After 10 long, hard, trying, tiring weeks I have a new kitchen. I feel like I’m worse for wear after working my tail off for this kitchen. But it’s here! My cozy, colorful, kitchen is done! I dreamed of a space that felt like an English cottage- warm and comfy. Where you could cook and have the best conversations. And sit and enjoy the company for a long time. Ready to see my one room challenge kitchen reveal?!
Catch up on all the Kitchen One Room Challenge Posts!
Floor Plan / Interior Window / Mood Boards / Stairs Plan / Demo & Flood / Drywall / Rainbow Wallpaper / Cabinets, Floors, & Ceiling / DIY Fireplace / Cabinet Doors / Reveal / Stair Railing Installation / Kitchen Cost Breakdown /
one room challenge kitchen reveal
Let’s start with some before pictures. When we first bought the house in 2018, here’s what it looked like-
It was brown on brown. These pictures (from the listing) were way lightened up- the walls were a sage green and it felt like a cave.
budget friendly updates
So, being the DIYer I am, I put a BIG old bandaid on this kitchen! I painted the cabinets and the countertops. The backsplash got a peel and stick hexagon faux tile. My fridge got painted like a happy rainbow. And it was good enough.
We lived with it for three years. And the countertops looked like garbage- don’t paint countertops, lol. We started renting out our house in 2020 as an Air BNB when we were in Florida and the number one room I was embarrassed was the kitchen. Plus, we could sleep 6 guests, but only sit 4 for meals.
In February, Linda from the One Room Challenge invited me to participate as a featured designer! This meant I’d be able to have the resources to properly redo the kitchen! I was pumped. I knew how much work it’d be- we just redid our Florida house kitchen in November. But I’m an optimist and decided to go for it.
demo
We moved back from Florida to Utah at the end of April. We had a little party the first weekend home and then tore apart our kitchen.
It was hard work. Long days and a house full of dust and dirt. Trips to the dump. Searching to find items ready now because there’s shortages and delays. Working hard and lots of grit. Then fighting to finish strong.
There was a flood in our basement and it was so devastating. But there were good times too! Like figuring out that our stairs were originally open and restoring that feature.
At first, when I began planning out the kitchen, I came up with 5 main goals for what I wanted most in the finished space-
- Have durable finishes
- Seat 6 at a table
- Add a dishwasher
- Stay true to the house
- Lighten up the room
And now, it’s done. And now I have a beautiful kitchen that’s unique and special and so perfect for our house and family. I’m so happy and am proud that I struck to my goals!!! Ready to see it?!
After- stairs
As you can see from the before pictures, the stairs were closed off to the kitchen. Removing the wall, we added in a railing and balusters from LJ Smith Stair Systems. I went with a white oak option for the newel post and railing. The balusters have a modern nod to them while still working with our 1905 house.
Note, I’ll have a blog post with exactly how we installed the new stair system soon.
I didn’t want to go for a full open floor plan, but I did want it to feel as open as possible.
Removing the wall definitely made the stairs and kitchen feel more airy and connected! Plus, removing the wall gave us about 7-8″ of extra floor space. Which is definitely something!
Since the stairs had a better view, I thought it’d be fun to expand the rainbow gallery wall to go down to the base boards. All the art is from Minted and I LOVE how modern and colorful it is.
Here’s links to all the new art-
For the doorway from the living room to the kitchen, we widened it a few feet and opened it to the ceiling. A small beam went back in and then I added vintage corbels from eBay. This frames in the rainbow stairs so beautifully. It feels original and I love it!
After- dining table
One of my main goals for the kitchen was to have a bigger kitchen table. And we achieved it! To be able to seat 6 at a table, the cabinets on this wall had to be removed. On the other side of the room, more cabinets were taken out to make space for the fridge since it also moved from off this wall.
The thing is, this kitchen had WAY too many cabinets! And the ones we removed were mostly holding clutter. Plus, behind that white door is a pantry and so we don’t need cabinets to store food. It was a good compromise.
I know most people would think of removing cabinets as a big dealbreaker, but since the new cabinets go to the ceiling and utilize the space better, it was definitely worth it!
For the dining table, I selected the Clara Extendable table from Apt2B. I love that the finish on the table matches so well with the floors. It has simple lines so it works well with all the fancy details.
The biggest thing I’m excited about it is that it comes with two leaves! They store inside the table. Sometimes we entertain and I love that we’ll have enough seating for 10 it extended! Yes, I’ll be cramped in here. But the best parties are in a cozy setting 😉
seating
The table nestles next to the stairs and fits nicely with the kitchen side of the room. My son loves to eat at a bench, so I found a rust colored settee that tucks right in at the table. It’s from the eBay shop Yas Royal Mart.
