Our kitchen has continued to evolve after our 113 day renovation (where we grew to despise takeout and yearned for the days when we would once again have a kitchen sink). Of course we can’t mention the renovation without flashing back to our hideous before shot:
And here’s our totally renovated kitchen right after the counters were installed and our sink was (finally!) hooked back up again.
We loved the lighter and brighter look, but thanks to all that added counter space, it felt a bit bare. Slowly and surely we brought in glass jars, herbs in the window, a thick wood cutting board, and a few other touches to make everything feel more inviting and less sterile. But the biggest makeover occurred when we ordered a striped jute rug ($34 on clearance!) and plopped it down on the floor:
It’s actually the same rug from The Company Store that we have in our third bedroom (which we also snagged for 34 beans on sale last year). We’re dying to link to it on their website, but it’s not currently available- boo! But fret not, it keeps coming back after a few weeks of hiding so we assume that if you check back in a month or so it’ll be there- and hopefully it’ll be marked down to that magical $34 price.
I initially thought it would be strange to have a rug in the kitchen, but this baby’s jute so it’s virtually non-pourous. Everything seems to bounce right off, and we’ve lived with it for over a month without any staining incidents (and we’re two people who drink Pom right from the bottle while standing on it). So that’s what we have cookin’ in the kitchen. What about you guys? Any aversion to kitchen rugs? Any other objects that you use on your counters or windowsils to make your kitchen feel warm and welcoming? Do tell.
Megan says
I love your remodel! I wish my kitchen looked like that! And I love the rug. We actually have a rug that we’re going to move into the kitchen that should be a little more stain resistant … especially compared to white tile with white grout (yuck!). But as for decorations – what about something simple above the window? Some art piece or some black and white photos?
YoungHouseLove says
That’s a good point Megan! We’ve actually been going back and forth between a bamboo shade hung high over that window for the illusion of even more height and light, or something arty like a framed print, a canvas, or even a quirky painted sign that says something. We both think we’ll know when we see the right thing, so we’re just at the “keeping an eye out” stage!
xo,
Sherry
Ann-Marie says
I can’t get over the transformation! It looks incredible. I have no aversion to rugs in the kitchen, except that we have three small throw rugs that always slide around. I should just give in and buy some sticky pads to put underneath them, but I’m lazy.
The jute rugs looks perfect on your floor.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Ann-Marie! We actually got our rug pad at Target and it totally does the job. For a day or two we were ice skating in there, but the rug pad helps everything stay put- which is a good thing when you’re carrying a carton of eggs…
xo,
Sherry
Beth says
I am so jealous of your countertops! I wish I could do mine, but I need to save up! On my windowsill, I keep three little bud vases and fresh flowers always. It’s so cheery!
Also, I think a bamboo shade would be a great addition…
Kellie Alkayam says
I’ve actually been on the hunt for a kitchen rug for awhile, but I can’t decide between a large rug to cover most of the kitchen, or just a small mat for in front of the sink. And I haven’t found “the one” yet. It’s tough to find anything that will work in my kitchen because I still have the original pink and black tile kitchen counters and NOTHING matches them. I’ve spent hours Googling, and the best I’ve found is from Cost Plus.
Shannon says
Well,we just bought a new house and thank god, the kitchen was recently renovated…and I like it! It’s already pretty warm with lots of cherry cabinets but I’m bringing in a rust/orangey color to warm it even more. I’m a fan of artwork in the kitchen both on the walls and set up on the countertops.
And your renovation? Wow, it looks amazing and the rug is perfect. Love the size of it, as long as it’s everything-resistant!
Tam says
What channel will your show be on..I am tired of searching my DVR trying to locate Young House Love! (they say speak it right)…wink wink
maya | springtree road says
there was always a rug in my mom’s kitchen – certainly helps your back if you have to hand wash dishes!
i guess because of that, rugs in the kitchen just make them feel homey to me.
Sandy says
I like a rug in front of the sink to help with water spills or splashing onto the hardwood floor; but I also like the texture and color they bring into the room. Your rug looks perfect there!
Madelaine says
I’m actually looking for a new kitchen rug. Just something in front of the sink as my kitchen is fairly good sized. Stain resistant is a must and something in a nice eggplant would be perfect. Any thoughts?
Will be painting the walls and cabinets this summer/fall as the first step to a new kitchen, but I love the results you got!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Madelaine,
I don’t know of any eggplant stain-resistant rugs off hand, but Overstock has a ton of stuff in their rug department along with JC Penney and The Company Store, so I’d recommend checking out their online stores and seeing where you land. Good luck!
xo,
Sherry
Denise Smith says
I HATE KITCHEN RUGS! Not for design reasons, but because I am very clumsy, and I trip over them. In the Kitchen, tripping is dangerous. So, due to my own issues, I forget to recommend them to clients, thus, very few have them. Now if they request, I happily oblige, but I tend to stay away from thin cotton styles because they seem the most likely to bunch and create hazards. Jute, like yours, and wool are chosen.
