Before & After: HGTV Pros Gave This Builder-Grade Kitchen a Whole New Life
When catering to more than one person’s design preferences, a renovation can get … complicated. Opinions differ, disagreements ensue, and Call the Closer,” host and real estate expert Lauren Risley took on clients who couldn’t have had more opposite stylistic visions. But through communication, joint decision-making, and a whole lot of patience, Risley was able to marry multiple styles under one roof.
Katrina and Dave lived in an apartment located in St. Louis that they outgrew, and they tapped Risley to help them not only find the home of their dreams, but merge their two styles in a harmonious way. The show sums up Katrina’s style as “super modern” and Dave’s “historic rustic,” so not an easy feat. However, it’s nothing that Risley can’t handle (although, naturally, there were moments of doubt).
When it came to the kitchen, Katrina wanted to open up the existing cramped space and have plenty of room to “make a mess” without feeling like she had no space to do so (translation: more countertop space). In order to achieve that, Risley knocked down a wall and removed a bathroom to make way for a more spacious kitchen. Plus, removing the wall gave straight clearance from the back to the front of the house, increasing flow via an open layout.
As far as design decisions go, working alongside the couple, Risley installed two-toned cabinets — white and dark brown — that added an interesting contrast into the room. Light tiled floors were installed, which complemented the star of the show: the quartzite countertops. Katrina and Dave not only loved the look of the quartzite, but it holds up well against Katrina’s worst enemies: coffee and turmeric stains.
For the living room, it was pretty much a blank slate in the “before” stages. The only elements that stayed post-renovation were some of the brick wall and two fireplaces. Otherwise, Risley worked her magic and transformed this dated room into a light, charming living space.
Adding a fresh coat of paint goes a long way — and this room serves as proof. And with the wall knocked down connecting the living room and the kitchen, the space felt not only brighter but much, much larger.
To create the modern-meets-historic vibe, Risley added in furnishings that were neutral, natural-feeling, and a bit industrial, from the black circular chandelier to the wooden dining table and, of course, touches of greenery.
Based off of the reaction from Katrina and Dave during the reveal, the renovation was exactly what they had hoped for — but you’ll have to catch the episode to see it unfold for yourself.
“Call the Closer” airs every Monday at 9/8 p.m. central on HGTV and Discovery+.
This post originally appeared on Apartment Therapy. See it there: Before and After: HGTV’s “Call the Closer” Breathed New Life Into This Kitchen with Two-Toned Cabinets