Two years ago when we bought this house, we knew we would eventually make some updates to suit our style and make it our own. The house had great bones, a large lot, with a pool, mature landscaping, and had the extra storage space we wanted. I made a wish list of the areas of the house I wanted to update, and at the top of my list was the kitchen. Nothing wrong with the kitchen as it already had many upgraded features that our previous homes never had such as a farmhouse sink, a wood hood, a pot filler and a food prep sink. However, the finishes and colors just weren’t our style and the layout left more to be desired.
My dream was to have an updated and open kitchen renovation but with two young kiddos and other household expenses, it wasn’t feasible to gut and demo everything for a full studs out remodel. It especially wasn’t feasible to spend the budget-blowing average cost of a kitchen renovation, which is around $45,000. So, taking matters into my own hands, I researched and designed the layout, set a budget goal, sourced the stone, materials, and finishes and hired a trusted contractor and fabricator to keep the costs under $10K (this included marble countertops and tile), with the renovation side only taking 12 days from start to finish! From what I hear, that’s minor in terms of renovation downtime which was a huge plus since I have two active boys on the run and it being summer break.
Here’s what it looked like two years ago:
And today
And a few more angles:
Some of you followed along on Instagram during the renovation – thank you! (I saved the whole process in my story highlights, start with Kitchen Reno) but in case you missed a few details, here’s a brief rundown of how we went from this:
to this:
Our kitchen renovation was fairly simple in scale and with just small details that made the biggest impact.
What we did:
- Removed upper cabinets and wall
- Repurposed lower cabinets into a second island
- Moved microwave to pantry
- Replaced tile backsplash
- Replaced countertops
- Replaced light fixtures
Removed Upper Cabinets and Wall
The wall never really bothered me until it really started to bother me! The little cutout arch bothered me even more! I envisioned that the upper section of the wall could be knocked out to open up the kitchen more, allowing in more nature light, while saving the lower cabinets and repurposing it into a second island for double kitchen islands. We did this by removing the upper cabinets, the odd window arch and the side wall arch and laying on a new slab with an overhang to create the countertop seating and finishing off the lower cabinet panelling on the newly repurposed second kitchen island.
Moved Microwave to Pantry
We rarely use a microwave and I originally wanted it integrated into our cabinets somehow. We couldnt find an optimal space for it, so I decided at the last minute to have it moved and installed in the pantry. It fits perfectly in there and I love that it’s out of sight!
Tile Backsplash
I partnered with The Builder Depot and found a beautiful white cararra marble subway tile backsplash that paired beautifully with the marble countertops. Along the way, I learned that there is a technique to installing tile backsplash and that it’s recommended to first lay out all your tiles and select and place each tile individually. I had no idea and am so glad I was advised to do this. Within the grouping of tiles, there was one tile that had a natural heart shape in the marbleing. How lovely! I had this tile placed in the center of the backsplash above the cooktop so I could see it every day and be reminded of the love we’ve poured into our home.
Countertops
After many visits to several stone yards throughout DFW, we found “the one” at MGX Stone Dallas. I always had marble on my mind. I just love the look and timelessness of marble. We replaced all the original black granite countertops on the perimeter and on the center island for a white Cararra marble in a polished finish.
After 12 days, our kitchen is updated, open, beautiful and bright. Just removing the wall alone totally changed up the sight lines of the house and the way we use the kitchen, making it so much more functional for our family. The upgraded finishes reflects my style better and the end result is exactly how I envisioned and what I wanted. The look I went for was traditional classic — with lots of white, brass, and marble, a glam version of a French country kitchen, warmed up with natural wood and woven bar stools.
This was a budget we set for ourselves knowing what tools, supplies, materials, cabinets, appliances, dishes and decor we already had. We encourage you to look at what you already have and see how you can build on it!
Sources below (note: Most of the accessories we’ve had, so I’ve linked what I could!):
Range Nook
Clock (sold out, similar here)
Utensil Holder
Copper Tea Kettle (vintage) similar linked
Islands
Pendants
Large Wooden Bowl w/Gold Handles
Footed Serving Bowl
Large Vase