{Before & After} Kitchen Reveal!

Remodeling my kitchen was definitely the most stressful biggest project I've tackled in my house...and I didn't even do the work! I think fear of making the 'wrong' choices definitely contributed to my angst....but I couldn't be happier with how it turned out!! It's been 5 months, and nary a crumb or spill has found a home in that room (OCD much?!). Even Mr. Sugarplum is obsessed...the man wipes out the sink after using it so it won't have spots!!!!!

So let's start at the beginning. No offense to the previous owners, but the Ugly Stick had a party in this kitchen:

Then we moved in and made a few cosmetic changes..but like Mr. Sugarplum so eloquently says, "You can't polish a turd!"

Are you soaking it all in?! The goodness that is white Formica, the hardware....the *gasp* trash compactor!!! I had big dreams for this room, but had to adhere to a budget, and continually remind myself to make only the most impactful changes. Let's take a tour around the room, shall we?

The only demo work we did was rip out the micro/wall oven (if that's what you call that thing! It had a roll dial clock!!), to create more counter and cabinet space.

These glass front cabinets are custom built, but the remainder are simply refaced. Whoever came up with that concept is a genius!

You see that tiny 12-inch-wide piece of counter?! What was I supposed to do with that, house a gnome collection? Now I have sooooo much more room (to junk it up with a work station, YES!) (Update: my counters are clear now that we have this new Command Center.)
 

Notice the white Buick of a refrigerator is gone?!? *pets beautiful new fridge with working ice machine*

So now I'm sure you're really worried about my lack of oven. Don't panic, I can still bake and do all my cooking microwave! We ditched the cook top and vent hood (bless her homely heart), and replaced it with a built-in micro/vent and slide-in range.

I love the slide-in because it doesn't have controls on the back that break up the line of the *swoon* glass tile back splash.

Thank goodness for Mr. Clean Magic Eraser sponges, or that Formica and sink would have looked like it'd been hosed down in Crystal Light Fruit Punch!

I had the ledge taken out of the window, and the tiles wrap seamlessly up and on the window sill....like a waterfall. Aaaaah, the zen.

I'm sorry, I should have warned you about that pic! Yeah, we tired of the trash compactor about 8 days after living in the house. I never really considered what was under there, or what I was going to do with the space...but I wanted it gone. Funny thing is, someone snagged it out of the alley an hour later!! (The plate of cookies were to get the contractors under my spell!)

Sorry, I did it again! I wanted you to see the sad breakfast room with the largest table/chairs ever. (I appreciate the hand-me-down, Mom, but it was time for it to go!)

The new table and chairs is a little matchy-matchy for me, but I'm working on that. (Changing it of course, not getting over it!) Notice how the counter-depth fridge doesn't stick out and trip you now? And the dishwasher is so sleek! Since we saved so much by going with Whirlpool for Ikea appliances (5-year warranty, $50 delivery, stainless steel....yes please!), we were able to get top-of-the-line features like counter-depth fridge, slide-in range, and a hidden controls dishwasher.

Nice wall with zero usable space. Plop a slab of granite on it....and BAM!
 

A bar!!

I was really sorry to see the fluorescent box lights go...but they managed to convince me recessed lights with warm, incandescent bulbs were the way to go. (Does sarcasm translate to the written text?)

My first choice were quartz counters, but they were ridiculously expensive. Apparently, granite is now the least expensive counter surface, next to laminate. We chose this slab because of it's light color and minimal pattern...it's called Kashmir White.
 

Since the bar pushed everything to the right 18 inches, the light fixture is no longer centered. I think I'm just going to switch it out for more recessed lights...it will open up the view of the windows too.

Well, that completes the tour!! What do you think?!? I'll share more details and my favorite features tomorrow...I'm just too exhausted from all the excitement today.

**Update: Find the breakdown of Kitchen Details here. And see the new wall color and updated photos here. And the Breakfast Room got a makeover, too, found here. **