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“We simply couldn’t determine why you weren’t tearing out the kitchen.”
That’s what one in all our contractor’s guys stated to us proper as we moved in final yr. I understood his confusion. We had been redoing flooring, transferring doorways, vaulting ceilings, and so on – however we left the small previous kitchen comparatively untouched – full with mauve laminate counter tops. You possibly can see what I imply in this publish.
However to know us is to know that we strongly desire to reside with an expensive-to-renovate room like a kitchen first, simply so we don’t rush into spending main cash on large everlasting modifications that we would later remorse or want that we thought by way of just a little longer. So we spent the final 16 months debating numerous large concepts for this room, all whereas peppering in some easy smaller updates to get a really feel for the way they assist enhance the area and what we would need for our extra long-term plan.
Over the previous 16 months, we debated including extra cabinetry in numerous spots, later realized that we had an opportunity so as to add a pleasant large pantry with a built-in fridge on all the stair wall (extra on that in a second), and in addition debated closing off a window – or at the very least half of it – to accommodate a rest room off of our bed room… that we later realized can be a lot smarter in a totally totally different place (extra on that right here).
Not solely did we land on a higher spot for our ensuite toilet, we now have a significantly better concept for that aspect kitchen window and the porch that it overlooks – so we’re sharing that in a while on this publish too. In brief: sixteen months of slowly including in a bunch of cheap updates (portray the cupboards, including new {hardware}, hanging some cabinets and artwork, rearranging the desk and sitting space till they felt proper, and so on) gave us loads of time to visualise numerous issues and make the kitchen extra environment friendly and practical for us – all whereas permitting us to save lots of up for just a few of the extra main long-term updates.
We’ll get into our large plans on this publish (as a result of the excellent news is that we expect we’re on the point of confidently making some larger, extra everlasting renovations to the area!) – however I additionally need to take you thru among the latest updates which have helped us benefit from our modestly sized kitchen… lots of which we haven’t even proven you but right here on the weblog. However first…
A Fast Video Tour
Let’s kick issues off with a video of all the area. A bit of walk-about feels a lot extra such as you’re within the area than 1,000 pictures, so click on play (no have to have sound on, there’s no narration) to get a significantly better concept of how the entire room seems to be & feels:
Notice: You too can watch this video on YouTube.
Okay, and now let’s get into the 9 updates that we’ve slowly labored in over the previous few months.
Including A Constructed-In Pantry
The largest enchancment we’ve made recently is including a built-in floor-to-ceiling pantry cupboard that created SO MUCH STORAGE that we didn’t have earlier than. Beforehand we solely had 7 kitchen cupboards (right here’s how we organized them) which is why we relied so closely on some freestanding Ikea Fjalkinge cabinets to carry all of our meals, serving ware, and even instruments.
It labored nicely sufficient within the quick time period, however we needed one thing deeper and rather more practical for the lengthy haul. So over the summer season, we ordered two large Ikea cupboards – one tall pantry cupboard and one over-the-fridge cupboard – and a few aspect panel items to make it occur. Working with Ikea cupboards is previous hat for us by now, however you’ll be able to learn our ideas and methods for putting in them in case you’re new to it.
When you construct all of them in, they appear actually crisp and polished – they usually include all types of inserts and choices (for instance, the pantry cupboard may have cupboards or drawers on the underside, and so on. We determined to maintain this space of cabinetry easy (flat fronted and white) quite than portray them mauve to match the opposite cupboards since they go all the best way to the ceiling and we thought that aspect of the room would possibly really feel heavy and out of stability with the remainder of the room. However we did set up these matching knobs to tie them to the present kitchen (right here’s how one can shortly set up new {hardware}).
Not solely was it an enormous aesthetic enchancment (particularly having the fridge inbuilt!) it was a HUGE practical enchancment that earned us tons of additional storage. Nearly greater than we knew what to do with! We even ran an extension wire to place our microwave in there and get it off our counter (keep in mind to depart your pantry door open for air flow when it’s operating in case you retailer yours in a closed cupboard or “equipment storage”).
