Young House Love

Home Decorating, DIY Tutorials, & Shenanigans

  • Our Current House
  • Our Previous Homes
    • Our Richmond House
    • Our Beach House
    • Our Duplex
  • Before & Afters
    • Our Current House
    • Our Previous House
    • Our Beach House
    • Our Duplex
    • Our First House
    • Our Second House
    • Our Showhouse
  • DIY & Decorating Tips
    • Most Popular
    • Home Improvement
    • Painting
    • Cleaning & Organizing
    • Crafting & Art
    • More . . .
  • Podcast
    • Getting Started
    • Show Notes
  • Shop
    • Our Fav Home Finds
    • Our Lighting Line
    • Our Books
    • Book Club Picks
    • Black-Owned Businesses

Young House Love » Reader Redesigns » Reader Redesign: De-Cookie Cuttered Kitchen

| By John Petersik | November 17, 2011 | 84 Comments

Reader Redesign: De-Cookie Cuttered Kitchen

This email from Laurel-Dawn sounded like a common situation. You find yourself in a cookie cutter home, dying to put your own personal spin on the house so it doesn’t look exactly the same way that the builder left it. Well Laurel-Dawn and her husband definitely turned a common kitchen into something spectacular. Here’s her letter:

“I live in a super simple home. It’s what my mom calls a “tract home” which I personally hate, but I guess it’s true. I live in one of those neighborhoods where all of the houses look the same and it’s hard to put a personal stamp on things. I dream of someday updating a home with a lot of style from the get-go. Until then, I’m changing every surface of my abode, room by room, until it feels like me (and my husband too, I guess!?) Anyway, my dad helped me redo the kitchen and it’s my favorite space in our house. Here’s the before…

Laurel Dawn Before

… and the during…

Laurel Dawn During

… and the after…

Laurel Dawn After 1

Lauren Dawn After 2

Laurel Dawn After 3

Thanks so much for the opportunity to be featured!” – Laurel-Dawn

Isn’t that amazing and borderline mind-blowing? Our favorite parts are the decorative corbels on the island and the rich wall color with the crisp white cabinets (and of course we love that she worked with what she had and just painted the original cabinets). You can peruse more pics and details over on her blog too. And if you’re in the mood for more of their home’s transformation, you should check out their dining room makeover. We’re obviously on a kitchen kick lately (go figure) but it’s a really cool update too!

Pssst- Katie B just posted a bunch of pics from our visit, and all the Clara + Will ones are killing us. Also, Sherry’s making a pretty awesome crazy face in one of them. Check things out here.

More posts from Young House Love

Filed Under: Reader Redesigns

Filling Cabinet Gaps Around Our Stove
Four Things

Comments

  1. Avatar for LauraLaura says

    November 17, 2011 at 11:01 pm

    It’s beautiful! Any chance you could provide the source for that pastry dome on the island? I’ve been looking for something like that forever! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      November 18, 2011 at 9:04 am

      Hopefully Laurel-Dawn will drop in with that info or you can pop over to her blog for it!

      xo,
      s

  2. Avatar for MiriamMiriam says

    November 18, 2011 at 2:44 am

    Hello
    They’re beautiful your houses.
    But where I live you can not put the oven above the cooking plate.
    Do not you put hood?
    Thank you.
    I do not speak English and this is translated with translator
    Miriam

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      November 18, 2011 at 9:03 am

      Here’s hoping Laurel-Dawn will stop in with some info for ya! I believe that’s a vented microwave (it has a vent hood built into the bottom that sucks up odor and redirects it up and out through a hidden duct in the upper cabinet).

      xo,
      s

    • Avatar for heatherheather says

      November 18, 2011 at 10:01 am

      Hi Miriam,

      What language do you speak?

      Heather

  3. Avatar for AshleyAshley says

    November 18, 2011 at 4:17 am

    Sometimes I get depressed looking at the before and afters, because our apartment sucks so much more than the befores, and there is NOTHING I can do about it. But they make good fodder for my inspirations folder, at least. :-D

    When I first saw those bar stools, I thought they were the same ones I had seen on clearance at Target awhile back. Looks like they still have these, and they’re quite a bit cheaper than the Pottery Barn ones:

    http://www.target.com/p/Andres-Rectangle-Saddle-Barstool-Espresso/-/A-13518908

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      November 18, 2011 at 9:19 am

      Great find!

      xo,
      s

  4. Avatar for Katie@Paisley Print Shoes[email protected] Print Shoes says

    November 18, 2011 at 8:31 am

    LOOooove the light cabinets and the stools!! Wow!

