This kitchen transformation didn’t happen all at once, and that’s honestly part of why it feels so special to me.

When we first moved in, the kitchen was the original 1980s build. It was small, dark, and very much not pretty. At the time, a full renovation just wasn’t possible, so we did what we could afford. We painted the cabinets and swapped out the hardware to make it feel a little more livable. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start, and it held us over until we were ready to do more.

Once we had the ability to truly rethink the space, the biggest change came from opening up the kitchen. There was a small window that separated it from the living room, and removing that barrier completely changed how the room functioned. Even though it’s still a galley kitchen, opening that wall allowed the kitchen to visually connect to the living room, making the entire space feel larger, brighter, and more social.

We extended the countertop slightly to create an overhang, which added bar seating on the living room side. That one decision added so much functionality and extra seating, especially when we’re hosting. It made the kitchen feel like part of the living space rather than a separate, closed-off room.

Inside the kitchen, we centered the sink and chose a handmade brass-finish faucet to bring in warmth and character. That faucet alone adds so much personality and gives the space a collected, lived-in feel rather than something that looks builder-grade or overly modern.

For the countertops, I originally dreamed of soapstone, but it just wasn’t realistic for our budget. Instead, we chose laminate countertops that mimic the look of stone, and honestly, they’ve been such a great solution. They give us the visual feel we wanted without the stress or cost, and they work beautifully in a busy, everyday kitchen.

We also replaced the floors with a classic checkerboard tile, which instantly pushed the kitchen in a more traditional direction without feeling out of place for an 80s home. That balance was really important to me. I didn’t want the kitchen to feel like it belonged in a different era entirely. I wanted it to feel timeless and traditional, while still honoring the bones of the house.

One of my favorite details is the pantry door. We removed the old door and replaced it with a custom wood door with glass and a beautiful knob. It brought in so much texture and warmth and added another layer of character that the space was really missing before.

The cabinets themselves are from Shiloh Cabinetry in the color “Beige,” which was the perfect neutral. They’re warm without being yellow, soft without feeling bland, and they tie everything together in a way that feels classic and enduring.

This kitchen went from very 80s and purely functional to warm, traditional, and full of character, without becoming too precious or overly styled. It feels like a space that’s meant to be used, lived in, and gathered around, which was always the goal.

Below, I’ve linked everything from my kitchen so you can shop the pieces we used and recreate elements of this transformation in your own home.