Quick note: if you missed the update to last week’s post, you can catch up here.
When we moved in, one subcontractor wondered why we hadn’t gutted the kitchen — ripped out the old cabinets, replaced mismatched appliances, and swapped the pink laminate counters. If you’ve followed us, you know why: we like to live in a space for a while before committing to major layout changes or expensive upgrades. At our last house we waited three years before doing a big renovation. Living with a space helps you learn how you actually use it, rather than guessing during the hectic early days in a new home.
Waiting also helps us save for the full remodel while making smart, inexpensive Phase 1 updates that improve daily life and let us experiment. Small changes can reveal whether a design idea will work long-term — for instance, testing open shelving versus upper cabinets, or swagging a pendant over a table to see how the light and placement feel before cutting in a fixture box.
These low-risk trials help us refine plans for a future renovation. If you want to read more about why we love Phase 1 projects and how they can save money in the long run, check out the related post on the subject.
Below are five simple updates we made that changed the room’s feel quickly and affordably. For a quick view, here’s a recent photo that includes all five changes:
And here’s how the room looked two months earlier, three weeks after we moved in:
Did you spot the differences? Here’s a closer look at each update.
1. New Hanging Pendant Light
Originally there was a single off-center ceiling light. When we had to replace drywall and open the ceilings, we added recessed lighting and had the old fixture box moved to the center of the room. That gave us a capped box to use later, so a few weeks ago we decided to swag a pendant over the eat-in table for instant impact.
Because the pendant sits over a table, it can hang lower than a semi-flush fixture without obstructing traffic. We chose a white woven string globe — a large light that anchors the dining area without feeling heavy because of its airy construction. It provides a soft, focused glow for meals so we don’t always have to use all the can lights on high.
2. Painting the Dishwasher
We didn’t replace appliances when we moved in — we want to know what will fit best for the eventual remodel. The existing appliances are older but functional, except the black dishwasher stuck out beside white appliances. We first checked whether the front panel could flip over like our last dishwasher, but this model’s panel curved and wasn’t reversible.
So we used appliance enamel paint — a simple, affordable fix. Prep by sanding the surface lightly, tape off controls, then paint using a small foam roller for flat areas and a brush for details. Going from black to white took several thin coats, but it only took minutes per coat. The white isn’t an exact match to the cabinets, but it’s a huge improvement and a low-cost upgrade. A quart of appliance paint runs around $15 and is available in spray cans or brush-on formulas if you prefer.
We may repaint the dishwasher later to match the cabinets when we paint them. If that doesn’t work out, adding a thin decorative panel to the front is an easy fallback. While we had the paint out, we also refreshed the refrigerator handles to a brighter white so they blend better with the kitchen.
3. Swapping Out the Cabinet Knobs
The cabinets came with painted wood knobs that gave the kitchen a bit of a country vibe. We tried brass knobs we’d bought for another piece of furniture, and they felt immediately more substantial and modern. Swapping hardware is such a quick change but it can transform how a space feels — these weightier metal knobs made the kitchen feel more finished and higher-end.
The new knobs contrast more than the old ones, but once the cabinets are painted the look will come together beautifully.
4. Hung Floating Shelves
We removed a soffit and the upper cabinets, which reduced storage but opened the wall and changed the feel of the space. Removing those cabinets also exposed an old vent and wiring from an exhaust fan. While the wiring is deactivated and we plan to install a hood later, we wanted a quick fix to hide the unsightly area and add usable storage.
Floating shelves were an ideal Phase 1 solution: they disguise the mess, add functional storage, and give the framed art nearby something to relate to visually. We used simple pine plywood left over from another project, brass brackets, and some trimming on the underside to keep the supports discreet. Because the window on that wall is off-center, we positioned brackets into studs where possible and hid them behind items on the shelf to avoid a lopsided look.
We stocked the shelves pragmatically — kettle and strainer by the stove, mixing bowls and plates on the other shelf — then added a plant and a cookbook for personality. Sherry clear-sealed the shelves with a water-based sealer to avoid yellowing and to match the tones of the floor and chairs.
5. Framed Our Teil Duncan Painting
We’d owned a Teil Duncan painting for six years but never framed it. Framing instantly made the piece feel more finished and substantial, and the blonde float frame ties the artwork into the room’s palette. We made a simple float frame with trim and cardboard spacers to create a slight gap so the canvas appears to float. If you want a step-by-step, there are great float frame tutorials available that walk through the process.
Framing felt like a small thing with big impact — and by waiting we accidentally chose a frame that harmonizes better with the new space than a darker option we might have selected earlier.
Bonus: we’re currently working on a sixth update that will change the room even more — we decided to embrace the mauve counters and paint the cabinets a tone-on-tone mauve for Phase 1. We tested two shades and chose the deeper hue that closely matches the counters. With just seven cabinet doors, this is shaping up to be a quick paint job that already looks promising.
These modest updates — a new pendant, painted dishwasher, updated knobs, floating shelves, and framed artwork — demonstrate how small, inexpensive changes can refresh a kitchen and guide decisions for a future renovation. We’ll share the cabinet paint progress soon, so wish us luck with the final dishwasher tweak!
To follow our full renovation of this house, see the FL House archive on our site.
*This post contains affiliate links; we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.