It takes a brave and capable couple to tackle a full house remodel, especially when it's a severely run-down farmhouse. But Raina and Robert—a stylist and an architect, respectively—saw the potential in this Hudson Valley, New York homestead, and spent 15 months turning it into a sophisticated, modern home - with a knockout kitchen.
Because the farmhouse was meant to be a rental, it was essential to keep the renovations within a strict budget. Thus, the new kitchen has IKEA cabinets and counters, subway tile from Lowe's, a Brizio kitchen faucet, and Whirlpool appliances. The couple's favorite element of the redesign, and their one big splurge? The vintage wood bar, which they call "kind of crazy for a rental."
See the Full Tour: Raina and Robert's Modern Farmhouse Makeover at Apartment Therapy
Related: Kitchen Spotlight: Lori's Serene Farmhouse
(Images: Befores by Raina Kattleson; Afters by Emily Johnston Anderson via Apartment Therapy)
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man, I need to marry an architect.
Oh man. I have to say, I VASTLY preferred the run-down kitchen, wallpaper and all. The vintage range! The enameled farmhouse sink! I get that it's supposed to be a rental, but way to eliminate all the pre-existing charm with modern IKEA awfulness. It doesn't look like a farmhouse anymore - it looks like someone's trendy loft.
I went through the whole tour and while some rooms were a clear improvement on the existing run-down drabness, the kitchen just makes me sad. The only bright spot is at least this couple chose to renovate a run-down farm house. I live in the Hudson Valley and there are LOTS, so it's nice to see this one get some TLC. I just wish they had been a little more true to the vintage style.
that wall paper was so dirty. the kitchen was filty. it had to go. yeah, if it were all clean and new made to look old and charming, but it wasnt it was just gross!!
i think it looks great!
I agree with VintageJenta. The old kitchen had so much charm under the dirt! The old sink! I'm in love with that sink!
that house would have been condemned by any normal person standards...this is a vast improvement.
that old sink and stove were amazing!!!!!!! Seeing those would be the selling point for me in a house.
i liked the before. it needed some work but it had charm. now, while the new does look nice, it's generic.
I agree. Love the before! The after is alright, a bit too modern for my taste. But to each their own!
I have to ask - did the new owners add windows to the kitchen? Like, is the sink in the same place in both the before and after? Just curious. I do love all the natural light in the afters, it's just the style of decor is so generic. Guess I like vintage style too much.
Any chance they still have the sink and stove? I'll take them! Lol.
Yeah I liked the old stove and sink better. But then I am a big believer in staying true to your house's period details. It does look nice after the reno. I just would have preferred to restore the old stuff, even the cabinetry could have been sanded and repainted. To each their own though! The after photos are beautiful to look at.
I think the before was pretty terrible, and the remodel looks great to me! But I guess that's why there are different styles available to fit everyone's aesthetic, right?
Could we get a little "before and after" variety on this site? I'm getting tired of seeing the same old revamp. Looks nice, but it's predictable.
This modern kitchen looks so out of place in an old farmhouse. What a shame.
Pray tell, what did they do with that fantastic old sink???
I like the wooden bar, but it's a shame they didn't preserve the farmhouse character of the original.
Missfifi, on the main AT site (where the house tour was front page) she explains that the sink wouldn't fit with the new, more functional layout. She is saving to use elsewhere in the future.
The cabinets were replaced because they were covered with lead paint and also didn't work with the new layout. If they are like the cabinets in our old (1876) kitchen, they were likely built-in and can't be removed without dismantling them completely.
I love country charm, and this new kitchen was not my style. You just cant do that to a farm house, They could have made it more vintage. Just sayin!!!!!
To all you vintage lovers, have you ever actually USED vintage appliances? Some are in surprisingly decent shape. And some are just north of useless. It's one thing to like the look; another thing entirely to have to live with it. Especially as this is to be a rental. Imagine all the irate calls to the landlord because the oven has conked out--again. No thank you. I'm all for the energy-saving new stuff.
But CMCINNYC, if you're going to drop a dime on fancy appliances, there are plenty of retro-designed options available.
Still, even with more modern/efficient appliances and new cabinets, there are ways to maintain the vintage character/charm without making the Hudson Valley look like SoHo.
To each their own, but I'd have been more impressed with a gut rehab that kept the period details of the home in mind.
I think it looks light and airy!
Could you share the brand of the replacement windows? I'm looking for something with the same grid pattern and still affordable.
what does "vintage wood bar" mean? kind of ironic that that was their big splurge, since they seem to have ripped out everything else that was vintage in the kitchen.
Oh man, if i was a guy i'd have a major hard on right now for that remodelled kitchen. inappropriate comment i know, but my lust for this kitchen is inappropriate.