Published: June 16, 2010, By Abbe Fenimore

One Standard to Stunning Kitchen, Check

I recently spent the afternoon with Melanie Johnson photographing a client’s kitchen. A few months ago, I posted the before pictures and idea board for the project….see it here. The transformation in this kitchen is fabulous and I am so excited to share the “after” pictures of the room. I really love to show before and after pictures of my projects. I want you, my readers, inspired by the changes and creative ways my clients and I work together to create their dream space.

Let’s start with a few before and after photos shall we….

Before: The dark cabinets and countertops were not my client’s contemporary style.

After: A fresh coat of white paint on the cabinets completely brightened up the space while the addition of the stainless steel vent hood pushed this kitchen towards the contemporary side.

A 4×8 white matte subway tile (Dal-Tile) for the back splash was the finishing touch to the modern sleek feel our client’s were looking for.

Before & After: The center island was my favorite change! We removed the storage on one half to make way for a new seating area and then grounding the island by painting it black. Caesar Stone Quartz Pebble and Misty Carrera (on the island) were selected for the countertops. The sleek edge detail and soft gray of the Pebble really balance out all the white that we introduced into the room.

Porcelain tile, Plaza Nova in Black Shadow (Dal-Tile) replaced the existing neutral tile and will keep the large dining, kitchen , butler’s pantry and laundry room cohesive.

Before & After: The unique shape of this kitchen allows for everyone to move through it easily. The living room sits just outside of the kitchen by the sink area. This was the one place where adding a unique detail, like this commercial faucet made a huge difference. Now, the view from the living room is just as appealing.

The view from the living room:

Finally: The eat-in dining area had a built window seat that was not being used by my clients. We pulled the space together by adding a few decorative pillows that tie in with the wall color, pops of green and the original art work that my client created! My clients added simple white blinds and wispy white drapes to soften the window. The oversized drum shade pulls everything together and adds a soft light to this side of the room.

Before & After: The butler pantry was also updated! My client mostly uses the area as a desk but it can be easily cleared off and used as a serving area for entertaining.

See this before & after featured on DESIGN REFUGE!