Our eat-in kitchen makeover is complete! The kitchen nook got a little glow-up this week, so I decided to share this small space before the big reveal. I love how it turned out!
You may remember our kitchen makeover vision board from almost a year ago... Soooo long ago! I had no idea it would take a full year to finish these minor changes. Shipping delays and my own decision fatigue were a big part of why it took forever.
Tap/Click the Images Below to Shop This Look:
Since this side of the kitchen is finally done, I thought I'd share it first!
First of all, our eat-in kitchen area is mostly windows, plus French doors leading to our screened-in patio and a door leading to our garage. So it's not only where we eat and work on projects, it's also a pass-through room. We LIVE in this part of our home.
I love all the natural light in this space. Since the garage door is the one we use to come and go 99% of the time, I needed this room to work for our stuff too. With so much of the room taken up by windows and doors, there wasn't much space left for function.
The closest coat closet is near our front door, so it would be next to impossible to get my family to walk all the way around to the other side of the house to store their bags and shoes. Figuring out how to make this space both beautiful and functional was at the top of my list!
Starting the Makeover
First things first, I had the whole main floor common areas (kitchen, hallway and entry way) painted Edgecomb Gray. Then we removed all the blinds in the living room and added curtains in there. Luckily the living room windows are the exact same size as the ones in the eat-in kitchen, so I was able to swap the blinds over and remove the kitchen blinds using the hunter green cloth tape.
Next up was changing the light over the table. The old fixture in the photo above was dated, broken and not my style. Once one of the glass panes started sliding out, we knew we needed to replace it ASAP. So we did that last summer.
I love the budget-friendly traditional brass chandelier we picked, and it still makes me smile every time I'm in the kitchen.
If you need help replacing your own kitchen chandelier, check out these Gorgeous Kitchen Chandeliers You Will Love.
We brought the table and chairs with us from our old house, and they worked perfectly in this space, so there was no need to change them!
Our Drop Zone Glow Up
Those three changes made a huge impact. But then I had to figure out how to create a drop zone for all of our bags and my husband's things (glasses, pocket knives, wallet, etc.).
I took the small amount of wall space I had and turned it into a family drop zone. I already had the clock, the mirror with cubbies (from Target more than 10 years ago) and the "Puckett's" sign. Then I added a wall calendar and a row of hooks.
I never loved how it all looked together, because it felt like a hodge-podge of things on the wall. But I figured they might be temporary, or I could paint or refinish some of them if needed. I also wanted to wait and see whether it worked for our family's needs.
You May Also Like:
- 10 Best Mudroom Ideas
- Storage Ideas for a Small Entryway: 15 Options
- Top 10 Family Command Centers to Get Organized
Well, after more than a year with the drop zone set up this way, I can tell you it works for our family! The hooks are perfect for the girls' backpacks and coats during the school year, and for our hats and bags in the summer. The clock and calendar help keep us on track. And the mirror and cubbies are perfect for a last-minute hair check and a spot for my husband to empty his pockets.
So I set out on a mission to make it all look more cohesive.
Enter Rub 'n Buff. The magical metal-colored wax that was all the rage about 10 years ago. Haha! I never really picked it up until last year. I've always used spray paint or regular paint, but Rub 'n Buff is a wax, and I thought it would be perfect for making this drop zone look more cohesive.
I tried three colors: Antique Gold, Grecian Gold and European Gold. The winner was European Gold. I found this Rub 'n Buff color guide helpful when picking colors. If you need a tutorial, there are tons out there, so just search for one online. I love how it all turned out!
On top of switching all the metallics to match, I painted the board for the hooks Comfort Gray. It matches my pantry door on the other side of the room. I love the warm brass metal and the cool blue-green color combo. Be still my heart!
Click/Tap the Images Below to Shop my Kitchen
Bamboo Blinds on the French Doors
If you've been around here a while, you know I LOVE to use my beloved bamboo shades in my rooms. So every French door in this house has its own set of bamboo shades. My office and master bedroom have the exact same shades.
This house didn't come with anything covering the doors leading from the kitchen to the back porch. So I knew my favorite shades would be perfect for covering the windows and bringing in beautiful texture and warmth.
The color is jute wheat, which is no longer available, but the natural jute color is beautiful too. You can order free samples to decide which color works best for your home.
I do get the privacy liners on the back of my bamboo shades, because I don't like the filtered look. But if you don't need privacy and want light to filter through, going without a liner would be a good option for you!
The Storage Bench
Last but not least, I wanted to find a way to add storage along the long wall of windows on the left side of the room. I needed a place to store extra shoes and a spot for us to sit down and put those shoes on.
Since there are four of us in the family, I wanted something with four drawers. I didn't want baskets or cubbies that would look messy. So I set my eyes on this Wade Bench and saved my pennies for it.
Y'all. This bench is amazing!! It's as sturdy and solid as they come! I love that it leaves space underneath so the air vent still works. And it has such a pretty profile and a classic look. I love it!
Click/Tap the Images Below to Shop my Kitchen
You can choose different bench cushion fabrics and colors. I wanted to tie in with the navy in the adjacent living room, so I chose their navy Sunbrella fabric. And I'm glad to know I could order a different color and swap it out down the road if I change my mind.
I haven't decided yet whether to Rub 'n Buff the handles to coordinate with the rest of the metal finishes. For now I'll leave them black, because our appliances still have some black on them, so it works.
I love that I can finally check this part of the kitchen off my "makeover" list. Sometimes it's the last little details that make a room feel complete. I knew I had to do something about that drop zone wall to make it cohesive enough to call this done.
I was afraid I might mess it up, but I'm so glad I went for it.
Now we're simply waiting for our bar stools to arrive and a couple more details to be finished, and the whole kitchen will be done, for now! No room is ever completely "done," but you know what I mean!
I hope this inspires you to see that you don't have to make huge changes to makeover a room the way you like it. Swapping out a few items, making intentional paint decisions and adding some storage are sometimes all you need!
More Posts You Will Love:
