Veronica Hughes: Cottage kitchen and Living Room

Last week, we had looked back, to that time we flipped our rental house, and had taken a peek at the bathrooms. I wanted to look back at the cottage kitchen and living room, because it certainly didn’t start that way!

Cottage kitchen with white painted cabinets

The kitchen had been remodeled sometime in the 1980’s with those orangey oak cabinets. It also had a weird layout. I think the original owner tried to maximize cabinet space, but in the mean time, really ended up minimizing living space. The ceramic floor tile was cracked, stained and old, and the room layout was terrible.

We ended up pulling out all of the cabinets that had been on that far wall, including the refrigerator,and moving it to the main kitchen area. We also added a few new cabinets, and moving around some of the old ones around for a better layout. You can see on the before picture, that there was counter top and a cabinet where the fridge is on the after.

See more of the full transformation here.

We put down new floor, painted the cabinets, and added a new counter top. It became an entirely new kitchen! I know that sounds very magic wand-ish. It actually took several months, and about $6,000, and a lot of elbow grease. But, I will say, it was very satisfying and rewarding to see it become brand new, and alive.

Painted oak cabinets and a new counter top give this kitchen a nice update in this ranch remodel

Since the home was a ranch home, and the kitchen and living room smack right up next to each other, I decided to keep it light and bright.

Pretty cottage ktichen with mason jars for flowers

I really felt like they needed to be separate, but flow into each other, since when you walk in the front door, you can see right through to the back of the kitchen.

Farmhouse living room with beadboard wallpaper

We added french doors to keep it open, but separate the spaces slightly.

You can see the difference in the before picture, and you can see more of the projects here.

Oak house before cottage kitchen and living room

It’s amazing how simple changes can update an entire home. To me, interior decorating and design is like painting. It’s about putting pieces together, and then seeing what seems like it’s missing. Almost like a beautiful puzzle.

Cottage decor and vintage french doors as dividers

I loved the act of taking something that was so sad looking, and making it brand new. This house just needed a cottage kitchen and living room, and some love, and it was ready for a new family.

At the shop, we’ve been offering interior design and decor since we opened, but it’s really started getting busy. I love how in every home we go into, a transformation happens. We are able to help a homeowner love their home all over again, most of the time using what they already have. To me, that’s the best part.

Thanks for taking a little stroll with me down memory lane!