There’s not a lot magic to the group in right here. Sherry simply used some storage baskets that we already needed to wrangle classes of issues like: baking stuff, chips, snack baggage, nutritional vitamins, and so on. We use the highest for much less accessed stuff, like our s’mores provide caddy, and “backstock” meals, like further cereal. We additionally crammed the within of the doorways with favourite household pictures (lots of which we had taped up in our previous mudroom cupboards at our final home). I promise they’re much less blurry in actual life 😉
We selected the Ikea pantry cupboard that had drawers on the underside as a result of we love having drawers on a decrease cupboard. It features equally to the freestanding Fjalkinge items the place we used to retailer our meals, however these drawers are deeper and taller. I can’t underscore how rather more storage we’ve now that we’ve added this (don’t neglect the massive cupboard over the fridge that we gained too!).
Including this pantry cupboard additionally allowed us so as to add one different little bit of comfort and performance too…
Wall-Mounting A Spice Rack
Beforehand all of our spices had been in one of many Fjalkinge shelving items, a number of steps from the range and cooking space the place we wanted them most. Ideally, they’d’ve been within the skinny drawer proper subsequent to the range, however alas, it was too slender to suit greater than 3 or 4 spice jars directly.
So we ordered this wall-mounted spice rack and secured it to the aspect of the pantry (it’s magnetic so it might stick proper to the aspect of a fridge, nevertheless it additionally comes with screws to hold it when you’ve got a aspect panel like ours). We additionally ordered a set of matching spice jars (that include pages of simple-looking labels) and now the whole lot is correct inside attain of the range and requires zero fishing round in a drawer.
You possibly can see it additionally holds a roll of paper towels, in order that was one other factor we had been in a position to get off the countertop. Between that and the microwave being gone, we felt like we gained numerous area up there!
Beefing Up The Floating Cabinets
The following couple of enhancements are extra visible than practical, however had been nonetheless actually useful in making the room really feel prefer it’s inching nearer to the ultimate consequence that we’re going for. The unique “floating” wooden cabinets had been a fast and soiled DIY that we did shortly after we moved in with wooden leftover from our laundry closet shelving. We had all the time deliberate to exchange them with somebody extra everlasting, it simply took us over a yr to take action!
The new cabinets are from Pottery Barn they usually’re good & chunky, and really floating (in contrast to the previous ones that had been held up by some brackets that we strategically obscured by the objects on the cabinets). We lucked out that these cabinets got here premade in each 48″ and 36″ lengths, because the window isn’t centered on that wall.
They’re deep and durable sufficient to carry our largest plates, so they stunning a lot checked each field we had for them. They had been additionally tremendous straightforward to put in. 5 stars. Extremely advocate. Undecided why we waited so lengthy to make the change.
And proper above the cabinets, you’ll be able to see our different “visible” enchancment
Hanging Wall-Mounted Sconces
We’ve all the time needed some sconces above the floating cabinets however we weren’t wanting ahead to the difficulty of an electrician tearing up the partitions – particularly if we’re not doing a full-fledged reno but (we’ve 8 ceiling lights on this room, so we’re not precisely hurting for illumination). So we determined to hold some ornamental sconces (sure, they’re purely ornamental at this level – as a result of they’re actually sans wiring) simply to verify we preferred the look & placement earlier than getting them hardwired (which we’ll possible do once we add the backsplash).
We used the mid-century sconces we designed within the brass + white combo to tie in the entire brass and white components all through our home. We simply screwed the included mounting brace proper into the drywall, since there’s no fixture field there at the moment. The wires are nonetheless properly capped and tied up inside, so we will get them wired finally, however for now they’re serving to us determine the place/if we wish one thing everlasting there in the long term.
Additionally, if we ever need to truly “flip them on,” we purchased these rechargeable battery-powered mild bulbs that activate as quickly as you screw them in – no wiring wanted in any respect. They’re designed as a back-up mild supply in case of an influence outage, however they work nicely on this software too!
Hiding Ugly Stuff Outdoors With A Window Field
We’re spoiled with numerous fairly views in our home, however this view out the window above the sink in all probability ranks on the backside of the record. Other than our toilet window (which is frosted), this one is fortunately the one one that appears instantly into the fence…
… and we made the view even worse when our pool was being put in as a result of the one place the pool tools might be positioned was proper exterior this window. Our generator, A/C unit, and gasoline meter are already on the market, so it was a pure place for all of the ugly issues to congregate. It simply didn’t make the view whereas doing dishes any higher. So, like we’ve finished earlier than right here and right here, we improved the view with vegetation.
