Kitchen reno progress with bay window seat

March 16, 2015

It was such a beautiful day yesterday so I decided to take some updated photos of the kitchen as it is so far. A few of you have asked for wider shots of the space so I did some cleaning:

french doors kitchen

Adding the new French doors during our family room reno last year was seriously one of our best moves ever in this house. It has transformed the whole main level.

The window seat is also a BIG statement and I’m totally, crazy, stupid in love with it:

wood and metal shelving unit

I found fabric for the pillows and cushion this weekend and I’m so excited to get sewing! These have just been standing in for the past couple of months while I’ve figured out what I want to do there:

window seat bay window

Here’s a wider shot of this area:

The only thing I’ve not been happy about through the whole reno process is the patching of the ceilings. They don’t match the rest of our ceilings so I think it’s going to be messy to fix that. Not looking forward to it but in the scheme of everything we’ve done, it’s minor and I’m pretty thrilled that’s the only thing I’m not pleased with.

Here’s a look at everything with the new extended island – my pride and joy:

window seat in bay window

This is still one of my favorite DIYs I’ve ever done in this house. I am thoroughly enjoying the bigger surface space:

DIY extending kitchen island

On a side note, since I finished the island our kitchen has stayed relatively clutter-free – it’s been wonderful. I used to pile everything on the island and the table and I’ve made a concentrated effort not to do that over the past few weeks. It takes more work on the front end but it is the best feeling to have a clean kitchen. (Well, not always clean – but mostly picked up at least!)

Here’s the whole kitchen from the family room:

world market gray chandelier

You’ll notice here the difference between the old paint color, Sisal (above the cabinets) and the new, Analytical Gray (everywhere else). I haven’t painted up there because most of it will be covered by cabinets, but you can really see the more gray tint in the analytical gray. I love that color!

This view will look completely different by the end of the summer – that microwave wall will undergo a big update. This wall of cabinets will be built up to the ceiling and will get a makeover as well:

extending kitchen island

I am seriously SO excited to get moving on that part – my next project is building in the fridge for a more custom look. I’m about ready to start that, just need to figure out a few more details.

Here’s one of my favorite views as I sit on my chaise, chaise window seat:

board and batten white walls

Knocking down one wall in the family room doubled the size of our kitchen. We didn’t realize how much it would transform that space as well. Happy accident for sure!

A microwave will move to this spot in the island sometime soon:

built in microwave island

I’m SO excited about that! I think we’ll love it.

Here’s the view from the other corner of the kitchen:

window seat in kitchen

I love looking at that view cause it’s all done, other than the fabrics on the window seat. :)

And this is from that same spot into the expanded family room:

family and kitchen great room

We knew taking down a wall would make a big difference, we just had no idea how big! Someday I will dig up older pics and do a before and after post because you can really appreciate the difference when you look at those! Crazy.

I hope this helps those of you who wanted to see how things have come together! We are just so thrilled with this whole space and so grateful we got to do all of this. Now I’m heading outside to enjoy this gorgeous weather and work on some clean up in the flower beds. I’ve never started this early and I’m hoping to get a good head start on the season.

Isn’t it amazing how the the nicer weather energizes you? I love this time of year!

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Comments

  1. Jaw dropping...Looks fantastic! So open and bright. Great job. Now, if you could only talk my hubby into knocking down the wall between our kitchen and dining room ;-)

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  2. I LOVE it! So bright! (Your husband is retired? But you're so young!! Mine is supposed to be retired, but they keep giving him raises. Meanwhile, we have a thousand projects for him to do.)

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    1. He's a bit older than me. ;) He's retired from teaching but still as busy as ever with other work!

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  3. Sorry to be one of those, "Where'd you get those..." commenters, but I'm in a serious hunt for upholstered dining room chairs and yours are exactly what I'm looking for. Would you mind telling me where you got your gray dining room chairs? Thanks so much, and your new kitchen/dining/family room is amazing!

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    1. They were from HomeGoods! They always seem to have a bunch of them there.

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  4. It looks great, Sarah! I love it all. Also... just wondering if you thought of replacing your white outlet in the island with a gray outlet cover...? I discovered dark gray ones (lightswitch covers, GFI's, etc.) at Home Depot and they blend right into my gray walls... which makes me so happy!

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    1. We have a charging outlet there so I can't get it in a specific color (at least I don't think?) It doesn't bother me though. :)

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  5. It looks incredible Sarah! I am curious how much space you have between your dining table and couch and dining table and island. I am starting to build with Pulte here in Indy. We have a similar floor plan, but I want to make sure I have enough walking space between the island, table, and couch. I know they say 3.5 feet as a rule of thumb, but was just curious because yours looks like the perfect amount of space. Did you apply the 3.5 feet rule? Thanks in advance!

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    1. Sorry I missed this Mary! We have about four feet between the island and the table and three feet between the sofa and the table. I could have made it more even and moved the light but I wanted a little more open space on the kitchen side. :)

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  6. Well done! It looks like a perfect mix between staged and lived in, which is nice. The dining table is my favorite part :) So much great texture! You should be very proud.

    xo Ashley
    pennypickedrevival.com

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  7. Sarah, this space has turned out beautifully! I love how much light pours through the doors and how cozy your house now is. Not to mention the amazing DIY island that you built. Great job!

