If there’s one room that I’m most excited to reveal, this would be it. Click below to watch the official Before & After video:
The dream kitchen planning began long before purchasing the house—months spent browsing Pinterest and gathering inspiration and ideas for my next kitchen renovation. I had a general idea of what I wanted it to look and feel like, and shared it back in November, in my Kitchen Plans post.
The only way to get there was a complete gut job of this 60 year old relic:
It was begging for a new life.
So I went to the drawing board, coming up with every possible configuration until landing on one that made the most sense.
Step 1: Take it down to the studs.
Step 2: Remove the door to make way for a new stove & fridge location, and brighten up the walls.
Step 3: More cabinet & counter space.
Step 4: Durable flooring, butcher block counters, farmhouse sink, a DIY range hood and updated electrical.
Step 5: Custom built-ins by my talented contractor:
Step 6: Layer on the unique & unexpected details
If only it were as simple as those six steps… Ha! But the four months of intensive labor have really paid off this time.
Welcome to the Cottage House Flip Kitchen…
I almost chose gold over copper, but I’m glad I went with my gut on this. I haven’t seen another kitchen like it.
Here comes the fun part: hover over the next two images and product info & links will magically appear. Bam!
Pretty cool, right? I’ll be using this feature in a few of my reveal posts, so stay tuned for more.
Can we talk about this sink for a second?
The front detailing gets me every time. It’s actually reversible with a smooth side on the back, but I don’t know why you’d want to use it when you’ve got this awesome sauce on the other side. And that bridge faucet is a match made in heaven for it (affordable, too!)
The brick herringbone accent was a last minute decision because I couldn’t stand to throw away the gorgeous brick pavers I had leftover from the laundry & bathroom floor (PS, they come in several different colors… wish I had discovered these sooner!)
We ran a propane line just to have a gas stove (you’re welcome, future homeowner) and this range is by far the nicest I’ve ever owned. In fact, my contractor who installed it is about to buy one for himself. Sidenote: can you believe these sconces are only $91 a piece?
I wasn’t sure if there’d be room for a table in here but it worked out pretty perfectly. It was a $30 Craigslist find that I refinished (in Maison Blanche’s Vanille & brown antique wax). The runner is a light weight blanket I grabbed from home and threw on top at the last second.
The open floating shelving is a designers dream. Everything here was pulled from storage (collected over the years from flea markets, thrift stores, some from Wayfair, etc). Artichokes and pistachios courtesy of the Country Living stylist 🙂
And the hardware—I scoured the internet for weeks looking for copper pulls and knobs, and think I found the only set in existence (that wasn’t outrageously expensive or unattractive). I actually used a bit of steel wool to expose more of the copper underneath and they’re a great match to the sconces.
On the right side of the room, we have a nice row of cabinets providing plenty of storage and extra counter space.
The chalkboard (made by the Summery Umbrella) came from my last house, and I designed a quick “welcome home” in Illustrator, printed it out on several sheets of paper and traced it.
And how cute is that little dinner bell?
I repurposed a few vintage hooks found in the house and created a little drop zone where the fridge used to stand.
The fun striped apron was an Etsy find:
I also borrowed some of Country Living’s props while they were here and had fun switching up the styling…
I wish this flip was 4 months of styling/shooting and 2 days of construction, rather than the other way around. I’d much rather do that all day.
This color palette… I didn’t know if it would all work together, but it just feels so right.
Several meals have already been had around this table, and I plan to take full advantage of this kitchen for as long as I can. Part of me secretly hopes it doesn’t sell for a while.
Can you blame me?
It’s hard to give up your dream kitchen. I’d do it all over again.
SOURCES
Wall paint: Valspar’s Bistro White (eggshell)
Trim paint: Valspar’s Woodlawn Colonial Gray (eggshell)
Pergo Flooring in Scottsdale Oak – discontinued color (Similar here)
Cabinets: Kraftmaid Durham Maple Square in Onyx
Butcher block counters – stained in Minwax’s weathered oak & sealed with Howard’s Conditioner
Subway tile (with white grout)
Brick veneer tile (with white grout)
Copper sconces: Discontinued, similar here
Dinner bell (similar)
All other pillows: Ikea, H&M
Blankets: already owned
Hooks: already owned
Old bench: already owned
Plates, vases, pitchers, etc: flea market/thrift/already owned
Disclosure: Some of the products listed were provided via sponsorship—all of which I selected and fully approve of.
I think that covers it all, let me know if I missed anything or if there’s any clarifications needed, and make sure to watch the Before & After video to get a more complete picture! What do you think of the reveal? What’s your favorite part? It’s hard for me to choose, but I think that brick herringbone is the icing on the cake.
