Before & After: A Budget Kitchen Remodel with Vintage Touches

After buying a brownstone in Brooklyn, the owners knew they needed to upgrade the kitchen — stat. Not only was the design outdated, but the cabinets, floors, and appliances were all a little worse for the wear.

They hired Jane Rosenbaum of Jane Interiors to help reimagine their kitchen — on a budget (they did just buy real estate in Brooklyn, after all). Luckily, the after looks anything but budget.

Isn’t it a stunning upgrade? Like most of our budget renovations, this kitchen contains a lot of elements from IKEA. Both the cabinets and the countertops are from the flat pack purveyor.

But there’s something special about the countertops; take a closer look.

Those are the classic butcher block counters, which Rosenbaum calls “the best budget buy in the world,” but instead of leaving them with their blonde finish, she had them stained dark to fit the aesthetic of the kitchen and the other furniture.

Rosenbaum and the homeowners also saved money by using beadboard for most of the backsplash, and by using one large light fixture — a chandelier found on Craigslist and negotiated down to $200.

To tie in some of the vintage charm of the space and the dining furnishings, Rosenbaum used this Delft tile brought back from Holland by the homeowner’s mother several years ago. It adds just the right touch behind the stove.

Finally, the kitchen also has a small dining area that perfectly fits a gateleg table; it’s perfect for two on a daily basis, but can expand easily when they have dinner guests.

Thanks so much for sharing your clients’ remodel with us, Jane!

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