Hallooooo, kitchen remodel post!
After months of dreaming and pinning ideas // months of pretending to be an adult picking out things like countertops and faucets // months of cooking everything in a toaster and eating at a folding table in the basement while the kitchen becomes beautified — the time has come!
Let the Final Reveal Begin.
PINCH ME.
Even before I started this little ol’ blog, the kitchen has always been my happy zone.
And that includes my kitchens that have been a little less than happy in terms of looks.
Let’s have a visit from the Ghosts of Kitchens Past, shall we? starting in my college house kitchen, home to a handful of delicious and even more frightening college student food creations:
Graduating to this, our first married house kitchen, where Pinch of Yum was born:
And on to this kitchen, which was begging us to knock some walls down for a fresh, clean remodel:
To now THIS kitchen – the bright, clean kitchen I’ve been pining for ever since the dawn of Pinterest:
ahhh.
White. Grey. White. Grey. More White. More Grey. HAPPY AND LIGHT!
New or old, clean or dirty, orange or red or white, as long as we’ve been married, the kitchen has always been “my space” because let’s face it: Bjork’s food specialties start and end with scrambled eggs + Tabasco sauce. Bless.
No, this part of the house is my confident + happy zone. In my more melodramatic moments, I’d say the kitchen is at the heart of virtually everything I do, my place where I go to work, relax, and, for lack of a less-1800s-sounding-word, commune with our people. In the few short months that we have been in this space, my soul has been fed by hosting girlfriends for a dinner party, friends for last-minute brunches, and our annual Christmas party. And that’s what this is mostly about for me, because the superdelicious foods (this this this this and this) are really just a back door path to experiencing life together with new neighbors, old friends, and our families.
Okay, and I guess it’s also a little bit about having white cabinets with glass. (!!!!) But mostly friends and family and stuff.
Speaking of families, look who came to visit this week! That’s right, it’s the little girl from last Christmas all pretty and grown up. Errybody say Hiiii Sophie!
Except don’t, because she’ll flip out into a major barkfest like she was doing the entire time I was trying to take these pictures. We wuv you, SophieGirl.
Alright! I’m way too wordy already. Two things happening here today:
- a top ten kitchen favorites list presented in an all-time dorky video;
- a more normal photographic kitchen tour throughout the rest of the post.
Watch Our Full Kitchen Reveal:
You guys – thank you for being Reader Friends who look through epic-long posts like this one. And with that, we’re off!
The Official Tour
Okay, when you come in through the front door and walk through our old house arched doorway (♡) you will see this. This is how most people experience the kitchen when they come to our house.
Have you noticed the floors already? Because, well, uhmmmmm, they don’t match.
That’s okay – we sort of did that on purpose. Or more like we got to a point where we had to decide if we were going to re-finish the floors in our entire house just to get them to match with the new ones in the kitchen, and it was just time to start saying no to a few things before we found ourselves living in a tent while the whole house went under reno. So for now, mismatchy!
Also for now: this retro hand-me-down table. This is the table where I first fell in love with food as a wee little girl – that’s right – this is my mom and dad’s first family table. It’s sort of not at all our style, and yet between the mushy, sentimental person (hi) and the frugal, practical person in our family, we’re sort of not ready to part with it.
I sort of went crazy with the jars in this kitchen, and in hindsight, I’m so glad that I did. Said no one ever EXCEPT ME. I’m jar-obsessed.
We use them for everything and they double as useful storage containers and cute, clean decoration.
Meet the sink! It’s a large rectangle with tight 90-degree corners (why does that make my eyes so happy?) and a simple, clean-looking faucet that pulls out, has a hidden sprayer button, and snaps back into place magnetically. HOW MUCH DO I LOVE THAT.
The fridge!
Now you see it…
And now you don’t!
Bjork’s one request in all this was paneled appliances. Like, puhleeeease can we get paneled appliances? I found at least 900 refrigerators that were NOT paneled, but he stood his ground. I’m so glad – we love this sneaky hidden fridge.
Now it won’t be awkward at all if I show you what’s in our cabinets.
If I were looking at someone else’s kitchen, I’d want to know where they keep everything because I’m awkward like that. So now I’m going to show you, and you’re going to be like, oh, she’s not that organized after all.
Here goes.
Cabinet #1: cooking stuff and mini-microwave and a row of random dishes that didn’t fit in the glass cabinets.
Cabinet #2: baking stuff, conveniently located right above the stand mixer.
Cabinet #3: the mismatched dishes that need to be hidden.
Secret Side Cabinet: spices!
Lower Cabinet #1: food storage and appliances.
