Planning a kitchen renovation?
Need Some Kitchen Renovation Ideas?
In this blog post we’re going to share with you no less than 13 different kitchen renovations complete with before/after pictures.
AFTER YOU GO THROUGH THIS BLOG POST YOUR MIND WILL BE FULL OF INSPIRATION FOR YOUR OWN KITCHEN RENOVATION!
PLUS this blog post is full of ideas you can swipe & deploy for your own kitchen.
I’ll let you in on a little secret.
I’m obsessed with cookery shows… second only to my love of home renovation programs!
It turns out I’m not alone, and this surge of interest is fuelling a kitchen renovation everywhere we look.
You’ve heard it said – ‘Kitchens and Bathrooms sell houses’
Renovating your cooking space is no longer an indulgence but a worthwhile investment in the value of your home.
Look no further for that all-important inspiration for your kitchen renovation/remodel project.
Here are 13 of our favourite, easy to copy, kitchen renovation & remodels that would look good in any home.
1. Flatpack Vintage
Before:
After:
The major changes to this kitchen (apart from a good scrub clean obviously) are the addition of more bench tops and a small island unit.
Having the space to spread out when you cook can feel quite luxurious – but it is also important to make sure you have enough space to move around and open cupboards and drawers.
The clean, crisp white cabinets are simple Ikea flat-pack products.
The new bench tops are from Ikea too – though they have stained them dark to add a touch more glamour.
For me, though, the standout addition is the reclaimed vintage chandelier.
Adding a central feature like this really draws the eye up towards the ceiling and has the affect of making the whole space feel bigger.
2. Timber Turnaround
Before:
After:
The amount of stained pine cabinetry on show here was the kitchen equivalent of double denim.
In contrast to many of the other projects in this list, this kitchen actually had ample sunlight accessing it, allowing the owners to opt for a sleek, dark colour scheme.
Again, they have added an island unit to increase that element of social interaction in the kitchen.
They have also greatly reduced the amount of wall cabinetry – opting instead for full height cupboards and appliances built into the wall.
This can be a great way to reduce the amount of visual clutter in a kitchen, making it feel minimal and modern.
3. Mean, Lean and Green
Before:
After:
These photos show what a dramatic difference removing visual barriers can make with a kitchen renovation.
The kitchen itself is no bigger but by opening it up, so that it feels part of the adjacent space, it feels much more spacious.
This connection is further reinforced by the continuous timber flooring between the two spaces.
This project was a complete DIY build and a great job they did too.
The brass pendent light fittings and unique wall tiles add a touch of class.
They have also opted to splash out on marble bench tops in the revamped kitchen.
There are some things are that worth spending a bit more money on and kitchen bench tops are one of them.
Stone, Marble & Stainless Steel are all great options for work tops.
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4. Opening The Avocado
Before:
After:
Another great kitchen transformation making the most of inexpensive Ikea cabinetry.
This is really quite a small kitchen and as an enclosed space it is dark and cramped (sound familiar?).
Opening it up to the adjacent living space has had a dramatic effect, and the shelving to the rear of the island unit adds some much needed declutter.
The have also wisely kept the appliances in pretty much the same place as the original layout.
Sometimes this is just not an option but, if you can, not moving the plumbing or gas connections too far can really help save on the labour costs of your kitchen renovation.
5. From Darkness To Light
Before & After:
This example just goes to show what a different colours and finishes can make to the feel of a space with a kitchen renovation.
Very little has changed but the transformation is pretty dramatic.
The dark timber cabinets were solidly built (often the case with older kitchens) and a lick of paint has brought them back to life.
If the cabinets themselves are OK but you don’t like the style a good option is to simply replace the doors with something new.
I also really like the DIY concrete bench top they have created for this kitchen.
6. A Pattern Language
Before:
After:
I like this kitchen renovation, I just can’t understand why they got rid of that wallpaper (!)
This is another great example of how a lick of paint can go a very long way.
Painting the dark timber cabinets and replacing the pull handles makes this look like a completely new kitchen – they have hardly even changed the layout.
Putting the money you saved by painting the existing cabinets into getting good quality bench top and decent lighting is always a good idea and something that easily brings you a return on your investment.
I also like how the pendent lighting over the island unit doubles as a convenient space to hang pots and pans.
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in 5 minutes or less, yes it’s really that fast!
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7. Budget Bling
Before:
After:
Another DIY Ikea special, this kitchen looks a lot more expensive that what it cost in reality.
They have managed to fit extra bench space into the window alcove, which I think is a really smart move, and the poured concrete bench tops make for a really interesting (and cheap) alternative to stone.
This project also makes extensive use of strategic lighting.
Putting light where you need it, such as underneath the cabinets or over the island unit (this is called task lighting), is a great way to avoid unwanted shadows or glare when you are trying to cook.
8. Turn Up the Volume
Before:
After:
Urgh.. this kitchen was so dark and ugly!
