Before & After: This Very Dated Kitchen Is Now a Glam, Open-Concept Masterpiece

Look back at any room from eras past and it’s easy to tell that tastes have changed majorly over the course of just a few decades. Sure, trends are cyclical, but not everything comes back into fashion (sorry not sorry, carpeted bathrooms). Vicky Burdon (@house_on_the_crescent) knows all about it. The kitchen in her 1950s home might have been all-white, but that by no means meant it resembled the airy, modern minimal spaces that are so beloved today. Prior to its new life as a modern entertaining and cooking hub, the space was in a very different state.

“The house was built in 1950 and inside it was like stepping into a time warp, since it hadn’t been touched for many many years,” says Vicky. “Think: green patterned carpet, strip lighting, wood chip paper everywhere including the ceiling, and a boiler was located on the floor in the living room!”

But Vicky and her husband could visualize the potential it had upon seeing it. In six months, it went from an outdated ’50s haunt to a revitalized cook space with room and style to spare.

Opening up the kitchen to the adjacent living area made lots more room for a functional kitchen. Vicky chose light gray cabinets for the perimeter, and added a large slate blue island to the center. It allows plenty of room for cooking on the built-in stovetop, as well as food prep, and even eating meals on velvet bar stools from Cult Furniture.

For countertops, Vicky chose white quartz from Impala Stone. It’s a much brighter, more modern look than the tan tile that was in the kitchen before. Removing the upper cabinets entirely, and opting for just a few open shelves, makes the cook space look even bigger and brighter.

Now, the kitchen’s not only more beautiful — it’s also way more functional for a 21st-century family.

Inspired? Submit your own project here.

This post originally appeared on Apartment Therapy. See it there: Before and After: This Dreamy Kitchen Redo is an Open Concept Masterpiece