Kathleen says
I use an old french lemonade bottle to store my dishwashing soap in on my counter. It’s a textured glass with a stopper on a wire mechanism that flips over and locks down. It looks nice sitting out and adds a decorative touch. I sometimes put a small colorful platter under my oils and vinegar on the counter just for a splash of color. I have quite a collection of platers and small decorative plates from clearance sales at Target and Kohls and others that I have picked up at thrift stores.
Johanna says
I absolutely love the transformation of the kitchen!!! I always use to be into the darker wood cabinets for the kitchen and you guys have changed my mind. I already told my hubby how in love I am with white cabinets. It looks so clean and fresh….and very inviting! :)
Camila says
I’ve never thought of using a rug in a kitchen before. I always thought it would get completely dirty, but it looks amazing in your kitchen.
I’m still in complete envy over your countertops! I can’t believe they are not marble. Love it.
courtneyg says
I keep this cheery little rug in my yellow-kitchen! Not only does it go with everything, but is is easily cleaned, too. Gotta love a rug small enough to fit in the washing machine! http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40126045
Kristal says
I love rugs in the kitchen…I’ve actually been on the lookout for one for our kitchen. When we first renovated it, I thought I wanted to ceramic tile to shine through, but now I’m ready for something soft underfoot!
Alina says
I love jute rugs, but I’ve heard that they stain easy and once that happens, there is no coming back, is that true?
This concern is the only thing keeping me from buying one for my living room…
Also, is there an alternative to jute that has that organic look but that can be clean with a hose?
thanks
Alina
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Alina,
We’ve had the jute rug in our den for three years (through dog training!) and it has held up wonderfully. It’s certainly a lot more forgiving than wool because muddy footprints can be shaken out (whereas they can create a nasty carpet stain in something more porous). Since it’s such a straw-like material, everything just bounces right off. As for something that has the woven look that can be hosed down, there’s a material called polypropylene which can be hosed down and even bleached so check out Dash & Albert’s indoor/outdoor versions. Happy hunting!
xo,
Sherry
Alina says
cleaned…
Meredith says
FYI, World Market (Cost Plus) has great multi-colored jute rugs that are almost constantly on sale. I recently bought a 3 x 5 multi-striped one for $25 for my kitchen. Still no pad so the pets and I are skating around for now.
Meredith says
Unfortunately I have the problem of always having too much on our countertops- but with no cabinet big enough for a box of cereal thats probably to be expected!
Arlene says
I absolutely love your kitchen! Have you guys thought about putting in a frosted glass backsplash? Or even glass tiles. I think it would look awesome with the whole look of your kitchen!
Cheers,
Arlene
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Arlene,
We do dream of a frosted glass subway tile or a pale blue glass mosaic tiled backsplash, but it might be out 5 year update! We had a budget in mind and couldn’t squeeze in the backsplash, so until then we’re loving the ease and wipe-ability of the semi-gloss wall paint. Who knew a year later and we wouldn’t have one stain or scratch to speak of?! Paint really is a miracle product.
xo,
Sherry
Colette says
Our kitchen layout is similar to yours but with Cherry cabinets (we did refacing when we moved in).
I have a faux-Oriental that I picked up for $35. Between the low price and Oriental pattern that naturally hides stains- I love having it! I think it makes my kitchen seem cozier.
jacklyn says
this looks amazing! congratulations on a job well done! it’s stunning!
~jacklyn
http://www.peppermags.com
MaryB in Richmond says
I have a question for courtneyg in case she’s keeping up with these comments: The rug that your link went to says it must be professionally dry cleaned, so I’m curious: Do you machine wash yours in spite of the recommendation, or is this not exactly the rug you were talking about?
Thanks! ‘Cause I totally love that rug, but I know we need something I can throw in the washer….
Aliya says
Kitchen rug-lover here! Our kitchen is similar in size and shape to yours, and we have a great, squashy, red Oriental rug gifted to us by my mom that fits perfectly in the space. You can’t see ANY stains and it totally cozies up the space.
srabee says
though i think your counters are way too cluttered, i do love the transformation. i specially love the lighting. i must have a rug in the kitchen and think yours looks great!
