ARIZONA KITCHEN REMODEL BEFORE & AFTER

This was my mom's kitchen in Sedona and was last remodeled in the early nineties when we moved to Arizona and it showed.  Formica counters, cabinets in a honey maple shade that never received hardware, and wood floors that had seen better days.  My mom wanted to make an update but didn't want to spend too much (this is everyone I know). 

We choose the vinyl plank flooring for durability and ease of cleaning.  It’s practically indestructible with her dogs.  Everyone thinks it is real wood.  I’ve used it in three projects to date.

We had the single upper cabinet to the left of the window removed - it was always difficult to get into and was starting to bow after holding my mom's wedding china for 20 years.  I always think single upper cabinets look lonely and try to avoid them when designing a kitchen.  The shelves open up the kitchen and allow my mom to display antiques that have been in the family for generations and my brother's pottery.

The Formica countertops had to go - those paired with the color of the cabinets and the floor screamed 1990s.  My mom always complained about the short counter bar with only a 10" overhang, we put in black quartz countertops and were able to extend the overhang to 15" so you could sit comfortably at the counter.   All the appliances remained, the dishwasher, sink & faucet, fridge, and ovens - but we did buy a new black gas cooktop.

I know that people want to know why particular paint colors are selected so here it goes: I knew my mom liked color, she has marigold and brick colored walls in adjoining rooms, so I needed to select a color that was going to work with the other rooms.  There is also a red stone fireplace that is in this room (not shown) and finally I wanted a color that wasn't going to turn off future potential buyers.  The cabinets were in good condition, so we had them painted Benjamin Moore Spinach.  The kitchen window looks out onto Sedona desert trees and we used the green to pull in nature.  The cabinets never had hardware so I choose oil-rubbed bronze hardware that had a transitional feel - another finish would have felt too modern or contemporary and it also went with the exposed antique brass hinges that we didn't change.  I didn't want the dark cabinets and counter to weigh down the kitchen, so we painted the upper cabinets white to bring continuity to the white subway backsplash and left the cream walls to provide a little warmth.

So there you have it, there are certainly a few things that still could be done, but for now it is finished.  The cost was probably around $10,000 for the update.

Tell me in the comments below if you'd ever consider a green kitchen.