Kitchen Reno done! Before and after

9 years ago

We just finished redoing our kitchen, in a 1940s Colonial on the coast of Maine. We wanted clean lines and a transitional style that mixed contemporary with the more traditional character of the house. We worked with Kitchen Cove Cabinetry in Portland and had a fantastic experience. First, the before. The bar/peninsula shown separated the small kitchen from a formal dining room (where the pictures is taken) that we hardly used. We wanted the kitchen to fill the whole space and include a sitting and eating area.

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akpincapee
Original Author

9 years ago

Here's the "after"!

- Cabinets by Candlelight Cabinetry in Sagebrooke (Shaker Style)
- Counters are quartz, LG Viatera "Snowstorm"
- Wolf 30" range with 36" Ventahood hood
- 30" built in Subzero fridge
- Kraus stainless farm sink and prep sinks
- Grohe Minta main faucet
- Blanco Linus prep faucet
- Danze pot filler
- Whynter wine fridge
- Built in GE microwave
- white subway tile backsplash with grey grout
- walls in Benjamin Moore Knitted Cape
- floating cherry shelves
- Emtek cabinet hardware

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Comments (48)

akpincapee
Original Author
9 years ago
Here it is after the demo - a nice big space combining two rooms, and the doorways (not shown) to the rest of the house widened for more light.
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Epressler - all I did to figure out which hardwood to get was learn which floors were the hardest (on the Janka scale), decide which colors I liked best, and then ask the owner of the hardwood store which brand he loved the best. He said that all the installers LOVE Owens Flooring, and it has a really thick face to it, so it can be re-sanded three times. It was a good choice, because out of 24 boxes, only two smallish pieces were not straight. Anyway, you asked about how many samples I looked at to get the right color - just two. Brazilian cherry has so many colors to it anyway, that the samples you get may be vastly different than what will be in the boxes. It's hard to believe that one type of tree can produce all those colors! But my goal wasn't to match the cabs to the floor - it was just how it happened, because I guess I really love that color of wood! Chitown_remodel - here is a picture of the backsplash without flash, and the mother of pearl tile is made by Olympia. Dianalo - your idea is brilliant. That is EXACTLY what we will do. Now here's a question, if you happen to ever read this (or anyone who has an opinion) - we already have a very pretty mirror above the fireplace in the great room. Should we move that to the mudroom and put a painting above the fireplace, or is it OK to have two mirrors? Msmagoo - I designed the kitchen myself, and I was helped out quite a bit because I used ideas I learned here on the kitchen forum. For instance, we have a cell phone charging drawer. It's nothing fancy, but it wouldn't have occurred to make one - I read about them on this forum. My ceilings are eight feet... and you might get sick if I told you how much we spent. I will say that I got great prices on the appliances and wood floor, and fair prices on other stuff. Here is a link that might be useful: Olympia's Boutique Collection, which includes the Mother of Pearl tile I used
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We thought we were so close that it would be no problem. Most of the work being done, with "most" being a famous last word now. Yes, we did get all the moldings stained, finished, cut and up. Hooray! We have more recessed lighting to install (the boxes are there in the attic wired and capped, waiting for final steps). Husband had avoided doing a full ceiling sheetrocking; seemed eco-friendly and budget friendly at the time. (These decisions always do.) The sheetrock around the old light fixture had years of heat and whatever. Therefore, plaster just crumbled when we put the Halo can in. Argh. Many phone calls. Patching. I need to go to a special store. Will the "mistake ring" arrive at our lighting store soon and will it cover enough of the problem? These are the days of our lives. When we're not chasing down our kids. Stairs to the family room, still not done. Subcontractor had to make those special, wanted to finish some bigger jobs first. More famous last words. Goes it without saying that I too lack a backsplash? I liked a "value" (really a relative term) glass tile from Ann Sacks. But then I find out that really I want the clear poly grout, and the installation really goes up in price. And too, I have the rest of my granite on hold. I have enough granite to do both my bathroom vanities upstairs. And I ought to do those tile backsplashes at the same time... A decision before February is needed.
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Great job and record fast too! Removing that wall really opens it up and probably let in a lot of natural light! Love the pops of red as well. Even your cute red toaster! I am weird, but I actually thought the before was kinda vintagey cute too with the black and white checkerboard floor. Haha. But, I have heard they are a pain to keep clean. Now it's sleek, modern, fresh and brand spanking new! Once you get all moved in with everything in its place you can really sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Congratulations Ann!
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Annap, don't worry about a couple of months or a couple of years, actually to make finish choices. Really. Think about it. If you go with something that's not AH HA THAT'S IT, you'll end up changing it and wasting money. I'm here to tell ya'. After all. I installed reuse center cabinets. I reconfigured, gave them away or redonated, and built most of the next set myself. Then. I. Discovered. That. Beaded inset. SCREAMED my name. I gave all those away/donated and started again, with yet another reconfiguration. (Then I moved my refrigerator into the mudroom and cut off the peninsula, but kept the cabinets.) So just take it easy and go with what you love. I think I might put a sticky on it or something, so you don't get used to it. That way, something vaguely annoying that you remember you don't like will remain a (dare i? Sticking point) something to address. How are you enjoying those gorgeous windows?
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akpincapee
Original Author
9 years ago
More pics!
akpincapee
Original Author
9 years ago
a few more
zargunn
9 years ago
Beautiful!!! How big is your island? Thx in advance.
ReBe231
9 years ago
Wow, I love your kitchen. I wanted to do a similar cabinet color but chickened out and went with white. The color is so homey and inviting.
jellytoast
9 years ago
Beautiful! I do love a green kitchen.
akpincapee
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks all! The island is about 90" by 32" :)
Mags438
9 years ago
Nice!
Lisa
9 years ago
WOW! What a transformation! I can not believe that is the same space. Great idea opening that up. I'm sure you're thrilled! I have to say that when I first looked at your "before" picture, I thought "what a nice kitchen". But the "after" is just amazing!
Karenseb
9 years ago
I love that green color. It is exactly the color I'd like to do our island. I wonder what manufactured paint color would be similar? Is there blue in the green or is it more of a gray sage green?
The layout looks fantastic! I really liked your before picture, but this new kitchen is fabulous.
debrak2008
9 years ago
Nice! Like the cabinets and the open shelves.
User
9 years ago
You succeeded in your goal of combining a touch of contemporary with transitional that looks just right in a Maine New Englander. You get extra points from me for going with color on your cabs. I almost always love that look but, like others, don't have the nerve. In my defense, my kitchen isn't as spacious as yours. With all that new room & the large expanse of white stone that green looks perfect!
nmjen
9 years ago
Beautiful! Love the green cabinets and the gorgeous wood floors. I also like the "pup nook" under the island, though I'm not sure if that was its intended purpose. :)
romy718
9 years ago
Love the combination of the green cabinetry & the crisp white counters. I really like the open shelves & your new wood floor is beautiful. It must be wonderful to have all that new space. The shade of green is perfect!
Niki Friedman
9 years ago
So so so pretty!!! Congratulations and thanks for sharing your beautiful space!
heidihausfrau
9 years ago
That is a gorgeous kitchen! Love, love, love it!
bicyclegirl1
9 years ago
It's so pretty & soothing! A great transformation. Enjoy & Congratulations.
akpincapee
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you everyone so much! Wow! The green cabinets turned out great and yes, they are more of a grey sage shade without much blue. We love the combination with the wood touches. If you like this color I'd recommend C2 paint in New Leaf, pictured here:

