Our kitchen is truly the heart of our home and such a bright, happy place where we love to spend time as a family! After closing on the house, we immediately made plans for all of the minor renovations we wanted to make. The kitchen was at the top of the list. Luckily, it had great bones — a traditional layout, high quality off-white cabinetry and lovely woodwork details. However, the brown granite made it feel quite dark and dated (“before” photos included at the end of this post). Our budget would not have allowed for a full renovation (nor was it necessary) but with a few simple changes and new accessories, we were able to completely transform the space into something we absolutely love.
The most significant change we made was replacing the countertops with honed carrara marble we found locally in Stamford, Connecticut. This immediately brightened up the space and made it feel much more fresh and modern. We explored quartz options, but in the end I felt strongly that nothing can replicate the look of true marble, even though the upkeep is a bit trickier. (Quick marble care tip: we love this product for daily marble cleaning and have had great success with this product for removing oil stains.)
We changed out the light fixtures to these ones from Mark D. Sike’s collection for Hudson Lighting. I LOVE them in the blue color and that’s what drew me to these fixtures initially, but in the end I decided the white would be better for this space and I’m very happy with how they turned out.
We changed out the kitchen faucet to this one from Signature Hardware. It was very reasonable, functional, and I love the very traditional look! I also switched out all of the knobs and drawer pulls to these and these from Rejuvenation.
But the real stars of the kitchen are our Serena and Lily Balboa counter stools! I could not love them more. The French blue pinstripe fabric on the seats are the perfect touch of blue and white. They were the first thing I purchased for the kitchen and they really make the space.
Accessories — it’s amazing how tiny accents of color truly set the tone for the entire kitchen. I was inspired by two pieces of Majolica crockery I found in France (similar from One Kings Lane linked here / Etsy has a great selection too), and have continued to add to my collection with a set of majolica dessert plates also found in Provence, as well as some cabbage dinner plates bought from Amazon. My favorite splatterware pieces from Bennington Potters are always in the middle of the kitchen island; they make me so happy.
The breakfast nook just adjacent to the kitchen has turned into one of my favorite corners of the house! I had always wanted a marble tulip dining table. This is the one we got and it is fabulous. It also comes in white lacquer top rather than marble, so you get a similar effect but for less cost.
The chairs in this space are also Serena & Lily, the sunwashed Riviera dining chairs, which is one of their iconic shapes but in a new, fresh rattan material. I’m in love! We accented the space with Serena & Lily’s perennials rosemount pillow covers on the window bench, as well as these ascot linen ruffle pillows from Amy Berry Home in a favorite Scalamandre fabric. The window bench was a hand-me-down, but Serena & Lily’s dining bench would work just as well.
The light fixture was a hand-me-down that we inherited, but I replaced the shades with these ones from Fermoie for a personal touch. I also love these as a more budget-friendly alternative.
We love using our Serena & Lily Cayman seagrass-wrapped pitcher and cups in this space, and the splattered pot is another Amy Berry piece.
Before photos:
Shop the room:
27 Responses
Oh wow. Divine, so warm and inviting. What beautiful spaces for you all to enjoy.
Thank you for sgaring,Looks fabulous ! Am interested in the cabinet paint product &color as I have a similar situation. Thank you
Sadly I don’t know the color as we did not change it from what the previous owners had done.
I am dying for your kitchen! We are going to remodel our kitchen soon and your pictures have helped me convince hubby to use Carrara marble, which is what I grew up with in my parents’ home. I love your style! Do you and your hubby both cook? Also, is your breakfast nook actually a separate room, like you go through a doorway or is it part of the kitchen but to one side? Last question, is that blue and white bowl also from Bennington Potters? Thanks for sharing and looking forward to reading more decorating ideas!
So kind of you! We love the carrara marble, great choice! 🙂 We do both cook. The breakfast nook is a separate but connected room via an open doorway. If you see the photo of the doorway looking into the kitchen, the nook is just to the right of that wall.And yes – the bowl is also Benngington Potters. xx
Beautifully done! I especially love the new hardware you chose for your cabinetry. Do you find it shows fingerprints very much? Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! I haven’t noticed this as an issue with the hardware.
Small wicker chair in the hallway is adorable😍 source?
Mainly Baskets! Can purchase via Amy Berry
Beautiful! What is your wall paint color (breakfast nook).
It is Benjamin Moore White Dove! We used this a lot throughout our house.
LOVE this, you have impeccable taste, I’m buying your table right now! Where did you get the bench behind the table? Thank you!
Thanks so much! That one was a hand me down, but Serena & Lily makes great options for banquettes! I linked within the post!
Such a beautiful transformation! Do you happen to have a source for the two botanical prints above the wicker chair? They’re just so lovely.
Thank you! Those are vintage.
What a lovely renovation! It’s amazing to see the “before” photos in comparison. Would you mind sharing the name of the marble table/source? Maybe it’s just me, but the links in the blog post don’t seem to be working currently. Thank you!
Oh no! Will look into it! xx
Lovely space. What is the wall color where the framed prints are with the chair?
It’s Benjamin Moored Dove White! Thank you!
Beautiful!!! Would you mind sharing the type and name of the backsplash tile you used?
Thank you!
It already existed from the previous owners, so I don’t have a source – thank you!!
Hi! Love this kitchen renovation! Can you tell me what flowers are in the center of the island? They are beautiful!
Delphinum! xx
Thank you! They’re delphinium! xo
Hi, do you have a link for the childrens wicker chair below the botanical prints? Thank you!
Yes! https://www.mainlybaskets.com/categories/780985/children_singlequotes_s/products/mb7825/child_singlequotes_s-wicker-play-chair