Since the moment I bought my house, I have hated the kitchen. It was the one room I couldn't paint to life. The cabinets were pickled, which in a kitchen as tiny as mine, made the space feel dark and depressing. The room had been cranberry red when I moved in, so we painted it white in hopes of brightening the space. This helped, but didn't make me love the room.
My aunt and uncle graciously offered to tile my back-splash. They are extraordinarily handy and unbelievably generous. I knew I wanted subway tile, but adding it wouldn't take away my main gripe, the color of the space. Everything in the room revolved around the granite. I am just not a fan. I like the functionality of it, but to me, for my space, it is too harsh. The granite was keeping me from the white kitchen of my dreams. I had a decision to make. I could continue to add to the kitchen I hated, or I could finally bite the bullet and replace the granite. So I went for it. I did something crazy, I bought a beautiful slab of white marble. I know, I know- white marble! It scratches, it stains!!!! However, this was the one time in my life I could get away with it. I didn't have to worry about kids, or roommates, or the clumsiness of a man. I live alone. So I dared. And the truth is, all of those things are true. It does scratch, it does stain. It has endured a water stain and some minor scratches in the last month. But, I still love it. It gives it character. It now has a story. I had the opportunity to make my kitchen as lovely as I wanted; and ya'll, it is lovely. Despite the insane gut that ended up happening, it turned into the perfect little kitchen.
So without further adieu......
The Before:
WHAT WE DID: These original glass cabinets are the only ones we didn't move. They went all the way to the ceiling. They had glass doors. All we had to do was install lights, paint them the perfect White Dove by Benjamin Moore, and re-arrange the dishes. White subway tile and marble counter-tops bring it all together. Voila!
The Before:
WHAT WE DID: This space we enhanced, but I didn't replace the dishwasher or the sink. The only sink I want is a farmhouse sink, and given my space, is impossible to make happen. We did install a new faucet, one more reminiscent of the era, which added a little something special. We hung a bamboo shade to bring in a wood element, and finally, my uncle had the ingenious idea to spray paint my awkward, tiny dishwasher. When I decide to replace the dishwasher, I will have to special order one, something I am not eager to do right now. Now it at least appears to match the other stainless appliances.
The Before:
WHAT WE DID: We switched around the center cabinet with another in the kitchen. This allowed us room to install an above-the-stove microwave. This opened up the counter space that was housing my previous microwave, something I desperately needed. We also took the cabinets all the way to the ceiling, creating the illusion that the kitchen was bigger. Subway tile was put behind the stove.
The Before:
WHAT WE DID: This was the most wasted space in my kitchen. What exactly are cabinets that tiny supposed to be used for? We removed the small ones and rearranged the others. The trash can was moved under the sink, which opened up the right hand side. On day two of the renovation, my uncle decided to build me a pantry. While I had one, it was far too small to be useful. It now is serving as a broom and cleaning supplies closet. This pantry was no easy feat, but the thing I am most excited about. He constructed the pantry on the right. To the left, I now have working counter space, thanks to re-locating the microwave. They even installed a new outlet, complete with a USB component. I bought some fabulous folk art, by Charleston artist, Squeakie,that will go above the nook. The walls are painted Annapolis Green, also by BM.
