It’s no surprise that many of us are craving a kitchen refresh these days—okay, who are we kidding, we’re always ready for one. Erin and Zach’s do-it-yourself remodel of their 1951 kitchen is particularly relatable and inspiring, especially for anyone just beginning a kitchen transformation. Below is their note about the project and the thoughtful, budget-friendly choices they made.
We wanted to share the redo of our 1951 kitchen (take note of the sweet before lamp and the heavy-duty ceiling beam disappearing act).
We were so lucky to peel up the old laminate floor and the plywood to find original (albeit quite damaged) wood floors that extended into the middle of the kitchen. We found matching red oak floor pieces and filled in the missing & damaged spots.
One of the cool things we did was to buy two pre-made cabinets from Home Depot to create the breakfast bar. We put them side-by-side and filled one of the openings with wood pieces to make it seamless.
We also re-used all the cabinets but updated the hardware. Painting that many cabinets and doors definitely took patience … and three coats of paint. The new blue color in kitchen is Behr Primer + Paint in Clear Pond, Eggshell.
Thanks so much for checking out our kitchen. We love it!! ~ Erin & Zach
The result is a classic example of how thoughtful, hands-on updates can completely transform a mid-century space. What started as a dated 1951 kitchen with laminate flooring and a chunky ceiling beam now reads as refreshed and cohesive without losing the home’s original character. Finding the original wood floors beneath the modern coverings was a fortunate discovery that made the renovation feel even more authentic. By matching red oak pieces to repair and fill the damaged areas, Erin and Zach preserved the original flooring’s continuity and warmth.
A few practical choices in the remodel stand out as especially smart. Rather than building a custom breakfast bar from scratch, they repurposed two pre-made cabinets purchased from a big-box store, placing them side-by-side and filling one opening with wood to create a seamless look. This approach saved time and expense while still producing a custom appearance. Reusing the existing cabinet boxes and focusing the budget on fresh hardware and durable paint kept the project economical and sustainable.
Painting every cabinet door and drawer front is certainly a labor of love. The couple committed to three coats of Behr Primer + Paint in the Clear Pond shade, finished in eggshell, which gives the kitchen a modern yet calming blue tone. Updating hardware throughout helped tie the new color into the rest of the room, proving how relatively small details can deliver a large visual impact.
Beyond materials and finishes, small design edits made a big difference in the space’s overall feel. Removing the heavy ceiling beam opened the room, and swapping out old lighting refreshed the kitchen’s personality. Those subtle structural and cosmetic changes, combined with reclaimed flooring and a carefully assembled breakfast bar, result in a cohesive space that feels both lived-in and deliberately styled.
We love the outcome and congratulate Erin and Zach on a job very well done. Their kitchen remodel is a helpful reminder that thoughtful DIY decisions, patience, and a willingness to reuse and repair original elements can produce a dramatic payoff. It doesn’t even look like the same room.
PS: We’ve announced the winners of this week’s giveaway—check our site or the original post to see if you’re one of them.