For all of you that have been here for awhile, you know that our very small, very outdated 1985 kitchen got a real thorough remodel in 2018. Walls knocked down, an island installed, and new cabinetry and pantry that grew our storage tenfold within the space.
But that kitchen remodel came along with an ENTIRE MAIN LEVEL REMODEL and I was the only decision maker, the project manager, and the designer. Ya know, looking back, it was a lot. And I was at my max for design decisions by the end. I started to just make decisions based on the opposite of what they once were. If they were dark before, I went with the lightest and brightest. But after living in this space for over 6 years, it was time that my kitchen evolved into a more warm space that more closely matched my style.
So I went on a train of making small, attainable changes to my kitchen that ended up making such a monumental difference to make the space more me…for a tiny budget and a tiny effort.
Let’s take a little walk on some before and afters…
Our kitchen pre-remodel – no pantry, no island, minimal space and storage for a family
Post-remodel with walls knocked down, rooms reaaranged, and everything light and very bright in this space!
Today’s Kitchen – still bright with white cabinetry, but island is toned down, curtains updated with custom curtains, and better use of some of the unused area. Let’s go a little deeper.
Listing photo when we purchased – this wall has shifted slightly as we moved the half bathroom off from walking out into the kitchen, but still remained. I had a cabinet on this wall, but I had a much better idea…
I added cabinets from Lowe’s to this space, a countertop from IKEA and tiled the back wall to match the tile throughout our whole kitchen.
Now I have storage for big serving pieces, all of our barware (previously had to be in our basement above the cheap basement fridge. Yikes), and all of our office supplies. A bare wall that went from holding a few things to being a massive storage space for our entire family!
This window was a simple space that I just wanted to clean up.
Pretty DIY cafe curtains, beautiful flowers, and a touch lamp bring so much warmth.
When we did our remodel, I wanted our microwave out of the way. I didn’t want it on the counter, didn’t want it above the stove. I wanted it out of the way. So I asked the builders to customize our island with a space for our microwave to sit inside. It was a great solution, but then our microwave went out. To purchase a new one for this space costs….a lot. I didn’t want to bite the bullet with a new one so I took quite a bit of time to make the right purchase. But over time, I realized I just wasn’t missing using a microwave as much as I thought I would. Actually, I wasn’t missing it at all. Needed to warm something up, I did it on the stove top, oven, or air fryer. Homemade popcorn? I have a homemade popper. I just stopped needing one.
But now I had this open space with no purpose…
So I transformed it into a spot for our sweet dog Andi to keep her bowls! š
One of the magical changes that made such a dramatic impact was purchasing custom curtains for this space. Before, I had white curtains that dragged on the ground. Let that sink it. They dragged and pooled on the ground IN. A. KITCHEN. They were gross.
After searching through the options with custom curtains, I decided on Curtarra curtains because of their amazing reviews, fast shipping, and sheer volume of options to choose from. I decided on Oakley Cross Linen Texture Curtains in the shade Warm Taupe. Something darker, more rich that would contrast well with the white cabinets and lighter walls and the dark brown island that I recently painted.
The process to order the curtains was so easy. First up, decide on the color you are looking for. Curtarra has added not only photos they’ve professionally taken, but have also included multiple photos of EACH color in someone’s actual home. You get to see the colors of their home, as well as their decor, and how it is elevated by each color. I don’t know about you, but I need to see options and need to see it in real-life.
Next, you choose what type of header, or top, of the curtains you would like. Grommets, back tab, top tabs, pinch pleat in a variety of pleat sizes, flat panel, etc. You can see exactly what each top looks like to make your best choice.
Next, it’s to size your curtains. You’ll click on “Measuring Tool” and Curtarra walks you through step by step of adding every dimension from rod height, width, wall size, etc. based on what type of curtain you pick. For instance, a top tab curtain will hang lower than one you order that has a back tab that slides directly on the rod. Then it questions how you want the curtain to sit on your wall. Above the floor? Touching? Pooling? They give such amazing guidance on measuring your curtains correctly so you can order for exactly the look you want.
But even if the measurement is just slightly off, pinch pleat curtains come with adjustable hooks on the back that allow for multiple inches to raise or lower your curtains to make the perfect match to your vision.
The quality of these curtains absolutely blew me away. I was fully intending to have to “train” these curtains with clothes pins and a steamer. I’ve never had curtains that you can take out of the packaging, open up, hook on your curtain hooks, and DONE. That’s not an exaggeration. I never touched these with a steamer once. What kind of voodoo magic is this?!
And to be quite honest, I didn’t have a ton of high hope for the feel of these. If I told you that they come out of the packaging and no need to train, maintain their shape, and have the structured top of the pinch pleat, would you believe me if I said that they were soft, too? Probably not. That was me. I didn’t believe it when people reviewed that they were so soft to the touch, that the lining was silky smooth AND it had room darkening capabilities. It didn’t add up.
I’m here to tell you I was shook-ith that these curtains are actually what they say. The texture is so soft, the lining is like silk, AND they are room darkening (you are able to get black out as an option for those little one’s rooms).
I’m thrilled with how these curtains have changed the appearance of my kitchen and added a warmth and softness that I firmly say every single day, “What took me so long?”
And I’ve raved about these curtains enough on social media, they gave me code: RK12 for 12% off your custom curtains! It will only last so long, so if you’re on the fence about new curtains, this is a great time to make moves. Believe me, you will not regret it!
Are we friends on Instagram (@growingupkemper) or Pinterest (@growingupkemper) yet? Follow along for all the attainable DIY projects, tips, tricks, and inspiration!
DIY No-Sew Cafe Curtains
Ditch the Boob Light: A Beginner-Friendly Upgrade for Your Home
How to Organize Your Kitchen Efficiently
Kitchen Organization That Just Makes Sense!
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