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Our DIY kitchen Renovation Reveal {before & after}

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Today is the day. Our DIY kitchen renovation reveal is finally being shown. It’s hard to believe, after all the dust, dirt, debris and more dust and dirt (did I say that enough?), our kitchen is done!

Holy smokes, I never thought we would see this day but oh my, the transformation is amazing. I won’t bore you with a lot of words and details because if you are like me, all you want to see are pictures.

Before we get started, I just wanted to say thank you to our amazing sponsor, MasterBrand cabinets for working with us on this project.

Everything from the design process to the cabinet delivery was perfect.

Their Diamond cabinets are gorgeous and we are thrilled to have them in our home.

DIY KITCHEN Renovation

DIY kitchen Renovation Reveal

Our kitchen renovation reveal {before & after} This is an amazing before and after transformation. Gorgeous white cabinets, harmon pendants, quartzite super white counters and backsplash.

X Back Counter Stools here

The pendants are from Restoration Hardware / Harmon Collection (here is a link to similar ones if you are interested in buying a more affordable option)

Our kitchen has gone through two transformations in the last five years. Five years ago, this is how the kitchen looked. A 1960-70’s outdated space with dark stained cabinets.

For those of you who were adults in the 60’s and 70’s, you know this was in style and considered “the kitchen” to have. At least that is what my parents tell me. I am not sure I believe them.

This kitchen below is the one I grew up in and have so many memories in this space.

Our kitchen renovation reveal {before & after} This is an amazing before and after transformation. Gorgeous white cabinets, harmon pendants, quartzite super white counters and backsplash.

DIY Kitchen Renovation over the years

In 2011, we had the existing cabinets painted white to freshen up the space.

We installed new countertops and added a backsplash. Here is how the kitchen looked prior to this recent renovation.

Our old kitchen was about 220 square feet. A small, simple L shaped kitchen.

modern cottage white kitchen reveal

Then we tore down this wall below, opening the kitchen up to over 500 square feet.

DIY Kitchen Renovation {ripping down wall}. Bye Bye 1960's kitchen

After wall was torn down:

DIY Kitchen Renovation {ripping down wall}. Bye Bye 1960's kitchen

After:

Our kitchen renovation reveal {before & after} This is an amazing before and after transformation. Gorgeous white cabinets, harmon pendants, quartzite super white counters and backsplash.

Kind of nice, right?

Our kitchen renovation reveal {before & after} This is an amazing before and after transformation. Gorgeous white cabinets, harmon pendants, quartzite super white counters and backsplash.

The cabinets are stunning and coordinate perfectly with the super-white quartzite countertops. The Xback counter stools can be found on Wayfair and are sold as a set. 

Our kitchen renovation reveal {before & after} This is an amazing before and after transformation. Gorgeous white cabinets, harmon pendants, quartzite super white counters and backsplash.

I love how the wooden tray from HomeGoods looks on the quartzite counters.

Our kitchen renovation reveal {before & after} This is an amazing before and after transformation. Gorgeous white cabinets, harmon pendants, quartzite super white counters and backsplash.

Our kitchen renovation reveal {before & after} This is an amazing before and after transformation. Gorgeous white cabinets, harmon pendants, quartzite super white counters and backsplash.

I love how the classic cherry color of the counter stools warm up the space.

I used a blue/green paint color called Drizzle by Sherwin Williams on the walls.

The paint is actually a little bit darker than what you see. The sun was beaming through the windows which makes it a bit lighter.

Our kitchen renovation reveal {before & after} This is an amazing before and after transformation. Gorgeous white cabinets, harmon pendants, quartzite super white counters and backsplash.

Here is the view from the old dining room that was lined with metallic mirror! 

metallic glass wall in dining room 1970s dining room

Here is a shot that shows the wall removed opening up the dining room into the kitchen. 

dark outdated kitchen makeover

Here is another shot of the kitchen in 2011 after we painted the cabinets white four years ago.

