So warm and very functional, what a great view out the back also!

now that is well played good job

i like the floor

Much better, love the view!

Nice job!

Losthorizonlisa, it was a water air vent so we cut it shorter and put a breather vent on it.

It is now hidden in the half wall.

How wonderful! Oh yes...I think many of us can relate to champagne taste on a beer budget. It's a curse. :)

HUG YOUR NEIGHBOR

beautiful, looks like much more useful space. Also love that view

Nice Lake back there!

Very nice colors. Practical and elegant.

Wow! So happy for you - what a transformation.

Looks good.....I would have removed the upper bank over the peninsula to give it a more open feel though.

Even when I think I have a champagne budget, it turns out I need a Dom Perignon budget.

Wow! Looks great.

What a difference! Wonderful! What countertops and back splash tile did you use?

Annalee, it killed me to put those upper cabinets back in but I could not have done without the storage. So I put them higher then normal. It's a real workout to get the wine glasses off the top shelf but when you are sitting in the living room you can see through to the kitchen and the windows and they are not in the way.

Cottage island, the backsplash is cappuccino 2"x4" marble. There were a few splurges. The counters are Formica.

Very nice. Looks like a beautiful view from the window.

It's amazing how much larger the space looks with just a cabinet change. Looks great!

That is an amazing transformation. I love the rich wood and beautiful countertops. (I'm a little tired of white cabinets). Gorgeous!

Not a disaster anymore. This is a lovely space!!!

It's beautiful!

I'm speechless. That looks more like champagne than beer!

You're lucky to have such a great people in your neighborhood. My neighbors are great too. I love the new look of your kitchen and love the outside view too.

Huge improvement! I like how you took out the pantry wall and gave it a more open floorplan feel.
-Angeline, GKB

What a dramatic improvement. Thank you for sharing your story.

It is gorgeous! What a transformation!

Love that you went with wood-tone cabs instead of white. I'm tired of my white cabinets and want to do a pretty, warm wood tone like this!

The refrigerator even fits it's space now. I agree, going with shorter cabinets over the sink is the perfect compromise. Not moving any plumbing or major appliances helps a lot with the budget.
Budget compromises abound. In our remodel we're going with granite counter tops because I need heat resistance for canning season, so we're making up the cost difference by using Fasade 18.5-in x 24.5-in Moonstone Copper Thermoplastic Multipurpose Backsplash from Lowe's and quick to lay laminate flooring instead of tile+grout.

To losthorizonlisa - I studied engineering, grew up around building as my dad was an engineer, & I've done several of my own projects...there usually aren't supporting walls there, & undoubtedly the pantry is not capable of offering "support" unless there are studs and a header inside it. If you wish to be certain, you can take a look at those joists above it in the attic. Find the exact spot where the pantry is below & make sure the joists don't all meet there (highly unlikely because IF that had been necessary, the support would have been needed for more than a 2' section). There could also be one huge beam on top of the cabinet in question, but under/supporting all the joists above, but like I said, for that to be the case, the cabinet would have to contain major studs & header inside it....If it's just a simple cabinet (no studs w header or 4X4s inside), it's not supporting anything.

Thank you for clarifying the countertop as Formica! I was convinced that they were granite. Beautiful! Pssst....mine are also Formica and I love them. My "beer" budget but it works for me. Great job on the kitchen.

Beautiful remodel! Would you mind sharing the color/style of the Formica you used as well as the name and where you purchased the cabinet pulls? These would work beautifully in my kitchen!

Yes, I hear you! I've always had champagne tastes, always will. But I've learned how to work around it, as you have. Nice job, give yourselves a pat on the back!

Stlouisgaltoo, the Formica is from their 180fx series. Antique Mascarello. Because it is a very large print it always looks different. The handles are from Lee Valley Tools. They are called Radius handles. Definitely the most difficult choice because there were too many options. I finally stopped looking on line, went to the store and did not leave until I had somethingthat I liked the look and feel of and that I could afford.

Thanks for all the help and answers on my support wall question!

Thanks so much!

Just goes to show that not every kitchen needs granite countertops. Kudos to you!

Very nice.

Creating a focal point can be confusing! Here is an article that might help:
http://bit.ly/1r9k4db

From the pictures, it looks like it followed the original footprint of the kitchen, which is very wise. The electrical and supply lines for the refrigerator, stove and dishwasher were in place. Moving those would have involved $bucks$. It looks like the original cabinetry layout was enhanced with new door fronts. Beau-ti-ful finishes in tile, sink, etc. I am sure this bumped up the value of the house big time. But...what's going on in the adjacent family room?

Well Lynn, the cabinets are all new. They were not custom and purchased REALLY cheaply. We went down to the studs on this one. The adjacent family room will have to be content with its new windows for now and is waiting patiently in line after the master bedroom, the bath and the office. I am waiting, not so patiently, for the renovation fund to be magically refilled!

Well, congratulations on a job well done and I empathize with you trying to be patient!

Am I a crazy person, or is there a new window next to the stove? If there is I have to think the footprint changed a bit, and that some of the utilities might have moved a bit too.

Yes, a new window was one of the only husband requests. I found it at a new and used building supply place. It had to be small so that we didn't have to move the stove.

But that doesn't mean @mgerry isn't a "crazy person"... lol

What a tremendous improvement - bravo! Did you add a window???

Very nice and extraordinarily generous.

Great job.