before + after: kitchen

It's a miracle. The boxes are gone and we have finally begun to settle in. The moment we had keys-in-hand we began our first project: the kitchen. We loved the layout but wanted to give the space more personality and sophistication while staying within our budget. It was financially impossible for us to upgrade to the "gourmet kitchen" at the design center (they didn't offer the the materials or appliances we wanted anyway) so we went out on our own and hired individual craftsmen to do the work. Let me start by saying this path is not for the faint of heart. My sympathy and respect for contractors has grown exponentially these last few weeks. 

Even though we endured a few extra headaches and I had to dig deep to find patience I never knew I had, we couldn't be happier with the way our kitchen turned out. To fully appreciate the transformation, we must start at the very beginning...

{phase one: the frame}    

{phase two: sheetrock + cabinetry}

{phase three: floors, counters + appliances} 

{phase four: renovation}

+ carrara marble and absolute black granite countertops

+ basin sink and industrial faucet

+ double oven, gas range 

+ chrome hardware

+ subway tile backsplash

+ pendant lights 

goal: an open, bright, transitional kitchen 

{sink: before}

{sink: after}

{backsplash: before}

{backsplash: after}

{range: before}

{range: after}

There are still a few projects left and more personal touches to add, but we are so glad we didn't settle for a cookie cutter kitchen. It's a reflection of us and it truly feels like home.