After five decades of living together with her 1952 ranch kitchen, Deb Young decided she was done using all the dilapidated material palette. Sticking with the kitchen’s unique layout and deciding on all of the materials beforehand helped her cut down on the remodel’s price and time. Only one month of construction resulted in a brand new, contemporary kitchen with plenty of practical additions.
Kitchen at a Glance
Location: Lakewood area of Dallas
Size: 13 by 17 feet
Budget: $25,000
Young and her family lived with all the obsolete setup for so long partly to save cash and partly to put a disruptive remodel, but also because it gave them insight about what needed to be fixed.
Young had an additional stainless steel sink custom made. The Grohe faucet handle turns into the sink, instead of to the side, so wet palms do not drip on the counter prior to doing dishes. “It’s easier for the 7-year-old to achieve, too,” she says.
Faucet: Grohe Concetto
Young was never a fan of their first layout, but the cabinetry and appliances were in great shape. Rather than pull them out, she stuck to the basic layout, saving cash for future bathroom renovations.
Cabinetry: solid Lyptus stained in walnut; paint:White Dove, Benjamin Moore; countertops: Luce de Luna quartzite, stainless perimeter
Choosing the colors and materials was all about practicality. Dark cabinets, sturdy flooring and stainless steel–lined countertops can all stand up to heavy family use.
Backsplash: fireclay tile, Crater Lake
Before Photo
The prior all-white cabinets put every speck of dirt and spilled drop of coffee on display. The awkward handles also made it hard to clean the entire door fronts.
Dark stained doors now conceal most stains, and easy hardware is not difficult to clean around and under. “At no point did I put anything in this kitchen that wasn’t practical because it had been pretty,” says Young.
From the beginning, Young knew she wanted to keep the first pivoting bar top. Connected to the countertop with a rotating grommet, it’s an incredibly functional seating solution for this particular kitchen’s layout.
On the other side of the rotating bar, a lockable caster allows for seamless movement. When it’s time to consume, the bar drops into the kitchen, stopping just short of the island. When it’s time to clean or entertain, it slides back into place against the window.
Flooring: Volcanic Ash Marmoleum
Selecting flooring was simple — Young knew in the get-go that she wanted to use Marmoleum. This legitimate linoleum product is frequently used in schools and hospitals because it’s extra durable but still feels soft and works well. Even though it took some time to find someone to put in it in a residential project, it had been worth the hunt.
Bar stools: CB2
This existing cabinets got a fresh update with walnut-stained panels and new hardware.
Texas artwork: Draplin Design
Before Photo
The kitchen previous finishes were completely worn out. The yellow paint peeled off the walls in areas, the vinyl floor had stains, the cast iron sink had massive scratches, and the laminate countertops had their fair share of burns and stains.
The older island’s open shelving did not provide enough storage for the Youngs, and food was constantly falling upon the open shelves. Adding several pullout drawers made additional, defined storage space.
Dishwasher: Miele
The Marmoleum flows into an adjacent hallway — the key route to the family’s backyard swimming pool.
Before Photo
While Young adored the existing glass-front refrigerator, it did not have the storage that she wanted — particularly when it came to ice for drinks during summer parties.
New refrigerator and freezer drawers were a splurge for the brand new bar area, but they make a significant difference when it comes to the family’s daily actions and enjoy of entertaining.
Bubble glass above the bar provides a little bit of contrast. “We put glass there because it permits our friends to wander in and help themselves to drinks,” says Young. “It’s easier for them to do so if they could see what’s in the cabinets”
Refrigerator: Jenn-Air
Your turn: Can you just redo your kitchen? We’d like to hear about it and see a photograph below!