Our new kitchen remodel video…
Finally I was able to find the SEVEN hours it took to compile the pictures then edit this video, so now I can show you our kitchen remodel project from start to finish! It also took a while to include all of the links that I promised you; from our old favorite gadgets that got us through when our kitchen was all torn up, to the new odds and ends that helped me get organized when it was time to put everything back together again, you can find all of those links below, along with the video of course. 🙂
One little note I'd like to make you aware of… When you see the video and you hear about how our fridge didn't fit at first, and then neither did our stove, just know that YES we did measure first, several times actually! When I put this on my Facebook page, people were like, “Geesh, what an idiot, why didn't you measure?!” What happened was that they were the right sizes on the edges, but bowed out in the middle, or the actual appliance measurements were off just enough to mess us up. That's the scoop on that, just to be clear!
Just want to watch the new kitchen remodel video? Go here or scroll below.
First, a recap on how all of this came about:
Have you ever read your kids the book, “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie“? It's about how one thing always leads to another which leads to another…
- It all started when we decided to ditch RO water and ordered this new filter.
- We figured that if we were getting a new filter, we may as well get our other faucet fixed that's been leaking for months and we had to urnck it just right when we turned it off to make it stop. (I like to make up words sometimes.)
- And if we're getting a new faucet, maybe I should get a new sink so we don't have to pay the plumber to cut holes in a new one again later.
- And if we're getting a new sink, we may as well get the kind we want, which is the under-mount kind, so we'll have to get the new countertop we've needed for EVER. (We had only been here less than one year and I looked at that countertop and thought, “WHAT was I thinking picking out that color?!” Also, the laminate has since come off in two spots — it's a classy look.)
- So if we're doing all that, we may as well get the new lower cabinet doors and drawers that have been literally falling apart — pans fall out the back, the drawers sometimes won't shut…
- We started freaking out about how much it was all going to cost but THEN found out we were getting money BACK from our taxes!
- THEN our dishwasher broke and since we got it less than a year ago, they're giving us a free replacement! If we were getting a new one, we may as well replace all our appliances that were also falling apart, so they can all match.
- Since we were getting new appliances, we figured we may as well get our stove switched over to gas. (Which we should've done when we built our house, and Kent said so, but nooooo, I thought I wanted the flat cooktop electric kind so it was easy to clean. Dumb dumb dumb of me — I hate cooking with electric and the flattop is NOT easy to clean after all, it's a huge pain, so was always dirty anyway.)
- And lastly, since all that was getting done, we decided we may as well get our wood floors redone!
THAT is how one thing led to another and we decided to redo almost the whole kitchen. It had been 18 years and it was time, which I explain more in the video below or watch it here.
Or check out my previous post where I show how we cooked without our kitchen.
Here are the links I promised with a little more info about what you'll see in the new kitchen remodel video, OR just scroll down to watch!
- Here's the new under-counter water filter we have now. Read more about WHY we got this one and ditched our Reverse Osmosis water. We're really enjoying the taste of REAL water again, as in: hard water WITH all the minerals that are naturally in water, but filtered so all the junk is not in there, like Fluoride, pharmaceuticals, etc. (We also paid a little more for the brushed nickel faucet to match our other new faucets, the filter comes with one that's a shiny stainless steel.)
- These are the big jars we use on my new blue shelf (which I found at Hobby Lobby with a white distressed look, and my brother-in-law was sweet enough to paint it for me to match our blue accent wall).
- And here are the chalk-like labels for the jars.
- Here are the Ball jars for the other stuff you see there.
- What we put in our jars:
- Einkorn flour — pretty much all I use now, same with einkorn pasta — read why here.
- Coconut sugar
- Raw honey, get some at that link if you don't have a good local source.
- Pastured lard for frying or baking, again, click that link if you don't have a local source (don't miss this deep fried heaven post).
- Arrowroot flour, which I use for thickening sauces, in my homemade pudding recipe, or in homemade ice cream.
- Coconut oil-this is my favorite kind, which Kent takes daily (here's why), plus I use it in my yummy popcorn that tastes like it used to at movie theaters.
- My favorite electric frying pan, which I love because it's big enough to cook pancakes or grilled cheese for a whole crew! Just my family qualifies as a crew, not to mention all the sleepover friends my kids have here a lot. 🙂
- The electric pressure cooker we got after returning the Instant Pot, I explain why we like ours better here.
- The hot plate that I was glad to have that month we cooked in the bar downstairs, especially when I wanted coffee, because I'd heat up the water in our teapot, then use our 1-cup ceramic coffee maker that I love. Read more about my favorite way to drink coffee here.
- Normally we use the water from our hot water dispenser for coffee, which we still have in our new kitchen, and we use it for other things too, like tea, of course, or to quickly defrost frozen berries for yogurt or pancakes. I use this so much, for all sorts of reasons, that I appreciated it even more after not having it for a month.
