Reader Kitchen Remodel

Before & After: A $12,000 Complete Kitchen Makeover

Kristin Appenbrink
Kristin Appenbrink
Kristin is the co-founder of Part Time Vegan and Silent Book Club. As a former editor at Real Simple, she is compulsively organized and loves solving people's problems. She has a weakness for desserts, especially ice cream.
updated May 30, 2019
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(Image credit: Dala Al-Fuwaires )

First things first: Dala is a brave soul. When she and her husband were moving to Arizona, she was working on her thesis, and she let her husband purchase a home that she had never seen. Thankfully, her husband has good taste!

After living in their home for seven years, they finally decided it was time to update the kitchen into a space that really reflected their style. Goodbye, oak cabinets, white appliances, and gray walls that make everything feel darker than they are. Hello, brand new kitchen. Take a look!

(Image credit: Dala Al-Fuwaires )

We see subway tile quite frequently here on The Kitchn, and for good reason — it’s a clean, stylish way to update your kitchen. We love Dala’s version because the tiles seem a bit larger than usual. It also makes the kitchen feel so much brighter! We especially love the way the wall above the range opens up into the next room, which also allows in more light.

(Image credit: Dala Al-Fuwaires )

Dala and her husband kept to the same layout of the old kitchen, but replaced all the appliances with stainless steel Whirlpool appliances, and the oak cabinets with glossy white cabinets from IKEA. You can see the complete list of sources on Dala’s blog, Thyme + Tamarind.

(Image credit: Dala Al-Fuwaires )

Dala and her husband also added a few DIY elements to the kitchen, including this wood and plumbing-pipe shelving unit. It’s the perfect contrast to the sleek subway tile, and adds a bit of warmth to the kitchen.

(Image credit: Dala Al-Fuwaires )

Finally, this has to be one of our favorite ideas from the remodel. Dala found a vintage popover tin at a local thrift store and used it as a little succulent planter. We love repurposing and plants in the kitchen, so this is a win-win in our book.

Visit Dala’s blog, Thyme + Tamarind, to see more photos of the renovation and get the complete list of sources.

Thanks so much for sharing your remodel, Dala!

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