Kitchens are a huge source of conversation and inspiration these days. I’ve seen so many gorgeous kitchen renovations since I’ve been blogging and they definitely get attention. From large major kitchen renovations, so smaller updates, fixing up a kitchen is one of the best bangs for the buck you can get for your home.
When we moved into a new to us home, it was not exactly the way we wanted it. We want to add our own stamp to the home, making it our own and creating a space that makes us happy and content. Our kitchen was not a main selling point when we moved in here. We liked the space just fine. Even though it’s smaller than my last kitchen, I’ve grown to appreciate the small footprint and adjusted to cooking in here as well as having less storage and cabinet space.
We could have extended the kitchen toward that little sitting area and torn out the bar, making a new island, but we didn’t want to go that extensive on this project. Sometimes a cosmetic change is just fine to get the look and functionality you want for a kitchen. That’s the case with ours. We’re not going to spend a fortune on this kitchen. We have several other spaces we want to improve too, so the budget will be spread around.
Sometimes in blogland, we see so many major expensive kitchen renovations done and I love to see them, they are beautiful, but many of them are way out of the budget for most of us. We don’t have a fancy kitchen, or a fancy vent hood. I can’t put the microwave anywhere else, so it’s staying where it is. I hope you all will enjoy seeing this renovation done without gutting or changing the footprint of our kitchen. It’s a modest kitchen renovation.
Here’s what it looked like when we bought the house. Darker cherry cabinets, black with copper flecks granite countertops and a tumbled marble backsplash. None of these were my favorite, so we knew we would change out the elements in here eventually. The first thing Mark did was add molding around the bar peninsula. What a difference that made!
This is one of my favorite projects that Mark has done in our new house. It gave that area so much more importance and beauty. What a difference not only paint makes, but moldings too.
The bar and bottom cabinet color is Benjamin Moore Knoxville Gray, the upper cabinets are White Dove.
Another angle of the kitchen. It’s small for sure, but I have adjusted to it and it has easy access to everything since it’s all close together.
A few more before and after shots before we moved in.
Wow, has this view changed a lot too!
Pantry area.
I couldn’t find a good pic of this area after painting, but here’s one from my pantry sliding drawer installation. That pantry is so much better now with pullout shelves.
Here’s one more after of that space from a different angle.
Notice the refrigerator. We have since gotten a new one just before Christmas, a counter depth fridge that I’ll show you later. We also plan to replace this stove with a slide-in that will not have the back on it like this one does. The slide-in ranges are so much better looking, so we will get that later this year too.
That means we will be tiling behind the stove to make sure the subway tile is behind the new stove when we get it.
We loved the cabinets after painting them, but always knew we’d replace the countertops and backsplash eventually.
Here’s a quick shot of the new fridge, a Whirlpool counter depth fridge. We bought it at Home Depot during Black Friday sales month of November. That’s when we heard the sales were the best and we did get a great deal on this one. We’re very happy with it and the old one went into the garage for extra storage. We love having 2 fridges and now don’t have to access the ice in the bottom drawer or open the door when we want water. I’m not a fan of French door but I know many people love them. I’ll share this model number link when I do a whole post on the final kitchen renovation.
I like the side by side so much better for day to day. The freezer in the French door drove me crazy, as everything was jumbled in the bottom and I had to fight with it constantly to get the drawer shut if everything wasn’t completely flat in that big bottom bin. So good riddance to the garage, love it out there for extras!
So that’s where we are now and let’s talk about next steps!
I am fortunate to be working with Hanstone quartz on this kitchen project. They have worked with several of my blog friends and I reached out to them and they agreed to work with me, so I’m very happy about that. They have beautiful quartz choices among all the quartz companies out there now and it was easy to fall in love with these new Boutique styles they have to offer in whites and soft grays that mimic real marble.
A note about this partnership with Hanstone. They are providing the slabs to me for no charge and I will be paying for the fabrication and installation which is not inexpensive. I’ll let you know in a final update post what this quartz would cost total for my kitchen so you can have an idea of what quartz countertops cost. The cost of quartz can be more than granite for sure. There are more inexpensive granites and really pricey granites, so that is why you have to do research and figure out your price point on a project like this. In general, quartz is more expensive than granite, I think. But price per s.f. varies from place to place, so you definitely have to research and look.
You can see they all have a slightly different tone so I wanted to be sure the one I chose looks great with our cabinet paint.Everyone has preferences on countertops and this is my first time getting quartz, but I’ve heard so many great things about it that I’m so excited to get it in our house. I am not one that would ever choose real marble, because of all the upkeep it needs and it etches and stains so easily that I wouldn’t be able to deal with that. So, quartz is the best of both, beautiful looking and durable and stain resistant.
