Oh my goodness, Gentle Readers. Do you even remember that we were renovating the kitchen in St. Michaels? I dragged you through the initial excitement, the planning, cabinetry selection, and then –
A gag order. I won’t bore you with the details, but suffice it to say that I wasn’t allowed to post pictures of the finished project until now.
To refresh your memory, here is the kitchen before…
During…
And now…
(That pine sideboard will be moving to the dining area, btw.)
The most dramatic move by far was getting rid of those, ah, how shall we say, whimsical open shelves between the kitchen and the family room.
I believe they were a relic from the original house (i.e., I don’t think John’s grandfather built them), so I don’t think I’m offending anyone here.
Removing those – and shortening that wing wall – not only made the kitchen feel more connected to the family room, it made the kitchen seem so much bigger. The difference is remarkable.
Look. It’s not going to win any awards for creativity. But it could win an award for cost-effectiveness. Here’s how we did it* for about $25,000:
- Laminate countertops. Nothing’s cheaper
- Skipped a tile backsplash
- Kept the stove and sink in place, so there were no major gas or plumbing costs. (The refrigerator doesn’t have an automatic ice maker, so it was easy to move)
- Skipped under-cabinet lights and kept a central ceiling fixture instead of installing recessed lights
- Kept the wooden floor
- Bought Medallion’s builder’s grade cabinets – they’re solid wood, though
There’s more St. Michaels news to report…remember the small bedroom that was going to lose some closets? Wait until you see THAT!
*AND moved the washer and dryer elsewhere AND renovated a small bedroom AND painted the first floor of the house. I’m telling you, the biggest way to save money on a project is to do it in a small town instead of a major city. I’m not suggesting you move, but…
Annie Elliott – aka bossy color – is an interior decorator and design blogger in Washington, D.C. She has been quoted in publications from The Washington Post to Real Simple and is considered an expert on color, residential space planning, and telling people what to do in the nicest way possible.
