Kitchen/ Hutch DIY Makeover

Here are some photos of my in-laws' kitchen, which we recently completed a simple, inexpensive (paint, formica & using what you have!) makeover of.


Now I need to describe this kitchen to you very carefully because I don't have the best 'before' pictures of it:
So here goes: The walls were tiled 3/4 of the way up with pale yellow tiles from the 50s (you know those tiles that are in school bathrooms & have the netting behind them??) and edged with HUNTER GREEN bullnose. The rest of the walls were painted a really dark hunter green to "match" the tiles.
The counters were the original ones from the 50s (I actually liked them with the stainless steel frame) and the backsplash was the yellow 50s tile with the green tile running through it. eeesh! The kitchen was dark & closed-in-feeling and did not make you want to linger. It felt like the walls were closing in all around you. (I can say these terrible things about the kitchen because I know my mother-in-law, Sharon, has even stronger feelings about the kitchen than I did & will not be insulted.)

Anyway, here are some pictures of the kitchen now:


We had the wall painted with Benjamin Moore's "Whyndam Cream" to add a little more sunshine to the room and the tiles were painted white. (Amen!) Sharon is one of the most cheerful, happy & warm people you could ever meet & I knew she needed a kitchen that reflected her personality. The goal was to get the kitchen feeling, clean, happy, homey with a hint of that cottage & old-fashioned charm Sharon loves (without spending much!) They replaced the countertops with gray formica which works really well. (Althout I was said to see the original ones go!!) Once the walls were painted, the hutch was next. (She's been planning on painting her forever!) Here's a photo of it in their old house 10+ years ago:

Here it is now, just finished, with a few coats of Benjamin Moore's 'Shaker Beige' on it and filled with her beautiful red & gold china:
I've always loved this antique pitcher she has (below) and it looks perfect to me filled with these sunny tulips:
The shelves above the sink housed knick-knacks & made the kitchen feel cluttered (below):


So we replaced the knick-knacks with functional things like mugs, cups & the salt & pepper shakers. (and of course, I love all the white!!)

Below is a picture of the kitchen after the paint job but before the mini makeover. The apple clock hides an unsightly outlet but was not okay with me ;) (below)


So down came the apple clock & up went some picture frames Sharon had lying around. The plan is to fill them with black & white photos of the family (we didn't get to that part yet, as I only had 1 day!!-- future pics to come!! ;) But it really updates the look (below) inexpensively by adding a little graphic punch:


Below is a 'before' picture of the eating area:

We brought in these french country chairs & hung (ok, taped :) a pretty antique tray that Sharon already had on the wall.


The tray picks up the colors from the plates in the hutch & brings in some of that "old fashioned pretty" that Sharon loves so much. (She also loves shots of black.)


Here's a pic of the cabinets we painted white, which are original to the house. We're bringing this color scheme (red, cream-yellow and gray) into the neigboring living room for a beautiful makeover(to come!).


Here's a closeup of the great little white cannisters Sharon scored at a thrift shop :


We put up some family photographs to make the room feel personal & homey & add in some more black, and I couldn't be happier with the tile now!!!


Sharon is so happy with the results & my father-in-law, John, is happy as long as she's happy & there's not a lot of "clutter" and we didn't break the bank! Now the ktichen is as bright & cheerful as Sharon! (She'll probably roll her eyes when she reads this thinking I was going for brownie points! hahaha) Anyway, I'll be posting on their living room soon- I cannot wait!!!

xoxo,

lauren

22 comments:

Stars Fault said...

Such a GREAT makeover. This is seriously pretty. Thanks for including the paint colors...made a noteof them myself!

Blessings ~ Eileen

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

Oooooh Boy...That is a TERRIFFIC Makeover Lauren...and to think, just paint (altho, are the counters new?)

WHAT a HUGE difference. She is lucky to have ya!!

Lauren said...

Oh yes! the counters are new too!! will go back & fix that!! thanks!
xoxo

High-Heeled Foot in the door said...

Beautiful transformation. I can't believe you were able to paint the tile. That's great. We had horrible yellow/red tile in our kitchen. We had to knock it all down. Took a lot of time!!!!

Love the final results. Kitchens are normally the really expensive rooms in the house to re-design, but I love everything you did on a budget. It looks amazing!

Teacats said...

Wonderful transformation!! Well done to all! A very charming kitchen -- and elegant too! Love the painted tiles -- an excellent idea! Can't wait to see the updated living room -- I adore Before-and-After stories!

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

Anonymous said...

So beautiful! I love how you align your clients (in this case your mom-in law!)personalities with the rooms. G

DesignTies said...

What a wonderful transformation Lauren! You know, when the bones of a room are good all it takes is a little paint and some creative vision to pull it all together... and you've done just that! Love the hutch and the hits of black. Perfect!
Victoria @ DesignTies

Brooke @ Blueprint Bliss said...

Looks great. I just love before and afters!

cotedetexas said...

love this! I love the newly painted hutch. looks wonderful.

Anonymous said...

I just found your blog and I am inlove:) Love the kitchen and hutch re-do!!! I have been renovating my house for the past year, and I have yet to tackle my kitchen. I'm in need of some design inspiration and ideas!!!

Anonymous said...

gorg..per usual

Windlost said...

Lauren, what a great job. I sneaked by today and read it top to bottom but did not leave a comment (I was at work). The kitchen looks great, so fresh and clean and "pure". And all on a budget! Great work.

Thanks for the shoe box suggestion. I was thinking the same thing myself - I have a ton of empty boxes in all sizes (I keep them for wrapping presents) and I was thinking the other day I should cover them in wrapping paper. I saw some pearl grey paper with polka dots the other day...thanks for the suggestion, as now you've convinced me I should do it. I love saving money where I can (to spend on the good stuff).

Love the hutch!

Terri

shi(f)t said...

great job with that hutch--it's perfect for that amazing new space!

Anonymous said...

AMAZING!!!!!!! xoxoxooxoxox
Eddie

Michelle said...

how fabulous is that !!!!!! I adore the reborn cabinet the most........absolutely amazing what a coat of paint can do !!!! I love love love it...did you have to sand it back ?? My other fav's are the beautiful white mugs and shakers that replace the knick knacks...too clever !!!!! What a lovely warm space you have created !

Ness Lockyer said...

Wow! It is wonderful what a coat of paint and a re arrange can do. You done a fantastic job Lauren.
Ness xx

Room Service ~ Decorating 101 said...

loved hearing from you lauren! I love the same kind of things. You did a wonderful job in this kitchen...5*!

Lee said...

The makeover is fantastic! You must have the happiest mother-in-law/client. Can't wait to see the living room when you're done.

American Homemaker said...

That is such a great makeover! I love that hutch! Wow!

No.35style said...

so much brighter now! i have a little corner built in shelf thing in my kitchen...i need to put something useful on it..

My Galveston Cottage said...

Love the "new hutch." And I really like the color you selected. Very nice. I wish you were in my area so I could "scout" your work. best, -s

Amy Eagleston said...

I love this makeover and want to do something similar in my own home. I didn't know you could paint tile. I have the same thing going on in my kitchen (green and white) can you post a DIY on paining tile? Gracias!