It’s been too long but I’m finally sharing all the details on our kitchen remodel! When we bought our house, we knew the first real work we wanted to do on it was in the kitchen. While it was perfectly functional, we could see the potential for something so much better hiding in just a few outdated 2014-style details. The uneven counters really closed the space and also made having barstools not possible with the small overhanging, and we really didn’t like the color of the granite. Also, the cabinets were in great shape but we didn’t like the cream color and knew some paint would make a huge difference.
The first step was to even out the countertops. We wanted to do the biggest bit of construction first so that we could finish with paint. The company we hired to replace the counters (Granite Depot Charleston) also came in and did the demo, and once the counters were even the wiring was the next step. We had 3 switches and four outlets on the second tier of the counters, so hiring a good electrician was key. The outlets had to just disappear, but the switches needed to be rerouted since they went to our disposal and two sets of lights over the bar.
Finding an electrician who actually listened to me and what we wanted was really hard. I ended up meeting with 6 different companies and the prices differed in thousands of dollars. It was crazy! It’s so hard to find someone who isn’t just trying to take advantage of you, because really, I didn’t know what I was doing or what was right. In the end, we found an amazing guy who didn’t overcharge us. Normally I’d share, but he was sorta an independant guy.
Once the counters were level, it was time to get them measured and installed with the new material. Deciding on the quartz ended up being easy! We went to AGM Imports which is a huge warehouse where you can see all of the options for slabs up close and in person. I’d highly recommend this since it can look so different than in photos! Also, if you choose a design that has a lot of veins, you can choose the actual slab you get. Our design was very simple so we didn’t have to do that. We went with Carrara Quartz, which was a mid-range priced slab.
Also, before we installed the counters, we had to pick out the sink and the faucet, since they would be cutting the holes for each. We wanted a farm sink but with the placement of our current sink, we were told it was impossible, so this white undermount is what we went with. I knew I wanted a brass sink that had a vintage feel to it, and this one is what we decided on. I love them! I really like that the sink didn’t have a divider and that the faucet came with a sprayer.
Also before the counter installation happened, we wanted to paint the island. I had this idea of painting all the lower level cabinets a pretty grey/blue color, so I thought it would be pretty to paint the island the same color. After doing a LOT of swatches, we ended up choosing Keepsakes by PPG paints.
We are SO pleased with the counters! It definitely was the difference we were looking for. We asked for a big lip on the outside edge so that barstools would make sense, and it just gave us so much more counter space than before when it was divided into two tiers. Next step; paint.
I am in love with the way the blue and the white went together! We went with the same blue as the island like I wanted, Keepsakes by PPG, and for the white we chose White 52 by Behr. It was the coolest white I could find without being blue, and it matched the color of the pantry door the best (oddly enough the builders decided not to match the color of the pantry door with the cabinets).
I’d highly recommend hiring someone to do your cabinet paint because it is a big job. Each door was taken off and our guy set up a big workspace in the garage where he used a sprayer to get an even coating, then he used a roller for the bases and inside the cabinets. I’d also highly recommend splurging for special cabinet paint, since cabinets get a lot of wear and tear. We went with the semi-gloss premium cabinet & trim paint.
The painting took about 5 days, and then it was time for the backsplash.
After doing a lot of research, I decided to go with Palmetto Tile for our new backsplash. Out of all the options in the Charleston area, Palmetto Tile had the biggest and best variety I could find, and they really listened to my ideas and helped me find exactly what I was looking for. It was so helpful to be able to bring samples home with me so I could compare them to the quartz and paint we already had in the house. We ended up going with some beautiful English handmade square tiles in a color called Chalk that went perfectly with the cool white quartz and the blue counters. I love the way each tile has some variation, giving the look an organic feel.
The last step in our kitchen was to find and install the cabinet hardware. I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted, and after scouring Pinterest for ideas, I ended up finding exactly what I was looking for. They were sold out online, but I went to a local store Bird Decorative Hardware and found what I needed by a brand called Baldwin. I went with these cup pulls in 3″ and these spherical knobs in 1.25″, both in polished brass to match the brass faucet.
And that’s it!! We still have a couple things left we want to do, like replace the pendant lights and build a hood over the stove, but it’s not at least 90% done and the difference is HUGE! We are so happy with our new updated kitchen, and the best part about it is that we invested in our home value which we will thank ourselves for when we sell the house down the road.
And that’s our kitchen remodel! Thanks for reading!