Venessa says
I’m totally for rugs in kitchens. I have a small kitchen and was thinking of getting the FLOR carpet tiles to customize the look. Have you used FLOR before? Also, I checked in your house tour link and i couldn’t find your countertop material, what did you use? I looks stunning!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Vanessa,
We haven’t personally used Flor tiles before, but they look great (we’ve seen them in a number of boutiques lately). Hope it helps!
As for our counters, they’re “Pashmina” granite from Stonemark through Home Depot. We’ve heard it’s been discontinued but any local stoneyard should have it on hand (they have an almost limitless supply of all types of granite). To help them find a slab for you, you can describe it as a veiny marble-like granite with a lot of white in it, gray veins, and small granite flecks.
xo,
Sherry
Michele says
Your kitchen is absolutely gorgeous! I love the idea of a kitchen rug but I hesitate to get one. Not because of possible stains, but because I don’t see how you deal with the daily crumbs that inevitably work their way into a rug. What do you do with a jute rug to deal with that? Do you vacuum it or do you have to pull it outside and shake it frequently? Thank you in advance for your answer!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Michele,
A quick vacuuming always does the trick for crumbs, and thanks to the super tight weave of this rug (much tighter than our braided jute rug in the den) nothing can really work its way into it! As for the den rug, which does occasionally get things worked into the less tightly braided pattern, we shake that baby outside from time to time to ensure that it stays as dust and dirt free as possible- especially with allergy season upon us. Hope it helps!
xoxo,
Sherry
Megan says
Did you all redo the kitchen all yourselves? It looks amazing. My husband and I are debating on whether or not we should redo our kitchen ourselves (my husband is very handy…but it is a big job) or hire someone else to do it.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Megan,
The kitchen was the only room that we actually had some help with (we love DIY, but we know when to call in the reinforcements!). We used a free certified kitchen designer through Home Depot, a licensed electrician to rewire everything, a floor guy to lay the new hardwoods, and had the cabinets and counters professionally installed by HD). Acting as the general contractor for the renovation (instead of hiring a GC) allowed us to save a lot of loot and keep everyone on track to get the job done. So glad we did what we could ourselves (and outsourced the things that we couldn’t)- no worries that anything will fall off the walls, ever! Hope it helps. Happy renovating.
xo,
Sherry
Sara says
That rug does so much for your kitchen! We have the smaller version in front of our kitchen sink, but I don’t find it that comfortable to stand on through a dishwashing marathon. No dishwasher here besides lefty & righty so those marathons are often! Maybe it is just my little tootsies getting used to jute underfoot, but our washable cotton runner is much more comfy. I also have trouble with the corners folding up and over..definitely a tripping hazard. Do you two have the same problem?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Sara,
We actually don’t have a problem with folding corners. Maybe it’s due to the larger size (perhaps it holds itself down more since it’s bigger and weighs more?) and maybe it’s because of the rug pad (which really helps to keep it in place). Perhaps a rug pad is the key? And of course you can flip it over for a day or two so the curled corners have a chance to uncurl, and then flip it back once it’s flat. Hope it helps!
xo,
Sherry
Ami Rae says
I cook for a living and when I’m prepping all day I would often pull the bath rug out to stand on, then I realized that a runner bath rug would work even better so I caught a sale at Target and spent $7. It covers a bigger area and it is completely washable and with the rubber backing never moves. Sometimes if it doesn’t get too dirty I leave it for a few days and I really like the color it brings into the room and the cushiness under foot.
kristin jo says
I bought small rubber backed cheapo rugs at Bed Bath & Beyond that can be machine washed. One goes in front of the sink, one in front of oven, and one at the front door in the winter. Every few months I make a run to the laundromat to wash my large items — comforter, rugs and curtain panels. I have allergies so this is key.
I am gearing up for a kitchen remodel so thanks for the overview and I’ll be reading your archives to pick up more tips on the specifics like the CKD. The end product looks fab and I love that you did it on a budget!
Venessa says
Thanks sherry! and with a detailed description, you rock! it looks like the carrera (probably spelling it wrong) marble! love it!
Arlene says
Oh I hear you on the wipe-ability of glossy paint sistah! As for the rug, we don’t have one in our kitchen, with a jack russell terrier that loves to chew on carpet?! Which sucks cos we can’t even have a rug around and there are so many fabulous looking ones out there.
Cheers,
Arlene
Alexa says
Venessa…
I have FLOR carpet tiles in my kitchen and they’ve held up great and clean really quick. There’s several different types of FLOR tiles and the ones I have are made for kitchens and entrances/hallways.
I didn’t have much debate over whether to get them since I actually won them from ApartmentTherapy’s Holiday Giveaway last year, haha.
megan says
Love the rug! I will have to check back with them next month. I would love a new rug for our living room! And maybe the kitchen too!
