husband and I closed on our first house at the end of April and
couldn’t wait to make it our home. Our little 1927 bungalow was so
charming, but like most old houses many of the rooms needed face lifts.
The weekend that we closed, I immediately started on the kitchen. It’s
such a little space, and the original dark wood cupboards made it feel
even smaller. My first task was to paint the cupboards white. It took me
a week from start to finish, but the results were astounding. The
kitchen already felt more light, spacious and serene!"
there I also painted the old brown and beige linoleum floor white.
Another huge change. Next came the more labor intensive tasks that my
husband, Cole, handled beautifully. He tore out the formica counter tops
and replaced them with wood butcher block from Ikea and then replaced
the outdated sink and faucet."
husband’s last task was to install wood plank walls. This took him
three weeks and me one weekend to paint. In between these renovations, I
decided to give my refrigerator a makeover. Following an old DIY post
by Elizabeth of Delightfully Tacky,
I used some faux wood contact paper to give my boring old fridge a fun
new look. My final task of stenciling the floor was such a doozy that I
probably won’t ever attempt it again. It was by far the most tedious and
back breaking work."
that all the hard work is (almost) done, I can really enjoy the
transformation. I sometimes take a moment to simply stand in the doorway
and marvel at my beautiful kitchen."
Thank you for sharing your kitchen with us, Maria! Be sure to stop by Maria's blog or say hello on Twitter!
80 Comments
So beautiful! I love this Kitchen!
(and your dogs are so cutecutecute <3) love,
http://birdiewearsatie.blogspot.com/
Wow! I’m in love! What specific paint color for the cupboards did you use? I always have a hard time finding the perfect white, but this one is just gorgeous!
-Philothea
http://faithfashionfun.blogspot.com/
I love the white/Wood combination! It works perfectly I think!
I perfectly know what I want the inside of my house to look like when my boyfriend and I own our first house, but when I have to think of the kitchen and the bathroom? Nothing. I really have no clue on what I like. Guess we’ll see in a couple of years!!
You have a beautiful kitchen though!
love, Saar
I would have never thought about having a wood grain fridge, but this one is fantastic in this kitchen. I am absolutely loving this sweet little space!
Lovely kitchen! And those pups sure seem to be enjoying it!
xo
Diana
http://unusuallylovely.com
Love it! I cant wait to get started on my own new/old kitchen!
Kim
azulhome.com
So cute!! I love the wood grain fridge…I wonder if that is a decal? And those floors are simply adorable!
xx Ashleigh
http://www.ashflynn.blogspot.com
I’m in LOVE with that kitchen!
OMG your dogs are adorable =^.^=
http://tanyaminxy.blogspot.com
Gorgeous space – and the two (adorable) pups are the perfect addition. 🙂
Morgan
seemomogo.blogspot.com
It looks great 🙂 Love the white with the wood. That fridge is so cute!!! ♥
This is a very charming kitchen!
Wow, feel like I’m at home. And those dogs…. dang, cute comes in fur these days.
Much love,
James
http://www.19rivoli.com
Ohhhh the last picture needs to hang on a wall!!! adorable :))
Love the recipe books!!
I love how different are the styles of the houses you’ve been showing. They are all very personal and have a speacial charm that a professional stylist wouldn’t catch.
This room in particular feels and looks so very warm and inviting 🙂
Adorable! Also as a college student stuck in an icky dorm, I’ve been drooling over these all of these lovely “at home” posts.
xo Danielle
Wow, love you kitchen. Took a look at Maria’s (new) blog, and live it – definitely going to follow that too!
xoxo, Femke
http://bybuttons.blogspot.com
It is so nice style. Simple and clean style. Have a great day.
http://www.fashiondenis.com/
Beautiful! I love how simple this looks! I hope one day I own a house or flat!
Cx
http://mixedmediumstheatre.blogspot.co.uk/
well it might have been back breaking work but it sure paid off. that floor is so unique and pretty I would love to have it my self. love the fridge as well . thanks for sharing.
It looks amazing, there’s nothing better for an old kitchen than some nice bright paint! I recently painted cupboards yellow + fridge red :).
But what I was really excited to read, is that you have painted your linoleum!? What kind of paint did you use? I would love to do that in my living room, where I have disgusting fake wood linoleum, covered by slightly less hideous, giant carpet, and I keep wondering how to fix it. I’m worried that paint’s gonna chip off quickly… So, I’d love some details on the paint that you’ve used!
Beautiful kitchen!! I LOVE the fridge! And the floor!
Two words:
Julia Child.
Totally reminds me of her kitchen in Paris. Simple, beautiful and warm.
Cathy Trails
(Easiest giveaway ever for ya!)
Revlon Just Bitten Giveaway
So much cute! Reminds me of my own apartment 🙂
ah, she didn’t post all of these on her own blog. Very wonderful!
swooning
very nice!
Valentina
http://valentinaduracinsky.blogspot.com/
I would love to see some before and after photos! I am loving the floor. I think it was worth all the hard work you put into it! It turned out beautiful. I also really love the wood counter tops.