    Reply
  5. Avatar for patriciapatricia says

    November 18, 2011 at 8:56 am

    This is the best redo I’ve ever seen. WOW what a gorgeous kitchen. I’m in awe. The corbels are GORGEOUS. Love love love it.

    Reply
  6. Avatar for Elisa @ The Self LifeElisa @ The Self Life says

    November 18, 2011 at 9:34 am

    Looks awesome! Love all the little touches they put into it!

    Reply
  7. Avatar for heatherheather says

    November 18, 2011 at 9:35 am

    Hard to believe from the before’s right now, but that layout is almost exactly the same layout we’re doing when we renovate out kitchen. Same placement of appliances – even the window and sink are in the exact same spot. Our finishes will look entirely different but the layout is spot on. It’s nice to see it in a finished setting.

    Reply
  8. Avatar for ChristinChristin says

    November 18, 2011 at 9:41 am

    Wow! I didn’t think the before was all that bad, but the after is seriously beautiful. Well done!!

    Reply
  9. Avatar for RachelRachel says

    November 18, 2011 at 9:58 am

    That backsplash is gorgeous! I love it!

    Reply
  10. Avatar for Nessa@{CasaBraaflat}[email protected]{CasaBraaflat} says

    November 18, 2011 at 10:03 am

    love the cabinets and the stainless steel. i am getting new stainless appliances this weekend and i cannot wait. seeing this makes me even more excited.
    sidenote: working on potty training today so I could use a few prayers or at least good potty karma sent my way! sorry i couldn’t resist.

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      November 18, 2011 at 10:08 am

      Ooh, big day! Lots of good potty training well-wishes headed your way!!!

      xo,
      s

  11. Avatar for Ashley JAshley J says

    November 18, 2011 at 10:42 am

    Laurel-Dawn, please tell us where you got the backsplash! I am obsessed!

    Reply
  12. Avatar for Laurel-Dawn McBurneyLaurel-Dawn McBurney says

    November 18, 2011 at 11:01 am

    Thanks for the amazing complements YHL readers! Wow, you guys are an awesome bunch! Laura, I got the pastry dome from Pottery Barn a few years ago, but I’ve seen them everywhere lately! Try doing a shopping search for a “cloche” and I’m sure you’ll come up with a ton of different shapes and sizes! As for the base of the pastry dome, it is just a wood charger from Target!

    Ashley J, the backsplash was a lucky and super cheap find on Overstock.com, and so was the sink and faucet! Here is the link to the tile:

    http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/SomerTile-12.5×12.5-in-Morocco-2.5-in-White-Porcelain-Mosaic-Tile-Pack-of-10/4798935/product.html

    They run out fast and then usually re-stock these beauties, so get them while you can! Also, I got a few cases with multiple breaks in the tiles, but in all, it was super successful, so just make sure you order 3-4 more sheets than necessary.

    Reply
  13. Avatar for AllysonAllyson says

    November 18, 2011 at 11:12 am

    I used to live next door to Laurel’s sister. I love her blog!

    Reply
  14. Avatar for LaurelLaurel says

    November 18, 2011 at 1:21 pm

    Crazy! My name is Laurel Dawn! It’s rare to meet another Laurel, and absolutely unheard of to find another Laurel Dawn!!!

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      November 18, 2011 at 1:41 pm

      Wow- that is amazing!

      xo,
      s

  15. Avatar for StacyStacy says

    November 19, 2011 at 1:51 pm

    I’m loving the dark colored walls and light cabinets. Gorgeous redo!

    Reply
« Older Comments

Stuff We Love

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

John and Sherry smiling against pink backgroundHey, we’re John & Sherry. We’ve fixed up 7 homes, written books, designed products, started a podcast, and then downsized & moved to the beach! Here you’ll find over 3,000 DIY projects & home updates. More about us…
*This site contains ads and affiliate links*
See our disclaimer & privacy policy to learn more

Latest Finds

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

SHOP OUR LIGHTING

Young House Love Shades Of Light Capiz Chandelier

GET POSTS BY EMAIL

We’re Digging

Traditional Rug
The “Magic” Rug
Smokeless Solo Stove Firepit
Smokeless Firepit
Woven Storage Ottoman
Storage Ottoman
Subtle Pink Rug
Our Bedroom Rug
Blue Air 211 Air Purifier
Our Air Purifiers
Faux Potted Olive Tree
Faux Olive Tree
Kohler Memoirs Toilet
Our Favorite Toilet
Soft Striped Rug
Soft Striped Rug
SEE MORE OF OUR FAVORITE FINDS > >

  • About
  • FAQs
  • Press
  • Contact
  • :)

© 2023 Young House Love ® · Disclaimer · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · A Fun Wordpress theme on Genesis Framework · Hosted by Liquid Web