“We just couldn’t figure out why you weren’t tearing out the kitchen.”
That’s what one of our contractor’s guys said when we moved in last year. I get his confusion. We replaced floors, moved doors, vaulted ceilings, and more — yet we left the small original kitchen largely intact, mauve laminate countertops and all. You can see the original space in the linked post in the caption on the images.
We prefer to live in a space for a while before committing to a full renovation. A kitchen is expensive and permanent, so we wanted the time to decide on a thoughtful plan rather than rush into changes we might later regret. Over the last 16 months we tried lots of ideas: small updates, visual tweaks, and storage experiments that helped shape our long-term plan.
We considered adding more cabinets in several spots and even thought about closing part of a window to add a bathroom off the bedroom, before deciding a different location would work better. Ultimately we identified a great opportunity on the stair wall for a tall pantry with a built-in fridge and settled on a new place for the ensuite bathroom. Living with the kitchen while making incremental, inexpensive updates — painting cabinets, new hardware, shelves, rearranging furniture — helped us visualize lasting changes and save for the bigger projects.
A Quick Video Tour
We started with a short walk-through video so you can get a better sense of the room’s flow and scale. No narration — just a quick look around to show how the space feels.
Note: the video is also available on YouTube.
Below are nine updates we added slowly over the past months that improved the kitchen’s function and look.
Adding a Built-In Pantry
The biggest change was installing a floor-to-ceiling built-in pantry that created a huge amount of storage. We started with only seven kitchen cabinets and relied on freestanding shelving for food and gear. That worked temporarily, but it wasn’t ideal for long-term use.
Over the summer we installed two large Ikea cabinets — a tall pantry and an over-the-fridge unit — plus side panels to integrate them into the wall. Built-in cabinets look tidy and give more options for internal organization. We kept these new cabinets simple and white to avoid making that side of the kitchen feel heavy; then tied them to the rest of the kitchen with matching knobs.
Besides the aesthetic perk of a built-in fridge, the functional gain was enormous. We reclaimed counter space by moving the microwave into the pantry (on an extension cord — make sure to ventilate the cabinet when the microwave runs). The pantry also gave us a large cabinet above the fridge for less-accessed items.
Organization is simple: baskets for categories like baking supplies, snacks, and backstock sit on the shelves. The pantry has deeper drawers on the bottom that function like the freestanding units we used to have but offer far more capacity. The extra space changed how the kitchen works day-to-day.
Wall-Mounting a Spice Rack
Our spices lived on a freestanding shelf several steps from the stove. We installed a wall-mounted spice rack on the side of the pantry to keep seasonings within arm’s reach while cooking. The rack also holds a roll of paper towels, which freed more counter space. We paired the rack with matching jars and labels so everything is easy to find while preparing meals.
Beefing Up the Floating Shelves
Shortly after moving in we added quick DIY floating shelves, but they were a temporary solution. We replaced them with chunkier, true floating shelves that feel more intentional and can reliably hold large plates and decor. The new shelves were premade in the lengths we needed and were simple to install — a small visual upgrade that makes the area feel more finished.
Hanging Wall-Mounted Sconces
We wanted sconces over the shelves but didn’t want the disruption of immediate hardwiring. For now we used decorative, non-wired sconces mounted to drywall to test placement and look. They tie into the brass and white accents in the house. If we decide to keep them permanently they’ll be hardwired later when we tackle the backsplash. As an interim solution we also tried rechargeable, battery-powered bulbs that work without wiring.
Hiding Ugly Stuff Outside with a Window Box
The view from the sink looked straight into our fence and pool equipment after the pool installation, which wasn’t ideal. We hung a window box and filled it with foxtail ferns and inchplants to block the lower portion of the window and hide unsightly equipment. Plants are an easy way to improve a view and add visual interest.
Removing the Backsplash
We removed the small laminate backsplash that rose a few inches above the countertop. It made the space feel cleaner and more modern without a visible seam, and it was simple to wipe stove splatters off the painted wall. While this left a slim gap at the counter back, we plan to fill that with a painted trim piece as a temporary fix until a full tile backsplash is installed.
Making Plans for a Door
One longer-term change we’re considering is swapping the side window for a door to access the covered side porch. After living in the house for a while it became clear that a door in that spot would bring a lot of practical benefits:
- Direct access to unload groceries from our preferred parking spot.
- Convenient porch access for a grill, out of sight from the front of the house.
- More natural light in the kitchen.
- A fenced exit for our dog, rather than using the front door.
- Direct access to the fire pit without walking through the bedroom.
We’ll lose roughly 18 inches of cabinetry overall after reconfiguring the run, but gaining a more useful lower cabinet and door access feels like a worthwhile trade-off for our family. We tested this by not using that run of cabinets for several weeks to ensure we could live without them — so far it works well.
Keeping More Shelf Storage
We moved one of our ladder-style shelves from upstairs to the dining wall to keep frequently used bowls and cups out and accessible. Reusing furniture from around the house is an easy way to test arrangements without buying new pieces. Adding a plant or a tray helps keep the display styled and practical.
Fine-Tuning the Sitting Area
The adjacent sitting area needed to do a lot in a compact footprint. We placed a loveseat, two cozy chairs, and a storage coffee table to maximize seating and function. Removing the large freestanding shelves gave the space breathing room, and we added a custom four-cube cubby by the door that holds shoes and everyday items. Hooks inside the laundry closet doors hold jackets and backpacks, making this zone function like a small foyer.
It took many arrangements to get the flow right, but now the area gets regular use for mornings with the kids, casual hangouts, and quiet reading — more than we expected when we first moved in.
A Few Quick Before & Afters
Here’s a look at the kitchen when we bought the house and how it looks now. The changes haven’t all been dramatic, but together they’ve made the layout and function much better for our family.
Functionally the kitchen works well and the layout finally feels right. We’ve ordered backsplash samples and worked out cabinet plans, and we’re planning for a deep stainless single-bowl sink and new counters when we move into a full reno. The estimated cost for a focused “real reno” — door to the side porch, new cabinets, counters, sink, faucet, and a full tile backsplash to the ceiling — is modest relative to a full kitchen overhaul, which is another reason we’ve liked evolving this space slowly.
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