My Secret Recipe?

Where we started...

Kitchens are always the most difficult part of a remodel. When we started this project we weren't expecting a total gut job. We thought we were going to be able to use the cabinets, however, it didn't take long to realize that we were going to have to get rid of everything and start from scratch. As you can see in this photo, the washer and dryer were located in the kitchen and the refrigerator is "floating" on the opposite wall. I decided to relocate the fridge, but the washer and dryer had to remain in the kitchen, here's how it all went down...

"gut job"

When we started ripping out the kitchen, we found that there was an old water heater in the corner cabinet and the exhaust vent over the stove wasn't even connected. We found electrical wiring that was "hidden" in the soffits and we knew it had been the right decision to pull everything out and get a clear look at the skeleton of the kitchen.

Once we had everything out I decided that it was the best time to relocate the stove, fridge and add a dishwasher. The things that you can't see is all new plumbing and electrical in addition to the new window, the only thing that stayed in the room was the paneling, it just got painted.

There was a small closet in the hallway and, initially, I intended to move the washer and dryer to that closet and increase the size of the kitchen, however, after carefully thinking about storage needs in the house, it was obvious that the house needed all the storage space possible and since there wasn't anywhere to get more storage, the laundry was going to have to stay in the kitchen. The only way to make it take less space was to bring in a stackable unit.

I decided to go with all white appliances since the washer and dryer didn't come in stainless. Since the appliances were white, I went with dark wood cabinets and dark countertops to enhance the contrast. Because I was on a very tight budget to do this kitchen that I hadn't even planned to do, I used stock cabinets, laminate countertops and vinyl flooring. Not only was the budget small because of all of the other things we had to do, but also because our purpose for buying this house was to get a good deal and keep the costs low.

I bought appliances that were on clearance (last years models) and was able to get a higher quality appliances on my budget. Also, by buying white appliances I saved about 10-15% of the stainless prices, and they function exactly the same. I bought my kitchen sink at the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store for 1/3rd of the price it was at retail. By painting the paneling instead of ripping it all out, not only saved money, it also saved time.

The vinyl flooring that was in the kitchen was in good condition and was fairly new, and we intended to keep it, however, the construction we did took a toll on the floor and in the end, I decided to replace it. I opted for a vinyl tile for the cost and also because ceramic tile would have added nearly an inch of height difference between the floors in the adjoining areas.

After

Ultimately, function is the most important aspect to kitchen design and this kitchen is very functional for it's size. The main thing lacking was a pantry and there was just no where to put more storage space. Fortunately, my dad gave me an armoire he wasn't using anymore and it was the perfect solution to form and function! Some things just came together and worked out for good, and others were carefully planned, but in the end, I'm very happy with the outcome.

"Pantry"

And, absolutely none of it could have happened without my great family who were there so many days working so hard to make this project come together!

For me, this was a great recipe that came together in a very "tasty" way!