By having the bench, it made it so we could squeeze the table closer to the wall and have more space in the kitchen. It also gives the room that cozy vibe. Most kitchens don’t have lots of soft materials, but I think it makes the room a more comfortable spot to be.
The end chairs are also from eBay. I searched East at Main dining chairs to find these cute rattan chairs.
The pink chairs are ones we already owned and are no longer available in pink, here’s a link to a gray version. I ordered new chairs, but they didn’t arrive in time. Luckily, the pink ones work great in the room!
For one of the end chairs, I found a sweet vintage needlepoint pillow from eBay. Aren’t the bows on the corners and the bouquet in the center so cute?!
For the chandelier, I went with a modern brass fixture from Kichler Lighting. I love mixing modern lights in a traditional setting. I think it keeps everything fresh and not too granny.
This light doesn’t need any light bulbs- the tips and the center of the light glow and its a beautifully warm light. It creates a nice ambiance at night!
The ceiling medallion is from eBay. It’s big and ornate. I specifically looked for one that was 28″ wide- the same width as the chandelier for a more dramatic effect. It’s from the eBay shop Rug Gallery Inc.
after- dining room
I kind of thought of the kitchen as two spaces while I designed it. These two walls were the dining room and the other two walls were the kitchen.
For this half of the space, I used Chinoiserie Wallpaper from Calico Corners. I love that there are three panels that are each a little different. The light mint blue color with the branches and birds and flowers are so pretty to me!
For the rug, I selected the Camont Rug in cream from Rifle Paper Company x Loloi Rugs. It has the prettiest scene on it. I own two other rugs from this same line and LOVE them. They clean really easily because the material it’s made out of and the fact that it’s a printed rug. So that’s a huge benefit for a dining room!
place setting
Since this renovation was in big part to be able to seat more people, I collected items during the renovation to make a beautiful place setting. This is one of my favorite things- pretty functional items. I thought I’d share a few of my favorite touches!
centerpiece
For the centerpiece, I have a collection of Macau Porcelain– it’s all made in the same region of China and I love the hand painted details and pastel colors! These were each found on eBay.
It’s a pretty popular look to do a grouping of blue and white ginger jars in traditional homes. I wanted to take that look and recreate it with pastel pink pieces instead.
The table also features a collection I’ve been gathering from eBay- white cabbage ware.
The salad plates, tea cup, and condiment jar on the table are all white cabbage (or lettuce) ware. The other side of the room has more that I’ll show too. The organic shapes and the preppy vibe just speak to me.
I love using scallops as a design element- they’re sweet and feminine. I think these scalloped place mats under the pretty pink plate look so soft and pretty! They’re the perfect foundation for a place setting. These are from the eBay shop The Flying 34 which has lots of cute placemats. Including this one in pink!
And for the perfect accent? Brass chair place card holders! I LOVE mini chairs (remember the collection I had for my laundry room?!).
When I saw these, I was a smitten kitten. I ordered two sets for when I host a party ;). These are by Lillian Vernon if you’re looking for some too! I got mine from the eBay shop Collectibles Worldwide Online.
One of the things I’m most excited about is this set of gold bamboo flatware. It comes in a box with some serving pieces. These are gorgeous and I love the patina they add to the table! They’re from the eBay store Allisonc78.
For the napkins, I used rainbow stripes ones from Spoonflower. These are custom made to be the same colors as my stairs! And now anyone can buy them.
So there’s my pretty set dining table! Anyone want to come over for dinner?!
After- Fireplace
The fireplace wall is one of my favorites in the kitchen! My husband and I built the mantle around an affordable electric fireplace from eBay. I have a tutorial on building the mantle here.
Since I’m going for a Palm Beach chic look (even though the house is in Utah), I needed something pagoda shaped. I love this white mirror and think it looks beautiful over the fireplace. Plus it reflects light into the darkest corner of the room.
The tile on the fireplace is a 2″ white hex. I used a white grout to give the whole fireplace a white on white calm appearance.
interior windows
On either side of the fireplace, we built in interior windows. Again, this was a way to bring light into a sometimes dark kitchen. It also adds character and interest. These windows were found at a salvage shop from an old storm door I bought for $100 and l love that we gave them new life in here!
I have dreamed for YEARS of owning Staffordshire dogs. They are the definition of the Grandmillennial look! I got a white and gold pair from eBay and they’re sweet and neutral. These look like my pups and for that I love them even more. Aren’t they so cute?! Definitely a dream come true!
