We knew the day we bought our house that the kitchen needed some love. Built in 1980, it had stayed mostly untouched ever since. That’s not that old—older than us—but it showed. The bones were solid, but the space had been designed for an older gentleman who lived here until he was over 100 (which is impressive in itself). For a growing, active family of five? It just wasn’t functional.
We could’ve left it “fine” a little longer, but over time, the little things started piling up. Appliances aged out. The electrical got weird—really weird. One day, the power to the dishwasher and garbage disposal just gave up entirely. Extension cords started snaking across the counters. We quite literally and figuratively had to pull the plug. The remodel officially began.
The Original Plan: DIY?
At first, I had this dreamy idea that we’d do it ourselves. And then I had a very real moment with myself: We cannot live two years without a kitchen. So we called Perryman Painting and Remodeling—the same crew who did an incredible job on the exterior of our home—and brought them on board.
They were easy to communicate with, responsive, and incredibly patient with my zillion design tweaks and questions along the way. Honestly, having a contractor who respects your vision and keeps the work clean, professional, and on schedule? Worth everything.
My Vision: Modern, Grounded, and Built for Life
I wanted something modern—but not trendy. Unique, but not loud. It had to be easy to clean (we clean the kitchen every day), and I actually wanted finishes that would show dust or dirt a little more easily—strange, maybe, but helpful in real life.
I leaned into a modern Scandinavian style with a few subtle farmhouse nods. Nothing themed—just warm, minimal, functional. And most importantly, the design needed to feel like it belonged in our home and in this landscape. Grounded, simple, and natural.
The Team
- Designer: Me!
- Contractor: Perryman Painting and Remodeling (second time working with them and still impressed)
- Windows: California Craftsman
Design Choices
CABINETS
- Custom built, painted Rosemary Green by Sherwin-Williams
- Inset shaker style for that clean, classic Scandinavian line
COUNTERTOPS
- Broadway Black quartz, leathered finish with a straight edge
- Matte, subtly textured, and beautifully grounding
BACKSPLASH + WALLS
- Passion Blanco tile, set vertically
- Walls painted Alabaster White (Sherwin-Williams) for a soft contrast
FLOORING
- Montauk Black Slate tile
- Natural, durable, and ties beautifully into the rest of our home
HARDWARE + FIXTURES
- Oil-rubbed bronze pulls
- Pendant Lights: Hammered oil-rubbed finish—warm, textural, and bold
- Sink: KRAUS 32″ Undermount Single Bowl Granite Kitchen Sink (black)
- Faucet: KRAUS Bolden Commercial-Style in Matte Black
Appliances
All black stainless steel for a sleek, unified look:
- Refrigerator: LG 29 cu. ft. Smart Standard-Depth MAX 4-Door French Door with Full-Convert Drawer
- Cooktop: LG 36” Smart Induction with UltraHeat™ 5.0kW element
- Wall Oven: LG 6.4 cu. ft. Smart Combo Oven with Convection + Air Fry
- Dishwasher: LG Top Control Pocket Handle with QuadWash Pro, TrueSteam & Dynamic Heat Dry
- Range Hood: Zephyr Core 36″ Black Stainless Steel Under Cabinet Vent
Little Things I Love
- Seeing my kids climb onto the new helpers tool my dad built to help cook dinner
- How the black quartz subtly reflects the evening light with our huge skylight and new window
- The way the Rosemary cabinets change with the light throughout the day
- Open shelves I get to style—and restyle (often)
What’s Next
This is just Part 1. I’ll be sharing before-and-after photos, bathroom remodel details, and a few lessons I learned from designing this space myself. Spoiler: designing your own kitchen is deeply satisfying—but also a bit of a design bootcamp.
For now, I’m just grateful to be in this new space. It’s everything I hoped it would be: useful, beautiful, and most of all—it feels like home.
Run Teach Bike 