Have a look at the faux stone wallpaper…
The 1970s really was an interesting time for kitchen design.
Another seemingly dark cramped space, but this time the owners have cleverly extended upwards.
Removing the false ceiling to increase the volume of the space, while actually reducing the size of the kitchen to some extent, makes it feel so much more spacious, light and airy.
9. Galley Greatness
Before:
After:
This is a pretty classic example of the kind of kitchen we often find in terraced houses – long and narrow.
Again they have cleverly opted not to move the services too far and have connected with the adjacent living space by opening up the joinery and installing continuous timber flooring.
They have also added additional bench space with the new island and (thankfully) have plastered over that hideous feature ceiling!
10. A Very Retro Remodel
Before:
After:
This is a slightly weird one…
Where all of the other examples in this list are bringing old, dated kitchens into the 21st century – this one actually goes back in time to the 1950s!
Whatever you think of it, there is some good attention to detail – from the minty green cabinets to the American Diner bar stools.
I do like the glass fronted wall cabinets – they make a feature of the contents rather than hiding everything away, and reduce that blockiness you get with masses of high level cupboards.
11. A Kitchen With A View
Before:
After:
(photo © Chris Loves Julia)
The funny thing about this kitchen renovation is that the first thing that catches your eye is the window and how it is framed.
The before state kitchen is very outdated with ghastly colours.
But the fact the kitchen cupboards frame around the window is what really makes this kitchen an eye sore.
However, what a kitchen renovation eh?!
The horrible cupboards have been removed and the window now stands alone giving the kitchen a real focal point.
This really does look like a professional kitchen doesn’t it?!
The colour scheme works great with the wall colour too.
10/10 marks for this one.
12. Amazing What A Lick Of Paint Can Do
Before:
After:
There’s not been much done with this kitchen renovation except a clever colour scheme and a lick of pain.
Terraced houses that haven’t been extended suffer from narrow kitchens that can be dark unpleasant places to be in.
However as the kitchen renovation above demonstrates, a good use of colour can really liven up the place.
The wooden work tops look great too.
13. Knock That Wall Down
Before:
After:
This one is from the South Coast of England.
The original kitchen really shows it’s wear and tear and didn’t make a good use of space, it’s kinda squashed up against the wall with the entrance door right across from it.
However, once you remove that wall with the door, it opens up the space and makes the whole kitchen a lot more usable.
Couple that with the new sleek modern appliances & cupboards and you’ve got yourself one nice kitchen.
The finishes here aren’t overly expensive, most of the money would have went on the remodeling work and removing the wall.
14. Bonus: 20 Before/After Small Kitchen Renovation & Remodels
We like to over deliver so here’s a video that shows yet another 20 before/after kitchen renovation & remodels for your pleasure!
This video is all about small kitchen ideas so if you plan on renovating one of those then this is ideal.
Thanks for checking our Kitchen Renovations post! If you have any questions then just pop them into the comments section below.
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Want To Know How Much Your Renovation Will Cost?
The most common question we get on this site and from our clients is “how do I get a ball park figure for my building work so I have an idea on how much it will cost me before I start?”
And there hasn’t really been an easy answer to that…
…until now!
Well if the question above also applies to you then you need to check out our Ultimate Renovation & Remodelling Costing Toolkit.
Basically we’ve tried every costing tool both offline & online and we’ve put together this toolkit which shows you how to use what we consider the best 3 free online costing tools that exist for the UK market.
We break down each one and give you step-by-step instructions on how to use them and you’ll be shocked with how ridiculously easy to use they are.
We’ll also show you what info you need to fill them out and how to get this info if you don’t have it, again it’s really simple to do.
This is the best resource on the big bad interwebs for getting a pretty good ballpark figure for your renovation.
And the best part is that you can do it all online, there’s no calling anyone or booking an appointment or being hounded by sales people!
In summary:
- Discover the 3 free & super-simple online costing tools made for renovations & remodelling projects
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And this is just a sample!
So to find out more all you have to do is click the link below:
Discover the 3 Simple Ways to Find Out
How Much Your Renovation Will Cost
Get an accurate cost for your potential renovation
in 5 minutes or less, yes it’s really that fast!
Click Here Now
Wow, I loved your example of a gallery kitchen and how it can connect to a nearby living space. Having an open-concept house has always been something I was interested in because of the freedom of movement it can allow. Your example was a great way to merge a good kitchen idea with a big living space, so I’ll definitely use it as a reference for my upcoming kitchen renovations.
These remodeling transformations are inspiring. One of my favorites was the timber turnaround. Before the remodeling, the kitchen functional and had plenty of storage, but in terms of design, it was cluttered. After, the kitchen is very open and inviting. Overall, Islands definitely add a level of aesthetic appeal but also functionality for the inhabitants. Thanks for this article, definitely helped job my mind with some remodeling ideas.