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tamarawoolgar1

Vineyard farmhouse kitchen: before and after

Tamara Woolgar
11 years ago
Before: the original kitchen featured blue walls, old oak veneer cabinetry, old linoleum and a small, closed-off workspace.

After: Opened up the walls, new Ikea kitchen, Caesarstone countertop, induction cooktop w/ Broan downdraft hood, cork floors, new pendant lights, new windows (part of a whole-home reno). We LOVE our new space! There's something very special about cooking breakfast or dinner to the sunrise and sunset, overlooking our vineyard. We feel extremely fortunate!

Comments (113)

  • PRO
    Blinds Direct Canada
    11 years ago
    WOW amazing job!!!! one of the best remodels I've seen on here !
  • PRO
    SPACIALISTS
    11 years ago
    I love it!
  • Tamara Woolgar
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago
    Thanks everyone for your delightful compliments, it really means a lot to us. To answer some questions, dreamdesignerintraining: the girls each have their own bedrooms with bunkbeds, desks, bookcases, closets and beanbag chairs. They store their toys in shallow bins that slide out from under their beds. We hold to the theory that not every room in the house has to be their play space, and fortunately, they respect that! :) Also, that is our master bedroom pictured, the other three bedrooms are the girls' rooms. There's another full bath on the main level (for the girls) and a powder room/laundry off the mudroom. All bathrooms feature the same tile as in the ensuite. I'm sorry, these are all the photos I have for the time being.

    Ellessebee, that's actually the same stone veneer that's on the exterior of our home. This will give you an idea of what it is (I gather products like it are widely available; our contractor found something like this at a steal of a deal):
    http://www.stoneselex.com/Natural-Stone-Panel/QuartziteLedge

    This was not a "farmhouse" in the lovely, rustic, pastoral sense. If only it had been! We could have a grand old time restoring it to a modern farmhouse a la Dwell. Rather, it was a 1950s cinderblock box that had undergone an all-oak overhaul in the early '80s so that no remnant of the original house remained save for the unfinished, cold-storage, stoop-to-avoid-hitting-your-head basement. We took the bones of what we had and - respecting our budget - made it into a space that's a peaceful, open, bright sanctuary for our family and friends.
  • Ellessebee
    11 years ago
    Twoolgar - I absolutely love everything you've done! We are building a new house on an existing footprint/foundation (with major repairs) and wish I could have done something like yours. But, alas, the town and neighbors aren't quite ready for the modern boxy look on the lake and we would have had to keep it to 1 story because of sq footage constraints. But on the inside, I can do what I want - and I hope to achieve something as beautiful as yours. Thank you so much for opening your house to us and sharing your experience and information.
  • Tamara Woolgar
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago
    Thank you Ellessebee, truly. Best of luck with your home, I'm sure it will be beautiful. As long as YOU love it and is a space you look forward to being in, that's all that matters. Thank you again for all your kind words!
  • Larry Young
    11 years ago
    Fabulous fireplace - along with the rest of the house!
  • designideas4me
    11 years ago
    wait.. come back.... you didnt answer my question.... so I went to Ikea and as I was doing the design I found out that they only have cornor cabinets that are on an angle...which I hate. So it seems you must end the cabinets at the wall and have nothing next to it and then somehow start another wall. you know what I mean? Is your whole wall in the back pantry style? Can you explain to me what cabinets are on that wall... like what sizes. Thx again. I totally agree too about obnoxious people on here making rude comments just cuz they are protected behind a screen. jerks really.
  • sttochka
    11 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago
    I personally love the style of the house. I just mentioned that surroundings is often dictate the style of the exterior and the interior.
  • tarasocorro
    11 years ago
    Fantastic job. It looks like my dream home :)
    Kudos to you & your reno team!!
  • PRO
    Andee Photography Fine Art And Digital Design
    11 years ago
    Very nice my. Fave is the hanging lights those are fantastic! :)
  • DIAspoton
    11 years ago
    i was already liking the kitchen and the wonferful lights. but then you blew me away with those windows in the rest of the house. fantastic. that view is a constant reminder of all that's right with the world!
  • User
    11 years ago
    I absolutely love, love your house! I am sure you are really enjoying it!
  • User
    11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago
    Thank you for your reply. Enjoy your beautiful home! It really is lovely and if ever you have an opportunity to post more pictures, we would all love to see! Cheers. :)
  • User
    11 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago
    One of the great things about this site is that people will be honest with you. Friends and family sometimes only tell us what we want to hear when they visit our homes. On this site you find folks who are passionate about design; they know what they like... and what they don't. I personally think it is important to remember how much our homes mean to some of us and be sensitive. However, I understand that not everyone gets that. Anyway, there are so many positive comments about this remodel, why not focus on them? Again, I think it is lovely! Cheers :)
  • Katerina Antonovich
    11 years ago
    Minimalism and interesting lighting adds light and harmony to the interior. Very Interesting! You definitely have a design talent!
    Tamara Woolgar thanked Katerina Antonovich
  • designideas4me
    10 years ago
    How is your cork floor holding up? pros and cons? Hope you get time to read this and reply. I know your post was a bit older. Thx
  • foreverblowingbubbles
    10 years ago
    We have just bought a block in the hills in Perth Western Ausrtalia
    and a smaller version of your home would be perfect with all of the windows
    Are you able to share the floor plans?
  • PRO
    WineRacks
    10 years ago
    Looks good. Great job!
    Tamara Woolgar thanked WineRacks
  • PRO
    Shakuff
    10 years ago
    I just love what you did! To think you did it without a designer!! Looks great! The pendants remind me of our own blown glass pendants so of course we naturally like those most especially ;)
    Tamara Woolgar thanked Shakuff
  • awonkeydonkey
    10 years ago
    Wow, That is breath taking.
    Tamara Woolgar thanked awonkeydonkey
  • wifemothergoddess
    10 years ago
    Seeing the title I was expecting something completely different. While its not my style, there is no denying you created something beautiful for yourself and family.
    Tamara Woolgar thanked wifemothergoddess
  • andj32
    10 years ago
    You eliminated almost all your counter space.., How are you able to prepare things with such little counter space?
  • PRO
    Revolutionary Gardens
    10 years ago
    "You eliminated almost all your counter space.., How are you able to prepare things with such little counter space?" LOL. We have less usable space than they do (old farmhouse with an awful 1950s "update") and we do dinner parties in our kitchen. You just use every horizontal surface that doesn't move (which is why our cats won't lay down in the kitchen)
  • Tamara Woolgar
    Original Author
    10 years ago
    Hi @andj32, the homeowner here. The countertop is nearly 10' (the photo's deceiving) and we seem to have plenty of room, often with two of us prepping. So far, so good!
  • Tamara Woolgar
    Original Author
    10 years ago
    @foreverblowingbubbles - attached are the plans we did for permits, and you can also view the complete 'My Houzz" feature here: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/my-houzz-midcentury-modern-style-transforms-a-vineyard-bungalow-stsetivw-vs~16248086

