If you send us an email with the words “1950s ranch,” “knock down walls” and “kitchen makeover” you’ve officially piqued our interest. And when you attach before & after photos as stunning as Jessica’s, well, end of story. I’ll need a moment to pick my jaw up off of the floor. Here’s her letter:
Hey guys! I know how you love a good before and after and thought you might be interested in ours. We bought our 1950’s ranch just over two months ago and have been working around the clock to get her in tip top shape. We recently wrapped up the kitchen remodel and DIYed everything but the countertops.
Since moving into our house we’ve knocked down major walls separating the kitchen from the rest of the home, updated the electric and plumbing, installed new hardwood flooring, replaced all of the upper and lower cabinets, and added a butcher block island. We updated to stainless steel appliances, soapstone countertops, and installed a subway tile backsplash. We also added recessed lighting, pendants, and under-cabinet lighting throughout. Oh, and there was a new addition (baby Lizzy) to the family just days before moving in. Whew. It’s been a wild ride.
There’s just something special about walking into a room that you’ve literally re-built from the ground up. The industrial vibe streaming from the pendants and metal stools makes me a little weak in the knees.
Hope you enjoy this space as much as we do! – Jessica
Enjoy is one word for it, Jessica. Envy might be another. Amazing job! Thanks so much for sharing your makeover with us. Jessica’s also got more pics on her blog, plus a full budget breakdown and source list for you too. In the meantime let’s play the favorite part game. I’m really into those great pendants and the butcher block on the island. Meanwhile, Sherry loves the cabinet hardware and wants to pet the subway tile (who’s surprised?).
Psst- We announced this week’s giveaway winner, so click here to see if it’s you.
Jocelyn Pascall says
I literally love everything about this. It just shows you that, with a little imagination, you can really make any space beautiful and completely your own. Nice work!
Reenie says
WOW!! Love it all…. but really love the sink =)
Carolann says
Those are some very nice, neat corners you got there. Corners are hard!!
Carolann says
Oops I commented on the wrong post! Hahaha I need a do-over!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, no worries!
xo,
s
Hannah says
just recently found your blog and i love it! aside from the book and being FT bloggers, did you ever think of being a traveling interior decorator team?
love your projects/ideas but too lazy to execute. can i just pay you? lol. you can bring the baby and the dog too.
wish you much more success and happiness!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, aw thanks! We have thought about taking on some decorating projects but for now we’re so busy with the blog/toddler/book thing. Who knows where we’ll end up though!
xo
s
Sammy says
A-MA-ZING!!!!All I can say!
xx
Amanda says
Is it just me or is there no dish washer in the kitchen? If they don’t use one fine, but you would want one for resale. Otherwise, it’s a great improvement.
As a structural engineer from California, it makes me nervious when people just take out walls. Hopefully everyone is looking at lateral loads and not just gravity ones.
Jenny says
Love!
Lynn @ Our Useful Hands says
I love the super long rug that nearly goes from one end to the other. It’s making my brain start to hum and crackle with ideas…oh and your sneak peek in yesterdays video of “stencil a rug” is making me stand up and say “WHY NOT STENCIL A RUG?!?” So imma do it.
My best, Lynn
YoungHouseLove says
Haha I love it!
xo,
s
Andrea says
Is it just me but I have a wallpaper of Josh Stein and Richmond Habitat for Humanity all over the background so I can’t read the text? I’m reading from an iPad.
YoungHouseLove says
So sorry! It’s just an iPad glitch (we didn’t change anything on our end). If you clear your cookies/cache/data it should be all better :)
xo,
s
Rebecca says
Wow that is insane! Awesome reader redesign. I really really want that kitchen drool….
Jenna at Homeslice says
I love cape 27, and yes! they did a fabulous job!!
Terresa says
Very nice redo. I would be pleased to have that kitchen. But seriously, how many white subway tile kitchens can we see with three Perrier bottles on the counter?? Not tryin’ to be a hater, just seems that so many kitchen redo’s lately are almost exactly like everything else that’s being done right now.
Sarah W. says
OK, is anyone else thinking how does anyone do an entire kitchen remodel in the first two months after moving in…and with a newborn??? Do they work full time as well?? Do they garden organically? Churn their own butter? That said, it’s gorgeous. And timeless. I just feel that for the average person this kind of renovation in that time frame is kind of unrealistic, and although somewhat motivational to see, it has left me feeling about as useful as wet toilet paper.
But that’s just me. :-)
Marissa@ohhhsolovely says
this is a beauty! waiting ever so (im)patiently to rip out my kitchen after we finish paying for hubby’s schooling!
