A BIG KITCHEN RENOVATION
There is always something happening at the Tanglewood house! Since we moved in in October we have had workers here on and off! And now we are undertaking our biggest renovation yet! The kitchen!!!
When we moved from StoneGable to the Tanglewood house there were a few things that we knew we needed to change.
Some of the things we really loved about Tanglewood are how well the house was built, the layout, and, of course, the living on a golf course! I know that is Bobby’s favorite!
But we did have a list of things that needed to be done to make Tanglewood feel like it was ours.
We made a list and have been checking off each renovation! We had the entire inside of the house painted. Walls, trim, doors etc. Because of our very open concept we chose a pretty neutral white. Simply White by Benjamin Moore.
We also had all the carpeting ripped out of the bedrooms and the loft and hardwood were installed to match the existing floors.
The fireplace was rebuilt and we had built-in bookshelves made for the study. French doors were added to the opening of the study too.
And the beginning of last month we had part of the side and the back of our home landscaped.
The biggest change by far will be the kitchen. And that renovation started yesterday!
Here are some images of our kitchen yesterday. It looks empty because we took everything off the counters.
One of the nicest things about our home is the layout of our kitchen. It’s very very open and the U shape work area is so efficient!
And there is so much counter space!
We also find the long wall of cabinets and countertop a great place to make coffee and set up a bar and/or buffet!
The “footprint” of the kitchen will stay the same. I love it!!! My sister, the gourmet chef, says I could film a cooking show from it! LOL!
We decided to keep the existing cabinets and paint them. They are such good quality and I really did not want to rip them all out if we didn’t have to.
The refrigerator will stay too.
Here are some of the things we are changing…
- color palette
- countertop
- backsplash
- trim
- sink
- faucet
- stove
- the microwave will be removed and a hood installed
- new microwave in the pantry
- hardware
- lighting
- outlets- they will be pop-ups and other’s installed under the upper cabinets
- plate rack created on the side of a cabinet to keep cutting boards in
One of the best things about this house is the windows and all the light that comes pouring through them.
Part of the kitchen is this little nook with lots of windows and light…
I’m so excited to be able to finally use this area!
Kitchens By Eileen is a wonderful Lancaster County company we chose to do this kitchen renovation! We are thrilled with their professionalism, the way they listened, understood our desires, and translated them into a beautiful plan!
Sunday afternoon our project manager Jon came and sealed off our kitchen from the rest of the house.
You can see we made a make-shift kitchen on the dining room table.
Here is the 3-D mock up of our new kitchen. Remember this is just a rendering so it looks a bit flat and not everything is the right color.
Also, the pendant lights are not the ones we have chosen. However, the pictures below will give you a good idea of the direction we are going with this renovation.
I have had a white kitchen for 25 years! It’s timeless and easy to care for! So this kitchen will be white too! A white kitchen feels like home to me!
The countertops are going to be white quarts with just a whisper of veining. The backsplash will be a basketweave Calcutta marble which has some gray in it but also some warm tones like the faintest butter, gold, and sienna.
The glass in the cabinets will be seeded and there will be a brushed nickel foot rail on the island.
We decided to use brushed nickel instead of going with gold tones (which I LOVE) in the kitchen because the refrigerator is stainless and so is the dishwasher. The new stove is stainless too.
The bar stools in the mock up are not ones we will use.
The end of the counter below will be solid and have a plate rack to put my cutting boards in.
I think we will use the banquette as a sitting area for now and when we have lots of family here we can bring in a table and use it for extra dining.
I’m excited to choose a pretty cushion fabric to bring a bit of softness to the kitchen. Because the house is so open there is not a lot of wall space to hang curtains on.
As the renovation goes on I’ll continue to update you!
Our next project this fall is to have the landscaping taken out from the front our home and new replanted.
We had hoped that all the renovations would be done in two years. I think we are on schedule!
Looks stunning! What paint color for cabinets?We are planning renovations in the kitchen too but afraid to have ppl in our house with Covid running rampant so will wait until spring
We are painting the kitchen Simply White by Benjamin Moore. Because it will be semi-gloss it will look a bit different than the walls.
