*Disclaimer: This post contains commissionable links.
WELCOME TO OUR NEW HOUSE! For those who don’t know, we moved bought a new house back in February (or was it March? I can’t remember), right before quarantine started. It’s a split level Midcentury home built in 1957, and our one really big project before moving in was to update the kitchen. Well, given the pandemic delays, we weren’t able to finish until July. (Actually, we’re still not completely done.) And now, of course, we can’t even have anybody over to see it! So I thought I’d give you a little virtual house tour, starting with our renovated kitchen and dining room.
1950’s Kitchen Before and After
It actually doesn’t look too bad, because the cabinets had a fresh coat of paint when we bought the house. However, they’re the ORIGINALS from 1957, so they weren’t in the best shape ever. Also take a look at that crazy old oven. The dishwasher and fridge were only marginally better.
Our Mostly DIY Kitchen Reno
My inspiration for the kitchen design is from Sarah Sherman Samuel, interior designer for stars like Mandy Moore! Naturally, we did not have a Mandy Moore-sized budget, so we tried to replicate the look with more wallet-friendly pieces.
The first thing we did was to hire Seatown to update the electrical for many parts of the house, which was pretty much a fire hazard when we started. In addition to the recessed lighting in the kitchen, we also replaced the hanging light with this pendant globe I got from Target. I think it’s sold out now, but I’ll link some similar ones.
We decided to get all new, unfinished RTA cabinets from a PNW-based company, Barker. They’re much better quality than IKEA but still pretty affordable. Sarah Sherman Samuels used Farrow & Ball Wimborne White and Pigeon for her cabinet colors, but have you SEEN how expensive those paints are?? We went with Benjamin Moore color matches – Mountain Peak White and Heather Gray.
By “we” I also really mean “my parents,” who painted all the cabinets for us. Thanks, Mom and Dad! My dad did all the measurements as well, and he and Jeremy assembled the cabinets too. I basically sat around critiquing everybody, but let’s not forget I was super pregnant at the time, okay??
Our knobs and pulls are from CB2, which I got on sale (a pandemic silver lining). Our countertops are from a local Seattle-area company called Integrity Stonework. They were WONDERFUL to work with and very affordable.
I’m also in LOVE with our new farmhouse sink and gold faucet. Has anyone ever regretted a bigger sink? I think not.
One unique feature in our new kitchen is this appliance garage. Basically, it’s a utility cabinet with a piece of the back cutout to access to outlet on the wall behind it. Our frequently used kitchen appliances go on the pull out shelves, where they can stay while still being used. This saves us a lot of counter space and also keeps the clutter hidden away when not in use.
The Dining Room
Our dining area wasn’t really renovated. We just replaced a light fixture with this one from West Elm, bought new furniture and had my parents help us paint the walls white. The bar cart in the corner is an old one from Target, which is currently being used to house tea and snacks. I have to say, though, I LOVE our dining table from CB2! It is soooooo sturdy and easy to clean – a must-have with our toddler. The credenza on the side is also from CB2, which we got on mega sale since it was a floor sample.
And that’s basically it! We hired a contractor to do the backsplash and install all our new appliances, once lockdown restrictions were loosened. The last thing we have left to do is replace the breakfast nook. Jeremy is currently working on making some bench storage, and when that’s done we’ll buy a new table.
Huge thanks to Mom and Dad for living at the house while it was being renovated so they could help paint, assemble, and install cabinets while I sat around being pregnant. Leave me a comment with any questions and stay tuned for future posts featuring other rooms in the house!