Homeowner Excitement: Our New & Oh-So-Improved Kitchen

You know you've really growing up when something like a kitchen remodel sparks *tremendous excitement in your life.  We've been talking for quite awhile about wanting to make some improvements to our kitchen.  While our "before" kitchen was functional- it didn't flow with the rest of our house at all- it just had an outdated, "in need of a face lift" kind of feel to it.  Combine that with the fact that I LOVE to cook, and spend more time in the kitchen than probably any other room in our house- so the idea of having a space that I adored made me giddy.  As the story goes, after a period of saving, brainstorming & pinning (ok, I sought more inspiration via Pinterest than Doug did)- we were able to make our plans a reality!  

It's also important to note, because I fielded this question a few times during the planning process, that Mr. & Mrs. Porterfield aren't DIY connoisseurs, at least when it comes to projects of this caliber.  As much as we love to watch HGTV & see people completely transform rooms in 30 minutes episodes--- we knew that wasn't reality for us.  And so, with no shame, we hired some locally owned businesses to do the job for us.  Anyway- who doesn't love supporting "the little guys?"  We had the BEST experience with everyone we worked with, so naturally- I'm providing shameless plugs for all of them at the end of this post. 

Doug & I had a general vision for this project (truly, Doug has better taste & ideas than I do when it comes to home design & projects!), but we solicited some advice from my friend Julia (wife to our "Project Master" Matthew), who is an interior designer. With her help, we identified some simple (some of which were even inexpensive!) ways to totally revamp our space.     Here's the list we set out to tackle:  

• Cabinets: Though we received a bid for custom cabinetry- we opted to save money by having our existing cabinets repainted, and simply replacing the knobs with some simple gems from Lowe's that match some of the other new features.
• Flooring: We replaced the (gross) tile with (gleaming) dark hardwood.
• Appliances: Updated our (ancient) dishwasher & white sink with stainless steel versions to match our existing appliances.
• Counters: While granite is all the rage these days, the Practical Porterfields couldn't quite justify the expense for such a small space, in a house we likely won't live in forever.  (Insert Christy's sad face here).  So, at about 1/4 of the cost of granite, we opted for a dark laminate.... which.... to be honest, I think I prefer to any of the granite we looked at! 
• Light fixtures: What a difference brushed brass makes!  We replaced both of the existing light fixtures with new, modern versions that matched the cabinet hardware & our new faucet.
• Paint: Goodbye green, hello neutral khaki to match the rest of our house!




Before...
Our vision for the kitchen was to make it more inviting & cozy. Our (functional) "before" kitchen was dark, and neutral in all the wrong ways- specifically the tile & counters. Just very uninviting. My biggest pet peeve was that no matter how clean it really was- the drab counters & floors made it feel otherwise.




After!
We wanted something that looked clean & inviting--- and that is exactly what we got! The finished project seriously exceeded our expectations! 

During...
Much like anything else, getting there is half the fun! This is what our kitchen looked like for just about two weeks while Matthew perfected the tedious electric work, plumbing, etc. This short time frame was a powerful reminder to me that I would have made a TERRIBLE pioneer. I love my running water & indoor stove way too much. I know.... SUCH a diva. So worth it, though!



Before (View 2)...

After!  (View 2)



Before- Floors. 
This tile made.me.crazy. 
It was installed by the previous owners, and though it wasn't that old,
no matter how clean it was- it always looked so dingy & disgusting.

After- Floors. 
We replaced the nasty tile with this amazing dark hardwood.  We have beautiful, original hardwood throughout our house already & were advised not to try to match it, since nothing would be a "perfect" match.  This turned out perfectly- it picks up the dark tones in our existing floors & makes the room feel so cozy & sophisticated.  The different plank widths & distressed look fits so well with the rest of our home.



Shot of the new sink & faucet.  What a difference this little updates made!

   

 Giving credit where credit is (definitely!) due...

  

Flooring- Tom Gould at Basye Flooring- 636.939.3666.  Tom is the husband to my sweet friend Sarah, and is super personable & knowledgeable.  His customer service is top notch!

Counters- Rich at Harding Cabinets- 314.481.5770.  (Rich also does BEAUTIFUL custom cabinet design for anyone who's interested!  He recently did the kitchen of some of our friends- Jay & Christina Heddell- and I catch myself swooning every time I'm there!)

Painting- Mike Steigner at Mide Painting- 314.707.7468.  Mike is no stranger to our house- he painted every single room when Doug bought the house three years ago!  His efficiency & attention to detail are impressive- so we'll be keeping him on speed dial for any future projects.

Project Master- Matthew Bergman of St. Joseph Company- 314.680.2349 .  We cannot say enough about Matthew- he is officially our "handyman" for life!  You won't find anyone more hardworking, talented or honest than Matthew.  We absolutely recommend him for any home projects.  He perfectly maneuvered the plumbing, electric & remodel details of our old Kirkwood home- which is no easy task.  Please consider him if you're interested in taking on any projects of your own- he is the best!

And last but not least, Doug & I can't wait to christen our new space with dinner parties and, of COURSE, half full glasses of cab.  :-)  Come visit soon!