The owners of the Atlanta home had specific goals in mind when they consulted designer Theresa Butler, owner of Theresa Butler Interiors about their kitchen upgrade. Topping the wish list were brightening the space and utilizing smart appliances that offered remote control.
Butler recognized the cabinets, while dated in appearance, were in excellent condition and in fact had years of service ahead. She sent the dark walnut fronts to the shop for reconditioning, a fresh coat of white paint and new hardware. She also added mullions to the four cabinet doors surrounding the new range hood, creating a focal point for the room that it previously lacked.
Initially, Butler had hoped to stack a row of new cabinets above the existing ones, but the 10-inch gap was too tight to accommodate them. Still, she didn’t want to ignore the space. “The best solution was to frame it out and add crown and a smaller piece of decorative trim to lend it a more custom look, then we painted it all one color. We were thrilled with how it turned out,” she said.
Kitchen Upgrade Strategy
As for lessons learned from the project? The designer shares, “It’s crucial to spend a bit more time in the planning stage to figure out how to make everything more functional and efficient. Just keep in mind that things might not go exactly as planned – be ready for some surprises and bring a little patience along for the ride.”
The original kitchen had dark walnut cabinets with a brown tile backsplash. Outdated but fully functional, they were refinished and reused in the new design.
Sources
Design: Theresa Butler, Theresa Butler Interiors; Photography: Marc Mauldin; Cabinets: KraftMaid; Cooktop, Dishwasher, Microwave, Range, Refrigerator, Wall Ovens, Wine Cooler: GE Cafe; Faucets: Moen; Lighting: Hinkley; Paint: Sherwin-Williams; Tile: Floor & Decor; Vent Hood: Hoodsly
