BrittanyMakes

We move into our loft at the beginning of Summer, and immediately we knew our kitchen needed some love.  Last week I introduced you to our awkward kitchen, showing you just how oddly unfinished it all seemed.  As someone who enjoys spending time in the kitchen, I was fixated on making this space one I would enjoy and love to be in.  It definitely wasn’t going to cut it at its current state – lacking in visual appeal, and not to mention counter space and missing cabinetry.

Our budget kept us from progressing as fast as we wanted.  It took us 4 months to complete all the pieces.  First we bought a pre-built cabinet from Home Depot, then ordered a butcher block counter top from Ikea.  The next hurdle was a much needed tool, a compound miter saw, which my man lovingly bought for me for my birthday! I love him :)  After a few more trips to Ikea and the hardware store and a few late nights waking up the neighbors with my miter saw, we can finally say we have a complete kitchen!

Here is the progression of our kitchen:

Don’t look too closely! There are a few blemishes that need to be finished (ie, toe-kick, shh!)…

I much prefer a dark stained butcher block counter versus the original finish.  I think it adds a richness to the room, especially since our walls are so big and white!  I’m still trying to convince my man to let me paint the rest of the cabinetry to match… um, what security deposit? Sigh, such is the life of a renter.  I doubt he’ll let me paint the kitchen wall too.  Man, there’s always a cop in the relationship, no?

Our small space kitchen solution is made up of a few items from various stores.  The shelves are 10″x8′ pine boards from Home Depot, stained to match the coutner top, and cut to size with my handy miter saw.  The counter is the Varde butcher block from Ikea.  The cabinet is the Hampton Bay pre-built cabinet from Home Depot.  The brackets are also from Ikea, the large Ekby Stilig brackets in white.  Oh, and the hardware is also from Ikea.

I’ve only had this complete kitchen for 2 days, and I smile every time I see it.  A job well done, I must say!