Before & After Ginger’s Kitchen
I had the pleasure of working with a long-time colleague Ginger Burr who has a fabulous business helping individuals to create an image and wardrobe they love. Check her out here, https://totalimageconsultants.com/ She’s amazing at what she does and it’s been a pleasure to collaborate with her on a variety of projects over the years. In fact we’ve known each other for more than 30 years now! Time flies!
Most recently, I was thrilled when she asked me to help her with a partial renovation of her primary kitchen. Yes – she has two because she and her wife converted a two-family home into their home with Ginger’s office on the first floor. We’re attempting to wrap up the first floor kitchen with some updates as well. To be continued.
When we first met Ginger was clear about what she didn’t like, including the:
Countertops (a dark – well black granite that seemed to weigh the kitchen down)
Dark wooden floors (she loves color and there was none to be had here)
Backsplash (again, a very dark slate-like color and texture)
Sink (because a new one would compliment the new countertops)
Fixtures (the jewelry of the kitchen, the cabinet knobs, pulls and faucet – that no longer reflected a current and up-to-date look).
Lighting (no task lighting to speak of but was needed)
Paint (always improves a space).
Because many of the elements of the kitchen were dark and out of date we focused on the items she disliked the most.
There’s no reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater, so we kept the items that were still working and that she and her wife wanted to keep – like appliances and the cabinets. When we lightened up other aspects of the kitchen including the countertops and backsplash, it made the wooden cabinets feel warm, not dated.
In terms of infusing color, there are a few places that can be incorporated to make an impact. The backsplash is always a place where at least some color can be infused – behind the stove, or throughout the kitchen. The flooring (Ginger preferred tile) can also be a place to add some color and turquoise is a favorite of hers so we decided that’s where the color would go.
Her backsplash is an artisan subway tile that has a wave or texture to it – like a potter had spent hours creating each tile. I love it and if I hadn’t used glass open shelving in my kitchen, I would have seriously considered it. It’s just beautiful.
A lighter countertop also brightened up the kitchen as did painting around the window above the sink. Sometimes it’s the simplest of things that can make a big difference. So many of my clients and others I hear from are fearful of painting natural woodwork. It’s a great idea for some but not for others. I understand.
Fixtures make a huge difference. They really are the jewelry of the kitchen. I consider cabinet knobs and pulls, faucets, and light fixtures play the biggest role. Cabinet fixtures were found on Etsy and although we both tried to find the perfect cabinet pull – the spread between top and bottom holes for these fixtures were difficult to find. Instead we found a vendor on Etsy to help with the job and provide a champagne bronze to complete the look.
Replacing the sink was a necessity because the countertops were being changed and they had a desire for a larger sink. The faucet is an extension of the fixture updates and upleveled the space as well.
Here is a glimpse of the before and after:
If you’re thinking about doing a partial or full renovation on your kitchen, be prepared for this to be an investment and probably take longer than you might anticipate. That’s a bummer, I realize, but I’ve lived through it myself and I do this for other people. Double and triple check on your contractor, use reputable kitchen companies, decorators, and subcontractors unless your contractor (hopefully a great one) is managing the subs.
Kitchens and bathrooms are probably the toughest renovations to live through and most expensive to update, however, they are also frequently used and increase the value of your property. Plan as much as you can ahead of time and check on availability, budget and how to live through – or away – from the construction when it happens.
Reach out to me if you’d like to discuss a decorating or renovation project of your own. You can send an email to nmichaels@nancymichaelsinteriors.com.