For the mantle, I thought it’d be fun to have a few classic books with pink covers on them. These are Little Women and Persuasion by Jane Austen. These have the prettiest covers and the pink is just so cute! The books are from the eBay seller Treasure Book Island. Their shop has a bunch of classic books that would look gorgeous on any shelf!
The fireplace features a few wood appliqués by Ornamental. Here’s links to the rosette and the swag if you want to use them for a project. They’re available at Home Depot and affordable.
After- kitchen
On the other half of the room, we have the kitchen side of the room! This is where the stove, fridge, sink cabinets, and dishwasher are.
Here’s a peek of the dishwasher open- we went with a panel ready dishwasher so it’d hide in the cabinetry. Isn’t it so fun that it blends right in?!
cabinets
For the boxes for the cabinets, I went with IKEA. The upper cabinets are taller and though I lost lower cabinets to the dishwasher, the ones I have are more efficient so we’re able to easily fit all of our items into this section of the room.
For the doors, I worked with Nieu Cabinets. I was able to order custom doors for my kitchen! They have the most lovely finish and clean like a dream!
There’s a little raised detail on the cabinet doors that I love! You can add these doors to a kitchen remodel too. I go over how ordering custom cabinet doors works here.
I really love the color choices Nieu Cabinet Doors offers! For my kitchen, I went white to better reflect light and not to compete with the pink fridge, but how cool is it that you can order any color of cabinet doors from Nieu?!
The bow cabinet hardware is from eBay. Isn’t it so sweet?! The lower cabinet pulls are also eBay, but they’re vintage and the only ones like it that I could find.
fridge
When selecting finishes for the kitchen, I started with the pink Bespoke fridge from Samsung. Isn’t it stunning?! The doors are glass and reflect light into the room.
This fridge is available in 8 colors and you can do different colors on each panel! It’s absolutely beautiful and I’m excited to start using it! I’ll have a more detailed blog post on the fridge soon.
Here’s a peek at how the secret beverage door looks open. There’s a bigger door that opens behind it into the fridge. This section has a water dispenser and a pitcher that fills up automatically!
Above the fridge we have some storage. Doesn’t it look beautiful how it fits the fridge perfectly?!
quartz
For the countertops, I wanted something durable and easy to clean. So I went with quartz from HanStone Quartz in the color Calcatta Gold.
The countertops have a really beautiful veining that adds great natural movement to the space. They’re so gorgeous and I really love them after years of living with a painted tile countertop. It’s a high quality material and it feels clean and pristine in the space.
The countertops make the whole room feel finished and clean and high end. I love wiping my countertops at the end of the day because they’re just so pretty!
sink
In front of the window is the sink area. We have a huge sink (it’s 33″ wide!) in this house and I love how big and deep it is! Especially after doing dishes in the bathroom sink for a few months ;).
For the sink, I went with a white quartz sink from Elkay. It blends in with the countertops since it’s undermount. The color is soft and quiet, but that’s kind of nice in this space where there’s lots of bold and colorful items.
faucet
I love a bridge faucet! They’re decorative and traditional so I’m excited about this brass faucet by Kraus that I found on eBay. To be honest, the water isn’t hooked up yet (my husband is working on that now), so I can’t comment on how it functions. But it sure is pretty!
Above the sink is a pretty seeded glass light fixture from Kichler. The sink has a bit of a little alcove since there’s cabinets on either side so this allows light for night time dish washing.
And it’s a little hard to see in this picture, but above the window I added a wood floral garland molding. I really love putting in wood accents to add instant character that feels true to the era of this house.
tile
For the tile in the kitchen, I kept it simple and classic. I opted to add color in easier to change items like peel and stick wallpaper, art, and the rug.
The backsplash is a classic white subway tile. I love how it shines and feels so clean! Plus, it’s appropriate for the age of my home.
For the floors, we went with a wood looking tile. It gives a neutral base that’ll hide dirt easily. I was going for durable finishes in here and I LOVE the floors. All the tile in here is from The Tile Shop.
kitchen shelf
Our kitchen has 9′ ceilings. The tallest upper cabinets that IKEA makes are 40″ tall. So I had the choice to add a smaller cabinet at the top, or add a shelf at the bottom.
For budget options and because I love any excuse for open shelving, I went with the shelf. It works nicely to have pretty items out. It was made with a small piece of wood that was drilled into studs and then a baseboard was screwed into the support wood to create a simple shelf.
The rainbow wallpaper above the tile and shelf is from Spoonflower. It’s the wallpaper I designed to match my stairs! I’ve had this idea for awhile- to design my own wallpaper. So seeing it happen and in person on my wall- well it’s really special to me.
These wicker wrapped glasses are from eBay- they’re part of a set with a matching pitcher. There’s more of the same ones on eBay. I love the texture they add to the space.
