Kitchen Renovation Daydreams

Happy New Year, everyone!  I haven’t posted in a while but with good reason – as it turns out, we’re buying a house and things have been pretty crazy! Somewhere around Thanksgiving we started mulling over the possibility of shopping for a house. This was not in our original plan, but on a whim we started evaluating current real estate prices which when combined with incredibly low interest rates and the extension of the appealing first-time home buyer tax credit, really made buying a home for us as first-time buyers quite appealing. We decided it would be silly not to at least see what was out there in our price range in our area.

Seemingly out of the blue, we put an offer on a house and away we’ve gone down the path to home ownership! We had our home inspection earlier this week and, unfortunately, a few issues did arise. Nothing appears to be a deal breaker at this point but there is one significant enough problem that has landed us back in negotiations, the end of which we might not see for a few days. So while all of that is going on, I’m distracting myself by digging up inspiration for renovating the terribly outdated kitchen we’re inheriting. It comes complete with more late 70s/early 80s charm than I can stomach.

To get us started, here is a look at the kitchen we will be working with:

And here are a few that I’m loving…

{Apartment Therapy}

While I can’t forsee myself ever going with something this bright, I love the idea of introducing color on cabinetry. Why is it that we always feel so compelled to stick with neutrals anyway? And I love the combination of the bold modern color with the classic white farmhouse sink. That is just the sort of juxtaposition of which I can’t get enough.

{Becoming Home}

Ok, somewhat on the complete opposite end of the spectrum, this all-white kitchen with it’s pretty sky blue subway tile backsplash feels delightfully “me.”  It has to be noted that I am a sucker for subway tile and lately I’ve been falling in love with colored subway tile in addition to traditional white. This kitchen has just officially made me a believer.

{pointclickhome}

While this kitchen is definitely a bit of a departure from my personal style, I love the warm mix of materials. I love black cabinetry and find it really cozy here when paired with the granite countertops, hardwood floors and wood beam ceilings.

{At Home in KC}

Ok, so clearly a bubble gum pink kitchen might be a bit much for most people, but I can’t help but love the playfulness of this room. The glass-fronted ceiling height cabinets on the back wall offer an envious amount of storage and the chandelier adds a touch of glamor that I find rather charming. I’m decidedly an advocate of bringing some fun and personality to the kitchen.

{Sunset via Apartment Therapy}

This might be more along the lines of what I’m after. Classic and timeless white cabinetry, countertops, and backsplash (again, loving the subway tile) paired with sleek stainless steel appliances and little touches of color and vintage charm. While I love the schoolhouse pendant over the table, I think I’d prefer one with an all-white globe like this favorite of mine from Schoolhouse Electric. And for the dinging area, maybe something a bit more streamlined like a Scandinavian-inspired blonde wood table and chairs.

So while we’re on the topic of kitchens – does anyone have a favorite resource for kitchen inspiration? I have a feeling my daydreams are long from over at this point.