DIY Kitchen Renovation {ripping down wall}. Bye Bye 1960's kitchen

Here is the same angle with the newly installed Diamond cabinets and the wall torn down.

Now, the kitchen has completely entered the modern world of design and is open to the dining room and family room. We are loving the open concept!

Our kitchen renovation reveal {before & after} This is an amazing before and after transformation. Gorgeous white cabinets, harmon pendants, quartzite super white counters and backsplash.

Isn’t it crazy what tearing down the wall did for this space?

We also installed 10 new recessed lights which made a huge difference in lighting at night.

As my dad says, the light shines off the top of his bald spot on his head. ha

Our kitchen renovation reveal {before & after} This is an amazing before and after transformation. Gorgeous white cabinets, harmon pendants, quartzite super white counters and backsplash.

Our kitchen renovation reveal {before & after} This is an amazing before and after transformation. Gorgeous white cabinets, harmon pendants, quartzite super white counters and backsplash.

Our kitchen renovation reveal {before & after} This is an amazing before and after transformation. Gorgeous white cabinets, harmon pendants, quartzite super white counters and backsplash.

The complimentary faucet is from Symmons and is called Serrano.

Our kitchen renovation reveal {before & after} This is an amazing before and after transformation. Gorgeous white cabinets, harmon pendants, quartzite super white counters and backsplash.

Our kitchen renovation reveal {before & after} This is an amazing before and after transformation. Gorgeous white cabinets, harmon pendants, quartzite super white counters and backsplash.

I love how our spray painted hood came out.

Our kitchen renovation reveal {before & after} This is an amazing before and after transformation. Gorgeous white cabinets, harmon pendants, quartzite super white counters and backsplash.

Our kitchen renovation reveal {before & after} This is an amazing before and after transformation. Gorgeous white cabinets, harmon pendants, quartzite super white counters and backsplash.

Here is one sneak peek of the inside drawers. I will be dedicating an entire post to the storage features soon.

Our DIY kitchen renovation reveal {before & after}

Our kitchen renovation reveal {before & after} This is an amazing before and after transformation. Gorgeous white cabinets, harmon pendants, quartzite super white counters and backsplash.

Update: the kitchen mudroom was completed in 2016. Here are a few pictures!

Be sure to check out the full gorgeous mudroom makeover featuring pull out drawers for hats and mittens and coat hooks behind closed doors!

Our kitchen renovation reveal {before & after} / mudroom wall makeover

Our kitchen renovation reveal {before & after} / mudroom makeover

Our kitchen renovation reveal {before & after} / mudroom makeover

Our DIY Kitchen Renovation Series below:

Kitchen Series Posts:

Kitchen Before

Delivery of Cabinets

Ripping out old Cabinets

How to choose kitchen cabinets

Installing the hood vent

Installing the new cabinets

Kitchen Reveal {before & after}

Christmas Kitchen 2015

Kitchen Mudroom Wall 2016

Phew, are you with me after all that?

When I was writing this post and editing the pictures, it was funny because my dad said, “how come the kitchen isn’t that clean now?” I would need to kick everyone out and forbid them from entering the room for that to happen again.

I will be back soon sharing a resource list of where everything came from as well as the names, colors ect. of everything we used in this renovation.

I will also be sharing all of the cabinets organizational features including the storage drawers, pull out shelves and lazy susan in another post. There were too many pictures to combine both.

Our kitchen renovation series is complete but stay tuned, we have another surprise coming compliments of MasterBrand on a blank wall behind the island – Update: See Kitchen Mudroom Wall

Disclosure: Our DIY kitchen renovation series is sponsored by MasterBrand Cabinets. I did receive complimentary product however, all opinions and words are 100% my own. 

 

About The Author

What started as a hobby, Jessica’s blog now has millions of people visit yearly and while many of the projects and posts look and sound perfect, life hasn’t always been easy. Read Jessica’s story and how overcoming death, divorce and dementia was one of her biggest life lessons to date.