I got samples from Hanstone and brought them home to my house to see how they looked next to our cabinet color, White Dove. The paint has a slight gray undertone and Montauk flowed beautifully with our cabinet color and looks gorgeous. I went to a couple of local granite companies to see more of the slabs in person to get an idea of movement and shadings in each sample.
The new Boutique colors has something for everyone who love marble but don’t want real marble.
The slabs looked beautiful in person and I am so excited to get this in our kitchen. It’s going to lighten and brighten up our space so much.
Montauk samples. It’s very much like a real marble look.
With this kitchen renovation, I am replacing the backsplash too, so that was the hardest part! I went to Home Depot, Lowes, and Floor and Decor for a few samples to bring home. This is very difficult sometimes as so many are pretty, but I wanted to make the right decision for us. We looked at white and gray tones for the backsplash and I like both of them. I love subway tile still and brought home a few of those and also the grid subway tiles on a mesh. It can get really confusing when you bring them home and start laying them out but several were eliminated right away for undertones. This group (above) came from Floor and Decor.
This group was from Lowes. I looked at real marble subway tile on the mesh backing, different shapes of gray and white subway tile. The white subway tiles were too white next to the Montauk quartz.
I looked at a ceramic tile marble look alike, but decided against it.
I saw this marble tile from Home Depot when we were picking our marble tile for the fireplace and I had grabbed a sample of it and brought it home. I thought my mind was made up and I was going to use it, but started having second thoughts. Mark wasn’t completely sold on it and thought it would be too busy for our kitchen. I love it, but started thinking the same thing. Most kitchens I’ve seen with two toned cabinets have white backsplashes with the white countertops and that’s the look I’m most drawn to.
I brought home several of those samples and laid them out with the quartz sample of Montauk and immediately started figuring out which ones we loved and which ones we didn’t. That smaller subway tile on the mesh was a pretty dove gray, but at home in our light next to the wall color it looked pinkish. Definitely a no-go!
The white subway tile below the gray one ended up being the winner, I’ll show you more of it. I went round and round and finally decided that a beautiful subway tile would be the best fit for us and our small kitchen. I never tired of it in my old house and it’s so classic and clean.
That particular subway tile is from Floor and Decor and it comes in gray and white crackle finish. We liked the gray too and Mark was actually drawn more to the gray, but I think doing the white crackle finish will be gorgeous. It’s called Heirloom Linen and is a gorgeous white shade, not stark white but it has a slight gray undertone which goes so well with the quartz counters.
Here are both of the subway tiles in gray and white.
Another view next to the wall color, which is Magnolia Home Gatherings. I’m so excited to see this countertop go in and this whole kitchen will be lighter and brighter. It’s going to be an amazing change!
Here’s a closeup of the crackle subway tile in Heirloom Linen. It’s the top choice and I think it’s going to be fabulous in there. Mark and I are going to DIY this project after the countertops are installed. I’ve got the installation date set for Tuesday, January 22 and I can’t wait!
I’m also super excited to get another Blanco sink. I’m partnering with Blanco on this Precis 30″ silgranit sink in Metallic Gray, the same sink I had in my other house, only that one was slightly bigger. I have a corner sink in this house and it needs to be a little smaller, but this will feel so luxurious after the double bowl stainless sink we currently have (and I hate!). I just love this sink and it’s the 3rd Blanco sink I’ve owned. I put one in at my old Birmingham home too and have loved it since. A lot of people don’t know about these sinks, but I love how durable they are, they don’t show a lot of spots or stain easily. So easy to clean up and stay looking great. I love this Metallic Gray shade too and have had a black one too.
I’m excited to be working with Delta on this project and they are providing this Trinsic Touch20 faucet for our kitchen in Champagne Bronze. I fell in love with this finish and am excited to have this bit of bling added in our space. One of my friends has this faucet and loves it, so I can’t wait to try it. It is a touch faucet and the water comes on by touching the faucet anywhere. It can also work the regular way too. It’s not too contemporary but adds a nice feel and look and I think it’s going to be a perfect addition for our home, an eclectic mix of traditional and modern.
I can’t wait to get this kitchen update finished and share it with all of you! It’s going to be such a nice change and I know we’re going to love it so much. Stay tuned for the finished project hopefully in just a few weeks, depending on how fast we can get that backsplash up!
looking forward to seeing your changes. how exiciting.
