Honey oak cabinets, faux-marble laminate countertops, fluorescent ceiling panels and a partially enclosed layout defined this kitchen when the home was purchased in 2020. Rather than starting with a complete cabinet replacement, the project focused on updating what was already there.
Shared by Imgur user CAtimbo, Renovations included repainting the original oak cabinets, opening up a wall in the dining room, adding a peninsula, installing quartz countertops, fitting a new gas range and finishing the space with a blue arabesque tile backsplash. Most of the cabinet boxes remained in place throughout the project.
The original kitchen is based on oak cabinets, laminate countertops and a closed layout
Tall-paneled oak cabinets covered the sink wall, while dark laminate countertops ran beneath fluorescent ceiling panels. Natural light poured in through the windows, but the wood finish remained the dominant feature throughout the room.
A partial wall separates the kitchen from the dining room. Upper cabinets extending toward the opening and a limited line of sight between the two spaces make the kitchen feel more enclosed than its footprint suggests.
The same oak finish continued around the refrigerator and range wall. An electric stove, white microwave, laminate countertops and original cabinetry reflect a kitchen that has changed little in the years since the renovation began.
The existing cabinet boxes stayed when the layout was opened
Cabinet doors, drawer fronts and sections of the wall facing the dining room were removed first. Plastic sheeting protected the refrigerator and appliances while work began around the existing cabinet frames.
As the doors went, the original cabinet boxes became visible. Much of the structure remained in place, helping to keep costs down while making room for a new peninsula and a large opening between the kitchen and dining room.
Spent over a week primer and paint the cabinet doors
Cabinet doors line up on the floor after sanding and preparation is complete. The homeowner used a Wagner Flexio sprayer with a fine-finish attachment, adding paint conditioner to achieve a smoother finish. According to the homeowner, the standard spray attachment often clogs and proves more suitable for stains than cabinet paint.
Freshly painted doors awaited restoration while work continued elsewhere in the home. Each piece received multiple coats of primer and paint on both sides, turning a simple painting project into one of the most time-consuming parts of the renovation.
Drawer fronts follow the same process as cabinet doors. The homeowner described spraying the doors and drawer fronts as the most stressful phase of the remodel, requiring extensive preparation, protective gear and repeated coats before the finish was complete.
White paint started changing the kitchen before the countertops arrived
With the paint work complete, the original oak finish was gone from the cabinet frames and doors. White cabinetry instantly brightens up a room, even before the countertops and backsplash arrive.
A lighter finish reduced the visual weight of the upper cabinets and drew attention away from the cabinets themselves, making the room appear more open as the renovation progressed.
A peninsula framework began to connect the kitchen to the dining room
With cabinet painting complete, attention turned to layout. As work progressed around the future peninsula, the opening between the kitchen and dining room became more visible.
Painted cabinet frames, exposed shelves, and light finishes already made the room look different from the original oak kitchen before the advent of countertops.
Additional framing is extended from the sink wall to form a peninsula. The new design maximizes countertop space while creating a strong connection between the kitchen and the adjacent dining area.
Beyond this phase, the remodel focused less on cabinetry and more on changing how the room functioned and interacted with the surrounding space.
A new peninsula replaced the wall between the kitchen and dining room
A large opening now connected the kitchen directly to the dining room. The new peninsula occupied the space where part of the dividing wall once stood, creating an additional work surface and space for seating.
With painted cabinets back in place and overhead recessed lighting, the project went beyond cabinet refinishing and into a complete reconfiguration of the kitchen.
Wall removal changed more than cabinet color
The finished kitchen looked significantly different from the purchased space in 2020. White cabinets replaced the original oak finish, quartz countertops replaced laminate surfaces, and recessed lighting replaced reliance on fluorescent ceiling panels.
A new peninsula occupied the space where part of the dividing wall once stood, creating an additional workspace while connecting the kitchen to the dining room.
Removing the wall opened up views into the dining area and allowed natural light to travel more freely between the two spaces. What was once a separate kitchen became part of a larger, more connected living area.
According to the homeowner, wall removal, lighter cabinetry, new countertops, recessed lighting and a backsplash produced the biggest changes.
Renovations also include a new gas range and gas line replacing the original electric stove. White cabinetry and quartz surfaces created a neutral backdrop around the cooking area, while the backsplash introduced color and pattern.
The homeowner spent nearly a year finding a contractor willing to install the porcelain arabesque tile.
The blue arabesque backsplash became one of the most recognizable features of the remodel. Its color variation and glossy finish added contrast against the white cabinets and countertops while tying together the sink wall, range wall and peninsula.
The finished kitchen retained much of its original cabinet framework, but had little of its original appearance. White cabinets, quartz countertops, recessed lighting, a gas range and a blue arabesque backsplash transform the closed-oak oak kitchen into a bright space connected to the dining room.
All image credits go to Imgur user: CAtimbo.
