BEFORE & AFTER [CAPE COD KITCHEN REVEAL!]

Wanna see how I helped transform this kitchen from dark and dated to fresh and bright?

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It's all comin' at cha momentarily.  But first, a little about how this project came to be….

CLIENT:  A frugal-minded couple with two young kids

GOAL:  Update the kitchen above for less than $10,000 AND make it beautiful!

I’m sure you’ve heard before that the kitchen is the heart of the home.  It truly is.  It’s where we start our day, where company gravitates toward when we’re entertaining and where we have meaningful conversations with family and friends.  So, of course, my clients wanted to update their kitchen as soon as possible after purchasing their home.  However, after having two kids, they put pause to their project for the higher priorities that lay ahead.  I can totally relate to that.

Fast forward six years and my clients were ready to put the project back on the table (pun intended). :)  But with a four and six year old, they couldn’t justify (nor did they want to) spend a ton of money on a kitchen reno.  They decided they would manage the project and do some of the work themselves to help with costs. However, they weren’t sure about which cabinet style, flooring, backsplash, lighting, paint colour, etc.  to pick and how to ensure all the choices they made would all work well together.  So....they hired me.

These clients were the PERFECT candidates for my Design Advice service.  It’s super cost effective (which is extremely important when maintaining a strict budget) and it gave the clients access to professional advice when they needed it.  I recently asked one of the homeowners what she liked best about my Design Advice service and here’s what she said:

“I liked feeling confident about the choices I was making after talking things through with you.  It also felt good knowing that I wasn’t going to waste my money or regret what I’d chosen because you were there to guide me along the way.”

I love hearing stuff like this, it makes me so happy!  So here’s what we created together……

Photo Credit: Simply Curate Co.

Can you believe we made this transformation with less than $10,000?!?!?! (Not including appliances).  This is an average sized kitchen (about 9’x 10’).  Here’s what we did…..

First, we chose flooring.  Although hardwood is not generally revered as the “best” choice in a kitchen, I love it and so did the homeowners.   I love it because it’s a natural material that adds warmth and character to any space.  It’s also nicer to stand on than tile, especially when it's for long periods of time, and it provides a beautiful contrast when paired with a white kitchen – which is what we were going for. The homeowners found a few cost-effective options and presented them to me for my opinion.  We ended up choosing one with a distressed look to help conceal any damage the kids may impose over the years.

Photo Credit: Simply Curate Co.

Next, we explored their options for cabinets; buying new from IKEA, Home Depot, etc. , re-facing or re-painting the existing cabinets.  We decided that re-facing the cabinets would be the best option. Re-facing would give us the opportunity to update the cabinet fronts to a shaker style door, without the cost of a brand new kitchen.  It’s more environmentally friendly too!  

Photo Credit: Simply Curate Co.

We decided to do a couple door fronts with glass to add interest and to provide another reflective surface to help carry more light around the room.  To create more of a polished look, we decided to add end panels to the sides of the island, the breakfast nook and the end cabinets – a great decision that really elevated the overall look. We chose my absolute favourite white paint colour (Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace) and it turned out beautifully.   A special thanks to Sean Mulder at Majestic Touch Kitchens & More for helping us with this project.

Photo Credit: Simply Curate Co.

After the flooring and cabinets, we got working on picking a countertop.  The homeowners had their heart set on quartz because of its beauty, practicality and price point.  We were able to source a gorgeous quartz product from Natural Stone City.  It's mostly white with subtle grey veining that is classic and timeless.
 

Photo Credit: Simply Curate Co.

For the backsplash, the clients chose a simple blue-grey tinted, glass subway tile.  Again, the reflective surface helps to reflect light throughout the space and since it’s a smooth surface so it’s super easy to clean.

Lastly, the homeowners wanted advice on how to style their kitchen.  We used lighting, window coverings, pillows, plants and functional kitchen items to create a fresh, airy vibe with depth and dimension.  We kept the colour palette light and bright with hints of blue to coordinate with other rooms of their home and give it a bit of a Cape Cod feel (which coincides with their home’s exterior).

To keep the kitchen as bright as possible, we chose sculptural glass light fixtures.  The shape of each fixture adds visual interest, while their transparency doesn’t command too much attention.  

Photo Credit: Simply Curate Co.

For window coverings, we opted to go with roller shades.  They are minimalist by design and also provide an opportunity to add colour and texture to a space.

Photo Credit: Simply Curate Co.

To style up the breakfast nook, we decked it out with pillows for comfort and visual appeal.  With the sofa only a couple feet away, the pillows can be easily placed out of the way at meal times if desired.

So that’s the rundown of this Cape Cod inspired kitchen and how the clients and I collaborated to get them to their end goal without too much expense. They did all the hard work, but I helped guide them and feel confident in their choices. The end result is amazing - I hope they're super proud.

If you have a project you have a good handle on, but could use a little help with, I’d love to be your sounding board.  Check out my Design Advice service.  It’s the insurance you need save time and protect yourself against potential mistakes that could be costly.

I hope you enjoyed the reveal. :)

As always, if you need help pulling your design together, contact me or check out my self-paced, online DIY Interior Design Course. 

View course curriculum here. 

Virtual Interior Designer
Orangetree Interiors

P.S.  Painting your house any time soon?  Get my FREE Perfect Paint Colour Checklist &  Coordination Paint Colours Guide!