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Young House Love » Reader Redesigns » Reader Redesign: DIY Kitchen Do-over

| By John Petersik | October 20, 2011 | 160 Comments

Reader Redesign: DIY Kitchen Do-over

It’s no surprise that we’re in the mood for a good kitchen makeover these days. Okay, who are we kidding, we’re always in the mood for one. But Erin & Zach’s do-it-yourself remodel of their 1950’s kitchen is especially familiar (and inspiring since we’re just at the beginning of our current kitchen’s transformation). Here’s their letter:

We wanted to share the redo of our 1951 kitchen (take note of the sweet before lamp and the heavy-duty ceiling beam disappearing act).

Erin Zach Before

We were so lucky to peel up the old laminate floor and the plywood to find original (albeit quite damaged) wood floors that extended into the middle of the kitchen. We found matching red oak floor pieces and filled in the missing & damaged spots.

Erin Zach New Floor

One of the cool things we did was to buy two pre-made cabinets from Home Depot to create the breakfast bar. We put them side-by-side and filled one of the openings with wood pieces to make it seamless.

Erin Zach Breakfast Bar

We also re-used all the cabinets but updated the hardware. Painting that many cabinets and doors definitely took patience … and three coats of paint. The new blue color in kitchen is Behr Primer + Paint in Clear Pond, Eggshell.

Erin Zach After

Thanks so much for checking out our kitchen. We love it!! ~ Erin & Zach

We love it too, guys. Congrats on a job very well done! It’s a reminder of not only how much work is ahead of us, but also what a big payoff there can be at the end! Seriously, it doesn’t even look like the same room.

PS: We’ve announced the winners to this week’s giveaway. Click here to see if you’re one of them.

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Comments

  1. Avatar for Stephanie PhillipsStephanie Phillips says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:18 pm

    It’s so much BRIGHTER! I love it!

    Reply
  2. Avatar for IsabellaIsabella says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:21 pm

    Great! Did not think I’d like the blue, but it looks fantastic and so calm.

    Reply
  3. Avatar for MelissaMelissa says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:24 pm

    Holy cow….good job guys! I live in Western PA and there are so many kitchens that look like that…you remind me that if I buy a kitchen like that there is HOPE for it. :-)

    Reply
  4. Avatar for Julia @ Chris loves JuliaJulia @ Chris loves Julia says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:24 pm

    Jaw-dropping. Nice work!

    Reply
  5. Avatar for ArianaAriana says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:24 pm

    Amazing! The only reason I can believe it’s the same house is because of the windows!

    Reply
  6. Avatar for ErikaErika says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:24 pm

    AMAZING! I love white kitchen cabinets, and glad they made use with the old cabinets instead of tossing them.
    Wow – that looks sooo good!

    Reply
  7. Avatar for AliAli says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:27 pm

    Wow!!!

    Reply
  8. Avatar for PeggyPeggy says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:27 pm

    A very nice re-do!
    John and Sherry, I hope you’ll forgive me for meddling, but there’s just one element of your re-design that’s bugging me. I wonder if you’ve considered moving the pantry over to the fridge side. I know y’all thought it looked “monolithic” on that side, but think of the counter space you’d gain on the main work side of the triangle! Plus an unobstructed view of the dining area when you’re on that side of the kitchen.

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      October 20, 2011 at 3:44 pm

      We just didn’t want the folks sitting at the peninsula to be staring at the side of a pantry or upper cabinet- so using the low cabinet there will let people at the counter “breathe” a bit more – and make it feel more open from there.

      xo,
      s

  9. Avatar for ESBlondieESBlondie says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:27 pm

    Amazing job Erin & Zach!!! I love the white cabinets & black countertops. It reminds me our ours :)

    Reply
  10. Avatar for Lauren MLauren M says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:28 pm

    Hey Erin and Zach, MORE PICTURES PLEASE! Your kitchen is lovely.

    Reply
    • Avatar for Erin-n-ZachErin-n-Zach says

      October 20, 2011 at 3:42 pm

      Thank you so, so much. All that hard work has finally paid off! There are more in-progress pics here if you’d like to take a gander!

      http://flickr.com/gp/firesnaps/6C48JT

  11. Avatar for Stefani @ Try to EnjoyStefani @ Try to Enjoy says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:31 pm

    Amazing! You’re right – it does not even look like the same kitchen at all. It’s so beautiful! I’d love to see MORE during and after pics. Kitchen before and afters are the best!

