Because I’m a crazy person, I recently signed on to design and renovate a kitchen for a lucky viewer on Good Morning America with just one week to get it all done! The show recently put out a casting call for a family in need of a new kitchen in time for Thanksgiving and on behalf of Lowe’s I stepped in to help create a beautiful new kitchen for an adorable young family using all in-stock items from Lowe’s and I’m excited to share a look at the before and after process with you guys! First off, lets take a look at what this kitchen looked like before…
The biggest issue is that the entire kitchen was extremely dated. The house is 50+ years old and the kitchen hadn’t been touched since it was built so everything needed an upgrade. The vinyl floor tiles were peeling up and the appliances were all on the brink of breaking down. There were also a few things that were oddly placed such as a the wall oven next to the cooktop which took up unnecessary space and there was a light fixture that you can’t see in these photos that was placed way off center in the back corner of the room. I had a chance to chat with the homeowner, Kari, for about 20 minutes to hear her thoughts on what she wanted. Her dream was to have an all-white kitchen with subway tile, more counter space and she loves to cook so she wanted appliances that functioned more efficiently. After assessing all of this I had just one day to pick out all of the cabinetry, appliances and finishes from Lowe’s and just 5 days for demo and new kitchen build-out. Talk about a tight timeline! Here is what the new kitchen looks like now…
Doesn’t the new kitchen looks so fresh and modern? The first thing I did was lighten and brighten up the whole kitchen with white shaker style cabinets and a soft sage green color on the walls which is called Winter in Paris by Valspar. To keep the makeover budget-friendly, we kept the same layout with just a few minor adjustments. The cabinets are the Kitchen Classics Arcadia cabinets which are an in-stock item that you can buy at your local Lowe’s store or online. I had the contractor add crown moulding to the top and lots of filler panels to give the cabinetry a more custom built look. I love this shaker style of cabinetry for its modern yet timeless feel.
Another big upgrade was adding all-new floors and appliances. I chose these soft gray porcelain floor tiles that have the look and feel of wood planks and really help to elevate the space. As for the appliances, the homeowner had a fairly new GE refrigerator that she loved and was the only thing we kept in the new design. To complement her existing refrigerator, I selected brand new appliances from GE so that everything feels seamless and integrated. The dishwasher works much better than her previous one and is also designed with the controls on the inside so that their 2 year old can’t push the buttons like she used to do on their old model. The new appliances really help give the kitchen a more modern feel.
Because the homeowner loves to cook, I gave her a new GE double oven range which is a huge upgrade from the old cooktop and wall oven which was oddly placed. Now Kari can cook a lot more at once and be much more efficient in the kitchen. And by installing a freestanding oven range, we freed up extra counter space that was previously taken up by the wall oven. I also installed an above the range microwave which does double duty as a hood for additional space efficiency.
Another element I love is the beveled subway tile backsplash. Kari really wanted white subway tile so instead of going with a traditional flat tile, I chose this beveled style which adds a bit more architecture to the space. They’re just 53 cents per tile which is super affordable and for a kitchen around this size you’d spend around $100 on the material!
The new chrome pull-down faucet is another great find that’s under $100 and has fantastic customer reviews.
I always love an undermount sink which has a super clean look. The countertops are quartz which is a material I love using because it’s heat resistant, stain resistant and scratch resistant so it’s a powerhouse in a busy kitchen. These are from the Allen + Roth line at Lowe’s and the style is called Sugarbrush. It has soft gray, marble-like veining throughout which adds subtle contrast to all of the brighter white tones in the kitchen.
Overall, with the time constrains and despite the limitations of only choosing from all in-stock items, this kitchen turned out beautifully! One quick note is that our contractors worked around the clock, until 10pm most nights just to get this kitchen finished. And when we filmed the reveal segment for Good Morning America, the plumbing wasn’t even fully hooked up! (Just keeping it real folks!) But the homeowners Kari and Chris absolutely love their new kitchen and I’m so happy I could step in to help them transform it just in time for Thanksgiving! Here’s a shot of me with Kari, Chris and their adorable daughter Byla just after the reveal! This was such a fun project to work on and I hope this inspires you to make some easy and inexpensive upgrades to your own kitchen!
After photos by Eric Masters. Before and during photos courtesy of the homeowner Kari who also happens to have a super cute blog that you can check out here!
38 Comments
The change is unbelievable- what an improvement! I think that its worth pointing out as well that by moving the oven away from the fridge, you also have improved energy efficiency in the kitchen, which is a huge benefit. Just one thing that I would mention- although beveled tiles are prettier than the flat, I have had them in one kitchen and never again because they just collect grime on the top edge and look filthy unless you are constantly wiping them down (each side separately, no less…).
Love it Nicole! Such a transformation. Adore the clean white palette and the softness (and white border) of the chalk board. The color of the walls and the touch of the candle adds so much warmth. And the mixer – love how it brings out the color of the walls – totally makes any baker want to whip up some desserts – perfect timing for the holidays! Thanks again Nicole! 🙂
What a gorgeous make over!! This kitchen is bright, fresh and super stylish!!! You nailed this one!!
