Before & After: Major kitchen renovation from dark to light

4 years ago

You guys have been so helpful and I’ve enjoyed everyone’s pictures so much I thought I would add mine. We just finished an 8-week kitchen (among other things still going on) renovation on our 14-year old original to the house kitchen. Custom cabinets, Cambria High Gate quartz, Jenn-Air appliances, and wood look porcelain tile. Did not change foot print or move any plumbing. We did change the size of the island slightly and made it counter height instead of high-low. We did the 2 1/2 inch mitered edge on the island and 1 1/2 inch mitered edge in the perimeter. Any other questions please feel free to ask! After pics in the reply.

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K R
Original Author

4 years ago

The after! (Posted a pic with lights so you can see the backsplash is a blue-ish gray, not black, no idea why it looks so dark in the photos)

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Comments (40)

elleewa
4 years ago
that looks amazing! I have always loved white cabinets, and I love your backsplash.
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K R
Original Author
4 years ago
*excuse the missing cabinet, they took the door back to make a revision for the pull out garbage. I’m also waiting for a plantation shutter for the kitchen window as well.
strategery
4 years ago
Wow! That looks fantastic. Congrats.
kazmom
4 years ago
Very pretty!
mrswaves
4 years ago
Really gorgeous, everything looks awesome!
TdotNewbie
4 years ago
amazing transformation!!! that counter looks very close to what I am looking to get for my white kitchen !
07Cooper
4 years ago
Fantastic. great job!
lucky998877
4 years ago
Very nice!! Congrats and enjoy :)
K R
Original Author
4 years ago
TdotNewbie, yes is does look close! Here is a close up.

Thanks all!
Lizzie Bennett
4 years ago
Your kitchen is DREAMY! Congrats!!
drsaj
4 years ago
Sara, your kitchen is beautiful!
drsaj
4 years ago
Sara, your kitchen is beautiful!
drsaj
4 years ago
Sara, your kitchen is beautiful!
Julie G
4 years ago
The "before" wasn't bad (IMHO), but the "after" is wonderful!!

I, too, have always wanted an all-white kitchen, w/strategic pops of color.

This is nice. :-)
TdotNewbie
4 years ago
Sara - awesome ! I've never had a grey top - so a bit nervous on accessorizing and adding color!
K R
Original Author
4 years ago
I’m going to accessorize with some color in the top cubby lighted boxes - I figure I can change it whenever I get bored :)) I’m also doing pops of blue (and aqua maybe?) in the adjacent family room right next to it. I was also nervous about the gray counters too but I’m very happy with how they turned out. The before kitchen wasn’t the worst but it was builder grade and everything was starting to fall apart, so it was either move close by or remodel and wait until my youngest graduates high school in 3 years, so there ya go! We had an amazing contractor, couldn’t be more thrilled with how everything turned out and how he handled issues as they arose. Find a good contractor!
allie
4 years ago
Amazing! What kind of glass did you put in your cabinet doors, and what made you decide to mix solid doors on top with glass. I love the affect!

It's amazing how doing white and cabinets going to the ceiling makes your kitchen appear so much larger!
TdotNewbie
4 years ago
Sara - you made great choices. You are making me feel better about stepping outside the typical white on white or start contrast.

I may get different shades of wood (cutting boards, dark / mixed metals, vibrant green limes/lemons in a dark stone bowl) to lean up against a white back splash to allow for quick pops of color to jump off the back splash and compliment the gray. At the end of the day - all grays are so neutral - they all work.

99.9% I am going with the following combo (pic attached). The white tile has texture to it, but also a gray undertone to warm up the back splash.
2ManyDiversions
4 years ago
What a huge change, and great update - bet you are loving the new island top being all one level too! So much brighter : )
dmpsd
4 years ago
Wow. It is hard to believe that is the exact same layout. Great job.
K R
Original Author
4 years ago
Allie - the glass is regular clear glass, I almost went with smoked but I wanted to be able to display cases or decorative items (especially around the holidays!) so I went with clear. I started researching online and especially on this site for a good year leading up to the remodel. I also went to TONS of new model homes looking for ideas, put together a wish list with photos, showed it to my contractor and he went to town! I found him on Instagram and loved his other jobs, so took elements from previous work he’d done as well. He is also doing a built in bar for me (still in progress) and a guest bath, which I’ll post pics below (hard to get photos bc it’s a small bathroom but I tried)
khrisz
4 years ago
May I ask what brand and color/pattern of floor tile? Looks fantastic!
Boxerpal
4 years ago
Gorgeous! I love the hardware you chose. What is the color on the walls? So very pretty. Is it pale oak by BM or Balboa Mist by BM? What is the color of the backsplash tile? Some photos show a blue but others look like a navy? And what are the floors? Very pretty.

~boxer
PRO
Designer Drains
4 years ago
Amazing style! From dark and gloomy to vibrant and alive!
PRO
Mega Builders
4 years ago
Well done!
K R
Original Author
4 years ago
The floors are called Trinity and were purchased at Padron Flooring (south Florida) - they have 3 different plank sizes which makes them look very much like wood. They also have a matte finish like wood. All hardware was by Top Knobs purchased on Build.com. The paint is BM Classic Gray. The backsplash is actually a charcoal gray hard painted glass tile but under the white lighting it takes on a blue-ish gray color which I love. Here is a close up so you can see the texture. The brand is Venezia (also purchased from Padron).
PRO
Ancient Stone
4 years ago
Fantastic transformation and those glass tiles are stunning!
beckysharp Reinstate SW Unconditionally
4 years ago
Honestly, your "before" could be an after, but the "after" is absolutely lovely. What a transformation. Wishing you and your family many happy years in your new kitchen : ) .
K R
Original Author
4 years ago
Tdot - you’re gonna love the white and gray combo! So much you can do with it! I love the idea of a bowl of lemons or limes and wood added in! I was thinking how much fun the holidays will be adding in little touches of fall colors and winter colors! :)
TdotNewbie
4 years ago
Hi Sarah , sorry what was the name of the Cambria high gate quartz ?
TdotNewbie
4 years ago
Sorry ! Sara minus the h!!
jack826
4 years ago
beautiful work!
kriii
4 years ago
You took a beautiful kitchen and made it spectacular! Well done!
robinleva
4 years ago
Beautiful can you tell me about your counters. What color and brand,? Is the island counter top a different edge so it looks thicker and anything else you can tell me. I have been looking at quartz for a remodel and was wondering about your edge on yours . Very nicely done
K R
Original Author
4 years ago
It is Cambria “Highgate” quartz (part of their newly released collection). The island is a 2 1/2 inch mitered edge and the perimeter is a 1 1/2 inch mitered edge. I really like the countertops. We took a chance because nobody had slabs in stock of this style since it was so new. Cambria sent me a 12x12 piece of slab and we decided based on that. We looked at about 6 different styles.
robinleva
4 years ago
Thank you for letting me know Highgate is one that we have been looking at. And the miltered edge different size for the island from the perimeter counter.
PRO
M&R Custom Millwork Inc
4 years ago
Looks Fabulous!
tarkarban
3 years ago
Karen, your kitchen turned out beautiful. How are you liking Cambria Highgate, that is one I'm considering for my kitchen. A little nervous about using quartz any thoughts good/bad? Thanks!
K R
Original Author
3 years ago
Highgate is still going strong! No problems with staining whatsoever. It looks brand new after just wiping down with a little dawn and water.