    Reply
  12. Avatar for Ashley @ Lewis in LoveAshley @ Lewis in Love says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:34 pm

    WOW!!!!! That looks amazing! So clean, bright and cheerful. Great job, Erin & Zach!!!

    Reply
  13. Avatar for AshleyAshley says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:35 pm

    Beautiful! Although this is a kitchen, it gives me hope that there’s a chance for my bathroom to leave it’s disaster zone days behind.

    Reply
  14. Avatar for SharyShary says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:35 pm

    WOW! Truly amazing transformation. Great job!

    Reply
  15. Avatar for RachelRachel says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:36 pm

    Would love to see the budget breakdown!

    Reply
  16. Avatar for ConnieConnie says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:37 pm

    LOVE your kitchen remodel. It’s AMAZING!!!!

    Reply
  17. Avatar for LisaLisa says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:38 pm

    Beautiful job! Sherry, seeing the pendant lights over the peninsula in this kitchen made me wonder – are you and John planning a lighting overhaul as part of your makeover? I can’t recall you mentioning it, but I’m betting you have some fun ideas for that in mind, as well!

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      October 20, 2011 at 3:43 pm

      Oh yes! Our florescent lights have to go!

      xo,
      s

  18. Avatar for John@ Our Home From Scratch[email protected] Our Home From Scratch says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:39 pm

    Wow, that’s dramatic. Nicely done!

    Reply
  19. Avatar for KellyKelly says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:40 pm

    The white cabinets and that beautiful blue paint really open and brighten up that room! Love the redesign.

    Reply
  20. Avatar for ashleeashlee says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:41 pm

    sherry & john,

    where you are starting a kitchen reno of your own, i thought i would ask, in your last house, i believe you replaced your windows. did you just go through home depot for that, or did you go through a specialty window place?

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      October 20, 2011 at 3:43 pm

      We got a bunch of estimates and ended up going with a company with a local store (Window World) that had the best deal!

      xo,
      s

  21. Avatar for TaraTara says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:42 pm

    Looks great. Love the blue with the classic white cabinets and black counters. Any chance you can add a link to their blog or more pictures? I’d love to see a better view of the range and that breakfast bar from the front/cabinet side.

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      October 20, 2011 at 3:03 pm

      Erin & Zach don’t have a blog (that we know of, at least) but perhaps they can share a link to some more pictures or post them on our Facebook page.

      -John

    • Avatar for Erin-n-ZachErin-n-Zach says

      October 20, 2011 at 3:37 pm

      You can check out the pics here (http://flickr.com/gp/firesnaps/6C48JT)! Thank you so much for the wonderful comments! :)

  22. Avatar for WendyMIWendyMI says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:43 pm

    WOW…. it’s so light… love love love it!

    Reply
  23. Avatar for ashleeashlee says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:44 pm

    ps, i can’t wait til you see my kitchen reno! it’s going to take a while though.

    Reply
  24. Avatar for AllynAllyn says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:44 pm

    What a fun, happy room!
    Why oh why do people cover good hardwood floors?!
    My parents bought a house and found gorgeous parquet under the nasty carpet in the living room. Christmas came early.
    But seriously, laminate over hardwood?! It’s a travesty!

    Reply
    • Avatar for tarynkaytarynkay says

      October 20, 2011 at 5:10 pm

      I was talking to one of my neighbors about that the other day. Miss Betty has lived here since 1950 and she did cover her hardwood floors up with carpet and linoleum, and then uncovered and refinished them recently. She said that back in the 1950s, wood was a real pain to live with. Our amazing modern polyurethanes didn’t exist, so you had to constantly wax it and strip the old wax- it was just a lot of upkeep. Heaters weren’t as efficient either, so hardwoods got very cold in the winter. Everyone was thrilled back then with the introduction of affordable, warm, luxurious wall-to-wall carpet and easily cleaned linoleum. Miss Betty’s husband actually had these installed for her… for Christmas! And she was delighted with his thoughtfulness and invited everyone over to see her dazzling new floors!

