Emergency remodels caused by water damage are no joke, and they account for a huge chunk of kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects. If your base cabinets get warped beyond salvaging, it means your kitchen redo turns into a major overhaul, because countertops have to come out in order to replace the cabinetry (likely damaged in the process)…and if counters come out, you can bet your tile backsplash is going to get wrecked as well.

On the upside, this presents a golden opportunity for making overdue updates, and/or changing some features to create a more functional space.

Such was the case for Elaine and Ed, whose kitchen was hit hard after frozen pipes burst and wrecked havoc on their Rob Roy home.

Before

Once upon a time, this Tuscan style kitchen was the height of luxury, but even grand details lose their luster over time. The homeowners were eager to eliminate what wasn’t working for them: busy granite countertops, an elevated bar that ironically made the island seem diminutive, and next to the fridge, an overstuffed floor-to-ceiling cabinet that they weren’t fond of.

Tuscan kitchen before remodel featuring outdated granite countertops and travertine backsplash, with elevated bar

Tuscan kitchen before remodel featuring outdated granite countertops, travertine backsplash, and too many glass-front cabinets.

Tuscan kitchen before remodel featuring outdated granite countertops and travertine backsplash, with a faux finish on the cabinetry

Tuscan kitchen before remodel featuring outdated granite countertops, travertine backsplash, and cabinets lacking in functionality..

Tuscan kitchen before remodel featuring outdated granite countertops and a poorly installed travertine backsplash

The one thing that had to stay? The massive amount of tile floor that runs through most of this level of the house and was undamaged in standing water. It was just too huge a budget buster to consider changing that at this time.

After

The couple’s overriding desire for the design of this kitchen remodel is to bring in a sense of calm, keeping our color palette light and airy. Also on the agenda: reimagining the cabinetry to take advantage of all of the vertical space in this room, and to eliminate the overuse of glass-front doors. Styling all of your random glassware and dishes on a daily basis in glass-front cabinets is no one’s idea of calm.

Kitchen remodel featuring stacked cabinets painted SW 6192 Coastal Plain, Aster Cream porcelain tile backsplash by Annie Selke, and creamy quartz countertops

Painting most of the Shaker style cabinets a soft shade of sage green enhances creamy tones and keeps the overall feeling in the room on the soothing side. Stacking upper cabinets so they extend up to the ceiling is more proportional in a kitchen with such high ceilings. And since the couple no longer want the high-capacity cabinet that used to be on the opposite side of the room, this second tier of cabinetry helps compensate for any loss of storage.

Kitchen remodel featuring cabinets painted SW 6192 Coastal Plain, floating French Oak shelves with rainbow colorized cookbooks, pewter KitchenAid mixer, SubZero refrigerator

Going higher with the cabinetry also gives us the opportunity to install a more substantial cabinet over the built-in SubZero fridge, and to create a pretty display space for colorful cookbooks on floating shelves in a French Oak finish.

Kitchen remodel featuring cabinets painted SW 6192 Coastal Plain, floating French Oak shelves with rainbow colorized cookbooks, pewter KitchenAid mixer

The antique molcajete belonged to Ed’s grandmother, who owned a tortilla factory, and features prominently next to a Talavera platter.

Kitchen remodel featuring French Oak cabinetry and creamy quartz countertops

Changing things up for the island, we broaden the view by expanding the bar at counter height, and repeat the French Oak finish on the cabinetry.

Kitchen remodel featuring stacked cabinets painted SW 6192 Coastal Plain, beachy Bristol Wood Bead Chandelier from Pottery Barn

This enormous wood bead chandelier takes center stage over the island, bringing in a coastal vibe for a family who enjoys summers on South Padre Island. This pendant somehow manages to feel both elegant and beach-casual.

Kitchen remodel featuring cabinets painted SW 6192 Coastal Plain, Aster Cream porcelain tile backsplash by Annie Selke, and creamy quartz countertops

Dedicated pot drawers surround the cooktop—a huge functional upgrade over previous drawers-behind-doors.

Kitchen remodel featuring Nuova Simonelli Oscar 2 Espresso Maker, sage green cabinets, Aster Cream porcelain tile backsplash by Annie Selke, creamy quartz countertops

The only Italian thing that stayed in the space? The Nuova Simonelli espresso maker. No one’s getting rid of that baby.

Kitchen backsplash featuring Aster Cream porcelain tile by Annie Selke

Light and bright is the order of the day, and we do that with creamy, textural tile backsplash and coordinating quartz countertops. On the walls in the kitchen and throughout all of the common areas throughout the house, a pale neutral with vanilla undertones.

Kitchen backsplash featuring beachy Aster Cream porcelain tile by Annie Selke and creamy quartz countertops.

Subtle cues of coastal style include this tone-on-tone tile backsplash with a textured ikat pattern that looks a little like the pattern on a sand dollar.

Kitchen remodel featuring shaker style cabinets painted SW 6192 Coastal Plain and antique brass drawer pulls and sea glass cabinet hardware

Another beachy element we’ve included are these handmade concave cabinet knobs with a crackle glaze and painted brass detail. They coordinate with modern cup-style drawer pulls in antique brass.

Julien counter stools from Grandin Road feature striped linen upholstery and nailhead trim, with French Oak finish on the wood legs.

At the bar, new counter-height stools in French Oak, with striped linen upholstery and nailhead trim.

West Elm Anton Round Marble Dining Table and Zoe Dining Chairs from Pottery Barn combine to create a beachy breakfast space

A new marble-topped breakfast table features a modern mango wood base. Four dining chairs with simple lines and oatmeal-colored basketweave upholstery complete the look.

Check out our design for a bathroom remodel in this home as well!