psssst…. shop our spaces here!
If you’ve been tuned in for a while, then you probably remember this little kitchen sneaky peek from some of our very fave clients, here. {You can see their children’s bathroom reveal where we did a few simple changes for a whole lot of wow here.}
But we’re thrilled to be back with this reveal, because not only is the change oh so amazing, but it’s a great example of changes that can make a big difference, without taking on a total overhaul.
So if you remember, here’s the before. Kris + Jess actually plan to build their forever house on the several acres that they own, a few years down the road. They decided, however, that their space could use a few updates in the practicality department a-la their older kitchen, without a complete overhaul. They wanted to enjoy it more in the time that they do have while living here, and come up with some great solutions for future renters, as well.
And we all love these changes.
Older spaces can be a bit of a challenge, because it’s a lot like putting a puzzle back together. But that’s what makes them oh so fun. The first change you probably noticed is that we designed and installed a new bar.
Because their existing house is on a concrete slab, they weren’t able to come from underneath to change these support columns. A main source of electricity from the main area to the bar, is found in said columns. We weighed the pros and cons {and cost} of a land beam and breaking up the concrete flooring, but at the end of the day, we found a more sensible solution is changing the bar and adding character to the existing columns to bring intention to the space. It’s a nice change without ripping out all the things… and bleeding all the money.
It was all about being smart with the changes made, while still giving them a nice aesthetic. There’s always a little give and take when working with older houses and this is a prime example of that.
While the old bar was replaced {hello gorgeous side by sides and awesome new cooktop} we were also thrilled to paint their old cabinets to give them a facelift. We love how K + J weren’t afraid to go bold with their changes, and they absolutely love the new look.
We were able to totally invade their space and shoot their house just in time for all things Thanksgiving. They’re hosting this year, and the kitchen is shiny and new, ready for their family!
One of the problem areas in the kitchen, was this piecemeal microwave/oven and bookshelf area that existed to the right of their old fridge.
We simplified it by enclosing the area, building some cabinets to fit, and then blending it nicely with some fresh paint. With her ovens now of the double variety and in her island, they’re all enjoying cooking in this kitchen.
And some amazing hardware from D.Lawless polished it all off. We love the pops of brass, and they look especially sharp on top of the blue cabinets.
New countertops and kitchen sink definitely gave the kitchen a fresh, modern day update.
We were careful to find one that fit in with her old cabinets and played nicely with the rest of the space. They’re definitely enjoying the larger size.
Of course we love the new tile from Jeffrey Court. It changed everything and the look is so fresh and new. Not so ironically, it’s called Fresh White.
I see what they did there.
We love how the columns make everything look more intentional now.
And they’re a little less imposing on the entire space.
The pantry doors were another area that were a little challenging. They were getting a two for one, but without the benefits since the space was oddly divided. We loved sourcing a ‘new’ set of vintage doors at the flea market, gutting out the old pantry, and sizing these to fit with a fresh coat of matching blue.
The mismatched glass {they were rehabbed from an old house} is oh so fun for a peek inside, and her mother in law gave her some old glass doorknobs which fit perfectly with the entire set.
We are fond of many elements in this space, but this is by far my personal favorite.
We just love that detail!
If you can tell with a glimpse of the before, one of the cool things about this old pantry is that it’s lined with cedar. So in the demo, we were careful to save all the pieces, and then rehab it to work again with the new simplified, larger version.
Because cedar. Be gone, moths. Or something. Either way, it’s a lovely little surprise when one opens the doors.
The cedar with the pop of blue makes it oh so fun {along with Jess’ mad organization skills, of course}.
The windows are clearly our favorite.
No more dinky under mounts and zero /awkward counter space.
Kris had a fabulous bar he’s had for years, but it was kind of lost in a black hole with its super dark finish. So we also finished it off with the same white paint, and a nice unexpected surprise in the blue top to tie it all together. You can now see the detail on the front, and we loved polishing it off with these awesome blue knobs.
It’s all in the fun little details as to why we love doing these spaces so much!