- Speaking of tea, I've been loving this no-caffeine tea lately since it's been hot, it's really refreshing over ice. In the winter it's nice hot, too. It doesn't have much of a flavor like most herbal-type teas have, and no sweetness, it just takes like basic tea, which is what I prefer! You can get it in tea bags, or for loose-leaf tea, I keep it in this neat big jar I found (similar to these glass jars), and strain it through this cute little strainer as I'm filling up my glass.
- This toaster oven has served us well for years, even thought it was in an awkward place on our counter. I loved how this model toasts, bakes, broils, convection bakes, and defrosts. We will keep that as a backup for downstairs now, because our new microwave is also a convection oven which is what we used most in the toaster oven anyway, just to heat something quickly instead of heating up the whole oven.
- Our drawer organizers that I showed you in the video — so cheap and they make it very easy to find things in our drawers now! We also got the silverware organizer.
- This is the stand/organizer I ordered for cutting boards and large container lids, because I was sick of chasing them all over our corner cabinet and there were too many to fit nicely in a drawer.
- Here's my new paper towel dispenser. I use this a lot since I'm such a freak now about trying to keep everything clean in the new kitchen!
- These are the organizer racks Kent put in for me on the cabinet doors under the sink to hold things like baggies, parchment paper (I use this unbleached parchment paper), or plastic wrap.
- I love my countertop white ceramic utensil crocks to free up space in our drawers!
- I got this new egg holder for the fridge since our old one was cracked. I put a little mesh on the bottom so they didn't roll around. (It says it's a popcan holder.)
- These are the bumper protector things for our stools that don't stay on. After you watch the video you'll know what I'm talking about, and tell me, should I just glue those suckers?
- I also got some new silverware the other day because when we have my family for Thanksgiving I never have enough — apparently pieces have gotten tossed into the trash over the years. My Mom & Dad gave us our old set when we were married almost 29 years ago, so I guess we got some good use out of those. I didn't realize how tricky it was to find nice silverware that doesn't cost a fortune though! First I found some that were a good deal, or so I thought, but they all rusted the first time they went through the dishwasher, PLUS they were so light and felt cheap. Finally I found this set that I love — it's heavy but not too heavy, and was $80 for service for 8 with extra serving pieces. Booger I see Amazon has the same set for $70! I figured I'd go ahead and get some new steak knives too, and they turned out to be a nice set.
- Here's the olive oil I told you I refill into one of those nice pour bottles I showed you in the video. It's my favorite olive oil and I know it's REAL. Read more about that here.
- Later I got this banana and fruit holder to get more clutter off our countertop.
Youza, that's a lot of links! I hope some of them are helpful to you.
Here's the entire recap in our new kitchen remodel video (plays after the ad):
More remodeling projects you might want to check out:
- Bathrooms and my office
- Our daughter's room and another bathroom
- Deck remodel pics
- Living room remodel
Marie says
Hi Kelly! I am hoping to replace our microwave that we never use (my Christmas gift). Which one did you get? I’d love a small convection oven (not microwave) but it’s also our exhaust hood over the stove. Thanks, Marie
KitchenKop says
Hi Marie,
Ours is a Whirlpool convection oven/microwave and I love it. I hardly use my regular oven anymore because most everything fits in this convection oven and also cooks much faster! This has an exhaust fan too, and then you can just not use the microwave part if you don’t want to.
Hope that helps!
Kelly
Holly Cramer says
What kind of filter do you use in your fridge?
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Holly Cramer — we have the same filter hooked up to our fridge. 🙂
Holly Cramer says
Interesting, nice video, we are in middle of partial remodeling of taking down a bit of a wall. I’ve heard citrus dishwashing tablets tarnish silverware.
Beth says
Love the kitchen! You have a beautiful home! I live in Whitehouse, Ohio which is about 20 miles south of Toledo. We’re practically neighbors?
KitchenKop says
Thanks Beth, sorry I just saw this! Yes, we’re not too far from each other, and I assume you’re getting snow today too!
Kelly
Brasserie Louis says
It feels great to use new appliances in kitchen. Your kitchen looks great!! Nice job Kelly 🙂
Sue Bunchek Gorecki says
Thank you! For the first time, I get to remodel my kitchen and love the inspiration! Thanks for sharing!
Sarah says
In the next few years we will be redoing our kitchen. I really like the undermounted sink! I do like our new stainless steel appliances (the old ones that came with the house were more than 20 years old. All broke within 6 months of each other.) but I see the attraction of white with stainless steel accents. It is beautiful and I am so happy for you!
KitchenKop says
I know, Jeanmarie, I wonder that too! Maybe because they’re more expensive. 🙁
Another friend also told me recently about their induction cooktop, I hadn’t even heard about it ’til then. It means I wouldn’t have had to pay for ours to be switched over to gas, because it’s an electric stove that cooks better like gas does? Do I have that right???