Carlee
http://almostendearing.blogspot.com/
I love the simple, traditional style of her kitchen!
xo Jennifer
http://seekingstyleblog.wordpress.com
Nice job, it looks great!
such a great creative space!
http://www.styleandshades.blogspot.com
I am in LOVE with the refrigerator and the floor. Genius!
These pictures are fantastic and this kitchen is to die for!! love love love it!!
xoxo,
Alycia
http://www.alyciamealy.blogspot.com
nice little kitchen there! and i love how you can get a view of beautiful trees from the window… i’d be a happy cook 🙂
http://birdsandoxfords.blogspot.com/
oh my gosh her fridge is so awesome and the print on the tile is so great! Her dogs are very adorable
Lovely! Love the simple vibe.
X
http://kendra-genevieve-rose.blogspot.com
Amazing job! That floor is just stunning! Love it!
Wow, that stenciling is gorgeous. Stunning, really! I also love those countertops. Thanks for sharing a glimpse into your home, Maria!
Very clean and crisp! I love the sink and faucet. I want to kow where she got the floor stencil.
This is as near to my dream kitchen as I’ve ever seen! Role on next year when we start buying our own place
Wow, this kitchen is incredible! I really love the paneled walls. Such a fun and unique touch.
beauty kitchen i love it 🙂
http://lovesimplegreen.blogspot.com
So beautiful! I hope to have a kitchen like this one day, bookmarked for inspiration. 🙂
ღstephanie
omgsh! love it and that pug!
I can’t get over that fridge. What a great look to fit in with an otherwise classic (and one of my favourite looks) for a kitchen!
How does one paint a linoleum floor? I just imagine it all peeling up or scraping super easily. I really love the butcher block counters and that gorgeous vintage looking sink, but I’m not a fan of the fridge. Great idea to pain the kitchen white to make it feel more spacious though!
Strive to Thrive,
Nic
http://www.Thriving-Wives.com
LOVE this space! It’s perfect!
Near all-white kitchens are my favorite. This is so charming and lovely!
Great kitchen and cute dogs.
So simple and cozy…I love it!
Brooke
Beautiful! I have that same toaster oven, it is the best.
Wow it has come together so great! Crazy what a little paint can do! And those dogs! Too cute.
Oh my goodness, she did the floor stencils by hand! What a trooper! I just want to give her a hug. Congrats on the new place Maria + husband!!
I love these home tours! such pretty pictures!
Such a cute kitchen! Totally my style! Love the wooden counter and the flour is amazing! xx
http://www.creativityandchocolate.blogspot.com
Really lovely, such a comfortable look
It’s gorgeous! I love the white cabinets.
Wow,you and you`re husband did an amazing work with that kitchen!
I love the white,it makes it look sooo friendly and brighter!Really great work!
I would love to decorate and renovate my own house some day,but here in Switzerland it`s so expensive buying a house..While dreaming of my own,I`m getting inspired by all those beautifull rooms and houses posted here
xoxo
Simple and clean, what a beautiful kitchen ! I love it !
(and the dogs are sooooo cute !)
Love the painted tiles! I want to do this in my kitchen
http://www.shopdisowned.com
disownedclothing.blogspot.com
The kitchen looks great – I need a new kitchen in my home but what is there now isn’t worth saving! I love the white cupboards and detail around the window, keeping and painting what was there was a good move!
idyllic space to have people over, sip a cup of tea, soak in the morning light! perfect
so excited to finally see everything!! amazing!
I LOVE that idea, covering your fridge with wood grain contact paper. I am SO DOING THAT 🙂 Thanks for the idea! 🙂
I love this space! All the white and natural wood makes it my dream come true! Could you tell me where she got the cow creamer? I am dying for one of my own!
I’m not a fan of white rooms. That said I think this looks so cozy homey!
What a lovely kitchen! Especially love the sink! http://www.flaircat.com
The kitchen is very cozy. I just love the fridge!
I love this, so homey. Those pups are too freakin cute!
Those dogs, and that flooring = <3
perfect kitchen.. 🙂
your kitchen looks awesome, congratulations, even the dogs like this room
the style remind me the scandinavian decor, but more cozy american style
great design of the floor, love it.
zo
http://princesscorner-ruzu.blogspot.com/
I love this kitchen! Looks great with white and darker wooden together, and the floor looks awesome!
I love love love this kitchen. Espesially the book nook and the floor.
xo
http://www.leslimarie.com
loving how “clean” this look is!
The floors may have been hard work, but they are seriously adorable!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/OwlEyeVintage
http://owleyevintage.blogspot.com/
After seeing a similar post on Maria’s own blog, I assumed she’d replaced the cabinets and floor…and I was wrong! It just goes to show what an insane difference some paint can make. This kitchen is gorgeous! I recently bought an older house as well, so I just love seeing what other people do to spruce it up and make it their own!
Simply Kitchen as this kitchen is my dream. 🙂
i have been wanting to paint my kitchen cabinets but it seems a bit daunting. any suggestions on the best way to approach (i.e. did you remove all doors and sand before painting etc.)?
ay ay ay what a beautiful kitchen! so cozy.
ox, C.
http://www.thesweetestoneoverthemoon.com