Jess was able to free up some space by moving a slightly bulky piece that was in this area when you tried to walk by, and replaced it with some large and in charge {and super fun} art that we sourced at the flea market this summer. It’s the perfect combo of old and new, found and handmade that mix with the detailed touches and make it so fun.
You may have noticed all the fabulous new lights, which are of course, Kichler. The space wouldn’t be the same without the new amazing lighting, and awesome beautiful shades of brass. One dark and cavernous, the kitchen is now wonderfully bright.
We adore their designs.
This simple pendant from their Devin Collection in front of the kitchen window added so much character and unexpected charm.
And it was down with the awkward boob lights when we added more up to date character with two of these gorgeous flush mounts from Kichler’s Alton Collection.
This new chandelier from the Alden Collection was a beautiful up to date contrast with another warm shade of brass.
And a tight space didn’t mean that we couldn’t have tons of style, because we were glad to add this and lots of light to a very dark hallway for a great update! From Kichler’s Armstrong Collection.
But the icing on the cake was this amazing under cabinet lighting from Kichler, that we love so much.
Customizable in format since they’re on a delicate strip, these add an additional ambiance. You wouldn’t even know they’re there. You can even put them on a dimmer, which is perfect for nighttime use, and those late night trips to the kitchen for water. Or fried chicken. Or chocolate cake. Or all the things.
Whichever suits your fancy.
Here’s a shot of their awesome cabinet lighting in action.
We can’t recommend these enough for any kitchen redo.
We love all the little pieces of personality brought into the space, from found objects to some of their favorites, especially with a side of humor. Hurray for colorful kitchens!
We adore their beautiful changes which were smart solutions to stretch a very long way, while giving them some amazing updates for their “in-the-meantime-phase”. Maybe now their forever phase with this amazing kitchen!
We hope you enjoyed our little tour today! So many gorgeous little changes that really are one of a kind.
As always, let us know if you have any questions.
And just in case you’re curious…
We don’t believe in the dream home, we believe in your home. And we can’t wait to help you discover it all over again.
The Handmade Home : Love Where You Dwell.
The Handmade Home is thrilled to bring both full on rehab and design services to our clients.
We offer in-person, full service design options, from a complete kitchen overhaul to a simple consult in your home on how to spruce it all up. If your kiddo needs a big kid room, your home could use some paint palette ideas, or even a brand new build from the ground up… we’re glad to help. Both nationally and locally in the Nashville area, we even offer a wealth of resources for our clients, right at their fingertips.
If you’d like to hear more about what we have to offer for you {because the possibilities really are endless} please be sure to check out our design services page, here! While you’re at it, be sure to check out our completed projects here.
We look forward to hearing from you, and we welcome the opportunity to work with you!
To read more about us, be sure to check out this page here, as well.
Have an inspired day!
Jenna says
Absolutely gorgeous change with such smart choices. As always thank you for sharing your client work! I love this!
Alex says
Gorgeous! My fave are the doors too! So pretty!
Barbara says
This is oh so pretty. What a happy kitchen. The changes are just perfect. Well done guys!
Anna says
Beautiful!
MC says
Love!
Rose Lefebvre says
I was surprised to see the color in the kitchen as it looks the same as what I have done at my boyfriends beach house on Oregon coast. He wanted to remodel a bit and I suggested using paint. It came out great!
Handy Squad says
Fantastic detailed kitchen! Colors are well-chosen, kitchen looks smart.
Amy says
I might have missed it. But, what are the countertops they used? Thank you!
Amy says
This looks amazing! I love what you did with the columns. And this is also timely because I’ve been wanting to paint my cabinets with blue lowers and white uppers! So, I’m sorry if I missed it, but what is the blue paint color? (The “blue paint” link takes me to the brass pulls, not the paint.) Thanks, and awesome job on this kitchen!!
Home Arise says
Wow! I just love the transformation. The color, the lighting and every little aspect. This has motivated me to do something about my kitchen. Great job
Tool Associate says
This is really innovative idea. Thanks for sharing.