MOLDING
For me, molding is how I elevate a builder basic room into a space with character. One of my favorite elements in the space is the shiplap ceiling with that chunky crown molding- isn’t it special?!
The shiplap, crown molding, baseboards, and casing are all from Novo Building Products and you can buy their items right at Lowes! The living room in our house has the original baseboards so I selected ones from Novo that are similar.
I spent hours filling holes and caulking and painting all the trim work. It was totally worth it!
oven
The oven that came with the house when we bought it works great, but was ugly. Instead of buying a new one, I wrapped the door in car vinyl. Then I spray painted the top that used to be black. I know a brand new stove would be prettier, but sometimes it’s ok to make do with what you have. I’m proud of how this came together!
Above the stove I have planned a DIY hood that hides a microwave. We ran out of time to make it for the reveal, but houses are works in progress and I think it’s ok to keep working in here on a few projects.
I also have a plate rack planned. So stay tuned if you want to see some more work done in here!
sources
Click on any of the links or pictures below to shop the kitchen-
Lights (chandelier, pendant, and under cabinet lighting)
Decorative Trim (corbels, ceiling medallion, onlay)
Glass Windows (salvaged)
Stair Railing, Spindles, Handrail, Brackets
Seating (chairs and bench)- pink chairs are no longer available
conclusion
I am so, so happy with how this cozy kitchen turned out! I sincerely feel grateful and so happy to have this beautiful room to cook and eat in. We’ve had a few meals in here and there’s plenty of room to cook and sit at the table and get to the back door.
I never would have thought this year was the year we’d get a new kitchen in here. And I’m so happy we could make it happen! Thank you for following along. It’s been a wild ride! But it’s done! I would love to hear your favorite part.
One of mine is definitely the upgraded stairs. Mostly, I love the feeling in the room. It’s warm and inviting. I wish I could have you all over for a cup of tea! I’d turn on the fireplace and we could have the best chat.
Thank you for following along with the room and cheering us on. It’s been such an amazing experience!
ONE ROOM CHALLENGE FEATURED DESIGNERS
This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy. Thank you to my generous sponsors for gifting the items for the kitchen.
Fabulous! You should be proud. Hope you get time to slow down and enjoy it before the next project. Is there a view of the doorway you enlarged across from the stairs when you bought the house? And I’m sure I missed it but our their plans for a pink stove? I know you updated all the appliances to fun colors in the Florida house but just did a color upgrade to the existing stove here. Gorgeous work. The stairs become such a great part of the space now…and how perfect is the height of the dining bench!
Ashley, your kitchen is absolutely amazing!! I’m in awe!!! I know you and family will enjoy it so much!!
I love it so much! The fireplace is so fantastic and my favorite thing is having a fireplace in the dining/kitchen area. The staircase is magical too, what a GIANT improvement. I am really happy for you, it’s just gorgeous. You guys did a fabulous job. I would love to see it in person, LOL.
My favourite is the raised doorway and corbels looking at the stairs. Those corbels really look good there.
Ashley! You guys are the hardest workers in the world. The olympians of DIY. I don’t know how you’ve kept a smile on come heck or literal high water. The kitchen is looks incredible. INCREDIBLE.
Oh my goodness! I love every little detail! I can’t choose just one. Y’all did a wonderful job!!
Your kitchen is absolutely beautiful! Loving all the colors and details. This is a stunning upgrade and it makes me happy to see all the pastels. I love your fridge so much!
This reno is honestly stunning! I feel so happy for you after ALL of the grueling work you put in, you have such a special space to enjoy! Your design is so unique, original and the attention to detail is impressive! The room truly reflects you and your work is really one of a kind! Loved following this journey!
Oh my goodness, I’ve never seen a happier kitchen!! The details are so thoughtfully placed!! I think I might actually enjoy washing dishes in this space. 😉
So pretty! You guys are the hardest workers! Enjoy!
The feel of the whole room is amazing, so layered and rich, yet simple. I think you nailed every detail, but I really love the fireplace wall. The mirror and wallpaper are lovely, but those windows are amazing. Talk about elevating/repurposing, those windows look amazing. Who would believe they are the sidelights for a dated storm door set. Congratulations on the whole project.
Everything is so beautiful and well thought out. I know that was a lot of work, but now you have a beautiful space to enjoy family time in. I know that I mentioned this on IG, but I love the stove refresh. I guess it’s because you took something that was already existing in the kitchen and made a minor tweak that stood up on it’s own in the remodel. I think sometimes when we remodel we want everything new but it’s not in the budget or it’s not available when you need it. This was a perfect demonstration that you can refresh something to make it work. Fantastic!