Before and after of this
Home Type: House
Project type: kitchen
style: Farmhouse, minimalist, Parisian
Skill level: Professional
Perfect for rental: no
When Sarah and Mike Tan bought their first home, a circa 2000s ranch-style house, in Atlanta, Georgia, it was more for the neighborhood than the house itself. Mike, a product manager at a startup, and Sarah, a freelance graphic designer, had struggled to find a home for their family of four in Atlanta's bustling market.
They decided to put down roots in a neighborhood full of cute, homey, charming homes. “There was a lot we loved about this house,” Sarah says. But the dark, cramped kitchen didn't match the other spaces and didn't even feel like it was part of the same home.
Because this was the couple's first home-buying and renovation project (during a pandemic!), they weren't quite sure how to realize the kitchen's potential, so they enlisted Atlanta designers Katherine Leavitt and Leah Owens of Friday & Co. Design to help.
First, the Friday & Company duo assessed the space and their clients' style. The 200-square-foot space “was a dark, generic wood kitchen,” says Leah. It had plenty of storage, but it didn't quite represent their aesthetic. “After several meetings with Sarah and Mike, it became clear they were drawn to luxurious materials and glamorous details, something they could never get in their current kitchen,” says Leah.
Sarah and Mike's main goal was to brighten up their home and give it a more modern, yet timeless look. Sarah says they even considered drilling holes into the side of the house to add windows, but with the help of their designer, they got everything they wanted and more without going to anything too drastic.
They were inspired by Sarah's favorite goblet. It's made of beautiful fine crystal and “glows in different colors when you hold it up to the light,” says Leah. It reminded the designers of a mercury glass pendant (Circa Lighting's Lawford Smoked Glass Lantern, to be exact). “We knew Sarah would love it,” says Leah. [it] …and we were thrilled to use it [it] “The lighting inspired the kitchen design and added a romantic touch that perfectly represents Sarah!”
How they did it
To maximize their budget (about $43,000 in total), they kept the original floor plan and the existing hardwood floors, which required minimal repairs, but kept everything else, including the towering cabinets. “The original kitchen had solid walls of heavy wood cabinets,” says Leah. The cabinets were all the same size, which “added a cavernous feel to the space.”
Rolford Smoke Bell Lantern
$1,619 at Circa Lighting
After gutting the kitchen, the electrical and plumbing were updated, and custom cabinetry was added. Painted Sherwin-Williams White Flower, the ceiling-height cabinetry instantly makes the room feel taller, says Leah. “The glass front doors, combined with the open shelving, give the room an airy, spacious feel,” she adds.
Sarah and Mike's renovation completed in 9 easy steps
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step 1: Hire a designer and do a kitchen demo.
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Step 2: Update electrical and plumbing.
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Step 3: Add custom cabinetry and pair it with glass front doors.
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Step 4: Paint your kitchen bright white.
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Step 5: Install marble countertops.
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Step 6: Tile backsplash work.
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Step 7: Design a narrow custom kitchen island.
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Step 8: Incorporate warm wooden elements and brass touches into your kitchen design.
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Step 9: Splurge on an Italian stove.
The rest of the room is kept in an airy white palette, with clean, polished Carrara marble countertops and white walls, and the square white tile backsplash gives it a handcrafted feel. Sarah wanted a romantic, old-world European feel, so “we layered in stained wood” to warm up the white space, Leah says.
“We initially considered an antique piece of furniture for our kitchen island, but we knew we needed something quite narrow for the space,” Leah explains. “We also wanted an island with open shelving to make the small space appear larger. We ultimately chose a custom kitchen island made from rip-sawn white oak that was traditionally smoked with ammonia to give it a deep brown finish.”
Because this will be the kitchen's central prep area, the designers decided on a distressed finish on the countertop and sides to make it feel less luxurious and more lived-in. Additionally, wood elements were added in the drip lip and wooden shelves below the farmhouse-style sink, as well as beadboard details throughout.
Brass touches throughout the space brighten it up, including the oven detailing (more on that below) and “the heavy cabinet knobs, antique hardware on the island, the kitchen faucet and the gorgeous gallery rail on the open shelves,” says Leah.
Ilve's stunning 40-inch Italian range was certainly a splurge, but the couple is ecstatic. Looking at the stove in the space, it's hard to imagine anything more perfect than its nostalgic details and antique white color. They're also loving the marble countertops more than they expected. From everything they'd heard about marble, Sarah was a little intimidated, but says it's surprisingly easy to care for.
The renovation took several months while they were still living in the home, but for Sarah and Mike, it was well worth it: the space is now just what they had hoped for, bright (without having to knock down any walls!) and a fun, inviting place for family time and entertaining.
Thanks for sharing, Sarah and Mike!
This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. Check it out here: Before and after: A dark and boring kitchen is completely remodeled and transformed into a very romantic space.
