The "new" kitchen

A couple of weeks ago our little kitchen got a face-lift. They did almost all of the work while we were on vacation....which was remodeling genius, if you ask me:) The only inconvenience was a layer of dust! We had a pretty tight budget, but we were able to give the space some added character and functionality. The appliances and cabinets remained (we'll replace the appliances as they die), since they were still in fairly good shape.

Stove area before:

Stove area after:
The old Formica counters were replaced with a new Formica solid surface.
The subway tile was added behind the stove (which matches the tile in both bathrooms).

Sink area before:

Sink area after:
More subway tile under the cabinets with a permanent shelf added.
The farm-house sink (thank-you IKEA!) and new faucet. I have to admit, the sink is my very favorite part. Its a 120 lb sink with serious presence (and a very affordable price-tag!)

Door area before:
What an ugly mess! A mudroom would be nice, but since thats not an option....

We came up with this idea!
Door area after:
The built in hides much of the mess and gives us both storage and a bit of seating!
The window seat lifts for more storage too! Love it!

Lastly, the sticker linoleum was replaced with a slate-like ceramic tile.

Now, the only thing left is the color.....and Im still debating!
Colors in the running?
Butter yellow
A peaceful grey (light grey)
Tupelo green (which is sampled on the wall)

I've removed the ugly border, which already gives it a cleaner look. I spend a LOT of time in the kitchen...the color needs to have a calming effect and remain within our vintage-modern look.

The color is TBA for now. Perhaps I'll decide on fun fabric for the curtains first......