Before & After: A Kitchen Stuck in the 1980s Gets a Modern Update

When shopping for a new home, Laura and Jason had a hard time finding one they loved, so instead they looked for a home that had good bones and the potential for a full renovation. When they found the home they ended up purchasing, they knew the kitchen would be the first thing they wanted to update.

Their kitchen before the remodel was hopelessly stuck in the eighties with outdated light fixtures, warm brown cabinets, mauve countertops, and a particularly dated linoleum floor. But that all changed after the remodel.

With the addition of simple modern cabinets from IKEA, Laura and Jason brought their kitchen into the 21st century. In addition to gutting the room, they also knocked down a wall to both give them more space and make the kitchen and living area one big room.

Before, the kitchen was centered around the wall with the refrigerator and range. They might have had enough cabinet space, but the colors and styles had to go.

In the new kitchen, Laura knew she wanted lots of cabinet space, along with a big kitchen island. The couple likes to entertain, and she wanted to be able to have people gather around the island while she and Jason put the finishing touches on the meal.

They also decided to separate the cooktop from the oven (and they chose to go for stacking double ovens). The hood is hidden in the cabinet above the stovetop and provides a seamless appearance in the kitchen.

Finally, the modern update of the kitchen allowed Laura and Jason to include some of their favorite artwork on the wall that connects the dining room and living room. We’re big fans of art in the kitchen, so we love this look.

• See more: You can see more photos of Laura and Jason’s kitchen and get the details on what products were used in the remodel on Inspired Kitchen Design.

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