Designing Divas

Farmhouse Kitchen Before

This was an exciting project for us in our new farmhouse.  We started with a small 1990's kFarmhouse kitchen After

The cupboards from the before pictures are the same as the cupboards in the after pictures.  We routered the edges and painted and glazed them for a completely different look.  The chandelier was my great grandmothers. 

itchen and a relatively small budget.  We decided we needed to recycle anything we could and still get the look we wanted.  The first thing we did was take out a small bathroom behind the back wall of the kitchen and turn it into a cooking area and a pantry.  Because the bathroom was previously there we were able to utilize the hot water previously plumbed to the bathroom for a pot filler over the stove. We kept the toilet and sink which were in good condition, for a future bathroom project downstairs.  We also removed a 6 inch false ceiling that was put in so the previous owners could have  recessed lighting in the kitchen.   We pulled out the old cabinets, they were made of oak and in use-able condition, so we  routered  the edges to update them. We then sanded, primered,  painted and glazed them.  We also  took one of the old cabinet doors off and reconstructed it to accommodate two glass panels.  Then we put the cabinets back in in a new configuration and added open shelving which my husband and I built, where we wanted things we love out in the open. Two of the open shelving units, the plate rack and the shelf over the sink came from previous homes where they had other uses. 

Because we recycled the old cabinets we were able to use our budget for a new island with a honed black granite top, and creamy granite counter tops on the perimeter cabinets.   I called multiple places that advertised great prices on Granite however I only found one place who's price was actually the same as what they advertised, Stone Mart in Salt Lake City even priced matched a price I   found on a remnant of Honed Granite. I chose the Honed Black Granite because I have been fascinated with soapstone counter tops but have been super wary of the durability.  With a family of 7, 3 of them teenage boys, our home gets beat up, we needed something durable.  When I saw the remnant of honed black granite at one of the granite suppliers I knew I had found what I was looking for, the soapstone look with the durability of granite!! I also really wanted an apron front sink, but again the price was outrageous.  I found this large and beautiful sink at Ikea for under $300.

The cabinets also display my collection (or should I say obsession) of old glass cabinet knob.s I used recycled old glass knobs of different sizes and shapes on all the white cabinets.  

The Chandelier was  My great grandmothers dining room chandelier.:)

Often times, in this day and age, a kitchen remodel means throwing out everything and starting anew.  These cabinets are oak, what better material could I find as a starting point?