    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      October 20, 2011 at 5:22 pm

      So funny!

      xo,
      s

    • Avatar for KathyKathy says

      October 20, 2011 at 6:51 pm

      @tarynkay – Cute story from Miss Betty, and it’s interesting to hear the practical reasons people in the 50s and 60s decorated the way they did. Makes sense!

    • Avatar for LauraCLauraC says

      October 21, 2011 at 10:38 am

      I’ve asked my mom the same question, as my parents refuse to ditch their carpet for the original wood floors they know are underneath. She remembers as a little girl in the 40s/50s getting carpet in their farmhouse and how much she loved it. It was really popular and soft and warm. She also lived with painted wood floors when I was a baby, and as much as they are raved about now, she hated them too, as they were chippy and cold, cold, cold (I was a toddler crawling around and she said she wouldn’t let me in the morning when it was freezing in NY). She actually made the landlords give her new paint to redo them, and she repainted them herself (which she said was SO much work). So yeah, there are reasons. I really love talking to people and learning the logic and history behind things. I think it’s important not to criticize designs and fads from yesteryears b/c people in the future will do the same to us! And we know how popular the stuff we do is ;-)

  25. Avatar for JanJan says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:47 pm

    Seriously impressive! Do you know where they got their exhaust hood, it looks great!

    Reply
    • Avatar for Erin-n-ZachErin-n-Zach says

      October 20, 2011 at 3:43 pm

      HI there — just a note that we bought it on overstock.com. It came in a gigantic box a few days later. Hooray!

  26. Avatar for AinhoaAinhoa says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:48 pm

    It looks awesome!!! I love white kitchen cabinets. And I also love the two-height breakfast bars because it can conceal the mess behind it!

    Reply
  27. Avatar for GreenInOCGreenInOC says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:49 pm

    Wow! What vision you have!!

    I’m curious what’s on the other side of the breakfast bar, where the stove is. How much space is between the stove and breakfast bar, is there a cabinet to the right of the stove?

    Reply
  28. Avatar for AshleyAshley says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:52 pm

    WOW!! It looks so awesome!!

    Reply
  29. Avatar for AllisonAllison says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:52 pm

    We just got rid of that EXACT same lamp from our kitchen. Now I wish the rest of our kitchen looked as great as this one!

    Reply
  30. Avatar for Anna SeeAnna See says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:54 pm

    Wowza! What a great renovation. I love it!

    Reply
  31. Avatar for LindaLinda says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:54 pm

    Love a kitchen with white cabinets, dark counters plus an interesting accent color on the walls.
    stylish and classic w/o the risk of being dated for a very long time.

    Reply
  32. Avatar for Kristen @ Popcorn on the StoveKristen @ Popcorn on the Stove says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:55 pm

    It’s so bright in there – I love it!

    Reply
  33. Avatar for JennPJennP says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:58 pm

    I love that they removed the uppers on the right wall and just featured the gorgeous range hood! There’s plenty of cabinetry without them, and it really opens up the room. I can’t imagine how much money was saved by finding the old wood floors, reusing cabinetry and opting out of a backsplash, but it is still such a huge transformation!!

    Reply
  34. Avatar for AmyAmy says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:58 pm

    WOW!
    More and more inspiration. Love it!

    Reply
  35. Avatar for AmandaAmanda says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:59 pm

    This looks incredible!! It’s amazing how much brighter it looks, love the white cabinets and of course, the blue walls.

    Reply
  36. Avatar for Nette @ This Dusty HouseNette @ This Dusty House says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:59 pm

    It’s a gorgeous makeover, but I’m curious… how did they manage to take out the beam without causing structural issues? I would have assumed the beam was there for a reason? Or perhaps not?

