Kitchen Layout Makeover

When you’re in the initial stage of a kitchen or bathroom remodeling project, it’s easy to get caught up in the messy details. Unfortunately, the details can be stressful and may distract you from your overall vision for the project.

That’s why it’s so important to work with a design and remodeling firm that has access to your vision from start to finish–and it’s also why we love looking at examples of kitchen makeover projects to stay excited. Prepare to gain inspiration and creativity for your own kitchen remodeling project!

This National Kitchen & Bath Association Star Design award winner was pure vanilla before–a 1980s stock builder’s kitchen with basic oak cabinetry and white ceramic tile countertops.

Kitchen Cabinet Design Ideas To Give Your Space An Ultimate Makeover

This kitchen didn’t just lack originality, it also lacked a spacious seating area and space to cook. The kitchen workspace was minimized by a massive cabinet peninsula, and a high bar counter cloaked a beautiful view of the back deck and pool area, creating an overall constricted atmosphere. The owner’s beloved collection of artistic treasures from travels abroad covered the countertops, leaving barely any space to cut an onion (much less craft a home cooked meal).

Our team’s main goal? To create an open, inviting kitchen space where family and friends could gather–and to reflect the owner’s unique and eclectic tastes.

Thanks to some big layout changes and creative ideas from the client and our team, the kitchen that was once just a coffee stop is now a show-stopping part of the home.

Small Kitchen Design Ideas That Make The Most Of A Tiny Space

Some of the biggest issues with this 1930s kitchen? Shallow countertops, an overall lack of storage, an outdated gas stove, inefficient windows, and no dishwasher. The owners requested a high BTW cooktop, an oven with a broiler, a disposal in the sink, a stove backsplash that would hide splatters, and a dishwasher–then left the rest up to us.

Because this was such a small kitchen, we turned a nearby hallway closet into a pantry and wine storage area. Then, we turned our attention back to the kitchen. We chose to retain some of the original architectural details in order to stay true to the era.

Dean faced a unique challenge because–like the kitchen in Project 2–her 1964 kitchen is very small at 12’ by 8’. In addition, it possessed a total of three doors and two windows, a strange layout to work with. Her main goals before starting her remodel? To create an aesthetically clean, easy-to-maintain space with more functional storage and countertops.

Simple Kitchen Design

You’ve heard it said that darker colors “close off” spaces, but due to abundant light in this kitchen, the dark, rich color of the cabinets didn’t have this effect. Dean paid special attention to the overall colors of the wood, which harmonized with the oak antique furniture throughout the house. A lighter backsplash adds dimension and personality.

Get in touch with our expert team today for a consultation. We’ll walk you through the entire process from beginning to end, starting in our state-of-the-art showroom, and ending with your beautifully remodeled kitchen.If there's one room in your home that absolutely needs to be functional, it's the kitchen (okay, the bathroom, too). But since it's the heart of the home, a kitchen should also be stylish and presentable. Luckily, the two aren't mutually exclusive. With a few power tools, plenty of elbow grease, and a design-savvy eye, anything is possible—no matter how outdated and hopeless a kitchen may seem. Need proof and a little motivation before embarking on your own kitchen makeover? The designer spaces ahead are full of kitchen remodel ideas and renovation tips. So get inspired by these dramatic kitchen makeovers, complete with (dramatic!) before and after photos that reveal just how much potential lies within even the most rundown of spaces.

The nondescript kitchen in a Palm Beach home was last updated in the 1980s. Not only was it lacking in personality, but it was also too small and cramped for cooking big-batch meals for a family of five. So designer Lindsay Lane was enlisted to overhaul and enlarge it.

Simple Kitchen Designs: 50 Ideas To Give Your Kitchen A Makeover

Beautifying, the ideal combination for a hard-working kitchen. It opens into the living room, so the tiles play off of the beachy take on black and white in there. Open shelves allow for colorful tableware and artwork displays but also easy access while cooking.

While this kitchen was working hard to do it's best (hanging pots and a knife magnet holder to keep counters clear of clutter), it was in desperate need of a facelift. Sarah Stacey continued to keep storage in mind, but made plans to remodel the layout and incorporate way sleeker, more sophisticated materials throughout.