Love your choices, Rhoda! We put a Blanco 60/40 low divider basin in our kitchen reno in 2016 and it’s fantastic! I love being able to wash and use the disposer simultaneously, and the siligranit composition of the sink itself is wonderful in cleaning and staying clean. We used the Delta Essa Touch2O faucets. Although I love them, Mr. P. is not crazy about them, and guests definitely don’t get the Touch2O feature. You can opt to disengage the function by removing batteries, but we haven’t done that.
I simply use a mix of denatured alcohol / water to clean my quartz, and love our choice. We actually installed solid quartz walls in our walk-in shower too. I love that I have no grout to clean on the walls! A tip we received from our painter – quartz can crack with extended, indirect heat (his did!), so make sure you always have a vented trivet under things like crockpots on the counter. He had his on the counter for 7-8 hrs with nothing under it while at work and it literally cracked the quartz. It resolved itself once cooled, and I never saw the actual before/after, but he was satisfied with the fix.
You’re very fortunate to have the suppliers providing your materials! What a bundle saved!
HI, Rita, it is a huge blessing to be able to work with sponsors on this project! I can’t wait to get quartz, my first time having it. I’ve heard that about heat, that’s the only con to quartz, so I will be extra careful with that part. I bet it would be great in a shower!
Love the remodel. We’re in the process ourselves and it definitely a fun but hard project. Mark did. A great job !!!! You are very lucky to have such a talented handyman 😊
Thank you, Bev, Mark is really talented and I’m so glad he took on that project. Adding that beadboard on the bar really took it up a few notches.
I love your choices and what you have done so far! I have Delta touch faucets in my dental practice and have loved them for 6 years! The batteries last a long time considering how many times each day we turn touch them on and off! I think you will really like it! We moved into a new detached condo with a smaller kitchen but I have come to really like it! Not so many steps! Looking forward to seeing your new kitchen updates!
HI, Debra, I’m so glad you like your Delta touch faucets, one of my friends loves hers too. I was not so happy with my kitchen at first, but I’ve grown used to it now and it is easy to cook in. You’re right, not so many steps it’s all contained. I do miss my big pull out drawers but that’s about all.
So exciting! Your kitchen is already beautiful but these updates will make it even prettier. I love the quartz. It’s amazing how many choices there are these days. We will be renovating our master bath this year and I am thinking about putting in quartz for the counter tops. I love all your choices and cant’ wait to see it all come together. Cheers to the first projects of the new year!
Shelley
THank you, Shelley, I’m so excited to see these changes come about! It’s going to make the kitchen so much better to me.
Your kitchen renovation reminds me of ours. Our kitchens are somewhat similar. I also went from a bigger kitchen with an island to this one, but love it. You’ll love your new countertop! 🙂
https://mami-dearest.blogspot.com/2017/09/kitchen-reno.html
HI, your new kitchen looks great! And it is very much shaped like ours. I can’t wait to get these elements done and enjoy our kitchen all over again. I’ve adjusted to a smaller kitchen too and it’s not so bad.
I love I love all your selections and can’t wait to see it come together! Not many people have unlimited funds for big remodels, so this renovation is much more interesting for me.
My current obsession is Tidying Up on Netflix with Marie Kondo. Have you heard about it? Even though I’m a neat freak, she has lots of great storage ideas. Her philosophy is keep what gives you joy.
Thank you, Roxanne, I agree so many of us will never do a huge kitchen renovation, so this one will be moderate. I keep hearing about Marie all over social media, so I’m going to have to watch her show. I can’t see myself walking around the house holding up every object (or piece of clothing) and asking myself if it brings me joy. But, I do need to declutter more. I’ve just done a little of that in the basement and will be sharing my progress there. Nothing fancy or earth shattering, but it’s feeling better to me.
I think you will be very happy with the hanstone quartz. I have it in my current kitchen and used it in my last house. Can’t wait to see your finished project.
Love your choices and cannot wait to see the finished product!
Your changes will be soooo nice! Happy for you and love your choices, especially the backsplash tile. I was wondering if the sink color will be a bit dark for all your light counters and backsplash. Seems it will draw attention to the sink. But trust your judgement on that. Can’t wait to see the final project.
Hey, Toni, I think the gray will be fine with my countertops, since there will be lots of gray veins in the quartz. It’s a pretty color. I really didn’t want a white sink.
Love your choices. We had added a crackle backsplash about 8 years ago and needed more of that tile to complete the new project. The company no longer made the tlle:( but we had just enough left over from the original work that the tile guy was able to make it work. It turned out beautiful and we were so glad we made the changes. All this to say, buy extra tile. You never know what the future holds.
Thanks, Nancy, I’ll definitely get a few extra tiles, just in case. I think this one is going to be a good choice for us!
