This Cheerful, Sunny Kitchen Makeover Only Cost $2,500

Like a lot of the “before” photos we often show, this kitchen is perfectly nice. It’s got lots of windows, a beautiful hardwood floor, and classic cabinets. Its owner, however, wanted something beyond perfectly nice, and, after four years of plotting and planning, made it into something truly special.

In this full-length shot (above), you can see that lovely floor, as well as more of the mustard walls. It is always wise to spend some time in a place before renovating, whenever possible, and the results prove that patience is a virtue.

Jolie Dionne of Vintage Meets Glam did this renovation for less than $2,500 — and in less than two months. Check out Jolie’s full reveal post for a detailed budget breakdown and resource list.

Obviously the most crucial element is the lemon wallpaper from Spoonflower. It’s the sunniest wallpaper ever — a friendly greeting early in the morning. The creamy, pale gray paint on the cabinets is the perfect foil to the lively wallpaper, although I could see the wallpaper working well with the original wood cabinets for a way more vintage look.

Speaking of vintage, that ceiling light has the perfect amount of retro flair. The new basalt slate countertops are also perfect with the wallpaper; black, gray, and yellow is a super-fun and sophisticated color combination.

I think one of the main things working against the original kitchen was the cabinet hardware. More straightforward handles would have looked more modern, but obviously would not have been a very dramatic change. That aggressive mustard paint is certainly making its presence felt as well — especially as it battles with the hue of the cabinets.

Now it all pops. Another excellent aspect of this makeover is that the white stove, refrigerator, dishwasher are now more unified with the rest of the kitchen, thanks to the white background of the wallpaper and the black-and-white cafe curtain. Before, the appliances sort of stuck out, but now they fit right in.

We’ve been seeing gold-toned hardware everywhere lately, but this is one of the best uses of it. The gold coordinates so well with the lemons, further unifying the decor, and there’s not too much gold, thanks to the black faucet. The handles won’t look dated anytime soon, because they make absolutely perfect sense.

Thank you, Jolie and Vintage Meets Glam!

This post originally ran on Apartment Therapy. See it there: Before and After: A Cheerful, Sunny Kitchen for Only $2,500