Janice says
Really love this redesign! I saw their kitchen reno on one of the other
blogs I read (7th House on the Left). They have a bunch of photos:
http://7thhouseontheleft.com/2012/06/reader-reno/
Kathryn Griffin says
Holy Flip! This is so great! Thanks for sharing. Heading over to her site to check it out. Wishing you peeps a grand evening. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
Kim W Rily says
Have you noticed, this looks a lot like your kitchen, J&S? Right from the color of the rug, to the dark wood floor and the white cabinets? You even considered similar stools, didn’t you? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I guess. :)
YoungHouseLove says
I love their dark butcher block & soapstone counters though! And the open layout/island are so amazing. I think lots of people love a white kitchen with dark floors ;)
xo
s
Cassie says
This looks AMAZING!
btw, nice title ;)
Ketlin says
Hi, I´m from Brazil and I love your website…
I’m getting married in February and I’ve had various ideas for my house.
Xoxo
Missy says
They’ve only been in their house two months and they made this amazing transformation already? Yowza! I’ve been in my house about two months and I haven’t quite finished unpacking yet!
Viviana says
Wow oh Wow!! White kitchens are definitely in right now. And I don’t see how they can go out of style. This kitchen is beautiful! I am SO glad I chose white for my new kitchen. Thanks to all the inspiration from your blog and pinterest of course. Its still in the works, missing: door knobs, over the sink pendant, foot boards and new appliances. But I am so happy to see what everyone else does with the same choices. Great job.
Amy @ a new old house says
LOVE the dark hardwood floors and soapstone countertops!
Lindsey d. says
I can’t decide if I want the title of this post to actually be “Reader Redesign: When the walls come tumbling tumbling” or “Reader Redesign: Shaka, when the walls fell.” And if you get that second reference, major geek points to you!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahahahahaha, nice.
xo
s
Mamaw says
I love how their old kitchen had the same cutout that your house now has between the dining room and the kitchen. Love, love, love their new room. Jaw dropping!
Paige @ Little Nostalgia says
That’s amazing! And I can’t believe their “after” picture actually says “progress” on it. I didn’t notice anything that needs to be done!
Laura (Blogging Over Thyme) says
Gorgeous!!
Teresa @ wherelovemeetslife says
I am beyond in love with this kitchen, as in I want it put in my house exactly how it is. Thanks for sharing!!
Larisa says
The kitchen is done very nicely!.. So I absolutely had to check out their web site. And – how funny – it is a copy of yours! Super deja vu all through out, even the colors and the layout. You inspire people on all different levels, that’s for sure. I wonder how many YHL ‘clone’ sites you’ve discovered since you became big….
Shauna @Satori Design for Living says
Such a great makeover! It’s amazing how much brighter it is and I bet they like spending time in there so much more!
Ruth says
That is very very very similar to YHL kitchen. Maybe too much time spent on the YHL blog!
Dani Meyer says
There you go crashing another site you two ;)
M.C. says
TWO MONTHS?! And a new BABY!! Are you KIDDING me??!? Takes productivity to a whole new universe from mine…
…My favorites are the beautiful floor (I haven’t checked their link yet to see more of it), the butcher block island, and the great splashes of green and yellow- especially love the San Pelligrino bottles as an accent!
Amy says
Wow, this is amazing! So beautiful. However, I have to say that I’d love to see a few more kitchens featured that aren’t all white. Maybe some gorgeous cherry cabinets, or something different altogether? A lot of these kitchens featured lately look a lot alike, I’d love to see something different and equally awesome!
YoungHouseLove says
We’re with ya! We’re always looking for darker kitchens to share (picture me impatiently tapping my foot while staring at my inbox)! Ya hear that folks out there with gorgeous dark wood cabs? We’d love to see ’em!
xo
s
Katie says
I have a very novice question for YHL. How do you know if there are any support beams in the wall before demolition? I’ve followed your transformations of ripping down walls, but how do you take a peak inside before bringing out the sledge hammer? I can’t wait to pick up your book! Thanks – Katie
YoungHouseLove says
Always be sure you’re not dealing with a load bearing wall before breaking out the sledge hammer! The best way to tell is to look at the way the floor runs (hardwoods). The usually are run in the same direction as load bearing walls (so anything parallel to the floors is a load bearing wall and anything perpendicular is usually not). It definitely pays to be sure! You can also use a drywall saw to cut a hole and take a peek, although it’s not always clear what is framing lumber and what are actual support walls. Good luck!
xo
s
Ali says
It looks fantastic! Definitely taking notes for our kitchen remodel one day. : )
Gretchen says
All I can say is WOW! I couldn’t even envision that until I saw the pictures but it looks amazing!
Kelly says
You can’t be afraid to just knock down a wall or 2 what a difference it makes! That is beautiful! I love the island, the stools the backsplash and the look of it!
Marika says
Just wanted to let you know the pictures aren’t working. Unless you meant to post a picture of Courteney Cox. Or maybe that is my punishment for getting behind in reading your blog :)
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, sounds like you’re on a smart phone, which often has these glitches. If you clear the cache/data/cookies it should go back to normal. So sorry for the trouble!
xo
s