We simply hung a window field exterior and crammed it with foxtail ferns and inchplants (they’re the purple ones), which totally block the underside few inches of the window, which is the place we may see all that ugly tools again there on the bottom. When unsure… put a plant on it. Or twenty.
Eradicating The Backsplash
Earlier than you suppose “why would you ever take away a backsplash” or “wait, what backsplash?” let me make clear – I’m speaking concerning the 4′ piece of matching laminate that prolonged up from the again of the counter tops. You possibly can see it within the photograph beneath, together with the previous cabinets.
You in all probability don’t even discover it a lot in these pictures, however having it out makes the kitchen really feel just a little extra streamlined and fashionable (and it’s not like we didn’t have range splatters continuously hitting above that tiny “backsplash” anyway – we simply wipe down the wall they usually come proper off. As for the way we received the backsplash out, Sherry simply smiled at me once I walked out the door to run errands after which pried it off and patched/smoothed/painted the drywall behind it whereas I used to be gone. She loves an enormous reveal like that. Our eventual plans are to tile this whole again wall to the ceiling, so now we’re one step nearer. Additionally I really like a mission that magically occurs once I’m gone.
Eradicating it did go away a small hole behind the counter tops, however we expect we’ll simply seize a small piece of trim and paint it to match the counters and shove it again there. It’s not large enough to lose meals or spoons in it or something (and it’ll finally be crammed by an actual tile backsplash at which level we’ll additionally get new counters) however simply so we don’t have a bizarre little crumb valley, the wooden trim piece might be a pleasant (literal) stopgap.
Making Plans For A Door
As I stated, all of those upgrades and tweaks are inching us nearer to creating some larger, extra everlasting modifications to this area. One in every of which is changing this aspect window with a door. I do know, you didn’t see that coming. We didn’t both till we lived right here for some time!
That is a type of modifications we by no means would’ve thought-about off the bat (particularly as a result of we initially deliberate so as to add a rest room that connected to our bed room in that spot – extra on why that plan modified right here). Proper exterior that window is a coated aspect porch that we realized over time can be SO NICE to have entry to from the kitchen.
- It could give us a direct entrance to the kitchen for unloading groceries (our most popular parking area is correct on the market so it will be rather more environment friendly than our longer present route).
- With higher entry to that porch, we’d lastly have a handy spot for a grill that we may use proper off of the kitchen (we didn’t need a grill on our entrance porch, however love the thought of 1 on a hidden aspect porch).
- It could let much more mild into the kitchen.
- It results in a fenced in space the place Burger will be set free (proper now he makes use of the entrance door, which isn’t a fenced space – however this aspect porch is throughout the fence that encirles our fireplace pit space as nicely)
- Talking of which, we’d have a door that results in our fireplace pit as a substitute of all the time utilizing the doorways in our bed room – which feels good for once we entertain and don’t need everybody to need to traipse by way of our room (one other solution to get to it’s to stroll out our entrance door, stroll left for some time exterior, and undergo the fence to enter it, however this might be rather more direct).
Sherry has whipped up just a little Photoshop motion to point out you what we imply. Flawless, no?
The one draw back to the plan is that we lose about 18″ of cupboard area (after we issue within the area that we achieve within the nook, which is at the moment blocked by the cabs that run alongside the wall the place the door will go). See that area to the fitting of the dishwasher? That’ll change into a freed up good vast decrease cupboard with a drawer above it (26″ vast)- so we achieve that. However we lose the little peninsula of cupboards that’s at the moment blocking it, which is 44″ vast (therefore my calculation that we lose 18″ general).
We weighed the professionals and cons and have determined it’s nonetheless value going for it – particularly as a result of we gained a lot storage once we added our pantry cupboard. And to check it out, we’ve simply stopped utilizing that complete run of cabinetry for the final a number of weeks to verify can do with out them (simply emptied them out and stated: “we’ll see how this goes”). To this point, it feels completely effective to lose them ceaselessly to be able to achieve all of the bulleted professionals that we listed above. Once more, that’s why we like to reside with issues earlier than making any enormous choices. Notice: it actually will be argued that extra cabinetry is best for resale than including a door, however we’re making this transformation as a result of it really works higher for our household (in different phrases: resale shmesale).