A waterfall natural stone counter adds a touch of glam—the perfect match for the moody blue hue used on the cabinets and cool pewter hardware—while the subway tile backsplash and hardwood floor keep it down to earth.

Kitchen Makeover On A Budget! See How One Mom Did It

Though this layout certainly isn't terrible, it'd be better if the workstations, like the stove and surrounding counters, had better access to natural light.

In a kitchen, the layout is everything. And refrigerator, countertop, and stove placement are most important. Designer Shon Parker moved the stove closer to that large window for a lighting fix and swapped out old materials. A Checkerboard floor laid on the diagonal is more forgiving—in an old house, it helps hide crooked lines, says Parker. We're glad the exposed beams got to stay, too.

With typical 1980s construction, this California kitchen originally had weird angles, orange laminate floors, and honey pine cabinets. It also had varying ceiling levels and an unnecessary wall between the kitchen and living room.

Budget Kitchen Makeover: 9 Ways You Can Improve Your Kitchen Without Breaking The Bank

In less than two months, designer Anne Sage gave it a contemporary upgrade. She removed the wall between the kitchen and living room and evened out the ceiling. The black cabinetry—BOXI by Semihandmade’s Peppercorn Edge—is the real star of the show. Counters made of black quartz with amber veining and gray-green glazed tile enhance the look. See more photos here.

Okay, obviously this low-quality photo isn't doing the kitchen any favors—or is it? Designer Melanie Turner was brought onto the project to give the outdated traditional kitchen a more modern, polished spin while still feeling classic.

The lower cabinets are painted Midnight Blue by Benjamin Moore to match the upholstered stools. A nailhead trim nods to the rivets on the hood, and pale gray natural stone complements the blue tones, which are warmed up by the gold accents. Turner also added a built-in bookcase and chose cozy lighting fit for a study to give it a library-like elegance.

Kitchen Remodel Ideas On A Budget For High Impact Makeover

This 1950s California home needed some work done. The homeowners had lived in it for 30 years before they tapped designer Mindy Laven to give it an entirely new look with old-world charm.

At the homeowners' request, Laven gave the kitchen a dreamy style reminiscent of the South of France. She incorporated antiques, Venetian plaster walls, hand-fitted herringbone floors, and new wood ceiling beams finished to look as though they'd been there for generations.

The lower ceilings and bulky cabinet uppers on the left side create an unbalanced, cramped look. To solve that issue without compromising storage space, designer Sarah Stacey had to get creative.

Kitchen Makeover: Lane Cove

Black cabinets line one wall while lighter oak cabinets line the other. The island combines the two with a black stone countertop and a light wood base. The chic counter stools also share the neutral color combo, while brass accents and an antique runner introduce just enough contrast.

Designer Cortney Bishop's kitchen was a remodel created out of the back screen porch. “It was a wonderful kitchen for many, many years, but it was a little small for us as a growing family, she says.

So, she turned it into an L-shaped family hub with help from architect Heather Wilson and builder Bart Beasley. The best part? It flows into a cozy sitting room with a newly-added fireplace. For the design, Bishop incorporated treasures from her travels as well as custom pieces that embody her family’s personality.

Kitchen Design Ideas

Not only does this kitchen need some work aesthetically speaking, but it's also extremely cramped, with very little useable surface space. Time for a major upgrade.

This kitchen renovation by Steve Pallrand of Home Front Build is truly stunning. The gorgeous blue backsplash tile along with the vintage introduce warmth and character that fit right in with the reclaimed floors and cabinets. From the prep sink to the gorgeous arches, we've met our dream kitchen.

While the layout of this kitchen was a great starting place, Sarah Stacey knew that it needed a major overhaul in terms of finishes, materials, and most importantly, lighting.

Kitchen Design Style And Layout Ideas

Hadley Mendelsohn is the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House. When she's not busy writing about interiors, you can find her scouring vintage stores, reading, researching ghost stories, or stumbling about because she probably lost her glasses again. Along with interior design, she writes about everything from travel to entertainment, beauty, social issues, relationships, fashion, food, and on very special occasions, witches, ghosts, and other Halloween haunts. Her work has also been published in MyDomaine, Who What Wear, Man Repeller, Matches Fashion, Byrdie, and more.

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