I've been avoiding writing this post for quite some time. It's kind of hard to explain without sounding like a whiny brat.
Basically, The Fixer Upper has a nice, new, updated kitchen. It's got new drywall, paint, floors, cabinetry, cabinet hardware, countertops, sink, and faucet. It's got a bit of a new design that includes a large island with seating, space for a dishwasher, and an extra pantry. When you take a look at the disgusting before pictures, you'll notice just how many improvements have been made to that poor kitchen.
However, this is where the whiny brat part comes in, the kitchen is just not my light and airy cottage style. I pretty much would have chosen different e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g.
BUT, having said that, we are very fortunate that the completed kitchen was included in our weird house purchase and we didn't have to do any of the labour. Most importantly, our rental property has a fully functional, clean, and updated kitchen that the renters (Alex's parents) really, really like.
So, while The Fixer Upper's kitchen may not be an example of the light and white cottage kitchen of my dreams, it's still a darn (or is it darned?) good before and after.
Alright, enough blabberjabbing. Let's do this.
The first three photos are from our second walk-through of the house with a realtor, after the people living there tidied up. Sooooo gross. The Flippers bought the house in this state and completely gutted the kitchen before we eventually bought it from them.
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| Alex standing in an ugly kitchen. |
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| Oops. Some random realtor guy is in this one. Hahaha. |
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| Grime and stains everywhere. Yay. |
This next photo is of the kitchen after we bought the house from the Flippers. The floors haven't been refinished yet, it doesn't have any trim or baseboards, it hasn't been painted, and there are no pendant lights over the island.
The next few pictures are of the kitchen now!
I whipped up a few side-by-side comparisons just for fun:
So, that's the kitchen. I've got a really funny (to me) story about this post and Pinterest that I'll try to come back and share later on in the week. :)
What do you think? Not too shabby, eh?
P.S. There are a few more small updates we'll probably do to the kitchen in the future (backspash, etc.) but the hubs says no to cabinet painting or to a marble for granite counter swap. Sigh. ;)
AHH as I was reading I thought "could be really nice with a light marble counter..."
ReplyDeleteThen I read the last bit. Crap.
Pretty huge transformation already!! I hear ya on the whole not your style thing. Every now and then I house hunt for fun and when I see a kitchen that was totally reno'd but not my style, I cringe, knowing I would never be able to convince Jay to redo it :-)
I like it but I GET it. Because that is my kitchen in this house. I've changed as much as I can without redoing counters and cabinets. Sigh. Hubby likes it AND it is actually nice and updated unlike our past house that we changed.
ReplyDeleteFor darker cabinets, I like the color of those. Mine are more cherry and I wish they were more walnut.
Now I'm whining when I have no business doing so. At least I have my cottage sink! :)
The new kitchen looks great!! So it may not be the kitchen you would have chosen, but those lights over the island sure look like you!! :) Love them!!
ReplyDeleteWOW! it looks amazing! and i know what you mean, but compared to what it was, it's stellar! :) and it is someone's total cup of tea for when it comes time to sell. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely and any renter would be over the moon to have it but I see what you mean and I feel the same way. White and cottagey is what I like too. J
ReplyDeleteIt's hard isn't it when you are given something really lovely but it's not quite your cup of tea? At least your in-laws like it, and at the end of the day that's what's important. At least you are able to create your own personal style in your own home. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's not my ideal kitchen either, but at least it's an improvement on the old one, it's new and fresh, you can always change it later when finances permit :-)
ReplyDeleteI may not be your ideal kitchen, but it is lovely. And it is a rental, you don't have to live in it. No sense putting any more money in to re-do an already great kitchen.
ReplyDeleteYou have to take the emotion out of a rental property. It's not your home.
I agree.. your being whiney... bhahahhahahha...just joking... but really the kitchen looks great and anyone would love to have that. Maybe not your style but think of it from a landlord point of view and these cabinets will wear much better than white ones would. When you have rental property you have to use materials that will wear well and still look good.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck.. and chin up!..
Ah, no not whiney. I know exactly what you mean. We always used to say - when house hunting - that we hoped no house would have a recently done kitchen, because it would NEVER be to my taste, yet we couldn't justify (or afford) ripping out a new kitchen.
ReplyDeleteYes, clean, spacious, clear lines. But awfully dark. And nonononono to the work tops. And I - and you - would have designed the lay-out differently. However, it's a rental. (But you are still allowed a little moan!)
I am so envious! Our kitchen is so outdated and wretched that I won't allow houseguests to ever see it. One day we will have the money to renovate but until then- no one can see it : )
ReplyDeleteFYI, I just sent you an email because I want to feature one of your projects on our site. Can you shoot me an email? Deirdre @ Houselogic .com
The kitchen is nice but it has a very sterile look about it. I think the overpowering white ceiling is the problem. Maybe paint the kitchen a warm antique tanish-yellow color? That'll take away that office building look.
ReplyDeleteLooks pretty nice, maybe a backsplash and crown molding around cabinets.
ReplyDelete