a kitchen love story: our dream kitchen renovation

My kitchen renovation is the stuff of legend.  I planned, and planned, and fussed over every. single. decision.  I probably talked about it more than I talked about my young children. It went on for so long (nearly 2 years start to finish) that years later, people are still asking whether it is done.  The transformation was pretty amazing, if I do say so myself, and I have never looked back.

A few “before” shots to get us started.  Our kitchen, while defined as “eat-in”, was too small to get a full view, but these reflect the key elements.  Original 1930s cabinetry, too little storage, work, and dining space, and equipment that didn’t work for my home culinary adventures.

photos by jenn kosar

In case you’re curious about all those colors, I acquired the orange ten years ago.  There was a cream and green stage, and the blue period reflects the pre-demolition state.  Demo revealed a vast rainbow of colors and wall treatments galore, a kitchen style time capsule.

And now for your first “after” reveal!

photo by jenn kosar

We went through a lot to get here, and I’m often asked for advice, lessons learned, or resources.  There’s a vast trove of information out there for those embarking on a renovation, minor or major.  I won’t recap the obvious [and true] points about it taking longer and costing more than you think.  I will, however, highlight a few tips that really made a difference.

Kitchen renovation: our best advice

• Plan your storage around how you cook and entertain. I inventoried everything I had, and planned each and every cabinet and drawer to store it. It was in that exercise I realized I needed deep drawers for pots and pans, special places for cleaning supplies, and extra shallow drawers with dividers for linens, potholders, and smaller utility items. I also learned I could live with less upper cabinet storage.

• Start with the things that are most important to you aesthetically. It can be hard to know where to start, but you have to start somewhere! For us, flooring and cabinetry were the elements where I had the strongest and clearest view of my dream kitchen look.  Next came the countertops, with a focus on getting the look I wanted [marble] with the durability a real home cook needs. Every other color or materials decision worked around those anchors.

photo by jenn kosar

• Consider adding “furniture” to break up all that cabinetry.  We didn’t have room for a separate table, which made the white cabinetry and gray and white countertops really dominate the space. The black sideboard adds a break from the white and makes it feel more like a room, less like a laboratory.

• Listen to the contractors when they tell you how much space you need for clearance. This one won’t mean much to you unless you’ve renovated or are living with a renovation where someone squeezed in a little too much counter space. Every time I cook in the kitchen with Gary or another chef, I’m grateful for the generous walking space around our island.

As I reflect on our kitchen love story, I’m struck by the little decisions we made that are the ones that spark the most joy. Some were big-ticket splurges, investment pieces that pay off day after day. Most were the opposite.  Smaller decisions, little details — even one that I wish I realized I could have fixed far sooner in the “old” kitchen.  There are lessons learned through each one.

photo by jenn kosar

Kitchen renovation: favorite things and lessons learned

• The oven. Ahh, the oven. Is it wrong to love a piece of equipment?  I knew I wanted a double, but every one I had used had caused me trouble. To put it bluntly, I’m too short to use the top oven. When I saw that french door ovens had arrived, I had to have one. And let me tell you, it was worth every penny. Every time I open those doors, I smile. The lesson?  For equipment you are going to use every day, make it work for you.

 photo by jenn kosar

• The backsplash. I like my backsplash a lot, but it is what it represents that sparks joy. Backsplash selection comes towards the end of a renovation, when candidly, you are tired of spending money (if not flat broke). When the perfect Moroccan tile in white and slate gray turned out to cost $29 a tile — you read it right, $29 per tile — even the shop owner told me to look elsewhere. I turned to the internet and found this beautiful stainless steel Moroccan-inspired tile for far, far less money. The lesson?  If you have your heart set on something expensive, shop around and be willing to compromise a little.

photo by jenn kosar

• The prep sink [a.k.a. the party bucket]. This little add was genius. Thanks to pinterest, I was inspired to fill a sink with ice to make an easy-access and low-mess wine and beverage chiller for parties. When it came time to plan my kitchen, I was fortunate to have room on the extra-large island for this workhorse. I love having the extra sink when Gary and I cook together; I really love having a built-in party bucket. The lesson?  If you can afford to from a cost and space perspective, add something fun.

 photo by jenn kosar

• The laundry basket. If forced to choose, I might put this at the top of the favorite things list. It’s so simple but so important: the ability to throw dirty linens and wet towels into a laundry basket. What kills me is that I waited for a major renovation to add this highly useful feature to my kitchen when I could have had it all along. The lesson? Consider fixing those minor problems in your current kitchen today, even if you aren’t ready for a major renovation.

 photo by jenn kosar

• The drawers.  Many people dream about adding an island to their kitchen. It increases counter space, and often adds seating and socializing space for family and friends. For me, it was all about the drawers. Adding ten shallow drawers to my storage has made all the difference in the functionality and organization of my kitchen. I finally have easy access to my most-used items [knives, spices, silverware] and perfectly sized storage for kitchen accessories [napkins, placemats, towels, aprons]. Bonus? The super-shallow drawer under the range for potholders. Genius. The lesson?  Think about what you have and build for its best storage.

 photos by jenn kosar

• The chairs.  We have Gary to thank for this one. We knew we needed counter-height seating for our island, because despite enlarging our kitchen, we still couldn’t fit both an island and a table for our family of four. I knew I wanted backs on the chairs as I despise backless stools, but it was Gary’s insistence on upholstered chairs that has made all the difference. These chairs are actually comfortable. I swear my guests would rather eat in my kitchen then in my adjacent dining room [which is a shame because it was also renovated and equally lovely]. The lesson?  Occasionally listen to the person in your life who prioritizes comfort and function over aesthetics.

 photo by jenn kosar

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It is just a peek into our journey, but I hope our story helps you find your own dream kitchen, whether you are knocking down walls this weekend or still pinning your dream.

Looking for more inspiration?  Check out my kitchens board on Pinterest.