White Kitchen Cabinets With White Countertops (before & after)
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Today we are revealing the transformation of the 1950’s ranch kitchen from an outdated L-shaped layout to an efficient U-shaped design within the existing space! Yes, you read that right! We kept the same footprint but utilized every square inch with a more functional design.
Let’s take a look at how we remodeled this small kitchen and how we maximized functionality and style.
White Kitchen Cabinets and White Quartz Countertops
If you have been following along during our ranch renovation series, you know that the kitchen was a huge priority and one of the first projects Jim tackled.
Pre Renovation Kitchen
The 1950’s ranch home, while quaint, came with a kitchen that was clearly designed for a different era.
The original L-shaped layout was fairly straight forward and indicative of the 1950’s.
It wasn’t functional for modern times and as part of our plan to renovate the entire home before selling, the kitchen needed a full update.
By changing the layout and adding another wall of lower and upper cabinets, we not only added more storage but we enhanced the visual interest of the kitchen.
U-Shaped Kitchen Floorplan
Below, you will see the kitchen layout design from the kitchen designer and exactly how we managed to pack in so many extra cabinets, including a full floor to ceiling pantry and peninsula.
What you can’t see in the diagram above is the closet that we converted to a pantry right behind the refrigerator.
You can see that closet by clicking through to this post, how to build wood shelves in a pantry.
Peninsula VS Island
In a perfect world, we would have had an island that would be suitable for a handful of countertop stools.
We tried for days to come up with a kitchen layout that would accommodate a kitchen island but it would have required combining the dining room area with the kitchen and for this home, we wanted to keep the classic arch doorways and not completely open up the living space.
The small peninsula tied in the overall look of the kitchen create a visual stopping point between the kitchen and the back door leading to the deck.
Ultimately, the peninsula was the best choice and I really love how the kitchen design came out.
If you are renovating an existing kitchen and do not have the budget to install hardwired under cabinet lighting, try these LED strip lights! We use them at our lake house kitchen remodel and they are amazing!
Full View Kitchen Door
The goal was to not only add more storage to the kitchen and improve the layout but increase the natural light.
Click through this post, gutting the ranch home interior, to see the kitchen and entire house completely demolished!
Full view entry doors are an excellent choice for spaces that desperately need additional natural light.
Can you have white cabinets and white countertops?
Yes, you can absolutely have white cabinets and white countertops.
While some may prefer to mix in different materials like black countertops or natural stone, we opted for an all white kitchen look in an effort to appealing to the majority of prospective buyers.
White shaker cabinets are a great choice and will coordinate with any tile backsplash or countertop color.
If you are looking to remodel your kitchen on a budget and want a classic kitchen that will stand the test of time, white cabinets are a classic choice.
You can’t go wrong with a quartz countertop material as it coordinates perfectly with a subway tile backsplash, another affordable choice.
Some will say that an all white kitchen featuring white cabinetry, a white backsplash and white countertops will look sterile, they are still currently the most popular choices for home buyers.
You can see how we also installed white cabinets, a white backsplash in a herringbone pattern with white quart countertops at the split level kitchen renovation project we did a couple years ago.
This kitchen project was a much larger scaled project than this ranch kitchen but you will get a good idea of how a white-on-white kitchen looks in a different setting.
The wood tones in the open shelves and hardwood floor had the perfect balance of warmth in this beautiful kitchen.
The stainless steel appliances, glass jar style pendant lights and the beautiful warm hardwood floor helps create a cohesive look.
Choosing White for Appeal and Airy Space
When it came time to decide on the kitchen’s new look, we knew we needed a design that would appeal to potential buyers and make the small kitchen feel larger and brighter.
As you can see below, the slim arched doorway to the dining room made the rooms feel boxy and closed off.
We wanted to keep the archways in the home to preserve the classic original charm so we opted to widen the archways.
When picking a wall color, we knew that Sherwin Williams Greek Villa would be perfect based on the slight warm undertone and LRV value.
Pretty spectacular transformation right?
Keep in mind, we did not increase the square footage of this home. Every single detail and change was done in the same footprint of the existing home.
White kitchen cabinets and white countertops were the natural choice for this home.
Their neutral, clean look wouldn’t just appeal to the majority of homebuyers, it would also create an illusion of space and light.
Inspired by modern transitional style, we envisioned a kitchen that balanced contemporary chic with timeless elegance.
We briefly considered grey cabinets (see our recent kitchen renovation with grey kitchen cabinets with white countertops) but decided white was the way to go for its universal appeal and space-enhancing qualities.
Affordable Quality Meets Style
You will notice that we did remove the window there the new range and microwave are in an effort to gain more cabinet and counter space.
The shaker style cabinets we chose were a middle-of-the-road price wood option with soft-close hinges, a feature that spoke to the kitchen’s modern functionality.
We installed stainless steel cabinet hardware pulls to coordinate with the stainless steel appliances.
To give the white cabinetry an elevated look, we opted for a longer cabinet pull on the cabinet doors and drawers.
For the countertops, we selected a white quartz called Calacatta Luna, known for its durability and stunning appearance.
