The day has come. The first true remodel project in our new home will be kicking off just two weeks before our first anniversary in this home. Nothing about 2020 ever went as planned, and I should have known that the same would apply to this home too.

You might remember I initially planned to paint all the walls in this house white but instead decided to live with the bright primary colors that existed. While many of the rooms have been repainted over the course of the past year, most of the work we’ve been doing while designing the kitchen remodel has centered around KEEPING one of the most polarizing design features in the home.

We’re kicking off demo on TUESDAY, which is hard to believe, and are slated to be finished up by mid-July. Hold on to your hats, because this is going to be a fun one. 

Here’s what we’re planning to change in the kitchen…

Replace the floors

We will be replacing the tile with a brighter stone that will bring a light and airy feeling to the space. 

Replace the cabinets (and remove the “appliance garages”)

As you’ll see pretty clearly in one of the photos below, the cabinets are falling apart in some areas of the kitchen. Since the layout isn’t changing much, we decided to go with BOXI by Semihandmade cabinets for the cooking space, beverage area, and dining area. We will be painting them in contrasting colors to help delineate the spaces from one another.

Replace the countertops

Have you ever cleaned a kitchen with tile countertops? If not, consider yourself lucky. It is TOUGH. This is where we are making a big splurge and going with a lovely natural stone. We will reveal the final selects in good time!

Update the appliances

Goodbye ancient stovetop! Bye-bye iridescent sink! We’ll bring in KitchenAid appliances, including a range that will not only bring my culinary dreams back to life but also add a colorful element to the space.

Update the layout

The layout will mostly remain the same, although we will be doing the following things: removing the island to create a larger dining area in the kitchen, moving the range, removing the wall ovens, and adding a pantry area.

Remove half of the wall between the kitchen and basement stairs

This threshold (pictured below) is SUPER small—barely twenty-one inches wide—and the existing placement of the wall creates a really narrow walkway from the dining area to the basement stairs. Opening up this space will make it less tight and improve the flow. 

Here’s what we’re planning to keep…

The wood paneling

We’re keeping the wood paneling as is throughout most of the kitchen, and will also be repurposing some of it as kitchen backsplash. I just couldn’t stomach the idea of losing the character the paneling brings or shelling out $$$$$ for new paneling.  

The electrical and plumbing locations

To save money, we’re keeping the electrical and plumbing elements in the same places as they are currently (although some of the plumbing fixtures will be replaced and certain plumbing lines will be capped). Given what I’ve learned from dealing with plumbing issues here already, there might be some surprises in store once we get into the walls. 

Stay tuned for more updates on the kitchen in the coming months!

Kate Arends

Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is forever testing the boundaries of her creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.