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36 Comments

    1. Carol Bajema says:

      Its absolutely beautiful Jess – I love every detail.

  1. It looks gorgeous, updated, and very tastefully done. I wish the After photos showed this kitchen how it might really be used: instead of all the flowers in vases that will get in the way of prepping and eating, how about showing a coffeemaker, toaster, napkin holder, bowl of fruit, etc.? (unless I just don’t see them in the photos). Otherwise, it’s just a pretty photo of an unrealistic kitchen. I know from your blog that you’re very hands-on and family oriented. I’d love to see more pictures of this awesome kitchen in full use. I hope you post more pictures with people in there, dishes out, etc. Do you have a spice drawer? Cabinet for your trash can? Where do you keep your dish or hand soap? (even with a dishwasher, one needs liquid soap). I’d love to see tips on how to keep this kitchen looking showroom-beautiful yet livable. I don’t want to have to hide appliances and necessities that get used throughout the day. Thanks!

    1. Funny you should say that! My next post that shows all the storage features inside the cabinets will show you all the day to day stuff :). We purposely designed the inside of the cabinets with pullouts so that we could get lots off the counters. Although, we will have a toaster oven soon. Our old one broke and haven’t replaced it yet :). We also just hung a set of huge barn doors on the far wall that you haven’t seen yet (in these pictures) where we are installing shelving and all the small utilities and coffee pot (we installed electrical outlets) will go behind those doors that slide shut. Stay tuned! You have only seen a bit of the kitchen. Oh, and we do always have fresh flowers everywhere. Both my mom and I love picking up inexpensive flowers at our grocery store weekly. Puts a smile on her face ;).

  2. Absolutely fabulous! Love everything about it. I’m sure you’ll have many happy gatherings in this kitchen. If I had a kitchen like this I might even cook! lol

    1. Thanks so much Karla! You are right, I now find myself cooking more because I love this space!

  3. THis is absolutely beautiful and I love how it turned out. So clean and no clutter on the counters. The cabinets are gorgeous and the removal of the wall really opened things up. Nicely done.

  4. Antonella says:

    This is such a great transformation. What a huge change. Looks great!

  5. How excited you must be. Very nice!!

  6. Oh my stars it’s a white & bright beauty!!!!! The new layout is incredible. So wonderful for your family to have a nice, big space to gather & cook in. I’d still be standing there mooning over it. Congrats and enjoy!!!!!

  7. Pam MacConnell says:

    Please show is a floor plan – even a quick sketch will do. Can’t really understand the layout especially regarding the two islands!

  8. This is absolutely AMAZING!! Love everything about it…esp. the touches of natural wood mixed in with the white! LOVE.

  9. You’ve done such a beautiful job with your kitchen! We’re in the process of renovating our daughters home – it’s a true labor of love!

    1. Thanks Sarah! That is so cool! Living in a renovation isn’t always fun but it’s so worth it in the end. I can say that now that we are done 🙂

  10. Ah the dark cabinets, I remember when we moved into our first house when I was a kid, it still had those same color brown dark cabinets, PLUS the Harvest Gold fridge and stove/oven. When we replaced the stove/oven combo, it had the original tile underneath. My mom eventually painted the cabinets white and replaced the appliances.

  11. diane lavoie says:

    What a transformation ! just beautiful.

  12. Cheryl Siciliano says:

    It is so beautiful Jessica. We were on vacation and a live pipe burst. I am looking at a complete renovation of the kitchen and basement. I am so intimidated by the process. Thanks for sharing. I have a similar style and I will be taking the wall down to the dining area if I ever find a contractor. How did you decide on a contractor and did you hire a kitchen design consultant?

    1. Hi, my dad is in the construction business so we used his company he works with. We also used the designer from Masterbrand Cabinets 🙂 Yes , it’s a very intimidating process but I would just suggest researching your local companies and get referrals. We love our new kitchen! I think if you go on the Masterbrand site, they may also have a referral section as well .