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  8. Beautiful space! I love everything about it, the beadboard, wainscoting, window seat, island, flooring etc! I can't wait to see what the kitchen will look like after your done all the upgrades woohoo!

    Lauren | LB Designs
    xx

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  9. You're such a talented designer. it is always a blessing seeing your new posts! LOVE!

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  10. It looks absolutely fabulous! Love it! Question on the microwave. Will you change out your microwave to the drawer kind? I always thought that would be the best for the under the counter height. I have a friend with health issues and can't bend down and has a regular microwave under the counter so it doesn't work well for her.

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    1. I don't think we'll do the drawer just because they're so expensive, but I haven't decided just yet! I need to shop around first.

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  11. Wow! I have been following you for years and absolutely LOVE seeing the transformation. I am not ashamed to admit I have straight-up copied some of your design choices and put them in my own home. I remember you putting in an earlier post that when you knocked down the wall to the former-office your husband commented that it looked like the floor plan was always meant to be that way. I have to say I completely agree. I don't think I could fully appreciate it until now but it really flows so nicely and doesn't have that "oh, I can tell where there used to be a wall but they knocked it down to open it up/ add on" feeling that so many houses (my own included) have. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!

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  12. I love how the gray island and fireplace relate to each other. Have you thought about painting all your cabinets that gray, uppers and lowers? I think you could pull it off, having the white board and batten and light walls everywhere else. I would just swap the over-stove microwave for a stainless hood and call it a day. I also really like the beadboard backsplash and corbels, are you getting rid of those?

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    1. I have! I was considering the lowers. Now that the island is that color I think I'll go all white everywhere, but I will decide when I get primer on them and see how it looks. :) I love the look of gray cabinets!

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  13. Oh, wow! I'm so happy for you!!! I love seeing the wider shots, what a light, beautiful space. You know, you just don't know how your house will work best for you until you've lived in it a while, even if you build it yourself! My sister and her family just bought a new home, and she's laughing a bit because every one of the things she was not crazy about initially are her very favorite things about the house now that's they've been in it for a couple weeks! Well, everything is beautiful, your window seat is amazingly perfect! Your home seems so roomy and still cozy! I just love it!

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  14. You are such an inspiration! Two of my interior doors are black now - thank you very much. My french doors have the dividers built in (hurricane proof- oh Florida) and I'm not sure how to handle that. I feel like your french doors may have the same issue (or did I make that up?!). I am anxious to see how you are going to adress that (unless I made it up. If I did I would appreciate any advice!) The space is just beautiful.

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    1. Yep, you are right! The doors have them on the outside but the transom has them on the inside! I have something in mind but have to see if it will work!

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  15. Wow, your house is so beautiful!!! I am slightly obsessed with that island:)

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  16. I'm so obsessed with how beautiful your kitchen/dining area/island all turned out-so polished!
    Can't wait to see how your window seat comes out with the new fabric :)

    xoxo, SS

    The Southern Stylista

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  17. Wow Sarah I am so loving the fresh, pretty and updated look you've created in the whole room. Truly, I love it! And had you not said anything about the pillows, I wouldn't have known you were going to change them. I love what you already have there! Thanks for some inspiration for our kitchen/family area. It needs some updating. :)

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  18. I seriously love it all. Such a fantastic space. So fresh and open and airy. I would love to hang out in that space all day long. Im so glad you got (are getting) what you wanted.

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  19. Love how this is all coming together! You are absolutely correct about how it should have been like that all along! Ceilings are sooo difficult to patch! We had major damage in both our living and dining rooms when we had to fire a lousy roofing contractor. Between then and when the roof was finally finished we had torrential downpours. Even though we had them repaired by a professional, you can still tell where it was done:( Good luck!

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    1. Well crud! I'm going to contact the company that did our basement ceilings -- they did such a great job, I'm hoping they can fix them!

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  20. It's beautiful, Sarah! I must find out where you bought the light fixture over the kitchen table, I LOVE it! Thanks. 4littlepilgrims@gmail.com

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  21. SO pretty! I love the island and the light fixtures!

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  22. It is truly lovely and I can just feel how pleased you are with it all! I would be too :) This may be a dumb question, but where in the world did you get those beautiful flowers this time of year? And that white pot is so pretty. The color and scale fit the table perfectly! Thanks.

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    1. Trader Joe's! Love their selection and the prices can't be beat!

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  23. I've been a faithful follower for years, and you always bring something that I fall in love with! You have created a beautiful home and I am so glad you share it with us. I also love your 'real' side which makes me feel like we could be real friends. I am excited to see what the future holds for your kitchen- although it could be left exactly like this and still be 'perfect'. It's amazing!!

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    1. Thank you so much for such a sweet comment Connie!

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  24. Your kitchen looks amazing!!! I really can't believe it's the same space. It is sooooo cozy with so many seating options!! You have done wonders in your home. . .

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  25. That's something to be proud of! I am challenged in every way when it comes to remodeling and decorating. I can't think outside that box (big sigh) Any chance you might take a look at a pesky space and pass along some inspiration? My four walls are crying inside....

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  26. I love your bar stools...can you tell me where you purchased them? Thank you!

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    1. Yes! I got them at HomeGoods but I shared how to find them online here: http://www.thriftydecorchick.com/2015/02/the-right-island-stool.html

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