Kel
Ml Arney says
Beautiful!!!! I need to replace my counters, want to get laminate, but cannot decide. Which brand are yours and what’s the color? I LOVE THEM! I’ve been looking and just don’t like any of the colors either, but yours are beautiful.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Thanks! Mine are Wilsonart and the color is “spring carnival”. To decide I ordered a TON of bigger samples online — about 8″ or so, much easier than deciding with a 2″ sample!
Ml Arney says
Thank you for the response! Ok I’m going to check that out. I had been looking at the new Formica line and had grabbed some teeny samples from Home Depot, but its so hard to tell from a little chip! I’ll check out the wilsonart site because I REALLY love that color counter!
Sandrine Love says
Yeah! You seem so happy at the very end!
Sandrine Love says
I watched your video! I am happy for you that, despite the numerous set-backs, you have a renovated kitchen you are happy with!
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Thanks Sandrine Love xoxo
KindFoodFarm says
Lovely kitchen! Congratulations, and I’m glad you survived the process!
I’m using an induction cooktop now (more than 20 years old, so not the latest technology by any means), and I’m not fond of it. The dials stick up right in the middle so it cuts down on smooth counter space, and of course crumbs and grease gather around them. The newer ones, at least, are much more energy-efficient, which is good, but this old one retains heat for a very, very long time after you turn it off. And it is hard to clean.
My favorite thing is your under-mounted sink. I am longing for one of those. I can’t understand why they’re not all made like that!
Cindy Sheedy says
LOVE your remodel, Kel!!! Your backsplash is so cool! Well, worth the wait! Luckily, you have the bsmt kitchen so you didn’t have to wash dishes in the bathroom! haha I can’t believe all the things that went wrong, I thought that stuff only happened to us! LOL Have fun cooking! 🙂
Elizabeth Spacek Grisham says
Love it!!!! What brand are the fridge and DW??? Love the white w stainless handles. Have always hated all stainless stuff!!!
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Elizabeth Spacek Grisham — Thanks! They are Kenmore and Whirlpool 🙂
Lori Smith says
How fun for you to get your kitchen done while having the kitchen of your dreams! This past year I got new counter tops, which I love, and I need to repaint all of my cabinets. No time with taking care of grandchildren and elderly parents. I did not want to replace my cabinets as the cost would have been too much (my house is 102 years old and my cabinets go to the ceiling- which is 9′ high), as my cabinets are made of real wood and not laminate. I am hoping this winter to take down a couple of cabinet doors at a time to sand and paint. Love your new appliances. I need new ones, but will wait. It is always fun to see what others do and I am very happy for you!
KitchenKop says
Lori, that’s great that painting is such a good option for you! Have you thought of painting the uppers one color and the lower another? We thought about that but Kent didn’t go for it. Your house sounds cool. 🙂
Kelly
Kelly says
Hi Rachel, yes I do, mostly when I’m swiping crumbs into the sink easily, opening a drawer that doesn’t fall out at me, or drinking our new water that I love! Or at night walking through sometimes it’ll still surprise me when I look over & I feel grateful and thank God that He worked it out so we could afford it. A year ago I honestly thought there was NO way it would happen for a long long time.
Kel
Rachel says
Wow! What a lot of work! It must be so nice to work in a kitchen you love now though. Do you find yourself just pausing and looking around in satisfaction sometimes? Congratulations! How fun. =)
KitchenKop says
Thanks guys! Beth, what do you mean, “where are your appliances?”
Kel
Beth says
Sorry! I mean small appliances like your blender, mixer, or juicer. Your counters are so clean and uncluttered :).
Kelly says
Oooooh, that makes more sense, lol!
We have 2 big lower corner cabinets where we keep the small appliances that we use a lot, and we also have big storage shelves downstairs where the stuff goes that we don’t use as much.
I should’ve taken pictures of all of that!
Kel
Beth says
So fun to see your remodeling! Where are your appliances?? The colors are bright and cheerful and classy at the same time.
Lisa says
Beautiful! So fun to have new appliances and everything when you spend so much time in the kitchen! You deserved it! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Betsy says
I have to laugh about your stove. We’ve been in our house for almost 20 years and I swear we had the same one! I thought, just like you, that the smooth cooktop would be so easy to keep clean and that it was the cat’s meow. Now I hate it, and I can’t keep mine clean either. And I don’t have any kids in the house! I’d love to have gas, but I’m not sure it would work as the stove is on an interior wall. I guess when it dies I’ll look into switching.
I also had a darker blue formica that I thought was great when I picked it out 20 years ago. We upgraded to granite last year and I love it.
Your kitchen looks great, and I’m glad you like it after all that upheaval.
Kelly says
Betsy, I think it could go on an interior wall, ours is the same! They ran it up from downstairs. We did have to have some holes cut in drywall downstairs, which still needs to be repatched!
Kel