Shortly after my husband and I returned from our honeymoon, we moved from a New York City apartment to a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house we bought in Greenwich, Connecticut.
It wasn’t a turnkey property — the white picket fence and bountiful rose garden I’d always envisioned were nowhere to be found — but it had potential.
The kitchen, in particular, needed extensive work.
Rather than writing off its harvest-gold linoleum floors, Formica countertops, and brown cabinets that looked straight out of the ’80s, we viewed the dated interior as an opportunity for improvement.
So my husband and I rolled up our sleeves and renovated the kitchen, ultimately transforming it into a bright, coastal-inspired room at the center of our home.
We designed the room and completed the demolition, insulation, drywall, and trim ourselves (with some help from my dad) and hired a kitchen designer to install new cabinets and a countertop.
It was our first renovation project, so we felt extremely excited and accomplished when we finished and admired the results.
Our goal was to turn the dated kitchen into an open-concept, multipurpose room.
As we designed the space, we knew we didn’t want it to have a traditional kitchen feel.
Our goal was to put together a warm, inviting room with an open floor plan where we could seamlessly cook, eat, relax, and entertain.
Because the front door opens directly into the room, it sets the tone for the home as soon as we walk in. Every detail mattered, and we had to carefully balance both aesthetics and functionality.
Before starting the renovation, we decided on our priorities.
To get an idea of how much we’d spend during the renovation, we listed all of our desired changes, from our must-have appliances to our wish list of finishing touches.
Our sights were set on a white cast-iron farmhouse sink, a high-end refrigerator, a custom farm table, and the quietest dishwasher we could find.
Of course, the project required more than just filling up our shopping cart. To create the open floor plan we designed, we had to take down several walls, including one that was load-bearing. We also added new windows and glass farmhouse doors to bring more natural sunlight into the space.
Other major expenses to plan for included electrical work, plumbing, insulation, drywall, flooring, kitchen cabinetry, hardware, countertops, a stove, and eventually new furniture.
Making so many decisions at once felt overwhelming, but we were determined to keep our three-month timeline on track and stick to our budget.
The cabinets were the centerpiece of the room.
We removed the dated brown cabinets from the studs and swapped them out for bright white, Shaker-style ones with honey-bronze hardware.
Before we even made it to this step, I’d already planned to showcase my favorite Anthropologie plates and glasses inside a few glass cabinets.
When it came time to furnish and decorate, we chose multifunctional pieces with a coastal-cottage aesthetic.
Although construction took three months, we needed a bit more time to get the space ready for guests.
The room is only about 600 square feet, so we had to be intentional with the space if we wanted it to look clean and uncluttered.
On the wall opposite the cabinets, we installed an arched glass buffet. It provides plenty of storage and doubles as a surface for serving guests.
The furniture we selected is all light in color and extremely practical.
Instead of a traditional island, we opted for a custom farm table in a natural beachy wood finish that could serve as a dining surface and prep area. On top of it sits an oversized charcuterie board, a practical and aesthetically pleasing piece.
We removed the wood-burning fireplace and opted for a modern gas unit, complete with driftwood logs. We styled the area in front with shiplap and white marble tiles.
For seating, we decided on a cozy sectional, statement chair, and plush ottoman that doubles as a coffee table.
The finishing touches really brought our vision to life.
The wide farmhouse-style trim throughout the space and around the windows ties the aesthetic together.
I also always have fresh flowers from my garden in a vase and beach-themed candles on my arched cabinet buffet.
Once one of our least favorite rooms in the house, the kitchen is now the space of our dreams.
Our charming, quaint main room is everything I hoped it would be. I spend every day in our open-concept kitchen and wouldn’t have it any other way.
It serves as both my workspace and a calming oasis. I now have a space where I can be productive, experiment with new recipes, entertain family and friends, or simply relax in front of the fireplace.
Whether I’m coming home from a trip or a day of errands, I breathe a sigh of relief the moment I step inside the front door. Enjoying my morning espresso in the sunlight pouring through the windows gives me pure joy.
The results are worth every penny we spent and each hour of our hard work.
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