestions for why it might be leaking. Are you having this issue? I don’t want to pay for all that hot water dripping down the drain! If your master plumber husband has any ideas, do share! Thanks a bunch, looking forward to seeing your pictures when you get them up. Have a great week! xo
Laurie says
So Beautiful!!
Allie says
Hi Laurie – thank you SO much for dropping by, I had so much fun doing this kitchen. I can hardly believe it’s finished. Have a super week!
Carol says
I am just thrilled for you! It is way way more than stunning and you should be so very proud of your excellent taste and I know you will not tire of cooking in such beauty! It was a privilege to share the waiting to see the results and it was worth waiting for. Good for you!
Allie says
Carol — you are SO kind. I loved doing this kitchen and I can hardy believe it is finished. It has brought me so much joy already. Just sitting down with all the lights off at night, except the fixture over the sink. The kids all in bed. QUIET. A cup of tea. It feels like a sanctuary and I’m so grateful. Jon just finished the last of the trim paint tonight. He’s taking Jacob on a college trip next week so he wanted to get it done before he left. It’s just very special and feels like an oasis. I was thinking about your greenhouse the other day. Is it time to plant yet or do you have to wait? I wasn’t sure how early you can plant seedlings w/a greenhouse. Have a super week my friend!!!
rhonda says
Beautiful, functional and in such good taste! I love it so much, I have a dream to one day own a kitchen that is so spectacular! You, your family and friends will have so many great times in that area making memories for a lifetime. Great job!
Allie says
Rhonda – thank you so much! So glad you like it too. I sincerely hope you get the kitchen of your dreams one day. I never thought this would be me. In fact I’m not far from 50 (!) and have seen many friends get their dream kitchens through the years. Can hardly believe it’s my turn, pinch me! Here’s what I told Yvette in a comment above. Funny story, sort of. Last summer we were selling our house and buying another. Our buyer fell through and so we lost the house we had a contract on. It happened all very suddenly and it was heartbreaking. It had a white kitchen similar to mine now, but smaller and not as nice, in retrospect. Anyway, it was SO hard. I loved that kitchen. I’ve always had laminate countertops in my kitchens and that one had granite. And I lost QUITE a few tears over losing that house. The real estate market around here is so tight, hardly anything for sale. Then we finally found the house that we live in now, but you saw the kitchen. Not bad, just dated and nothing like the pretty white kitchen in the house we lost. Anyway, my husband promised me we’d update the kitchen. So that’s the story! Thanks so much for dropping by and the kind words Rhonda! xo
Susie G—proud sister)) says
Wow!! What a great redo! Looks so bright and cheerful—just begging for a waffle, bacon, omelette and fruit compote breakfast (!) to be assembled on its lovely counters…how do I love it? Let me count the ways…3” spice rack! Lighting! Textures! Space…and I appreciated careful savings along the way…
But I’ll really love it best when I get spoiled by “its” delicious productions, next visit north…bravo, Allie, nicely done!
Allie says
SUSIE G!!! Thank you so much! YES!! Waffles, bacon, omelettes, fruit compote, yogurt, smoothies, oatmeal, grits, scrambled eggs, cereal, sausage, coffee cake. You name it!!! Lol. Thanks for sharing the joy, and can’t wait to spoil you guys next time you’re up. XO
Maggie says
Wow! So beautiful Auntie Allie ! It really looks great, so glad things turned out incredibly 🙂
Allie says
Maggie! Thanks so much! The kitchen is all ready for you and Kate to come make monkey bread again. Can’t wait! xoxo
Paula Y says
It’s beautiful Allie! You always have the best talent for design! Loved everything! I am in the middle of 2 bathroom re-models and can relate totally to your story.
