my kitchen revamp - the befores

Welcome to the first post in my room by room series.  This is where I hope to revamp our 1400 square foot storybook cottage one room and one month at a time on a teeny, tiny budget.  I'm starting with the busiest room in the house...our kitchen.

Grab a cup of coffee, this is going to be a long post.

I took a few pictures of my kitchen the morning after our 4th of July BBQ.  This is a real peek at how our kitchen functions on a normal day.  It took all my restraint not to crop or edit them in any way but I really wanted to show you the problems I have in here and what I'm hoping to accomplish with this mini revamp.

So, here goes...

This is the view of our kitchen from the dining room and front door.  It's a decent size space but the counters and cabinets are narrow and limited so it always looks cluttered.  One of my main goals is to maximize the storage we do have and that involves purging what I don't use on a regular basis so that I can fit the things we do use into the existing cabinet space.  The best part about this fix is that it costs zero dollars.

With the exception of a small cabinet we use for a pantry, this one wall of cabinets and counter top is it. Because of the over flow of snacks and baby paraphernalia stored on the counter, I rarely use this area for food prep.  The good news is that the counter tops are fairly new quartz in a neutral tone and the cabinets are solid wood and in pretty good shape.

This island is my main prep area and I am happy with it.  There are actually two islands connected in an L-Shape. The one along the window wall is my baking area and I like it, as well.  Both areas could stand to be decluttered to maximize efficiency.

The cabinet to the right is my pantry area.  It is full and needs to be better organized.  I need to make room to store the extra soda and water so that it's not left out on the floor.

I love the natural light that these large windows let in but they open to the street so they need to be covered for privacy.  Currently there are white wood like blinds on them that function well enough but are a constant source of grease and dirt collection due to their proximity to the range and food prep area.  I am thinking I'll replace the valance and blinds with washable curtains on clip rods.

The range is only a year old and I am so lucky to have it.  As you can see, there is no vent over the stove which is a big part of the grease and grime problem I face in here.  I usually just open the window in the door next to the stove for venting.  I purchased a ductless hood vent online for $85.00, that I'm hoping will do the trick.  The other thing I want to change is the gap area between the stove and the refrigerator.  The fridge can be moved over another six inches toward the window so I am going to have my husband build a small counter area between the two appliances so that I have a place to rest my spoon while cooking.

In spite of the large windows the overall feeling of the room is dark and while I love the red cabinets, I think they are a large contributor to the darkness.  I am going to paint the uppers only a creamy white.  The walls in here will also be getting a coat of white paint.  The lighting fixture is being replaced as well.

The shelf over the door is coming down.  I think less on the walls and over the fridge will declutter visually. The wood laminate floors are fairly new and I still love them so replacing flooring is not necessary.

Well that's it, the good, the bad and the ugly.  My plan is to finish by the end of July and stick to a budget of $500.00.   Any thoughts?

xo, Patty