    Good luck with your home - it sounds wonderful!
  • moejoe50
    10 years ago
    Love love love it!! Especially the pendant lighting!!
    Tamara Woolgar thanked moejoe50
  • designideas4me
    10 years ago
    How are those cork floors and the ikea cabinets holding up?
  • hm k
    10 years ago
    Spectacular! I love how you used cork and you live in wine country...Nice touch!
    Do you have pics of your stone wall? My husband and I want to do that on a very large wall and we can't visualize it. If you had a pic it would really help :)
    Thanks!
    Tamara Woolgar thanked hm k
  • designideas4me
    10 years ago
    Ha Ha... I never made that connection. I live in wine country as well.... Temecula. Maybe I should save those corks so I can finally make a floor..
  • PRO
    Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design
    10 years ago
    9 months later - 3rd time by - still loving your living spaces . . .
    Tamara Woolgar thanked Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design
  • PRO
    purehome
    10 years ago
    We are floored! Beautiful!
    Tamara Woolgar thanked purehome
  • taylvs3
    10 years ago
    I love those glass pendant lights. Would you mind sharing where you got them?
    Tamara Woolgar thanked taylvs3
  • PRO
    User
    10 years ago
    Gorgeous new remodel!
    Tamara Woolgar thanked User
  • Tamara Woolgar
    Original Author
    10 years ago
    Hi all, and thank you SO much! @hm k, you'll find a photo of the stone wall in this idea book, hopefully that will help. https://www.houzz.com/magazine/my-houzz-midcentury-modern-style-transforms-a-vineyard-bungalow-stsetivw-vs~16248086

    @taylvs3, you'll also find sources for most of the larger items - including the pendants - at the link above. Let me know if you're curious about anything else, and thanks again!
  • Kim Bates
    10 years ago
    Absolutely fabulous! Thank you so much for sharing, lovely and an inspiration!
    Tamara Woolgar thanked Kim Bates
  • PRO
    KBR Design & Build
    10 years ago
    The space looks so much larger!
  • PRO
    Michael Lee, Inc
    10 years ago
    Wow! Incredible new look!
  • PRO
    123 Remodeling Inc.
    9 years ago
    Amazing change. Very stylish and contemporary.
  • PRO
    SoCal Contractor
    9 years ago
    Great transformation! Looks very sleek!
  • firdous20
    9 years ago
    Love the new look especially the lights
  • PRO
    Talianko Design Group, LLC
    8 years ago

    Very elegant!

  • PRO
  • modlnurs03
    8 years ago
    Stunning!
  • PRO
    Caesarstone
    8 years ago

    This is a gorgeous design! Beautiful use of Caesarstone.

  • Architectural Notice
    8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Very nice.

    Reminds me of a very modern kitchen in a Manhattan high rise.

  • PRO
    TBS Construction Inc.
    8 years ago

    Love the layout, colors, dining area and light fixture! Great job!

  • PRO
    PF Design Studio
    8 years ago

    Love it! Great job.

  • PRO
    Wise Home + Design
    8 years ago
    Wow, this is just beautiful!
  • PRO
    Addition Building & Design, Inc.
    8 years ago

    Nice design. Good work here.