Allie says
Oh Paula, thank you so much for your kind words. Loved hearing from you. Two bathroom remodels??? Wow. No rest for the weary. I hope they are going great, I always loved what you did at your house in Bedford. This is our first step towards updating at this house, we have bathroom remodels ahead of us too. Hopefully not for a little while. Are you guys still in Brussels? I hadn’t heard whether you were still overseas. Our love to all the family. xo
Jenn J. says
It’s beautiful Allie! You did an amazing job and I love all of the finishing touches! And now you get to use it! ❤️
Allie says
JENN!!! Thank you SO much for the kind words. So fun to have you drop by. I have been loving seeing your remodel on Facebook from afar. So many awesome details. Our kitchens are so different, but I really love the direction you went. Love the drinks refrigerator, that is awesome. Also your copper range hood is amazing. I would have liked to do that, but it wasn’t in the cards this time around. You really did an amazing job. Fun we were both doing this at the same time, what are the odds? Enjoy your beautiful kitchen, I know you’ll keep it filled with joy, company, good eats and happy boys! xo
Aunt Margie says
This has been worth waiting for, it’s sensational! If I had to choose my favorite feature it would be your lights: pendant, stainless steel, dust catchers or not, they’re perfectly lovely, and cast your kitchen in a “new light”! I also love the bright white making a dramatic change from the brown. You and Jon are trail blazers, and can be overjoyed, relieved, and unimaginably grateful to be on the other side of this project. Bravo!
Allie says
Awww.. thank you so much Aunt Margie. Have had fun being on this journey with Jenn and Aunt Joanie from afar too. All our kitchens are different and I love that. What are the odds we’d all be doing it at the same time? Serendipitous. Any way, thank you SO much. Glad you like the lighting too. It was hard to make decisions, there are so many wonderful fixtures out there to choose from. And yes, definitely relieved to be finished! Jon finished the trim paint last night. xo
Sandi says
It looks so nice Allie. The one thing I don’t like about my pull out spice rack is the bottles tip over, I think yours is narrower, so you might not have that problem, I should just buy more spices! Unto the next project!
Allie says
Sandi thank you! Your beautiful kitchen is definitely one that inspired me towards getting ours done. Thanks for all the tips, it went smoothly because we were prepared and knew what to expect.
brigitte says
Ta cuisine Allie est superbe, que de bons petits plats vont être cuisinés de ce si bel espace! bisous, belle journée! Brigitte.
Allie says
Merci Brigitte, je suis tellement reconnaissante d’être de la partie. Ce fut une expérience formidable et mon mari Jon était tout simplement incroyable, faisant tellement de détails pour réduire les coûts. Cela fonctionne si bien. Si vous êtes déjà venu ici au New Hampshire, promettez-moi, s’il vous plaît, que vous allez passer prendre une tasse de café. Cela me ferait très plaisir! xo
Susan says
Beautiful Ali! I know you are going to put it great use and be so happy doing so!
Allie says
Susan, THANK YOU!!!! I just love it. I have to pinch myself to see if it’s for real. Jon did so many little details to cut down on cost and make it happen. He just finished the trim paint last night and it looks great. xo
April says
Oooooooh I’m green with envy!!
It so bright & beautifully. Cheery!
Love it, as I imagine your over the moon!
Enjoy cooking in your gorgeous new kitchen!
Allie says
April, thank you SO much. Loved hearing from you. I still can’t believe this is happening to me. Have had many friends get beautiful kitchens through the years and truly never dreamed it would be me one day. Thank you for sharing my joy. Here’s what I mentioned to a few other readers. Last summer we were selling our house and buying another. Our buyer fell through and so we lost the house we had a contract on. It happened all very suddenly and it was heartbreaking. It had a white kitchen similar to mine now, but smaller and not as nice, in retrospect. Anyway, it was SO hard. I loved that kitchen. I’ve always had laminate countertops in my kitchens and that one had granite. And I confess I lost QUITE a few tears over losing that house. The real estate market around here is so tight, hardly anything comes up for sale. Then we finally found the house that we live in now, but you saw the kitchen. Not bad, just dated and nothing like the pretty white kitchen in the house we lost. Anyway, my kind husband promised me we’d update the kitchen. So that’s the story! Thanks for your kind words and have a beautiful day!
Sheryl says
I LOVE it!!! So pretty and bright. Nice timeless design choices! Great tips for anyone considering a kitchen remodel also! I’m sure you miss cooking on your camping stove, though. Nice paint job too JT! You still got it 😁
Allie says
Ha ha! He DOES still got it Sheryl! 🙂 He just finished the trim paint last night, first coat anyway. Thanks SO much, sounds like you’ll be embarking on your own journey in not so long. Excited for you, it will be worth it.
