NewlyWoodwards

an unconventional home

Jaw-dropping kitchen update

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If you are anything like me, your jaw will be dropping after seeing this kitchen update, courtesy of my in-laws. This is truly one of my favorite kitchens of all time. When I saw the finished kitchen, I told my mother-in-law that it should be in a magazine. It’s that good. (I feel the same way about their entire house, actually. You can also check out their basement remodel and their living room.)

I don’t have the photography skills to show this kitchen in it’s full glory. But trust me, it’s gorgeous and pin-worthy, in my very humble opinion. 😉 My mother-in-law is also an avid pinner, so you can trust that some of these ideas came right from Pinterest. Although she has a super good eye for design and much of this design came from her mind.

So, this project started a while ago (maybe a year?). My mother-in-law wanted to paint the wood cabinets in their kitchen and change some of the cabinets around to accommodate open shelving and a new island. They were really nice cabinets, but about 10-15 years old (my estimate) and she was ready for a change. My father-in-law vetoed the idea because he thought it would ruin them. So, instead, they started looking at getting all new cabinetry.

Well, let’s just say that was a bit of an expensive proposition.

(Although I was voting for new cabinetry, because

So, instead of redoing the entire kitchen – they decided to try a different approach. They ended up paying a professional painter to paint the existing cabinetry. The finish is amazing!!! He painted them and then distressed the edges just a bit.

They also moved a few of the cabinets around and removed a built-in desk. Then, they purchased a few new things to finish it off. Like a custom island, which is pretty fabulous. I love the end, where the stools face each other. It’s difficult to photograph, but I love all the details, the chunky legs, the drawers on the end, the color …

There are also new appliances, including a gorgeous hood above the oven and a microwave drawer in the island. I love that deep drawer under the microwave.
My father-in-law also added new tile to the stove wall.

My father-in-law added the plank wall and they stained it to closely-match the custom island. That light fixture is from Target, by the way.

Then, they finished it up with open shelves and lots of fabulous accessories. Don’t you love the chunky corbels?

And don’t get me started on that sink and faucet. Because I won’t stop. I love the deep sink with all my being, and that faucet is gorgeous. (From IKEA, by the way.)

Did you also notice my mother-in-law’s pretty pedestal to corral sink stuff. Totally stole that idea from her. And she stole it from someone on Pinterest. So I call it even.
Don’t you love that shelf at the end? It used to live on the other idea of the countertop (where the open shelves are). My father-in-law and I both told her that she couldn’t move it. It wouldn’t look good. Good thing my mother-in-law doesn’t listen to us.

I wish I could find the old pictures of the kitchen. I thought I had some, but I can’t find them. The change is drastic. It was a lovely kitchen before. but the colors and changes really opened up the space and modernized it.

What do you think? Let’s give my in-laws some love on this huge project!

Comments

  2. Beautiful! I think my favorite part is the plank wall. It kind of reminds me of your kitchen =)

  3. Wow! It is gorgeous! I love the open shelves and the finish on the cabinets looks great! I wish I could afford to have someone professionally paint our cabinets. I love the plank wall too!

  4. I pinned this kitchen immediately. Its so exciting to the senses. What are the dimensions of the kitchen area. I’m planning an update to my kitchen and wondered if this layout would work for me.

  6. LOVE this. Esp that your FIL splurged to have the cabinets sprayed. I’m sure it makes such a big difference. I was thinking about that often while I was applying the 12 MILLIONTH coat of white to our (damn) bookcases.

  9. oh my gosh your kitchen is absolutely beautiful!! i love the color palette and the details and everything you put into this kitchen you can tell it is definitely well-planned

  10. Wow! This looks amazing! I absolutely love the island and the wood planks behind the open shelves! Gorgeous!

  11. love the bright colored accents, it reminds me of yours! and that countertop….gorgeous! and that plank wall! ack! so good!

  12. It’s gorgeous! I can’t get over that plank wall, that is awesome! And I’m loving the backsplash too!

  16. Agree with you on this one Kim! This kitchen is Gorgeous (with a capital “G”!)! I love, love that wooden plank wall and it is just a very inviting space! I congratulate them for this fantastic job.

    Oh and just as a suggestion to you.. Maybe you can print out our superlative comments and frame them and give it to them as a reminder of how much love we have for their work. 🙂

  19. #1- I might be a bit behind, but your new blog layout is AMAZING!! I love the header images/text/everything about it.
    #2- Your in-laws kitchen is seriously jaw-dropping (you weren’t exaggerating). I think my favorite part (apart from white cabinets with a grey island being my dream kitchen) is the mixed AWESOME backsplashes. Who would have thought to put that vintage floor tile pattern behind the stove?? LOVE it, how charming!! And paired with the industrial feel that the distressed wood backsplash gives is just a dream pairing!
    #3- that’s my favorite faucet in the world. I call it a dinosaur faucet because it looks like the back of a stegosaurus HAH. i will have one oneday!

  21. I can’t even form words powerful enough to express my love for this kitchen. That island! The sink! The tile!! The shelf at the end of the counter! The open shelving! THE PLANK WALLLLLL!!! Give her a high five from me. It’s beautiful!

  22. Absolutely amazing. I love the plank wall with my whole heart. I hope she believes in that whole “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” or whatever because I really really hope I can have a wall like that someday!

  27. Love this transformation. I think my favorite part is the target llight fixture (no, can’t pick just one, never mind…). Love the long island – I think that’s such a good solution for so many kitchen floorplans where they feature a small narrow island and no seating space. Love.

  28. Ooooh la la- love it!! It looks like something you and Ryan would do. Very very nice- my favorite thing is the wood planked wall with the open shelving. I want! Drooling over here 🙂

  29. GORGEOUS! I’m so jealous of people like you and Ryan and your in-laws who can look at a space and see its potential. When it comes to decorating, I look at a space and see … space. 🙂 You guys should all go into business together, making people’s houses look like magazine pictures! You’d be a hit!