Bold and Dramatic Kitchen Makeover
Creating a kitchen that’s bold, bright and unexpected was the main motivation for this space. See the features of this dramatic makeover in this HGTV video:
If you can only afford one major update in your kitchen, make it the cabinet color. This single change can make a huge impact, and it is way less expensive than brand new cabinets. The deep cranberry red is bold, lively and classic.
Another high impact change is to add tile, but go beyond the backsplash and take the tile all the way up to the ceiling. If you’re concerned about the expense, you’re only talking about a few more feet slightly above the top of the cabinets, so for just a little bit more cost you get a lot more impact. Mosaic tile in a cool blue color provides great contrast to the deep cranberry red cabinets and helps balance the bold color. The rest of the walls were painted a pale blue gray. This helps the tile feel seamless, and it’s a great way to unify all the different finishes.
The other huge change in this kitchen was in the layout. By swapping out the old rectangular island with a new semicircular shaped island, the space has the illusion of being bigger, and it has room for seating. The countertop is a remnant from a stone yead, which is a great way to save some money when you’re doing a remodel. Remnants can be hundreds if not thousands of dollars less expensive than custom slabs.
The island countertop is stone while the rest of the countertops are butcher block. This mix of materials works well because you have the perfect combination of something more polished and something a little more rustic. Both of these are in neutral tones which allow the bold colored cabinets to remain the star.
A brand new stainless steel refrigerator, oven, dishwasher and microwave enhance the functionality of this kitchen. If your budget allows, matching appliances can help tie the overall look of your kitchen together.
An undercabinet lighting system with plenty of places to plug in gadgets acts as a high-tech command center, while a brand new satin brass chandelier gives off plenty of ambient light and adds a lot of style just above the island.
Open shelving adds functional storage and a nice place to display good-looking accessories. Updated hardware makes the freshly painted cabinets look brand new.
The cool blue is also carried into the super creative and sheek laundry closet concealed behind upholstered bi-fold doors. The back wall appears to be clad in peeling distressed wood, but it’s actually wallpaper. A brand new high efficiency washer and drier in a bold white finish really pop against the wallpaper.
Altogether, these changes helped transform a pretty basic kitchen and laundry room into beautiful dramatic spaces.