Judy says
WOW! WOW! WOW! So white, bright, clean and airy looking! Know you will enjoy doing all the things you used to do, but now in a much more convenient environment. Wouldn’t I love to have that pot-filling feature and the pull-out spice rack, though?!! ! XOXO
Allie says
MOM!!! Thanks SO much. The remodel has made such a difference already and we’re thoroughly enjoying it! Yes, a pot filler and spice rack would be awesome features for you. I thought of you as we were doing this remodel, thinking how you and dad basically started started from the ground up with your kitchen in the 70’s. What a huge project with five busy kids underfoot. Pretty amazing, and it has served you well through the years. Love you. xo
Maggie says
Allie,
What an amazing kitchen!!! So glad it turned out so well. Looks so much brighter and bigger, amazing what different colors will do! I see the hints of a coastal theme;) (my favorite theme). Love that glass light fixture above your table. Certainly looks like a dream kitchen that I hope you’ll be able to enjoy for a long time. Happy cooking, baking, & entertaining:)!!!
Allie says
Maggie – YES, you detect that coastal flair we both love. If you look at my logo, you’ll see blue letters – that’s the ocean water, and tan letters, and that’s the sand! Yep, it was very intentional. 🙂 Thanks so much. I hope you will get to see the kitchen in person soon…we will talk. XO
Maggie says
I didn’t know that about your logo, now I love it even more! Look forward to chatting:).
Shashi at SavorySpin says
Oh Allie! Your new remodeled kitchen looks so fabulous! Or, I think I should make that FANTABULOUS! I love that y’all kept that island free of sinks or stovetops! Love the blue accents – goes so well with that light grey wall. Y’all sure did your homework – or, maybe even more than that! Such good pointers to keep in mind when planning a major remodel. Why don’t you and Jon have a home selling/remodeling consulting company yet? Y’all bought and sold homes simultaneously BY YOURSELVES – then y’all remodeled a kitchen -almost by yourselves again! WOW – My hats off to the two of y’all! And – ALL this with managing kids – one who has special needs! I’m in awe! I’m so grateful God connected you with me virtually, you are such an inspiration!
Happy Monday, sweet friend! Hoping this is a wonderful week for y’all and I can’t wait to see the deliciousness that comes out of that GORGEOUS kitchen! XOXO
Allie says
Shashi, you are always so kind, always so gracious. And so happy for the good fortune of others. That’s a gift that not everyone possesses. So THANK YOU for sharing the joy. So grateful for wonderful supportive friends on the journey that help get us through some of these crazy life circumstances we find ourselves in. Many thanks for all the love, wishing you a fabulous week, knowing that one day, hopefully not too far down the road, we’ll connect more than virtually. What a gift that will be, can’t wait. XOXO
Daniella says
It looks beautiful Allie…I see we share the same taste as far as color and style. Would love to have a quartz counter….One day maybe. Can’t wait to have a cup of tea in this inspiring place.
Allie says
Daniella, THANK YOU my friend. Each Wednesday that passes by, I think, we MUST connect, and then the next crisis comes along. So many things we need to catch up on. Definitely want to connect soon and share that cup of tea with you here. What a gift it will be. Hoping it works out before school is out for the summer. xoxo
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
I saw a picture of your finished kitchen on Facebook! My first thought was, “Wow, what a great kitchen!” Then my second thought was whoa…this is Allie’s kitchen! Congrats on getting it all finished. It turned out beautiful! Happy cooking it that new space!
Allie says
Kathy! So fun to hear from you. So glad you like the kitchen, Jon just finished the first coat of trim paint last night. There’s a lot of trim in here. So grateful it has all worked out and I’m totally enjoying the cooking here, just having trouble finding where I put everything, lol.
