About this before and after
Home type: historic house
Project type: kitchen
style: mid-century modern, minimal, modern
Skill level: DIY
Rental friendly: no
When Joel and Sarah Bloomer moved into a colorful midcentury modern home in Pittsburgh, they knew they needed to adapt the space to fit the tastes and lifestyle of their growing family. I did. One of his rooms that needed the most makeover was the kitchen.
“This may be controversial, but to be honest, there was nothing I liked about the previous owner's late 80s farmhouse kitchen flip,” Sarah says. “Some people might look at 'before' photos and say they're attractive, but I thought they were old-fashioned and definitely not our style.”
The couple intended to make more homemade dinners and ditch their go-to frozen Trader Joe's meals, and agreed they needed to completely rethink their kitchen. Sarah described her former room: “illumination: worst; tiled floor: Ugly and unpleasant. island: small and difficult to handle; Tile countertops: abominable” It is clearly time for a change.
Sarah and Joel set a budget of $50,000 and decided to tackle the project themselves. One of the more difficult parts was the demolition. They wanted to donate their kitchen cabinets, so they had to be careful when removing them. During the renovation, Sarah took her children to Texas to be with her family, but the morning she left, she first had to carry a 300-pound ceramic sink outside.
Once the kitchen was a blank canvas, Joel assembled the kitchen cabinets himself. “Her husband, an engineer who loves puzzles, is sure she really enjoyed putting all the pieces together before putting it together,” Sarah said. “Leveling the island cabinet was one of her most difficult tasks, but it was worth it.”
It was a tough task but now you're finally ready to enjoy your kitchen! Luckily, Sarah loves “everything” her new space includes, including its modern aesthetic and colors like black, walnut, and Carrara quartz countertops. After the renovation, she says her cooking skills have improved.
“I learned how to make focaccia, and Joel is now a master at serving delicious smash burgers with Parmesan truffle fries,” Sarah says. “Everyone wins! I pinch myself regularly when I see this totally dreamy kitchen in my home.”
If you're interested in renovating your kitchen, you'll be excited to hear that it's not the only thing that's changed in your home. To learn more about their luxurious home, visit Apartment Therapy's full house tour.
This post originally appeared on The Kitchen.See here: Before & After: Bold black cabinets make this '80s old' kitchen totally stylish