Preserving Extra Shelf Storage
After transferring the Fjalkinge cabinets, we realized we nonetheless cherished having our bowls and cups and glasses on the wall by the eating desk. Enter this CB2 ladder shelf, stage proper (we simply took off the underside two cabinets and it nests proper in with our equally shiny white desk like they had been all the time meant to be collectively).
This shelf had been upstairs, nevertheless it was displaced by the 2 Fjalkinge bookcases that we moved up there (which appear like they had been all the time meant to reside up there). Right here’s the place Sherry would clap her fingers and say “Store. Your. Home. And. Strive. New. Preparations. What’s the worst that might occur?!”
The peak of the shelf is good because it balances the peak of the home windows (and the longer term door!) and since we’ve some artwork hanging within the sitting space and above the kitchen cabinets, it’s good to have a show spot/practical storage right here versus simply one other framed piece of artwork.
Sherry’s fast shelf-styling tip is so as to add just a little plant or some artwork if issues look too sterile – and a tray will help comprise like objects and make them really feel much less jumbled (all of our white mugs get stacked in ours).
Whereas we’re right here, let’s maintain spinning across the room and speak about our sitting space that’s adjoining to the kitchen.
Should you’re in search of extra shelving concepts & tasks, this publish has numerous DIY shelving concepts (16 of them!) so that you can take a look at.
Nice-Tuning The Sitting Space
That is has been one of many hardest areas to determine for us in the home because it wanted to do rather a lot in just a little space. Again in January, we confirmed you ways we maximized it with a cushty loveseat, some cozy chairs, and a hardworking storage espresso desk.
All of these components are nonetheless the identical, however they’ve gotten a bit extra respiration room now that the massive Fjalkinge cabinets are upstairs. We had some neighbors over just lately and that is the place the 4 of us frolicked all evening whereas the youngsters performed upstairs. I do know it might look just a little tight in footage, however in individual it’s completely cozy (I believe the video does a greater job of displaying you ways this room feels in actual life – so attempt to watch that in case you haven’t but).
The primary factor we’ve modified is that I constructed a custom-sized four-cube cubby proper subsequent to the door that completely matches towards the aspect of the loveseat’s armrest and offers us a spot to retailer our on a regular basis sneakers and numerous the opposite stuff we seize on the best way out the door (like facemasks, sunscreen, an umbrella, and so on).
So it really works remarkably nicely as a “lobby” of types, since we’ve received sneakers within the cubby and jackets & backpacks held on the again of the laundry closet’s double-doors (you’ll be able to see the within of our laundry closet right here – though that was earlier than the youngsters had been again at school, so now simply image jackets & backpacks on the inside door hooks).
It feels prefer it took us some time to determine the circulation on this room (I believe there have been one thing like 10+ furnishings preparations on this entrance sitting space earlier than we figured issues out), however we’re actually pleasantly stunned by how nicely it really works. I even let Sherry have a “advised you so” second just lately as a result of I had my doubts throughout a few of our earlier format makes an attempt, however we hang around right here each morning with the youngsters earlier than faculty and use it anytime buddies drop in and even for studying on lazy weekends. It felt like we’d by no means have a cushty seating space on this spot, and now it will get extra use than the sofa upstairs! #nevergiveup
A Few Fast Earlier than & Afters
That is the kitchen because it seemed once we purchased our home:
And right here we at the moment are:
Going through the opposite means, right here is the earlier than:
And now:
In order that’s the present state of our kitchen. Functionally it really works very well for us and the format is lastly beginning to “click on” for us too. That’s why we really feel like we’re lastly getting nearer to creating some extra dramatic modifications, like including that new door and upgrading that again wall of cupboards, getting new counters, and including that backsplash to the ceiling. I can’t even let you know how a lot we’re wanting ahead to a sink that’s greater than 5″ deep. That’s going to be the icing on the cake.
We’ve even ordered some pattern backsplash tiles and labored out the brand new cupboards we need to order. Undecided about counters but, however one factor we’re sure of is an excellent deep stainless single bowl sink (after MANY kitchen renos, it’ll simply all the time be our favourite). I believe all the “actual reno” stage of this kitchen might be round 5K whole (together with the brand new door to the aspect porch, new cupboards, new counters, a brand new sink and tap, and a full wall of backsplash tile) in order that’s one different perk to the gradual evolution in the direction of a completed product… and a smaller kitchen with out tons of latest cupboards to need to buy!
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