JulieD says
I love this so much! It’s giving me ideas for the one I dream of doing for our kitchen!! Just pinned it so I can look at it again! 🙂
Allie says
Julie – thank you SO much, I really loved doing it. Hope it’s a big help and you get the kitchen of your dreams, and soon! You’ve always been an inspiration to me, your recipes and photos, but even more so, your personal posts. You’re an amazing person and I appreciate your authenticity. <3 <3 <3
Adina says
Absolutely beautiful, Allie. It is exactly my taste as well, this could be my kitchen. 🙂 And a good idea to get a double oven, especially since you have such a big family, I have a double one too and I would not want to miss it. And such a relief to see that you are not ironing your table cloths either, I always say people spend to much time with ironing generally (I do it 5 times a year, tops) and a table cloth gets dirty after one or two meals anyway, especially with kids 🙂 Actually I mostly use them for more festive meals, it’s annyoing to have to change them every couple of days. But the blue one really looks so pretty! 🙂
Allie says
ADINA!!! Loved hearing from you. Thank you. We had so much fun doing this kitchen and glad the construction part is over. Had to laugh about the table cloth. After I took all the pics I noticed the table cloth needed ironing. Oh well, I said. Too bad. I don’t have time for that. Ha ha. Who does. I would have done it for the pictures, but didn’t notice ’til after the fact. Yes, they need to get washed so quickly is right. Especially with my Hudson. He can destroy a table cloth in minutes. Have a super week my friend, and don’t pull out that ironing board! 🙂
puja says
Wow, what a beautiful Kitchen Allie. Congratulation on getting it all finished. Enjoy!!!
Allie says
Many thanks Puja – so glad it’s all finished. It sure is a fun place to cook now. 🙂
Christy Smith says
I have been waiting to have more than just 5 minutes to look, savor, read and digest your gorgeous kitchen makeover. So excited for how this turned out, mostly because you are thrilled. What a delight for a cook to have a lovey kitchen in which to do what she loves! I especially love the quartz you chose….love the subtle, clean pattern that keeps the look light but has interest. It was great to read your explanation and tips…sort of a “Behind The design” of your own! Your choice of lights that are different but work well together is a shop stopper. And I really love your turquoise accents. We did our kitchen over 10 years ago and I think I’m ready to do it again…especially after seeing yours and Jenn’s. Wonderful job you and Jon did collaborating with Amazon, Sears, Home Depot, Moonstone Fox, contractors, etc. Your kitchen as well as your methodical process is an inspiration!!
Allie says
Awww….thank you SO much Christy! I had so much fun doing this. Such a different feel in the kitchen now. It is amazing the transformation – just such a pleasant place to be. I do hope to share a cup or forkful of something yummy in this kitchen with you one day. I just popped a lemon blueberry pound cake in the oven, my latest culinary experiment. If it comes out well, you’ll see it here soon… I loved watching Jenn’s remodel too, she did a great job. Perfect. I love her drinks fridge and the hammered copper range hood. A showstopper. Back to this remodel – I really loved the countertop too. At first right after they installed them, I wondered if I went too light, but then as we added the turquoise accents it seemed to work well. Jon was lobbying for a little darker countertop initially, but he likes it now too, so yay! Have a beautiful day, I’m so glad you dropped by. xo
Eva says
Ta cuisine est magnifique!! Bravo Allie! Vous avez fait un bon travail! XOXO
Kathy says
Hi Allie, GORGEOUS!! Thanks for the GREAT Post! (How did I miss this?? 🙂 My hat goes off to you and Jon for all the hard work you both put into this. Hip-hip-hooray!! I’ve always wanted a ‘white’ kitchen and LOVE what you did!! Enjoy~! Thanks for all the details you shared. I look forward to re-reading this if/when we do a kitchen reno!
Allie says
Hi Kathy, thank you SO much. We loved doing it and it’s so fun to bake here now. The lemon blueberry pound cake was the first real cake I made for the blog since the kitchen was finished. It’s such a pleasant place to be and I love working here at the table with the birds in sight. Cheap therapy. lol. So glad you dropped by Kathy, thanks again, hope you get that ‘white’ kitchen some day. xo
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
I love everything about your new kitchen, it looks fantastic. Lots of happy meals ahead, I’m sure.
Allie says
Karen, thank you so much. It’s such a change and we are loving it. So appreciate you dropping by, thank you.
ninja cat unblocked 66 says
It’s very good post which I really enjoyed reading. It is not everyday that I have the possibility to see something like this.
Kathy McArthur says
The kitchen looks great! Very homey!
I love the pull-out drawers. I think I will choose them when I renovate my kitchen. Your experience is very helpful to me as I will be starting my own renovation this summer and am looking for different tips and tricks right now.
Allie says
Great, thanks so much Kathy! We’ve really enjoyed it and the configuration has worked very well, the kitchen seems to be our gathering place. I hope your information gathering goes great and you love your new kitchen!