Before and After: We Turned This Outdated Space Into the Farmhouse Kitchen of Your Dreams
Shiplap? Check! Open Shelving? Check!
Even the dreariest spaces can have serious potential. Just take this outdated, unfinished kitchen, which former Country Living Style Director, Page Mullins, transformed into a bright farmhouse kitchen. Page cleverly reworked the layout, adding fresh details (shiplap, open shelving, and new appliances, oh my!) and restoring original features (hello, hardwood floors and breakfast nook) to their former glory.
Before: Awkward Doorway
Inadequate storage and awkward doorways throughout the room made the kitchen nearly nonfunctional. Page enclosed the openings and created an L-shaped workspace to maximize countertop area in the small kitchen.
After: L-Shaped Workspace
A cabinetry tower unit keeps a coffee station out of sight, but at the ready for easy, daily use. A sleek new gas range and hood from Electrolux appliances were installed and flanked with open shelving to maximize space and keep things airy. Black sconces add soft lighting in the space and highlight collections on the shelves.
Editor's Tip: Don't be afraid to mix multiple finishes in one space. Here, Page mixed brass cabinetry hardware from Home Depot with the bronze sconces.
Before: Unfinished Area
When Page purchased the house, the kitchen had been left unfinished by previous homeowners with inadequate appliances and no cabinetry or workspace.
After: Functional Counters & Shelves
Page installed shaker style cabinetry, topped with butcher block countertops from Lumber Liquidators, to keep the palette neutral. She opted for open shelving, flanking the sides of the range, to keep the space feeling open and show off her tabletop collections.
Editor's tip: When styling open shelves, narrow down your dishware into a specific color palette to make a mismatched collection feel more consistent.
Details: Electrolux range, $2,700; Electrolux hood, $1,049; Hudson Valley Lighting sconces, price upon request.
Before: Out-of-Place Laundry
An odd layout made it impossible to separate laundry appliances from the cooking area. Page closed off the opening and relocated the laundry door to create separate areas for the two tasks.
After: Smart Styling
Page incorporated the warm butcher block and brass hardware from Home Depot to add some warmth to the otherwise all white kitchen. Everyday items stay within close reach on the lowest shelves, while entertaining pieces and larger items are stored above. A ceramic tray near the range keeps oils and condiments corralled for easy use when cooking.
Editor's tip: Use wooden cutting boards, layered along countertops, to disguise electrical outlets when they aren't in use.
Before: Outdated Fixtures
The sink was in the perfect spot in the kitchen, looking out two windows into the side yard, but the outdated fixture and exposed insulation needed to be addressed.
After: Farmhouse Sink
Page installed a new stainless dishwasher and updated the old fixtures with a Soci farmhouse sink and a traditional Moen faucet in polished nickel finish. Natural woven blinds by Smith and Noble add a warm texture to the space.
Editor's Tip: Most farmhouse sinks have a single bowl. Opt for a double bowl version to get more mileage out of your sink while keeping the same rustic look.
Before: Back Porch Eyesore
A water-damaged screened porch adjacent to the kitchen was an eyesore and made the kitchen feel even drearier.
After: Practical Pantry
Page enclosed the porch to add square footage to the kitchen and changed the placement of the exterior door to free up wall space. By moving the French-door refrigerator and pantry storage closer to the back door, grocery unloading is an easier task.
Editor's tip: Vintage rugs may seem precious but were really made to last forever. They are perfect for using in a kitchen because they are durable for busy traffic and spills.
Details: Crane artwork by Nostalgia Fine Art, $350; King's House Oriental rug; Kwikset exterior door hardware, $32.
Before: Ugly Linoleum
Page removed the awkward cabinetry units and pulled up layers of linoleum to reveal original hardwood flooring.
After: Gorgeous Wood Flooring
Outdated electrical and plumbing meant that the walls needed to be taken down to the studs. Rather than replacing with drywall, Page installed vertical siding, painted in Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams, for a planked farmhouse look.
Editor's tip: Page used HardiePlank Lap Siding for the planked walls. The exterior siding is resistant against water and heat for the sink and cooking areas in the space.
Details: Crane artwork by Nostalgia Fine Art, $350
Before: Breakfast Nook
Although she had to gut most of the kitchen, Page knew one thing had to stay—the original breakfast room with a charming built-in table and craftsman detailing.
After: Breakfast Nook
A coat of white paint and a new brass pendant from Hudson Valley Lighting gave the breakfast nook a fresh new face. Page used a block print tablecloth and pillows from Les Indiennes to tie in the blue and white dishes on the kitchen shelving.
Editor's tip: When installing a light fixture for booth style seating, remember to hang the fixture a few inches higher than normal to avoid any bumped heads getting in and out of the nook.
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