To celebrate this week’s focus on organization, this dramatic makeover is a timely reminder: organizing and planning go far beyond baskets and sock sorting. Thoughtful design and careful planning can transform a dark, dated room into a bright, functional, and beautiful space. With planning, thriftiness, persistence, and hard work, Morgan and her husband Kevin turned a paneled den into a modern kitchen. The result is striking. Their practical tips—like scanning Craigslist daily across a wide area to score major bargains and rethinking kitchen placement for a better floor plan—are especially useful for anyone planning a budget-friendly renovation. Below is Morgan’s account of the project.
We bought our 1930s bungalow nearly four years ago. It needed a lot of work, but we embraced the renovation process and tackled the house room by room, handling demolition, design, and construction ourselves. What used to be a den or TV room in the back of the house is now our new kitchen. Here’s a look at the den before we began.
And now that same space has become a functional, modern kitchen.
Overall, we estimate we saved 50–75% compared to what a contractor might have charged for the same kitchen if we had paid for all-new materials and labor. We hunted on Craigslist every day—sometimes checking listings across about a 500-mile radius—and scored a stainless steel fridge, a Viking range (we drove over 300 miles to pick this up), a range hood, a dishwasher, and a sink for 40–80% off their original prices. Those Craigslist finds made a huge difference in our budget.
Because our 1930s home is built in the classic San Diego Spanish-style, our goal was to create a contemporary kitchen that complements the original architecture. Above all, we wanted a fresh, modern space that still feels appropriate for the house’s character. Doing the work ourselves was incredibly rewarding, both creatively and financially.
That’s our new kitchen! We expect to enjoy this space for many years, and the effort was well worth it. We hope you like it as much as we do. — Morgan
Thanks to Morgan and Kevin for sharing this inspiring den-to-kitchen transformation. Their project highlights several smart renovation strategies: carefully rethinking room layout to improve flow, committing to a clear design vision that respects a home’s original style, and sourcing quality appliances and fixtures secondhand to stretch the budget. Beyond the kitchen, they’re continuing to reconfigure and redesign other parts of the house—such as converting closets into a bathroom—so be sure to check their blog for more project photos and a full list of sources for the kitchen components.
Update: their blog experienced heavy traffic at one point and temporarily went offline, but they hope to have it restored. In the meantime, what catches your eye in this remodel? The long runner, the tile backsplash, or those large glass doors? The combination of thoughtful layout changes, modern finishes, and budget-savvy shopping makes this renovation an excellent example for anyone planning a DIY kitchen remodel, a 1930s bungalow refresh, or a stylish, affordable home update.