Renovating a farmhouse has an irresistible charm, and Joanna’s farmhouse kitchen remodel delivers just that. She and her husband transformed a closed-off, dated space into a bright, functional heart of their home—take a look.
Hi! We live in Texas and are renovating our 125-year-old farmhouse. My husband and I have been married ten years, have four kids, and have lived in nine homes—we’ve bought, lived in, and flipped each one. After we finish this farmhouse, I think we’ll be done with flipping for a while.
When my husband first brought me to this house, I walked right back out thinking there was no way. Two weeks later we were signing the papers. I had to get my game face on and focus on the potential, especially in the kitchen. The original kitchen had a large brick wall that made the space feel dark and dated.
To open the kitchen to the rest of the house, we removed the brick down to countertop height. I wanted a clean, neutral palette because the kitchen is where life tends to collect—school bags, paperwork, kids’ crafts—so I aimed for a space that still looked tidy when it wasn’t. We used Brazilian black granite for the counters and classic white subway tile for a simple, timeless look.
We brightened the kitchen by painting the existing cabinets and brick white, adding glass-front doors to the cabinets flanking the sink, and replacing the window above the sink. My large, affordable farmhouse sink came from Ikea. For the floor I chose a durable laminate that cleans easily—important with four kids.
For additional prep space, I scored a stainless steel island on wheels from a used restaurant supply shop—practical and budget-friendly.
This house has turned out to be perfect for our family of six. I’m grateful my husband saw past the rough edges and had the vision—and the guts—to make it happen. – Joanna
If you want to follow more of Joanna and her husband Chip’s projects, she shares updates on her blog. Favorite details here include the striking sloped beams and the large sink window—the contrast of dark counters, stools, and window trim against the white finishes creates a clean, modern farmhouse aesthetic.