Next Tuesday I’ll be sharing the living/dining area, so there’s a ton of photos coming your way! I’m off to enjoy the first weekend I get to spend relaxing at home in a very long time… <3
Paulette says
I absolutely love this. It is beautiful. And I love your color scheme. I have so much of the neutral browns (tan-based and wood items); however, I love the new grays that are available now. You blended them perfectly. I couldn’t love it any more! BTW, the marks (looks almost like swirls from a machine/sander) on your open shelving and the range hood-did the wood come like that or did you do something to create the look?
jennasuedesign says
Thanks Paulette! The wood is reclaimed and came that way that from a local lumber yard.
Anna says
It’s gorgeous!!! You are very talented!!! I wish you lived in Chicago – I would hire you on the spot to decorate my fixer upper!!!!!
Lara says
Wow! Stunning. You are so incredibly talented. I pinned this whole thing 🙂 Question for you. We are remodeling and i want to do black windows but having the hardest time finding them. Can you share where your windows are from??
jennasuedesign says
Thank you so much Lara! I think I responded to you on instagram, but those interior windows are original and I’m not sure where the previous owners purchased them.
Kayla Waters says
The final reveals are soooo rewarding – even to your readers! I must admit I was really wondering how the bench near the stove with the round table was going to work and it turned out to be my favorite nook of the kitchen! I totally agree – the colors blend together so nicely. I found myself trying to think of the logistics of buying your house in CA for vacation (we live in NJ – total pipe dream) while scrolling through this post! I would totally want a few weeks to enjoy it before it sells too. Can’t wait to see the rest!
jennasuedesign says
One day I’ll buy a vacation home to keep as an AirBnB, you can come stay in that one! 😉
Kirsten Stephens says
I’m pretty sure I just picked my jaw up off the floor. I cannot even begin to put words to this kitchen design! It’s just impossible. I am so looking forward to each and every reveal for this cottage flip.
jennasuedesign says
Thank you Kirsten! I can’t wait to share more 😀
Rose says
So gorgeous! You pulled it all together into a real showpiece! Looking forward to all the future posts and inspiring pictures of the other rooms!
Carly says
FANTASTIC on every level with authentic feel for the age of cabin! Love all selections but you asked our kitchen favorite, for me it is the custom wood stove hood plus the original white painted wood paneling. Without those 2 elements the kitchen would not have the feel it does. BEAUTIFUL work!!!!!
jennasuedesign says
Thank you Carly! I lucked out with all that original wood 😀
Jan says
Gorgeous!
Michelle | Birds of Berwick says
Gorgeous and perfectly matches the setting of the house too. Can you do a highlight on the legs for the built-in bench seating and how your contractor made those? The live edges and rustic log look are amazing and such a great detail!
jennasuedesign says
Thanks Michelle! I didn’t see my contractor make those, unfortunately, he did them at home and the bench was installed after I arrived! I almost painted them but they are pretty neat as is, right?
Leanne Burgess says
Heart eyes, purely heart eyes. I knew this would be amazing, but WOW. You slayed it, Jenna. Can’t wait to see the rest!
jennasuedesign says
Thanks so much Leanne!
Linz says
I can’t believe how perfectly everything came together! It is absolutely, positively, beautiful!!!!!! Your styling is just right. Congratulations- you knocked it out of the park?
jennasuedesign says
Appreciate it, Linz!
Linda Grubbs says
This is amazing Jenna! I’ve been waiting for this reveal….and you DID NOT disappoint!!! WOW….I wanna live there. :)….I’m sure it must be so hard to think about selling it and having someone else living there….but that’s the name of the game-right?….You are an amazing young lady…and one day you will LIVE in your dream home. I’m excited for the rest of the reveal. ….And then, to see what’s next for you.
I love everything about this kitchen….materials, color scheme, and most of all the welcoming vibe it gives off… perfect! You get an A+ on this !!!
Hugs to you!!
jennasuedesign says
So sweet of you to say Linda! xo
Ben says
Lowes sells butcherblock now!? I mean this kitchen is great, but I’m a little too excited about the fact that I finally have a store that’s not 4 hours away that sells butcherblock.
jennasuedesign says
Yep, they just started rolling it out! I love that it’s unfinished too so you can customize it 🙂
A Speckled Trout says
Wow!!! This is beyond anything I could imagine. Your talent blows me away. I am dreaming of a kitchen remodel and this will be my inspiration. In a crowded world of design blogs yours stands at the top.
jennasuedesign says
Wow, that’s a huge compliment! Thank you so much <3
Diane@InMyOwnStyle says
It looks amazing. You are so talented Jenna Sue. I would have a hard time selling it too.
jennasuedesign says
<3
Elaine Patafio says
Looks absolutely fantastic! I’m a frustrated designer and renovating now. I have the same table in my dining room. As much as I hate painting wood, you’ve given me the push to paint it!
jennasuedesign says
Do it! Those round tables are so versatile, I would hang onto it!