Lower Cabinet #2: knives, cookware, cookie sheets, and cutting boards. I LOVE that tall skinny side storage box.
Drawers: tools galore.
Tall Almost-a-Pantry Cabinets: appliances, a few boxes of cereal, and individual wood storage boxes for our keys and mittens and such.
Garbage Drawer: the garbage. HIDDEN, and perfectly positioned for food scraps next to the prep area. It’s the little things.
Dishwasher! Oh my goodness, a dishwasher. Dreams really do come true.
Now you see it…
And now you don’t. Magic!
Thank you so so much for your interest in our new kitchen and for being so engaged along the way. There were so many decisions that we made that were based on real-life-friends and blog-friends suggestions – thank you times a million for being a part of this with us!
Which reminds me – do you think we should put a rug near the sink? I have literally tried 90% of the rugs from Target (as in bought them, lugged them home, lugged them back to the store, and returned them all) but haven’t been able to find anything I like. Suggestions welcome!
Here’s to lots more ridiculously good food in this new cooking space! mwah.
Stuff We Used In Our Kitchen:
Bar Stools – no longer available
With the exception of the backsplash tiles, all the products linked are the exact ones (brand, size, etc) used in our kitchen. Some of these are affiliate links because we really love these parts of our kitchen and absolutely recommend them to anyone doing a kitchen remodel!
Beautiful! It really shows that you don’t have to have a giant space to have a great kitchen. Inspiring me to re-do mine! Just wish it could be like the shows on HGTV, where somebody comes and does it all for you within a week! 🙂 Love the sink and spice cabinet especially- and don’t get me started on those glass cabinet doors- gorgeous! And I thought your video wasn’t dorky- it was cute and fun to watch! Do more!
Lindsay – Your kitchen remodel turned out GREAT! I got some good ideas for my own remodel from your pictures. Personally, I like the clean look of no rug at the sink 🙂 But, it is nice to have a cushy place to stand while you’re doing the dishes!
It looks just beautiful Lindsay…. every detail is amazing. I love the refrigerator and dishwasher… the way they fit in with the cabinets “incognito”. Love the clean, white, look, and the cabinets you can see into; love the bar stools and the dining room curtains…. the dog and you and Bjork; you are delightful. Thanks for sharing; it is always inspiring to come over here and to get your e-mails.
Blessings,
Pam
The kitchen is smashing. However, my cabinet guy advised me not to get windows because I am too messy for them and people would come over and see how messy I am! The nerve. And just because he was right…….
Life Of Wood, best cleaning product for kitchen cabinets bar none. Anyone out there….you gotta try this…….this will sparkle
Wow – awesome! I’ll check that out!
Beautiful! Your kitchen is just lovely, we love how open and bright it feels and looks. The fridge, the stove, the light, it’s gorgeous. I think with or without a rug it still looks complete, but a rug may make washing dishes a bit more comfortable, if you can find one that has a bit of cushioning in it. A darker kilim style would look wonderful in there. The two of you compliment one another really well, and your video made us laugh. 🙂 (Thank you as well…<3)
Thank YOU guys for the sweet stuff that makes our kitchen so much cuter! I love everything you make. EVERYTHING. Now I need to research kilim style rugs …
Yep! (i knew if I looked someone else would have the same suggestion and therefore no need for me to open a new stand alone comment). A cushioned pad/rug is a lifesaver when you spend hours standing in the kitchen. easy on feet and legs.
I LOVE all the practical well thought out aspects of your new kitchen. One question, where is that super secret spice cabinet located, I can’t figure that out.
Well Done! Enjoy!
Hi Teresa! It’s to the left of the fridge when you’re looking at it straight on.
Flawless! I can’t wait until we re-do our kitchen in February. I have four children white WILL NOT be our color of choice 🙂 , but I love the photo studio feel.
I’ve already thought to myself about the future with kids and white cabinets. Woops? 🙂 Oh well… we’ll worry about that when the time comes. Thanks for the comment Tonya!
Who wouldn’t want to cook is this gorgeous kitchen? I love it.
Now that is a BEAUTIFUL kitchen! And also THE most organized! I love it!
This is so gorgeous. I love, love, love all the white and the natural light. And the fact that you can store all of your appliances in the cabinets. What a dream! Congratulations! It looks so great, and will certainly be well-loved!
I have so many things to say, I must make a bulleted list! 🙂
-Lovely! It is so pretty and bright it makes me want to cry (in a good way)…
-Seeing that photo of our shared kitchen from the college house made me smile. That kitchen was where I discovered my love for cooking as I wiled away my unemployed hours while I sought my first post-college job. I will always have fond memories of that house. 🙂
– I too have my childhood family kitchen table, and it definitely isn’t my style, but I love it and never want to get rid of it!
