This kitchen project showcases kitchen makeover ideas. And in this case, this beloved cook needed a kitchen makeover badly!
People used to call this cook from all over the world to get advice on just which herb or spice or combination of ingredients would work for a special dish. Her reputation was as large as her heart, and her talent with combining spices legendary.
Since this kitchen was so important to the Client – she loved to cook and spent most of her day here, it was vital that we captured all the needs and wants that she had to have in this small space.
Kitchen Makeover Ideas for a Busy Cook
Lack of Storage and Counter Space
This kitchen is small and it was poorly designed by the builder. In addition, everything was always messy and difficult to find. Items fell on the ground on a regular basis and it was hard to keep clean, let alone find the ingredients.
Outdated Cabinets and Wallpaper
The builder cabinets were literally falling off their hinges. Water damage was causing the countertop to expand. The wallpaper border was ancient and fraying.
Ventilation Needs for Cooking with Spices
This cook was a magician when it comes to combining spices. Every dish was flavorful and a delight to eat. However, cooking with spices requires a lot of ventilation power so one of this kitchen’s must haves was a new and powerful kitchen exhaust fan.
Smart Kitchen Makeover Ideas and Solutions
It’s hard to cook when the kitchen is tiny and doesn’t have enough storage or work space. However, once we examined the needs and wants we were able to plan for some clever kitchen makeover ideas.
Closing the Pass-Through for More Storage
There wasn’t enough cupboards due to a pass through from the kitchen to the living room. We closed this off which enabled us to add in additional upper cabinets and dedicated space for the microwave. The kitchen is small and space is limited. The client didn’t want to make the kitchen open to the living/dining space due to cooking smells.
Adding Cabinet Space and a Microwave Niche
One of the first things to do once the cabinets were out of the kitchen was to close off the pass through, and drywall it over on both sides. This gave us gave space for a microwave cabinet on the kitchen wall.
It also allowed for bottom cabinets, countertop, and display storage.
Installing a High-Powered Ventilation Fan
We installed a high powered ventilation fan, replacing the builder’s one. This meant that smells, while not eliminated, are lessened in other parts of the condo.
Design Details That Made a Difference
Easy-to-Clean Glass Tile Backsplash
These green glass tiles are easy to wipe down and they help bounce the light around in this windowless kitchen.
Bright, Fresh Finishes in a Windowless Kitchen
We opted for white glossy cabinets, again the shine will bounce the light around, and they are easy to clean.
Tiled Floors, Quartz Countertops
We chose dark, not black tiles for ease in cleaning. White quartz with speckles of green glass and mirror brighten the countertop.
Spice Organization and Storage Upgrades
Uniform Glass Containers for Herbs and Spices
For this cook, one of the most important kitchen makeover ideas centred around her cooking habits.
Storage was the most obvious – not just for her spice jars but also for her food containers and pantry items. Countertop space was also essential as she made multiple dishes for each meal. And, as someone lucky enough to enjoy some of these meals, they were all delicious.
This cook used a lot of spices in her cooking. One of the changes that made the greatest impact was taking her mish-mash (yes, that’s a technical term!) of spice and herb containers and de-canting all of them into similar sized glass containers which we then put in a drawer so it was easy to access but tidy.
Happy Client, Successful Kitchen Makeover
“I love what Clarissa has done with my kitchen. It never worked for me – was always messy and cluttered without enough storage space. When I went on vacation Clarissa and her team came in and renovated the kitchen – changing the floors, kitchen cabinets, counter top, painting, and installing beautiful green glass back splash tiles. I love it! It was dark and dingy before – now it’s bright and fresh and clean. Clarissa even made sure there was space for a spice drawer so now I am organized and able to cook even more.” Nishat K
Kitchen Makeover Ideas for Your Own Project
Identify Your Cooking and Storage Needs First
One of the most important things to consider when designing a kitchen is to think about your cooking and storage needs. You’ll find that the best kitchen makeover ideas for you will come from your must haves.
- Do drawers or cabinets work better for you?
- Is additional storage for seasonal or party dishes, bowls, plates, or glasses needed?
- Do you need extra ventilation for spices and cooking with high heat?
- How important is counter space?
- Are there some appliances that have to be out on the counter as they are used all the time?
Balance Functionality Before Choosing Finishes
Do some research before purchasing items – are they easy to clean? Do they stain easily? (lemon juice and red wine permanently stain marble) Are the floors durable to withstand water or liquids? There is a trend towards using hardwood in the kitchen to create a seamless look but if you have toddlers throwing food or liquids on the floor you would want to find a more durable flooring option.
Small Details That Maximize Everyday Use
By really digging deep and thinking about your cooking/storage/entertaining needs you can start writing up a list of must-have’s. That’s a great starting point for creating a kitchen that is functional. Ignore the “pretty” items like countertop and backsplash details until you’ve really worked out the functional details.
Is a kitchen renovation in your future? Click HERE to read “Is a Kitchen Renovation a good investment?”
If you’re interested in reading about the study on what return you’d get for a kitchen renovation you can find that HERE on the Appraisal Institute of Canada. While it’s Canadian focused it will translate to many other jurisdictions.