You will love it. We did a total gut of our kitchen in 2019 and turned the eat in area into o e late kitchen. My make shift kitchen was in my art studio. Took4 months
We did not realize the sink was going on the first day of demo. So, I might have to rethink some of my dinners.
Your new kitchen looks beautiful. Can’t wait to see it finished.
Perfect! Love it all! Looking forward to the updates!
It is going to look amazing and flow so well with the rest of the rooms. How exciting to get to transform it to fit your style. Looking forward to seeing the progress and the after.
Love the changes you are making in your kitchen. I’m so glad your moving the microwave to another place, that’s one of my pet peeves. I know some kitchens need it over the stove for space reasons,but to me it’s a giant eyeball looking at me.
LOL! It sorta like the tv over the mantel. Sometimes it just can’t be avoided. The one we have over the oven is amazing! It’s a microwave, oven, convection oven and proofing oven. It’s just not a very good vent. My son and family are taking it.
I just need to know where the pig will go!!
He’s in the basement right now. I bet he will make an appearance!
Looks awesome! I always wanted a banquet too…it will be lovely. Enjoy! ?
Thank you, Georgia! I’m particularly excited about the banquette!
Lovely, looks like you will be bringing more StoneGable to Tanglewood! I can’t wait to see how you add little Yvonne touches! Have fun!
HI SHERREE! StoneGable and Tanglewood have much of the same style. It’s my style and so comfortable to me.
I love your style, beautiful. You’re such an inspiration for me! ?
The new kitchen looks lovely. We redid ours after years of complaining and really enjoy it. Our main focus was to include double ovens which I had had in previous houses. I really missed them when we had guests. We put in a gas range top and electric ovens. It took a lot of maneuvering and measuring but worth it. We also removed the microwave over the stove and have one in a drawer which we love — so much safer than lifting out hot food over your head. We still appreciate it every day and just wish we had done it sooner. Enjoy.
Love all the changes you are making in the kitchen. Looking forward to following along!
So exciting! I’m very happy for you Yvonne.
Oh..its going to be so pretty….I painted my cabinets also and they have held up so well…what year was your house built??? Just curious…
You stated that the new microwave will be placed in the pantry. Where exactly is the pantry in the rendering?
White kitchens feel like home to me as well! Thank you for the daily inspiration!
Love all your choices. Enjoying seeing your home come together. I think I missed the landscaping updates if you’ve shared them, need to look again. Keep going!!
Hi Carol, I did not do a landscaping post. I guess I should have. I need to remember to do one in the fall when the front of our home is re-landscaped.
I love everything about this Yvonne!! It’s going to be amazing!
Thank you, dear friend! I love your kitchen so if it looks even close to as nice as yours I’ll be thrilled!
I’m going to live for this the next couple of weeks! Something that’s good and fun happening in the world instead of the news lol! I absolutely love it!
Thanks, April! What a wonderful way to look at something! And I can’t wait to share what’s going on!
Your kitchen is going to look beautiful, love the banquette.We redid our kitchen 2 yrs.ago and I went with all white and a white quartz countertop with a little bit of gray veining, very easy to keep clean.We had a makeshift kitchen set up also ! Can’t wait to see the completed kitchen, keep the pictures coming !
I was not expecting the sink and faucet to be taken out of the kitchen on the first day! We have two basins on the kitchen table. One with sudsy water and one with clear. Bobby says it’s like camping! Thanks for the encouragement!
Yvonne, so excited for you and to see your new kitchen. We remodeled our kitchen about six years ago transforming a 1938 kitchen while trying to keep our home’s era in mind. That is the best money we have spent. Our kitchen is so much more functional and timeless. We love to cook and even more so now. You’ll have a great journey!
Wow, what a fun project. I would love to see your kitchen with the 1938 era! I bet it is something special.
How are u painting the cabinets? I’m assuming kitchen renovators are professionally painting them. Do u know what kind of paint or materials they are using? Are u keeping your cabinet doors or getting new ones? Your home is lovely.
All great questions, Missy! The cabinet and drawer fronts are being sent out to our painting company’s shop. I don’t know the technique but I think they are sprayed and baked to a hard finish. The cabinet bases are hand painted on site. I’ll tell you more as things progress.
I love all your plans for the kitchen renovation and especially noticed the range hood! I really love the design and am looking forward to seeing the kitchen when it is finished.
