One day, after organizing a client’s beautifully renovated kitchen, I came home and took a fresh look at my own. After 22 years, what was once state of the art had become hopelessly outdated. Speckled granite counters with bulky curved edges and a stainless steel hood over the oven were rooted in the 1990’s. The grout in the tile needed cleaning, and the television “cabinet” looked ridiculous with a flat screen TV wedged inside. It was time for a renovation.

While I initially planned to only address the kitchen, since I live in a townhouse, it would be difficult to renovate the kitchen while ignoring the other living spaces on the same floor – the dining room, living room, powder room, and laundry room. This necessitated an expansion of project scope and budget, but the end result was worth it! The changes that I made are described and pictured below:

Kitchen: After doing a complete demolition of the kitchen, the layout was changed to increase storage and create a more open feeling.

Laundry Room: Moved the door from the dining room to the kitchen, decreasing the size to create a more spacious dining room. See blog “Organizing a (Very Small) Laundry Room.”

Hallways, floors, and stairs: Replaced a traditional wood banister with a glass banister. Replaced kitchen tile and existing wood floor with a lighter colored wide plank oak floor. Replaced all doors, moldings, and lighting. Modernized all lighting.

Living room: Replaced dark marble on the fireplace with a lighter, more neutral marble. Covered original brick wall with sheetrock. See blog “Living Room Facelift” for more photos.

Dining room: Removed a wall that enclosed the area, replaced the table with a larger one, built out a wall 6 inches so the credenza (for storage of china and silver) would fit in a nook in the wall. Replaced light fixture with Tom Dixon Irregular Glass Blown Pendant Light.

Powder room: Replaced pedestal sink and antique mirror with modern vanity and mirror custom to space. Replaced antique light fixture and étagère. Replaced wallpaper.