Dana McMahan

Louisville, Kentucky

Freelance writer Dana McMahan is a chronic adventurer, serial learner, and whiskey enthusiast based in Louisville, Kentucky.
Before and After: A Jewel Box Paint Job and Fresh Tile Transform This Tiny, Tired Kitchen
The new kitchen feels a lot more inviting.
Dana McMahan
May 21, 2023
If You Can Only Update One Thing in Your Kitchen, Make It This
Spoiler alert: It’s not the cabinets.
Dana McMahan
Apr 3, 2023
3 Unexpected Mishaps I Ran into in My Kitchen Renovation
And how you can avoid them.
Dana McMahan
Mar 29, 2023
Before & After: An IKEA Kitchen Gets a $40,000 Gut Renovation with Skylights, Cabinets Galore, and a Flip-Out Window
You have to see the flip-out window.
Dana McMahan
Dec 24, 2022
Before & After: A Gut Renovation Takes a Victorian Kitchen from Drab to Dramatic for $50,000
This gut renovation is bold, but still era-appropriate.
Dana McMahan
Nov 18, 2022
I Tried the Dish Drying Pad That’s All Over Instagram (and Made of Fossilized Algae!)
Shopping
What magical sorcery is this??
Dana McMahan
Nov 1, 2022
This Is What a $150,000 Kitchen Renovation Looks Like — And Yes, It’s All That
Prepare for serious kitchen envy.
Dana McMahan
Oct 22, 2022
The 3 Most Important Aging-in-Place Renovations You Need to Do
According to the pros.
Dana McMahan
Sep 29, 2022
Before & After: A Dark Brown Kitchen Gets a Bright Monochromatic Makeover and a New Vibe
Renovation Diaries
Plus, you have to see the organized pantry and cabinets!
Dana McMahan
Sep 18, 2022
8 Brilliant Things Airbnb Hosts Know About Organizing Their Kitchens That You Don’t
Organizing Tips from Kitchn
The inside scoop from Airbnb hosts themselves.
Dana McMahan
Jul 15, 2022
Before & After: A Dark, Generic Kitchen Gets a Total Redo and the Result Is So Romantic
Renovation Diaries
Wait until you see the stunning Italian stove.
Dana McMahan
Jun 25, 2022
7 Kitchen Trends That Are So Over, According to Interior Designers
Tips from The Kitchn
You'll be surprised by what they had to say.
Dana McMahan
Jun 16, 2022
Before & After: A Dingy Studio Kitchen Gets a DIY Makeover That Pulls Inspiration from a Cute Bar in Italy
Before & After
The bar was actually designed by Wes Anderson!
Dana McMahan
Apr 25, 2022
Before & After: This 1920s Spanish Bungalow Gets a Kitchen That’s Infused with Warmth and Style
Renovation Diaries
Bright and inviting, this Los Angeles kitchen hits all the right notes.
Dana McMahan
Mar 19, 2022
This Couple Put Their Washer and Dryer in Their Kitchen — And It Was the Best Decision They Ever Made
Renovation Diaries
There's even a nice stretch of counter space to fold all the laundry.
Dana McMahan
Mar 19, 2022
This $50,000 Kitchen Remodel Features a Mix of High-End and Affordable Finds
Renovation Diaries
The couple splurged on a statement stove and saved where they could.
Dana McMahan
Mar 19, 2022
I’ve Renovated Nearly a Dozen Kitchens and I’ve Added This $10 Organizer Every Time
Organizing Tips from The Kitchn
It's what every functional kitchen needs.
Dana McMahan
Mar 7, 2022
Before & After: This Closed-Off Kitchen Loses a Load-Bearing Wall and Gets a Stunningly Stylish Refresh
Renovation Diaries
It's so open and airy now!
Dana McMahan
Jan 22, 2022
This Couple Went for an Open-Concept Kitchen — And It Was the Best Decision They Ever Made
Renovation Diaries
They knocked down a load-bearing wall!
Dana McMahan
Jan 22, 2022
This Modern Kitchen Got Its Sophisticated New Look for $36,000 — Here’s How Every Dollar Was Spent
Renovation Diaries
Plus, how the pandemic surprisingly ended up saving the couple money in the long run.
Dana McMahan
Jan 22, 2022
How to Clean All the Parts of Your Oven Door
How To
When you can't see through smeary, crusty glass, well, that ruins an awful lot of the fun of cooking.
Dana McMahan
Jan 5, 2022
The Surprising $145 Gadget I Just Had to Get After a Trip to France
Shopping
It's the ultimate party gadget this time of year!
Dana McMahan
Dec 17, 2021
The Clever Reddit Tip for Getting a Le Creuset Dutch Oven Looking Good as New
Cleaning Tips from The Kitchn
Here's what we could find out about the hack.
Dana McMahan
Dec 3, 2021
I Shop at Costco for My 2-Person Family — Here Are 9 Things I Always Buy
Groceries
There's meat, cheese, bubbly, and more!
Dana McMahan
Sep 27, 2021
This Couple Used a $17 Book to Help Them Design Their Kitchen — And It Was the Best Decision They Ever Made
Renovation Diaries
It helped them overcome decision fatigue!
Dana McMahan
Sep 21, 2021
This Kitchen Got a Down-to-the-Studs Gut Renovation for Less than $18,000 — Here’s How Every Dollar Was Spent
Renovation Diaries
They saved on a sink and splurged on a faucet!
Dana McMahan
Sep 21, 2021
Before & After: This 1920s Bungalow Got a Gut Renovation and a Minimalist Design from a Certified KonMari Consultant
Renovation Diaries
And they did it all for around $18,000!
Dana McMahan
Sep 21, 2021
This Scandi-Style Kitchen Redo Features a Brilliant Chic-but-Cheap Backsplash Hack
Renovation Diaries
It looks like it would have cost so much more!
Dana McMahan
Aug 17, 2021
This Dramatic Kitchen Renovation Looks Way More Expensive than It Really Was — Here’s How the Homeowners Smartly Spent Their $12,000 Budget
Renovation Diaries
You'd think we meant to type $21,000. But we did not!
Dana McMahan
Aug 17, 2021
Before & After: An Uninhabitable 1950s Ranch Gets a Cool, Scandi Kitchen Reno for $12,000
Renovation Diaries
Wait until you see the brilliant backsplash and the salvaged kitchen island!
Dana McMahan
Aug 17, 2021
Before & After: This 100-Year-Old House Gets a New Kitchen with an Open Concept and Stunning Cabinets
Renovation Diaries
The cabinets! The natural light! The island!
Dana McMahan
Jul 20, 2021
This Kitchen Renovation Cost $27,501 — Here’s Where Every Penny Went
Renovation Diaries
The initial budget was $30,000, so the homeowners were thrilled that they came in under that!
Dana McMahan
Jul 20, 2021
This Couple Knocked Down a Load-Bearing Wall to Open Up Their Galley Kitchen — And They Have No Regrets
Renovation Diaries
It wasn't cheap, but it was worth it.
Dana McMahan
Jul 20, 2021
The Super-Cute, Wildly Functional Kitchen Find I Bought After a Trip to Paris
Tools
Two words for you: mini pots.
Dana McMahan
Jul 19, 2021
This Couple in Utah Spent $14,978 on Their Kitchen Renovation
Renovation Diaries
We got the breakdown to see how every penny was spent.
Dana McMahan
Jun 15, 2021
This Couple Ditched Their Stainless Steel Appliances — And It Was the Best Decision They Ever Made
Renovation Diaries
At least as far as their renovation was concerned.
Dana McMahan
Jun 15, 2021