https://www.houzz.com/photos/maple-and-gray-handmade-kitchens-traditional-kitchen-berkshire-phvw-vp~1685642-and-Gray-Handmade-Kitchens-traditional-kitchen-other-metro

We thought alot about making the island a different color, and/or doing a butcher block counter just on the island - but in the hand happy we decided to stick with consistency throughout because I love the look the the wide white counter space. It helps "warm" it up though to have the wood touches throughout, and I'd like to do a cherry valance on top of the window to hang blinds from just to continue that pattern.
akpincapee
Original Author
9 years ago
and BakerJen, too funny, I hadn't even noticed that the dog was in the photo! She loves sleeping there now :)
cat_mom
9 years ago
Very nice!
1929Spanish
9 years ago
Love it. I'm another green kitchen owner. Three years later and I love it just as much as when it was first installed.
gr8daygw
9 years ago
Wow! What a transformation! It's beautiful and so spacious now, I love it. You did a great job.

I think we have the same Baker dining table showing in your first picture, at least it looks like it. It was our 10th anniversary present to ourselves. I hope you found a place for it : ))
rightdi_gw
9 years ago
I thought your before picture WAS the reveal!!! :). Beautiful kitchen. What a great way to double your space!!!!
missymoo12
9 years ago
Beautiful! Love the green shade of the cabs. What are you planning for the non working end of the kitchen? Is there room for a seating area? The whole space looks so inviting.
Errant_gw
9 years ago
Very nice!
akpincapee
Original Author
9 years ago
gr8 day, yes! We have the mirror image open space on the other side of the house as a living room (its a symmetrical center-hall colonial) so it was easy to move the dining room table to one end of that room as an eating area. We are mostly eating around the island when its just us, but the dining table is great for when we have people over or want to be a little more formal (without having to look at the kitchen cleanup!)
akpincapee
Original Author
9 years ago
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/40p0rtev0nqip29/AADHSoKUcfyvhuaZFbvIXTDOa?dl=0