Jennifer says
Your kitchen is fantastic! I love that timeless look. I’m also in love with your rug. What size is it?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jennifer,
Our rug is 4×6. We were debating between a 3×5 or a 4×6 but we’re happy we went larger because it makes the room look larger (one small rug in the center of the room would make the floor space seem much less expansive). Hope it helps!
xo,
Sherry
WILLIE P says
JUST FABULOUS
Faye says
Hello I just love your site.. I need advice in a big way. I have a very small kitchen about a 12 by 10. We put in new cabinets and are thinking of going with a Cherry Burgandy Licorice stain, what color of wall paint would go best? Or do you think the cabinet stain would be to dark for a small kitchen? We will also be putting in a wood floor.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Faye,
I think you cabinet stain choice will be rich and gorgeous, just balance it out with lighter creamy walls so it doesn’t feel too dark. Two options to try: Benjamin Moore’s Cream Fleece (a soft and inviting neutral creamy tone) or BM’s Limestone (a gorgeous subtle green that will really complement the stain). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Tiffany says
I LOVE that rug, I hope it comes back on The company Store soon!
Jessica says
What color are the walls in your kitchen?
YoungHouseLove says
Glidden’s Gentle Tide.
xo,
s
Courtney says
I know you probably talked about this on another page, but are your countertops marble or granite? Thanks :)
P.S. I love your kitchen and your house and this blog! So glad to see great things coming out of the Richmond area!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Courtney,
They’re granite (which is generally a bit easier to keep clean/care for) but we love that they have a marble look!
xo,
s
Kristi says
What is the name of your granite? I LOVE it with the white cabinets.
YoungHouseLove says
It’s called Pashmina from Home Depot. We’ve also heard it called Kashmir White.
xo,
s
Alexa says
Holy Moly! You went from a YMCA camp kitchen to the Ritz Carlton!! Absolutely GLORIOUS! (What a great blog. Thx for sharing all your diy secrets with us all. I’m so appreciative.)
Jared C. says
Gotta say that the fact that you lightened up the cabinets makes the room look a lot bigger. Great job on the renovation!
Mary says
Is there anywhere I can find all the entries from your kitchen remodel? (I clicked on the projects tab, and it took me just here, and the “you might also like” isn’t kitchen-related)
Specifically, I’m looking for more of the process around the countertops. My kitchen looks almost exactly like the one at your old house, but I have laminate countertops and want to upgrade to granite. I remember you bought your sink separate, and just wanted to see if that would work for me as well.
Thanks!
Mary
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Mary,
We would recommend clicking the “archives” tab up near the search bar and scrolling all the way down to the first post we ever wrote in September of 2007. We started the blog because we were embarking on a bit kitchen remodel, so by clicking through posts from the first post (and then clicking “next”) you’ll see all the planning and stuff that went into the kitchen remodel since it was the first thing we tackled. And generally speaking, any undermount sink works with granite (from any store, although some granite yards offer promotions like “free sink with granite purchase” so you might want to check those out. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Mary says
Thanks! Your blog is so helpful with all of these little questions–I have no idea what I’m doing.
Nicole says
I’m trying to find the cost break down of your kitchen remodel (if you shared this info. on your blog). My fiance and I are buying a home with a small kitchen and I love what you did with yours. I’d love to use it for inspiration.
[email protected]
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Nicole,
Here’s that link for ya. Hope it helps! If you can work with the cabinets you have you’ll save a ton of money (we had to reconfigure everything, close off a doorway, and install all new cabs so it was a pricier reno than some kitchens call for). In our new house we’re planning to work with the cabinets for a much cheaper overhaul, so stay tuned for that too. And good luck!
xo,
s
Christine Scott says
Ooooh, we just found you after the terrific Washington Post article this week. How much fun are we having reading through all of your tips! Quick question – your gorgeous kitchen – where is the microwave? We love the structural artwork that is your range hood and would love to do something similar, yet hate to lose precious counter space by not having it over the range. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Scroll halfway down this post and you will see a picture of the microwave: https://www.younghouselove.com/113-days-later/
Our kitchen designer at Home Depot had the great idea to still use a hanging microwave, just not above the range. Then they installed a small piece of trim underneath it to give it the appearance of being build-in. We loved the solution!
-John
Claudia says
I see I’m late to the party… As far as window treatments, what about cafe curtains? Limitless fabric options. Not much obstruction. Great reno!
YoungHouseLove says
They’re always breezy and charming too!
xo,
s
rebekah says
Can you tell me what your countertops are? Also, what color are the walls? Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
The walls are Glidden’s Gentle Tide and the cabinets are “pashmina” granite from Home Depot.
xo,
s