It isn’t every day that you get to work with your BFF on a home remodeling project, but that’s exactly what I had the honor of doing this past spring. My clients moved into their home a couple of years ago and patiently waited until the time was right to turn their dark, dated, nasty wall-papered house with too small of a kitchen into a gorgeous, bright, spacious home with a kitchen fit for a modern queen! I was hired to work with their contractor to pick out permanent finishes (cabinetry, countertops, backsplash, flooring, etc.) and then top it off with ALL new furniture and decor. This type of project is every designer’s dream. Being able to pick out *everything* from floor to ceiling in order to make my vision come to life is my new favorite thing, and I hope this project is only the beginning!

Although the entire main floor got an extreme makeover, I’m only revealing the kitchen today. Part Two will follow!

The biggest change in the renovation (and the one that made allll the difference) was removing the wall between the kitchen and old formal dining room. That basically doubled the size of the working area in the kitchen and freed up space to put in a large island - for dreamy counter space and seating for four.

The old pantry was made much more functional by moving it into the kitchen cabinetry with roll-out shelves. Not only did that allow for a new bar area, but it made food storage more organized and easily accessible.

My clients wanted a kitchen that was classic and timeless, so we opted for white cabinetry and a white handmade-looking subway tile. Crisp and clean is always in. To contrast with all of the white, we chose a dark gray for the island and quartz countertops with gray veining to tie it all in.

As much as I love everything about the kitchen, I am a total sucker for dining spaces and this one is no exception. The house already had this cute little eating nook, but it was made even cuter by replacing the bi-fold pantry doors with a simple bar sink and floating shelves. What a difference that made! And, I love adding accessories to an unexpected place like this. The accessorized shelves, combined with the window seat and pillows, makes this spot so cozy and home-y.

That pretty much sums up this beautiful kitchen. My BFF happens to be one of the very best cooks I know. So, it does my heart good knowing that she has a beautiful kitchen to work in. It also does my heart good knowing that since I played a part in this beautiful space, it automatically entitles me to all the amazing food cooked in it, right?!

This kitchen’s beauty stands on its own, but to add another level of appreciation for all it went through to get here, I will leave you with a couple of my favorite before and after shots.