Before & After: Goodbye, Wood-Fired Stove! Hello, Dream Kitchen

One of the first things you might notice about this kitchen is the six-burner wood stove that sits just outside the kitchen in the living/dining area. Needless to say, Kim — who sent us today’s kitchen remodel — didn’t have much occasion to use the wood stove. The rest of the kitchen hadn’t been remodeled since 1988, so it was due for an upgrade as well. Kim and her husband are now retired, and have been renovating to make their “forever home” their dream home. Take a look at the remodel.

What a completely different look! Not only did Kim and her husband enlarge the kitchen, but they also had all new custom cabinetry installed. (We’ll talk more about that in a second.) By knocking down the wall and enlarging the window over the sink, they made their kitchen so much brighter and more spacious. They also had a skylight installed over the island counter.

Now, let’s talk about the cabinets. They are made of Wormy Maple and have just had a clear stain applied so the striations in the wood show through. Wormy Maple is also called Ambrosia Maple, and the darker sections are made by the ambrosia beetles which burrow into the wood. The wood is more commonly used in flooring and even guitars, but we love the unusual look of it on the cabinets. It definitely makes for a statement-making kitchen.

You might be wondering how Kim has kept all of her countertops so clear of clutter. It’s because she has built all kinds of storage solutions into her kitchen, like the cabinet for her KitchenAid mixer, and dedicated drawers for her other small appliances.

Talk about a dream kitchen!

Thanks for sharing your remodel with us, Kim!

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