When we first laid eyes on this kitchen, I think I said something along the lines of, “Well… it has potential.” And by potential, I mean nicotine dripping down the walls, a suspicious green carpet under the stove, and a “tropical paradise” wallpaper mural that looked like it had survived a hurricane. The cabinets were dark, greasy, and missing most of the fronts. It smelled like stale smoke and regret—but somehow, we still saw a future in it. *before pictures below

The wall that once held a sliding glass door—leading to what was now a half finished addition was the first to go. Knocking that out opened the whole space and made it actually feel like part of the house. We also widened the opening closest to the front to connect the kitchen to the dining room. Those changes alone made the house breathe again—it finally felt like you could cook dinner and have a conversation without yelling through drywall.

Then came the fun part. We ditched the cave vibe and brought in light, warmth, and texture—white cabinets with black hardware, butcher-block counters, and a brick backsplash that gives it that timeless, old-school feel. The giant island became the centerpiece for hosting all of our family and friends’ celebrations and holidays.. It’s clean, cozy, and a little "old fashioned ice cream parlor" - just the right mix of nostalgic and fresh.

It’s hard to believe this is the same house. What was once the scariest room in the place has become the one we never want to leave. Every now and then, we’ll look at those “before” pictures just to remind ourselves how far we’ve come.

SHOP THE KITCHEN