Xo
Laurie
http://Www.northofchic.com
Wow! What a transformation! When my company does a kitchen, we turn it around in 3 1/2 weeks, and you did it in 10 days! Brava! Well done!
Oops – I mean a week, not 10 days! Even more impressive!
Wow what a difference
This is so great, Nicole! I only wish there were info on cost. And, can you come and give me a new kitchen? I’m working in a circa 1960ish one that’s in a 1919 Dutch Colonial. Can you say bad design match? 🙁
Beautiful. So clean and crisp
Beautiful
That is beautiful , I would love to have that done to my house . & doing it such a short amount of time. Great workmanship ….
I need a new kitchen, you would not believe the one I have now. I hate cooking in it. Who ever put this one in did not cook.
Please come redo my kitchen !!
Fantastic! It looks clean & fresh. I just have one question. How did you get quartz ordered, templated & installed in one week? From one designer to another and in that spirit of “keeping it real,” that’s not realistic. If I had to wait for the quartz, I’d definitely order cabinets vs. going with in-stock as well.
I WISH COULD WI N ITS BEEN A REAL BAD YEAR FOR ME LOST MY BROTHER AN I FOUND OUT I HAD CANCER AN NOW I JUST LOST MY LUV OF MY LIFE MY HUSBAND .IN A. REAL BAD MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT. I WOULD LUV TO HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE.
I need someone to redo my kitchen so I can enjoy it
I have a small kitchen which is in a desperate shape. My undersink double as a storage for paper stuff, etc. One has to step aside or go roundabout in order to pass its small isle, it’s dark, dingy, with very dated cabinets. The sink is oddly placed and it eats up the counter space. I hope I could send you pictures on all its weird, outdated, inefficient features. Help/ kitchen facelift desperately needed.
It is gorgeous. .hiw much it cist foe the whole tranformation
My kitchen is set up exactly like this one, but it is dated from 1952. Even the floors are from 1952. I dream of a new kitchen, but won’t see it in my lifetime. This is such a beautiful make over. Kudos to the designers and workers.
I would love to have one of those kitchens with all that space and cabinets its beautiful
Love it,,so fresh looking
Please my need help. Come redo my that kitchen is awesome
As much money that my husband and I have spent at your store and so much trouble we had at receiving our Appliances….Please consider us for a Do-Over-Kitchen….We would not need any new appliances considering we bought everything from Lowes….2 Refrigerators, A Microwave, Front Load Washer And Dryer, At Least 10 ceiling fans, ETC….I have all my receipts also…We live In Kingsport,Tennessee and all we need help with are the kitchen cabinets and Back Splash…Please Consider Us….Thank You
Help! We haven’t had draws for 5 yrs. plastic draws / wood fronts. Where the screw joined them busted on everyone of them. Kitchen is very outdated, house built in 1970.
Theyvare so beautiful sure would love to win it for a vietnam veteran his appliances are over 25 years old and in needof a real make over he was severely injured in 1967 and has also battled cancer due to agent orange
Would love to have a kitchen like this. Just can’t afford to right now. Still have a few kids at home. Maybe someday my dream kitchen will happen.
GORGEOUS!!!! I could only hope!!!!
I live in a old house I would love a make over
Our kitchen needs a make over bad !
I have a 1950 kitchen please come do my kitchen
I am an older woman, but have 6 younger people living with me and we are desperately in need of a new kitchen, all help appreciated..
Love the redesign!! The layout is similar to one I envision for our kitchen, vintage 1950’s. Is there a floor plan showing the dimensions? Haven’t found it. Thank you!
I couldn’t get that lucky. Congratulations to the family. She did an amazing job!
Why weren’t the extra slats taken off the blind???
I just bought a property for myself, my elderly parents & aunt. They will live on the 1st fllor & i will live on the 2nd. I closed on the property April 24th 2015 but haven’t moved into the building because i had 2 fire my 1st contractor & he stole over $6 worth of rehab material I’m n court trying 2 get my money back. I just found another contactor but i have 2 take out an additional loan to cover all of the cabinets for 2 kitchens & 3 bathrooms plus counter tops & applicants. I will have to wait to have the windows replaced (56 total) i am upgrading the building electrical & plumbing & repainting all floors & removing mold n the basement are. If your company is looking for another project please keep my building in mind the address is 1311 n Austin Blvd, Chicago il 60651. My family could us any help you are willing 2 give
You have a absolutely gorgeous kitchen, I like its design and colors. Our kitchen have been used for 15 years, I hope I can renovate it soon
Awesome kitchen…it would be a dream come true for me…
it looks so much bigger and brighter. I love light worktops with a white kitchen.
Like the fresh clean look. Thanks for the inspiration Nicole Gibbons.