Farmhouse Kitchen Renovation
Do you know those old farmhouse kitchens that look nothing like the pictures you see on Pinterest when you search for "old farmhouse kitchen"?! Our home was a great example of this- the original house was build in the late 1800's and has been renovated throughout the years. The kitchen was something that wasn't too hard on the eyes... but was hard on the arms and back pulling on broken drawers and crooked cabinets. It was also laid out to use half the room for dining space when the adjacent room was also a dining space after a living room was added onto the house years later. To say the least, this kitchen served us well for about 2 years, but was oh so nice to throw into a dumpster and never see again!
Scroll down to follow along on our kitchen renovation journey as we turn this kitchen from outdated & crooked to updated & cozy!
A little bit of redecorating went a long way after we moved in!
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The appliances were replaced in hopes of renovating the kitchen eventually. As you can see, the cabinets above the fridge were removed so we could put the new fridge here temporarily.
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Can you picture it?! The plan is to turn the kitchen 90 degrees and optimize the whole space for more cabinets and a larger layout.
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There she goes!
We were pretty nervous about the demo since you never really know what you're going to find in these old houses. The walls revealed old barn boards that ran horizontally across the walls with newspaper-like insulation behind it. They were sturdy to say the least, but was going to make electrical and plumbing more tough.
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Welcome to the wallpaper museum! It was pretty neat to see some of these wallpaper choices from throughout the years... I'm sure they'll be back in style one day!
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After 1 day of demos...
A large beam running down the right hand wall meant that we couldn't open up that doorway more. This was disappointing, but we were able to open it up higher and a few inches wider on the other side. We cleaned up the dust and mess and looked forward to the next step!
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The plumbing in the island was disconnected and rerouted and some electrical began to be wired. The ceiling also needed to be completely scraped for the drywallers to repatch. I somehow got stuck with this job, and I don't think I've ever gotten such a good neck and arm workout before!
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Wow! It felt like we were no longer living in a barn, but a real home! I think this was the most satisfying step to see.
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We primed the walls and scraped off all the vinyl flooring. I might still have callouses on my hands from this, but it felt so good to get this done.
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New floor! I couldn't be more happy with the flooring we picked out! This is a vinyl plank that I was hoping would be the perfect colour to hide dirt, dog hair, and who knows what else. ("Frankfurt" by AquaLuuuz)
Our temporary kitchen setup in the living room was getting real old, so I set up the Christmas tree to keep my hopes up!
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Let there be light! These are the light fixtures we ordered through Amazon:
Fixture above the sink window: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01LR5IQP2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Island pendants: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01LR5IYHM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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I came home to this after work one day, and I could have cried from happiness. This is all I ever dreamed this space could be!
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The cabinets were completed and the countertops got measured. For the time being, we made some countertops from plywood.
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Chop chop! The counters were installed and I'm in love! These are Wilsonart laminate in "White Carrara".
https://www.wilsonart.com/white-carrara-4924
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The trim we salvaged from the demo wasn't the nicest, so I installed new trim around the window and floors where needed.
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Finally no more dishes in the laundry tub! The plumbing and dishwasher got hooked up which was probably my favourite part since I hate doing dishes.
These faucets were ordered online through Home Depot:
Faucet and sprayer:
https://www.homedepot.ca/product/kingston-brass-victorian-single-handle-standard-kitchen-faucet-with-side-sprayer-in-oil-rubbed-bronze/1001506070
Reverse osmosis tap:
https://www.homedepot.ca/product/kingston-brass-restoration-drinking-water-reverse-osmosis-single-handle-filtration-faucet-in-oil-rubbed-bronze/1001511204
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I've always dreamed of doing a faux brick wall some day, and this backsplash was the perfect opportunity!
For the full German Schmear brick tutorial, click here: http://www.hometalk.com/diy/kitchen-dining/backsplashes/german-schmear-brick-backsplash-44365876...>
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Our dog, Dixie, is loving this new space, and so are we!
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For more ideas and ongoing projects, follow along on Instagram and Facebook!
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Insta: @farmhouse.ongunnshill
Facebook: Lauren Ann Design
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~Lauren
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
Beautiful kitchen. I am wondering what your new light fixture above the island looks like. I can't imagine you stayed with the old ballast style. Regardless, I love your new kitchen.
Where is your microwave?
How much total counter space did you gain? Minus the island.. Thank you