When Ashley and Matt embarked on their house hunt a few years ago, they found one in South Austin with a lot of dreamy details. A pool in the backyard, with greenbelt behind and roadrunners dashing through natural brush. A grand staircase off the entry set the stage for high ceilings, spacious interiors, and an open concept kitchen.

A very dark open concept kitchen.

Before

Austin kitchen before remodel

View of sink and fridge in South Austin kitchen before remodeling.

Dark outdated South Austin kitchen before remodeling

It may have been their forever home…but this was not their forever kitchen.

After

Ashley and Matt are the human embodiments of light & bright, and after this remodel, their kitchen embodies that spirit as well.

Recent kitchen remodel in Austin TX featuring white and blue cabinets, marble quartz counters and mid-century modern tile backsplash

The contrast between “before” and after” in this kitchen transformation is like a mighty exhale after holding your breath forever. What used to be heavy and dark is now airy and seemingly effortless. Formerly traditional in style, Ashley and Matt’s new kitchen incarnation feels more sleek and modern.

White and blue kitchen remodel featuring glass door cabinets, stainless refrigerator, mid-century modern tile backsplash, white marble quartz countertops

The couple took the opportunity to add a pot-filler over the cooktop, saving them from having to lug water across the expanse of wood floor.

Cooktop view in light, bright kitchen remodel

At the top of Ashley’s wish list for this kitchen remodel: replacing the previous oven/microwave pairing with a new set of double ovens…

Austin blue and white kitchen remodel with mid-century modern tile backsplash and marble quartz countertops

…which meant we needed to find an alternative placement for the microwave. One of the base cabinets was reconfigured to accommodate the microwave, with a deep drawer to fill the space beside it. Turns out, that drawer is the perfect depth for storing water bottles—a feature I now recommend on the regular!

White and blue kitchen remodel in Austin TX featuring under-cabinet microwave and mid-century modern tile backsplash.

What is that white knob on the microwave, you ask? Why, it’s a child lock device. And if you’re considering moving your own microwave into a base cabinet with littles in the house, you’ll want to get one for yourself. One of the kiddos in this household nuked the family iPad soon after the microwave was installed in its new location. Oof!

Undercabinet microwave featuring a child-lock device, surrounded by white and blue cabinetry, mid-century inspired tile backsplash and white marble quartz countertops.

Adding a trio of pendant lights over the bar further illuminates the space.

Light, bright kitchen remodel in Austin TX featuring white and blue cabinetry, undercabinet microwave and mid-century modern pendant lights hanging over the sink.

Open concept kitchen remodel blue cabinets white marble quartz countertop sleek stainless dishwasher mid-century pendant lights

So let’s talk about the details of the new kitchen design, starting with one of the stars of the show: this mid-century modern inspired tile backsplash, featuring a three-dimensional, geometric shape in porcelain blue. So simple, yet so chic!

Detail view of Cepac Verdon VER-4 Glacier porcelain blue mid-century modern inspired tile backsplash

Can you mix metals in a kitchen? Yes you can! We combined chrome faucets with brushed brass cabinet hardware in this kitchen remodel.

Detail view of brushed brass cabinet hardware on white door, with mid-century geometric tile backsplash and pot-filler

All of the cabinets were painted, with snowy white uppers and base cabinetry in a smoky shade of blue to compliment the backsplash.

Detail view of brushed brass hardware on blue painted cabinets and mid-century modern tile backsplash

The angular contours of the milk glass shade in these brushed brass pendant lights echo the geometry and mid-century style featured in the backsplash.

Angular milk glass mid-century modern pendant light fixture featuring brushed brass finish

Quartz countertops in a simulated white marble are so calming compared to the old, busy granite.

Bowl of orange clementines on white marble quartz countertops.