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
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.
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.
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.
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…
…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!
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!
Adding a trio of pendant lights over the bar further illuminates the space.
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!
Can you mix metals in a kitchen? Yes you can! We combined chrome faucets with brushed brass cabinet hardware in this kitchen remodel.
All of the cabinets were painted, with snowy white uppers and base cabinetry in a smoky shade of blue to compliment the 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.
Quartz countertops in a simulated white marble are so calming compared to the old, busy granite.