Before and Afters
Kitchen Design
Bathroom Design
A Boston Kitchen and Bath Go From Dreary to Darling
See how a $25,000 renovation budget gave 2 outdated spaces in a small Massachusetts apartment a brand-new look
This young client wanted her 550-square-foot Boston apartment to feel like home, but the outdated kitchen and bathroom just weren't cutting it. Working with a strict $25,000 budget, designer Stephanie Sabbe gutted the two rooms and used fresh materials to give the original layouts a beautiful new look.
Project at a Glance
Location: Boston
Size: Kitchen: 76 square feet; bathroom: 33 square feet
Cost: $25,000, including materials and labor
Project at a Glance
Location: Boston
Size: Kitchen: 76 square feet; bathroom: 33 square feet
Cost: $25,000, including materials and labor
BEFORE: The original kitchen had a good layout, but the upper cabinetry didn't take advantage of the space.
AFTER: Now the upper cabinets extend to the ceiling, making room for an over-the-range microwave. The budget didn't allow for replacing the bar, so Sabbe added simple framing to the front and painted it a warm gray.
Bar stools: Spin, Crate & Barrel
Bar stools: Spin, Crate & Barrel
A raised bar on the kitchen counter divides prep and eating space and makes room for extra outlets.
The client wanted Carrara marble for the kitchen counters but was concerned about maintenance and cost. So Sabbe found this piece of remnant granite that mimics the marble's soft tones. The countertop fabrication and installation cost about $3,400.
Countertops: London white granite; art: Paper Boy Press; sink fixture: Overstock.com
The client wanted Carrara marble for the kitchen counters but was concerned about maintenance and cost. So Sabbe found this piece of remnant granite that mimics the marble's soft tones. The countertop fabrication and installation cost about $3,400.
Countertops: London white granite; art: Paper Boy Press; sink fixture: Overstock.com
BEFORE: A nook in the kitchen's back wall looked awkward with its single wall shelf. "It was screaming to be better utilized," says Sabbe.
AFTER: A coat of chalkboard paint turned the nook into a design feature, and several rows of Ikea shelves make full use of the space. "It's such a tiny kitchen, so this made a huge difference," says Sabbe.
Backsplash: Hex, Home Depot
Backsplash: Hex, Home Depot
After installing the Ikea cabinetry, Sabbe and the client noticed that the wood grain could be seen through the paint, making the cabinets look almost pink next to the white walls. So they had the cabinets custom lacquered in bright white. This unexpected expense set the client back $1,300.
Range, microwave: Whirlpool; wall paint: White Dove, Benjamin Moore
Range, microwave: Whirlpool; wall paint: White Dove, Benjamin Moore
BEFORE: The apartment's original bathroom felt cramped, outdated and dark. Sabbe used about $9,000 of the budget to update this space.
AFTER: A fresh wall treatment instantly transformed the room. Using an Etsy stencil and two bright shades of Benjamin Moore paint, local fine art painters applied a pattern to the bathroom's main wall. This ended up being the bathroom's main splurge at $1,300 for materials and labor.
The original vanity felt outdated, so Sabbe designed a new one with a remnant marble top for about $400.
Wall paint: White Dove and Sunny Afternoon, Benjamin Moore; vanity paint: Desert Twilight, Benjamin Moore; mirror: Simply Mirrors; sconce: Restoration Hardware; painting: Final Touch Painting
The original vanity felt outdated, so Sabbe designed a new one with a remnant marble top for about $400.
Wall paint: White Dove and Sunny Afternoon, Benjamin Moore; vanity paint: Desert Twilight, Benjamin Moore; mirror: Simply Mirrors; sconce: Restoration Hardware; painting: Final Touch Painting
BEFORE: The old bathtub and shower felt extra cramped with a shower curtain.
AFTER: Sabbe took out the curtain rod and put up glass around the tub and shower to make the bathroom look bigger. The original tub was reglazed for $375, giving it a new look without a big price tag. Simple subway tiles from Home Depot complete the look.
Floor tile: Basketweave, Home Depot; wall shelves: custom, by contractor John Butler; shower tile: subway tile, Home Depot
Floor tile: Basketweave, Home Depot; wall shelves: custom, by contractor John Butler; shower tile: subway tile, Home Depot
Pendants: Globe Pendant, West Elm; floor tile: Wm. Smethurst and Son