The NEW kitchen - remodel on a budget!!

Okay, many of you may have seen my previous 2 posts about my new home and the work we have done on it since moving in to make "our own".  You can see them here and here in case you missed it.

We have remodeled and/or updated pretty much every room on the main level (I have still yet to show you the powder room, dining room and mudroom/family center :). It only took us about a month - thank, God because living here through construction with 4 children was not fun - and I am so happy with they way everything turned out!

So without any further delay let me show you a peek at my new kitchen:

Now let me know you the "BEFORE" picture of a similar angle:

Now let me show and tell you what we did to change the look!  

We started by removing all the upper cabinets off the walls and taking the soffits out (these are the drywall "ledge" above the old cabinets that typically house plumbing and electrical lines). 

Here is what it looked like after we removed those:

This picture was taken on day one - it all came apart quickly. We had not yet moved in, but were scheduled to move in this same week!

About a week later this was the scene. They had tucked all the electrical lines, plumbing lines and duct work as close to the floor joists as they could. We were planning to raise the cabinets about 3 inches more off the counters and top them with crown molding to hide the lines all running above. The upper cabinets and all the doors and drawers were off getting professionally painted. My husband , some friends and I took on the task of painting all the lower level cabinet boxes to save money. Man was that a job!!

You can also see here (especially if you compare it to the pic above) where we had them add a framed wall to the backside of the peninsula cabinets. This will be where the granite bar top sits a couple of weeks later - not quite ready for that at this point!

Here is day one of re-installing our cabinets. These are the same cabinets that were in before but they have been painted Sherwin Williams Muslin (this is the same color we used for the trim throughout the house). 

 Another project associated with the kitchen was this doorway. I wish I had a before shot of it, but I can't find one! :(  Anyway, it was a very narrow doorway with two little mini bi-fold doors attached. since you see this opening right when you walk in the front door and into the entry foyer I really wanted this to look nicer and have a better flow. Our reno team enlarged the doorway (to what you see here) making it taller and wider and then added a soft arch to the top to mimic the arch in the glass on my front door. It was a small quick project but made such a difference!

 And below are the finished pics:

From the kitchen looking into the entry.....

 And from the entry looking toward the kitchen......

Okay, so back to the kitchen its self:  Here is the first shot of the cabinets fully installed. Now waiting on the crown to come in!

 Couple of things to note: 

• We had a dead space above the wall oven cabinet so we added a custom wine bottle holder there. 
• Cabinet hardware was being changed out - notice the cabinets on the bottom and to the right have already been fitted with the new hardware. I went with the oil rubbed bronze through the house. 
• The tumbled marble tile back splash was still in tact, but this would be replaced in the next week. 
• Granite bar top was not yet installed as I was still looking for the perfect granite! 

Speaking of granite - below you can see the granite I finally decided on. I had taken my current counter top granite (we did not replace that and left it in tact from the old kitchen) "cutting board" and used it to see how the granites would look together in my kitchen.

This is the piece that I ended up purchasing - it was a remnant at a granite yard (yay - saved money!!). I wanted something that would contrast the existing granite, but also tie in and compliment nicely. This granite with the greys, black and chocolate in it was perfect. And it is SO sparkly!  It's like have a jewelry box on the bar :)

Above: Installation of the granite bar top!  I was so exciting when this came in and I could see it all together :)

Above: granite and glass tiles being installed. Wires coming out from under the cabinets will soon be supply electric to our under cabinet lighting!

And here are the finished pics - please let me know what you think and if you have any questions about any of the materials used please let me know. I am very cost conscience and would consider myself a "bargain shopper" - this project was no different. I went for quality, but found ways to do it on a budget for sure!

 And here is an old shot followed by the new version from pretty much the same angle:

 Love is a verb!  I love this :)

So to wrap it up and give you a bit of a list of what and where here you go:

• Glass tile and granite tile backsplash - Lowe's Epoch Spectrum Desert Gold Mixed wall tile
• "Cozumel" granite bar top via Alma Granite 
• Most decor and window seat pillows via TJ Maxx and Home Goods
• Cynthia Rowley upholstered bar stools with nail head trim  - TJ Maxx 
• Pendant Lights - recycled from original kitchen...just relocated to over the new bar.
• Appliances were in place with the exception of the fridge which was moved from our previous home.
• Cabinet hardware via Lowe's
• Wall color: Behr "Milk Chocolate" and Trim/Cabinet color Sherwin Williams "Muslin"

I hope you enjoyed the pics of my new/recycled kitchen! :)  

I would love to hear your thoughts, comments and questions! 

XO

Jessy