-I think that the right rug would be a perfect touch by the kitchen sink! Good luck… 🙂
Hugs,
Steph
YES! So funny – I feel like that house/kitchen was my training grounds towards becoming a major food-lover. 🙂 Remember the night we made perogies? HAHAHA! Congrats on your engagement – hope you’re doing well!
Lindsay – that is the most beautiful kitchen I’ve ever seen! So happy for you! Thanks for sharing the details on your beautiful new space!
That kitchen belongs in a magazine! Very happy and bright! Love it 🙂
You guys are adorable! I had to watch the video on mute because I’m at work (bad girl!) and it was super entertaining to watch Bjork make faces (so many faces!) and Lindsay wave her hands around while talking 🙂 (I’ll watch it again at home with the sound on!) Thank you so much for sharing this slice of your life with us! You guys are so amazing and talented and have worked so hard. You totally deserve this divine, perfect kitchen! It’s beautiful. 🙂
Jealous. I don’t know what else to say. Just Jealous. I really need a kitchen makeover like this. I have been dying to redo my cabinets and walls with white to open the space up and make it seem larger, but alas, I’ve always got some good excuse, either I’m too busy or paint costs too much or something. thank you for the inspiration, though. Now I feel a lot more motivated to get going on it!
I vote that you get a cushioned kitchen mat instead of a rug. Protects your feet from aches when you hang out in your rad new kitchen all day.
Please tell me you had a dishwasher before the remodel too! If not, I would have made that #1. 🙂
NO DISHWASHER before this. Life was so hard. 😉
Its beautiful! Oh you lucky duck. (note that I however dont envy the period where you lived in your basement. So there you go) Love the paneled appliances!
I’m relatively new to reading your blog (but I’ve made two of your recipes so far and they are great!), but I wanted to chime in about the sink rug question – we have a memory foam mat at our sink and it is AWESOME. Everyone who comes over comments on it, it really makes standing at the sink more comfortable. And it’s not too bad looking. Congrats on your kitchen, it’s just beautiful!!
Thanks Ali! Nice to hear from you and thanks for the idea! 🙂
wow, just loverly… all of that white and clean lines. happy, happy place for sure. congrats!
I am SO happy for you for finally having this gorgeous kitchen but also so so jealous! Those jars! All the white! Great job Lindsay!
great kitchen! what is weird is looking at all the similarities in mine and yours! the corner lazy susan thing, hidden garbage, the drawers, etc. really strange, my space is overly large though, which makes things not so handy.
wanted to comment on the floors – we have 3 different floors in our house, oak, maple, and mahogany. I did have to refinish the entire area to get the tones even, and even though it’s slightly off – and will never get rid of the red, it’s FINE…. some things you just can’t change.
Agreed! No one really cares in the end, right?! Except me, a little bit, but mostly I’m just happy to have an open, bright kitchen. 🙂
I love it!! Congratulations 🙂
Yay! It looks so good! And I am with you on the natural light; even without the photography aspect, I just prefer the white, natural light to anything else. (I’m always opening the curtains, and my siblings are always like, “What are you doing? It’s dreary outside! You’re messing up our cozy ambiance!” ;P)
Don’t tell Bjork, but I was laughing so hard about the double door microwave, the outlets and the cupboard stretch! You guys have a great sense of humor!
I can see the aesthetic of a rug, but in our experience, even the cushy rugs didn’t really help our feet. Of course, that could just be us…we spend so much time in the kitchen that the little difference it made wasn’t really worth it. (Then again, our kitchen is U shaped, so putting a rug in it is like putting a rug in a very busy hallway. Nothing wrong with it, but a little bit of a hassle. =P) I guess that doesn’t answer your question. I think a rug would look great, if you found one you like, and makes you happy!
Yeah I think I just need to keep looking because I don’t want to put one there that we don’t like. Sometimes I just have to give myself permission to slow down… 🙂
Oh my goodness woman! This kitchen is gorgeous! The light! The White! THE STORAGE. Congrats!!!!! Sooooo dreamy and perfect.
Thanks Jessie!
Your new kitchen looks great!
I have a question about the spice cabinet. Is it narrow because you didn’t have room for a deeper cabinet or did you just want a narrow space to organize spices? That cabinet looks so practical.
Yes – it’s narrow because the chimney is behind it, so we couldn’t make it any deeper. 🙂
Wow! Wow! Wow! So beautiful! and your spice rack gives me chills.
Well done and well deserved. All perfectly white for perfect picture taking and brilliant light.
Two thumbs up.
Stacey
It’s stunning! I love ALL the white!