Quartz is a great option if you are looking to make a space feel open and airy while also stylish.
The countertop has subtle gray lines throughout giving the white counters a subtle textured look.
White subway backsplash tile is the perfect choice for a new kitchen especially if you are on a budget but still want a classic look.
The neutral backdrop allows a home owner to add a pop of color on the walls or create a color palette more suitable for their design style.
These are all key factors to keep in mind when designing a space when selling your home.
White Kitchen Cabinets With White Countertops And White Backsplash
White-on-white kitchens can get very cold looking quickly if you are not careful.
We picked an off white paint color for the walls called Greek Villa by Sherwin Williams. The color has a hint of warmth but is not yellowy.
The warmth of the hardwood floors, soft warm lighting and wood tone open shelves add just enough warm contrast making this kitchen renovation perfect!
The kitchen renovation was an ambitious 30-day project.
We encountered some unexpected challenges, such as old floorboards that needed replacing and the need to relocate a heat register to accommodate the new U-shaped kitchen design.
Jim did most of the work himself, which not only saved on labor costs but also made the project deeply personal.
Budget and Cost
With a budget of $35,000, which covered cabinets, countertops, plumbing, and appliances, we were determined to stay on track.
We managed the costs carefully, making sure that every dollar spent contributed to the kitchen’s functionality and appeal. I will say that it’s very difficult to balance between emotional purchases and wise business purchases.
When you are renovating a house to sell, your ultimate goal is to renovate with quality materials that are asetically pleasing but stay on budget.
Jim and I often find ourselves wanting to upgrade and add bells and whistles that in the end, add to the overall job cost of the project. It’s a delicate balance to say the least!
The final result was more than we’d hoped for. The white kitchen cabinets and white countertops created a beautiful, functional modern kitchen that exceeded our expectations.
Friends, family, and even the family we bought the house from were blown away by the transformation.
The once-dated kitchen was now a modern marvel that maintained its ranch charm.
Living with A White Kitchen: Maintenance and Style
Durability and Care
Our choice of high-quality materials meant that the white cabinets and countertops not only looked fantastic but were also durable.
A few tips to keeping white cabinetry and countertops looking their best:
1. wipe down the cabinets with a damp cloth
2. use a non-abrasive cleaner on the quartz countertop
My personal favorite is a mix of lavender Fabuloso and water – it keeps the kitchen smelling fresh and clean. I am obsessed with the smell of this cleaner and use it everywhere! Simply use a spray bottle with 1/4 solution and 3/4 water (or a little more cleaner if you want more smell) and that’s it!
Fabuloso
Would We Recommend White Kitchen Cabinets And White Countertops To Others?
Absolutely. It’s a decision that has time and time again proven to be a smart choice when renovating and reselling a home.
If we had to do it all over again, we wouldn’t change a thing.
The new U-shaped layout, with its added storage and counter space, has been a game-changer, and the peninsula adds a touch of aesthetic appeal that completes the look.
The 1950’s ranch kitchen transformation, with its white kitchen cabinets and white countertops, is a testament to the power of vision, quality materials, and personal dedication.
This will be the 3rd full home renovation project that we have done so far and I say I want to move into every single one, once they are completed!
If you missed any of the ranch house renovation posts, be sure to visit the entire series below.
Want to renovate your kitchen but not sure where to start or how to hire a contractor? You are in luck! I put together a handy free contractor checklist for you. You can download it here.
I also put together a free checklist tracker for you that will help get you organized for your kitchen remodel. You can snag it below!
Get caught up on the rest of our ranch home remodel by visiting the links below.
More Ranch House Renovation Series Posts
- Cute ranch renovation house project (the start and full tour of the home before we started remodeling)
- The day we gutted the interior (see the demo process of the entire house)
- Ranch house makeover (before and after of entire house)
- Small ranch house exterior makeover
- ranch front porch makeover (see how we added an accent wall)
- White kitchen cabinets with white countertops (kitchen before and after)
- How to elevate a ranch interior with arched doorways
- How to add curb appeal with a new front door (see how we installed a wider front door)
- How to build wood shelves in a closet (see how we transformed an old coat closet into a pantry)
- DIY Fireplace Makeover (how to paint a dated stone fireplace with white paint)
More Kitchen Remodel Posts
Meet Jessica
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.
It’s adorable! Love that you kept the 1950s charm and architecture!
Thanks Carrie! I love the arches in the home so those were a MUST KEEP 🙂
what color white are your doors, baseboards and molding.
Sherwin Williams West Highland
What color are the cabinets? My walls are already painted Greek Villa and I’m about to start a kitchen renovation. I’m stuck on the right white.
our cabinets are sherwin williams mindful gray
Hi Jessica! I was looking at your cabinets, and they look pretty white! Are you sure the paint color is mindful gray? I looked at this color online, and it is, well, very gray. 🙂 It doesn’t look like what you have on your cabinets.
haha 100% sure Beverly. The color is mindful gray. We painted them ourselves. This is why you must always test swatches in your home as lighting plays a huge role in how colors look.