Thanks, Lurlie!
I love the layout! You my dear will have the dream kitchen! I can’t wait to see all of the updates. How exciting is this I know it is!
Thanks, Dolly! I all transparency I would have never chosen this shape kitchen. Living with it and cooking in it has totally changed my mind! It is wonderful! And I feel like I am part of what is going on in our home.
Can you please show a enlarged pic of the basketweave backsplash tile?
Hi Eileen, I don’t have one. But when they start putting the backsplash up I’ll make sure to take close up pictures.
Beautiful kitchen to-be! Looking forward to seeing the progress!
Thanks, Janet! We are so excited!
Love your kitchen plans. I took on the challenge of painting my kitchen cabinets myself. It has taken me 3 months but I did it!!! Kept me busy with a project during this time of uncertainty. Keeps my mind motivated.
Stacking your cupboards is the way to go. It has a more finished look. Besides cupboard tops are just dust collectors. I had the same cupboards and stacked mine. It gave me a place for glassware that was not used on a daily basis. Looking forward to seeing your daily updates!
I agree, Joanna. The tops of cabinets do collect a lot of dust!
Hello Yvonne,
We are hoping to paint our cabinets this fall as well, but my husband plans to do them himself. They are currently a deep cream with a bronze glaze that makes them look dirty all the time! From what I understand you will be using the BM simply white on the cabinets as well. Are you willing to share the finish you will be using? I’m assuming you will be having this done. Unfortunately, where we live it’s nearly impossible to find anyone willing to come to where we live to do any work.
Does your rendering show the true color you are planning on for the cabinets? My husband thinks it looks like more like a cream color but I’m thinking the rendering is probably not accurate. I used the marble backsplash you show in my previous house with trim painted Atrium white. I’m wondering if the marble backsplash will work with a creamy white?
Hi Margo. Great questions my friend! The colors on the mock-up of the kitchen are not accurate. Simply White is white. Because our new backsplash is Calcutta marble it has creamy tones in it and will probably work with a creamier white paint.
We are having the kitchen professionally painted. They have the ability to spray the cabinets and give them a hard and durable finish. If your husband and you can get a sprayer I think using it will give your cabinets a very smooth finish. Go to a reputable paint store to discuss how to paint them yourself. Hope this helps. Send me pictures when they are done! xo
Absolutely perfect!! Love everything you have planned. It looks so much better than the original kitchen. Looking forward to seeing the finished kitchen and all the “little touches” you do so well.
I think at this point, Amma, I will keep the kitchen pretty uncluttered. It’s so open and can be seen from so much of the house I feel it needs to be sleek and pristine! I am whitewashing big terracotta pots and then silver leafing them and planting them with big herbs like rosemary and lavender! I think they will look pretty on the island!
I am eager to hear how you will like having the counters all one level instead of the current two levels. I have an island that has a bar height counter and I would like to change it to what you are doing; however, I do like the fact that the higher counter hides my kitchen counter clutter.
I understand what you mean about hiding clutter, but I want a clutter free zone in the kitchen. I really don’t like bar height! No one can sit to chat or eat.
Yvonne, your new kitchen is going to be beautiful! You will be so happy once everything is finished.
I can’t wait to share it with you!
It’s looking gorgeous, my friend! Love the mock-up… what a great way to share your vision with us!
I’m thrilled with KBE (our contractors) They gave me the mock-up. I would HIGHLY recommend them to anyone! My project manager Jon makes everything seamless!
I want to hear more about how they paint your cabinets! I would love to have mine painted white but I am scared to do it myself and would like to hire it done but I want it done well. You are an hour and a half from me so I might contact your company.
Can you comment on your painting shop for the cabinets? I am so excited to see the finished result!
Yes, I’m delighted to! Your painting company is TWO DUDES PAINTING COMPANY in Lancaster Pa. They are amazing and professional. They repainted our StoneGable kitchen and many other rooms there too. They also painted the entire Tanglewood house. I most highly recommend them! See them here:https://twodudes.com/
Exciting! Not just for you but for your followers too!!
Finally, the kitchen will look like it belongs to the rest of the house!