I”ve never heard of that brand of sink but I will look them up. I also hate my stainless steel double sink. I asked for a single sink and the builder told me that “they” don’t make single sinks anymore. Too late when I found out differently.
Hi, Margaret, I love these sinks! I would have bought one anyway if I hadn’t gotten to work with Blanco. There are a lot of single sinks out there, so your builder did you a disservice. I love a one bowl so much better.
Rhoda, Can I ‘borrow’ you and Mark?! There are several projects that need doing around here and my husband and I don’t seem to have quite the energy that you two have. I’m enjoying seeing all the renovations that you all are doing. Your home is beautiful! Happy Monday, Lisa
HI, Lisa, thank you! I wish we had unlimited energy, but we have to do our projects in spurts these days. Get one done, rest a bit and then on to the next one.
I have debated painting my kitchen cabinets for some time now. How does it hold up, chipping etc. Do you suggest a professional for that? Also is white always in style? I see white, then oak, then gray…The trends can be a problem.
HI, Jude, you’re right, the trends can be all over the place. I think white will always be in style, it’s been classic for decades. We had ours professionally painted, but there can still be chipping. We used Ben Moore Advance paint which is a really durable water based paint that behaves more like oil. Our painter sprayed the primer first over our cherry cabinets, then 2 coats of the white and blue paints. Where it chips is on the edge of doors where I’ve it it with things and I’ve had to be more careful with my sliding pantry drawers, they will chip the edges of the cabinet doors if I hit them. I’m going to touch it all up again after I get the new quartz in. Overall, we’re very happy with how it’s holding up and it all looks great unless you look really close. Once I touch up, it should be good for another year or so. Sometimes painted cabinets are a little more easy to chip than factory finished cabinets would be.
We replaced countertops and backsplash last July. We went with white quartz that looks similar to your selections. Many of your subway tile choices I tried as well, but the grey looked lavender in our lighting, so went with a white shiny subway tile. We did take down out bar top and made a peninsula and It really opened up our area and serves us well. Have fun!
HI, Debbie, thanks that sounds so nice. I think we’ll be happy with the white subway tile. It would be nice to add an island, but we really don’t want to spend that much on a kitchen renovation.
Rhoda-did you guys paint your own cabinets, and if so, how are they holding up as far as scratching? I have the orangey oak which are in great shape, just dated, not sure what to do with them.
HI, Linda, I just mentioned that part in reply to Jude, if you can look for her comment and my answer. They have chipped a little bit on the edges but it’s easily touched up. It’s mainly the drawers we use a lot and the pantry with sliding shelves in and out. If something hits the drawers or doors they might chip a bit. I’m going to go back and touch them all up again once the kitchen quartz is in. It’s not bad at all, but just little chips.
I would definitely paint orangey oak it is was my kitchen!
Hi Rhoda! I love each of your selections! I can’t wait to see the finished updates, I know it will be beautiful just like the rest of your home. I watched Tidying Up as another commenter had mentioned. I too questioned going throughout my house asking “Does this bring me joy?” BUT…. some of her tips on simply folding and storing your clothes and other items are like light bulb moments! In my opinion, worth watching just for that! Anyway, did you and Mark paint the cabinets yourselves or have them professionally done? I’m considering painting our lowers but it seems like a bear of a project.
HI, Sara, I agree she did have some great tips, loved the folding T-shirt demo, although I don’t have a lot of shirts like that to fold. We did not paint the cabinets, we had the painter we used paint them with a spray gun. You certainly can do it yourself with the right prep. The Advance paint by Ben Moore does hold up and level out really well almost like an oil based paint. I would definitely prep well with a good primer first if you do try to do it yourself. Rolling with a small foam roller can work on products like that.
Here’s the post I did on our kitchen cabinets getting painted, scroll to the bottom to see the painters in action:https://southernhospitalityblog.com/painted-kitchen-cabinets/
Hi Rhoda, thank you for sharing this! Your selections are great!
Beautiful choices!!! I have a tiny gallery style kitchen, and we had a small budget for a refresh. My #1 request was for new countertops with a big sink so I could wash my big pots and pans!!! I hate double sinks with a passion. Funny the things we live with but eventually they get so annoying that change has to come! Can’t wait to see this reno in action.
Thank you, Diane, I’m with you and hate my double sink too. Can’t wait to get a big one back in!
Beautiful choices, Rhoda! I love the cabinet colors you painted and the incredible difference the added millwork makes to the outside of the peninsula! Mark does great work :). Looking forward to seeing the finished space!
THank you, Janet, he sure does! We make a great team when we work on these projects and I’m blessed to have him.