PS here is a link to more photos including the demo, etc. Thanks!
akpincapee
Original Author
9 years ago
Also missymoo yes - we're now taking a breath to save $$ to furnish the opposite end (where the dining table used to be) for a small seating area, probably a loveseat and chair and small narrow cocktail table. We want to be in the kitchen all the time now so might as well have a place to sit! If anyone has done this and has good small-space kitchen furnishing ideas (or places to shop - we are at loss) that would be great.
flyingkite
9 years ago
Beautiful kitchen, congratulations! A lot of room and very spacious.
a2gemini
9 years ago
Wow - great transformation!!
I love your island and love the colors you chose!
Now for KAW pictures in that awesome kitchen!!
Congratulations!!
gr8daygw
9 years ago
Whew! So glad the dining table is saved, lol. Enjoy your new kitchen, I know what you mean, as much as I love the table and it has all sorts of sentimental value, it's not used a bunch. Everyone is in the kitchen, but that's ok.
WalnutCreek Zone 7b/8a
9 years ago
I absolutely love your kitchen. It is so gorgeous. You guys did a tremendous job.
onedogedie
9 years ago
The color and tone of the wood floor & the green cabinets with the white counters ... just gorgeous. It looks like you picked a perfect wall color too, because I didn't even notice it.

The note is wonderful. I remember all those things from 1983 too! Where did you find it?

Congratulations on your beautiful green kitchen!
akpincapee
Original Author
9 years ago
Isn't that note a riot? We tracked down the previous owners (Scot's parents) and sent it to them. It was in the wall, contractor found on Day 1!
lam702
9 years ago
When I looked at the first photo, I thought it was the "after" Amazing how nice some "befores" are. But your "after is lovely too!
NewNewz
9 years ago
This is stunning - the kind of kitchen I would dearly love to have myself (maybe not complete myself - it looks like so much hard work so kudos!)

The island completes it perfectly.

There's an ultra-luxe island that's also an aquarium - I was in love with it but I think I actually now prefer your simply beautiful design instead (plus it's more my budget!)

Here is a link that might be useful: ultra-luxe island
akpincapee
Original Author
9 years ago
As you can all see, the stools (counter height) are much too high for the island. We'd love to get something in cherry, very comfortable with back support. If anyone has favorites or recs of places to look that would be great! Thanks all! Wish I had found this place when we were designing....now to check out the bathroom forums :)
taggie
9 years ago
Oh wow, what a gorgeous kitchen and amazing transformation!! The perfect layout for a great working kitchen and in such an elegant form. Congratulations!
phaedrus29
9 years ago
Very nice. We just saw the Viatera Snow Storm at HD and are considering that for our bathroom vanities. Any thoughts on the counters now that you have had them for a little while? Do you like the material and the look? Any issues? Do you have a closer photo showing the counter top material?
thepeppermintleaf
9 years ago
I really love how your kitchen turned out!! I love the green cabinets and the space looks very practical too! Congratulations on your new kitchen!! :-) We will be using Emtek hardware in our kitchen too, a different style than yours but same color- I really like the way they look in your kitchen!
westsider40
9 years ago
Very beautiful. Great space plan and definitely NOT cookie cutter. Classic.
akpincapee
Original Author
9 years ago
Phaedrus29 - we are thrilled with Snow Storm. We found the counters to be the hardest choice, since we knew we wanted green shaker cabinets. We wanted something that wasn't too stark white, not too yellow, and didn't have veining like "fake marble" but some kind of texture to it. Snow Storm is PERFECT. It wears beautifully and cleans easily, and the very subtle tonal circle pattern is really nice. It is a very neutral white - neither grey nor yellow, but a little bit warm. It is perhaps the thing we are most happy with which is great since it was such a hard find! I can send you some more photos if you like, do you have an email?
akpincapee
Original Author
9 years ago
Also, our designer had professional photos taken that are way better than mine!

https://www.houzz.com/photos/pond-cove-traditional-kitchen-portland-maine-phvw-vp~18607313-Cove-traditional-kitchen-portland-maine
phaedrus29
9 years ago
Thanks for the feedback. Do you have any closer up pics of the counters showing the texture? Is there a way to send messages on here, as I'd rather not post my email?
cubby325
7 years ago
Beautiful kitchen! I love the green cabinets as well, but I wouldn't have the courage to do it. If you're young and planning on staying forever, it doesn't matter - you can have what you want. Fantastic job!
gr8daygw
7 years ago
Oh! I just saw the professional photos on Houzz that your designer took. (In the posted link above). I'm only a year and a half behind.. So nice! Love how you can really see the true color and how beautifully it all turned out..really like your dog too.♡
AvatarWalt
7 years ago
I'm glad this thread popped up again, as I missed your beautiful kitchen on its first go round. There's so much to love!

Kitchen Reno done! Before and after

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