I do love your cabinets but will like them even more painted white. The subtle quartz counters are a nice touch too. Yes, I’m ready to move in!
Lol! So far the project seems to be moving along! I can’t wait to get my kitchen back!
Just an absolutely beautiful kitchen redo!
Wow! I love it. I’m intrigued by the poles used to keep the plastic in place. I sure could have used that when we did our kitchen.
I was interested in them too! They are holding up very well!
How exciting!! I love the changes and additions you have planned. It’s great that you will be in your new kitchen by Thanksgiving when you host your family. Good luck with the renovation
How exciting, Yvonne. Looking forward to watching your progress as you add your special touch to another room at Tanglewood.
Well you have done it again this will be a lovely updated home. The examples of ideas you are using look great. I can’t to see the finished look. Thank you for sharing. Jean
So sweet Jean. thank you!
Hi Yvonne! This is the first time I am writing you. I had never followed a blog, but when I saw your home featured in The Cottage Journal, I immediately signed up and have loved getting your emails and following you. I have used so many of your design ideas. Your home is beautiful and every season I can’t wait to see your decorating ideas and see what I might use. You have inspired me and helped me so much in making my home a special and pretty place. Thank you for all your wonderful ideas and doing what you do! I also love your menu suggestions. They are delicious!
Christine, I’m so happy you are a StoneGable reader! And I am THRILLED to help you!!! How nice of you to let me know! xo
How fun to have a project like this underway. Can’t wait to see it. I read somewhere that quartzite is more durable than manufactured quartz. Wondered which you are using.
I think the window seat banquette is lovely and with a colorful cushion and pillows will be nice. Why not do roman shades on the widows too?
Hi Nancy, I’m excited to share what is going on in our kitchen. I’ll keep everyone posted!
Can you please share where you got your table? I love your kitchen!
Hi Lisa, I found the table at Hayneedle. It’s called FOUR HANDS ROUND COFFEE TABLE. Right now it is out of stock, but you can get a notification when it comes back in. Hope this is helpful
I currently have the same color cabinets as you had(cherry) and would like to paint them as well because they are of great quality. Did you retro fit the top cabinets with the glass and light? Where can I look to do that to my kitchen?
Hi Pamela, our reno company added the cabinets to the top of the ones already there.
Hi Yvonne! Long time follower. I love your style. I am putting in new cabinets (white shaker) and your Stonegable black/white kitchen–which was timeless–was always an inspiration for me. I am having a difficult time choosing hardware (TOO MANY CHOICES) and noticed you are going with a little more modern hardware style in your new home. I wonder if I will tire of the black knobs/pulls and wonder if the knobs are best choice for doors, or should I go with handle type? My countertops will be dark, and marble on island. Any suggestions?
Hi Michelle, the style of our Tanglewood home is different than our StoneGable farmhouse. The kitchen at StoneGable was definitely farmhouse style while the kitchen at Tanglewood is very open and a bit more contemporary. For me, decorating to work with the style of a home is so important. If knobs work with your kitchen then choose nobs.
And a note about getting tired of things… EVERYTHING has an expiration date! So the bigger the ticket of an item the more classic you should go! It will stay in style longer. Hope this helps.
Thank you so much Yvonne! I appreciate the tips! You have such an eye for pulling together things beautifully. I did not realize how much work a kitchen remodel is. Thanks again for taking the time to respond, much appreciated.
Hi. I’m a recent follower. I’ll very interested in the farmhouse sink in your kitchen renovation. Would it be possible for you to share the make? Thanks
It’s a composite sink. They are very popular right now and I LOVE ours.
Your kitchen remodel looks wonderful. I have had three homes with white cabinets, I love the clean bright look of white.
I know your decorating style from reading your blog for years and love it, but I would love to see a little color for your window seat cushions & pillows. Maybe some blue & white.
Thank. you, Yvonne, for all of the wonderful kitchen information. Do you know the manufacturer of the Ultra White quartz? We are building a home, and the showroom that I went to does not have it in their books. If I know the manufacturer, I can probably find it. I love your backsplash, but it is out of my price range. Will probably go with a subway tile. Your kitchen is beautiful!
I don’t know. We went to a showroom and picked it out. Sorry! Congratulations on your new kitchen. I know you will love it when it is done!