    Reply
    • Avatar for ESBlondieESBlondie says

      October 20, 2011 at 3:25 pm

      I can’t speak for them, but we had a similar beam in our kitchen that we thought was structural (1950’s house), but it was just 2×4’s and drywall. So we were able to remove it with no issues. Maybe the fake beams were trendy back then.

      http://adventuresixtwelve.wordpress.com/2011/10/04/then-the-wall-came-down/

    • Avatar for Erin-n-ZachErin-n-Zach says

      October 20, 2011 at 3:44 pm

      Yep, it’s exactly as ESBlondie says – they were purely decorative (and in spots, not attached all that well to the ceiling). It made a huge difference to get rid of them!

  37. Avatar for LissaLissa says

    October 20, 2011 at 3:01 pm

    I have those exact same cabinets in my house. Now I know what they will look like white without the ugly (at least in my opinion) hardware on them. Now to just find the time to paint mine!!

    Reply
  38. Avatar for VickiVicki says

    October 20, 2011 at 3:02 pm

    Beautiful – we just redid our kitchen (in fact, the contractors cleaned up their stuff when I was on my way to have our baby!) but seeing you guys work your kitchen and this beautiful kitchen re-do make me want to do it again! (But I don’t want to live without a kitchen again…).

    We do have a TINY (if I only I could make those letters tiny) bathroom that needs some serious love. It will have to be a stand in.

    Reply
  39. Avatar for Carolyn @ LelieBelle.comCarolyn @ LelieBelle.com says

    October 20, 2011 at 3:04 pm

    Wow, this is amazing!

    Reply
  40. Avatar for britt@knewlywifed[email protected] says

    October 20, 2011 at 3:07 pm

    Fabulous! Love that beadboard on the breakfast bar!

    Reply
  41. Avatar for Victoria CVictoria C says

    October 20, 2011 at 3:09 pm

    That is so inspiring. What a huge difference.

    Reply
  42. Avatar for KathyKathy says

    October 20, 2011 at 3:11 pm

    My husband and I are wanting to paint our cabinets and put in black countertops. LOVE these!!

    Reply
    • Avatar for KathyKathy says

      October 20, 2011 at 6:52 pm

      Be sure to follow YHL tutorial on painting cabinets. I followed it religiously and it worked out great!

    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      October 20, 2011 at 8:24 pm

      Aw thanks Kathy! So glad.

      xo,
      s

  43. Avatar for Wom-mom EthneWom-mom Ethne says

    October 20, 2011 at 3:11 pm

    I’ve never been a huge fan of white cupboards. But I have to say the more I see on your site here and Pinterest, the more I’m starting to like them. I’m gonna dog my mom to paint her cupboards white. What was your favorite color of white for cupboards, Sherry?

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      October 20, 2011 at 3:42 pm

      I love Benjamin Moore’s Decorators White!

      xo,
      s

  44. Avatar for MelodyMelody says

    October 20, 2011 at 3:11 pm

    Those are the EXACT same cabinets and hardware we have in the kitchen in the house we just bought!!! We just started taking the doors off last night to paint them and I was worried about the raised panel in the middle of the doors looking alright once we painted them white, and this just made me so EXCITED! I literally jumped up and down excited when I saw this! Thanks for featuring this! This made me believe that my kitchen can look beautiful with these ugly cabinets! :-)

    Reply
  45. Avatar for TrishaTrisha says

    October 20, 2011 at 3:13 pm

    White cabinets have always been my love. The place looks awesome.

    Reply
  46. Avatar for ErinErin says

    October 20, 2011 at 3:14 pm

    I love seeing budget makeovers and I am constantly amazed at what a huge different paint can make! So bright and beautiful.

    Reply
  47. Avatar for LindseyLindsey says

    October 20, 2011 at 3:16 pm

    Does anyone else find themselves scrolling up and down, over and over, not believing this is the same room? I do this with all the before and afters!

    Reply
  48. Avatar for Molly KMolly K says

    October 20, 2011 at 3:18 pm

    GORGEOUS!!! That color is very similar to my dining room and I’m a huge sucker for white cabinets!

    Reply
  49. Avatar for jbhatjbhat says

    October 20, 2011 at 3:25 pm

    I’m going to say what Sherry said the other day, in response to my own friend’s kitchen: Beyond gorgeous!

    jbhat

    Reply
  50. Avatar for BarbaraBarbara says

    October 20, 2011 at 3:27 pm

    Great job! You guys are so talented!

    Reply
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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…
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