Hi everyone! I'm so excited to finally be able to share my finished kitchen update! This will probably be the last post in this series which means we have now completed every major project we wanted to do to this home. That feels so good!!

Here's what the kitchen looked like when we purchased the house:

There were a lot of things I loved about it and didn't want to change like the layout. But I knew right away that I wanted to switch out the L shaped countertop, because it looked too busy next to the backsplash. I also wanted a gas cooktop again, and I wasn't crazy about the hardware.

We decided early on that the kitchen would be our last project, and even though it was hard to wait I'm so glad we did. It gave me the opportunity to live with the finishes for a while so when it was time to make the change I knew exactly what I wanted.

Before making any big changes I switched out the cabinet pulls. I went with a matte black, and I love how they blend in while enhancing the gray stain. That small project completely changed the vibe in my kitchen. If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to make a big statement, change your hardware! Here’s how the kitchen looked after:

Since I have white walls, white floors, and lots of natural light coming in I decided to go bold, and opted for a dark countertop. I’ve always loved Soapstone, but it wasn’t in my budget. After doing some research I found Silestone’s Charcoal Soapstone in a suede finish. It’s a quartz product that mimics the look of Soapstone, but without the price or maintenance. Win!

I recommend creating a rendering (or hiring it out) so you can get an idea of what your space will look like before making major changes. Here’s the quick rendering that I made:

And here’s the after:

I was too excited to wait for the gas company to finish hooking up my stove. Don't judge me lol.

Here’s a detailed shot so you can see the subtle veining. I love it!

At the moment our budget doesn’t allow for changing the island countertop which is fine since I’m not sure what I want to do with it anyway. Right now, I’m really liking the contrast it provides so maybe it will stay. My husband will be so happy!

Update:

Sadly, my husband didn’t get his wish to keep the island countertop lol. Instead we both decided to replace it with this beautiful quartz, and add the waterfall edge. With the new floors and new brass hardware (Yes, I changed it again!) it’s become the sophisticated kitchen I wanted.

This update ended up taking about a year to complete, but I’m so glad I didn’t rush it. I followed the tips I’ve outlined below, and don’t regret any of my decisions.

A few tips when preparing for a kitchen update:

Use it as is for a while if you can. This will enable you to see how the space functions, and whether or not you need to make major changes to the layout. You’ll also have a better idea of the finishes you can live with and the ones you definitely want to change.

If you’re working with a budget, decide what changes will make the most impact for you. Do you like the cabinets, but hate the countertops? Do you wish you had an island or more workspace? Make a list of what’s most important and start there.

Don’t be afraid to ask for advice! Many people are hesitant to reach out to a designer with questions if they haven’t hired them, but a lot of us are happy to help if we can.

Thank you so much for following along as we personalized our spec home! I hope you found some inspiration. If you would like help updating a space in your home, schedule your free call with me today!