In celebration of this week’s focus on organization, this remarkable makeover is a reminder that organizing and planning go far beyond filling baskets or sorting socks. A thoughtful, organized approach to a home can transform a dark, dated room into a bright, beautiful, and highly functional space — with planning, careful budgeting, persistence, and hard work. Morgan and her husband Kevin converted a paneled den into a modern, light-filled kitchen. The change is dramatic, and their planning strategies are practical and impressive, from daily Craigslist searches across a wide radius to rethinking the kitchen’s placement to better suit the floor plan. Here’s Morgan’s account of the project:
We bought our 1930s bungalow nearly four years ago. The house needed a lot of love, and we’ve embraced the renovation process by tackling each room ourselves — demoing, designing, and building over time. We converted what was previously a den or TV room at the back of the house into a brand-new kitchen. Below is a description of the den before we began work three years ago.
(Before photos showed a paneled den that felt closed-in and outdated, typical of older homes that haven’t been updated.)
That former den is now a functioning, contemporary kitchen.
(After photos reveal a bright, open space with modern finishes and improved flow that better suits daily life and entertaining.)
We estimate we saved 50–75% compared to what a contractor might have charged for the same kitchen if we had hired out the work and purchased everything brand new. Our strategy was to search classified sites daily — sometimes looking as far as 500 miles — and we found major appliances like a stainless steel refrigerator, a Viking range (we drove more than 300 miles to pick it up), a range hood, a dishwasher, and a sink for 40–80% off retail prices.
(Scoring high-quality used appliances made a huge difference in our budget while allowing us to get durable, attractive pieces.)
Because our bungalow is built in a traditional San Diego Spanish-style architecture from the 1930s, our goal was to design a contemporary kitchen that complements the home’s original character rather than compete with it. We wanted the space to feel fresh, modern, and in harmony with the house’s architectural roots. Doing the work ourselves was extremely rewarding, and we learned a lot along the way.
(Design decisions were guided by a desire to balance modern function and aesthetic with historical charm.)
All in all, that’s the new kitchen. We anticipate enjoying this space for many years, and the effort was worth every bit of time and energy. We hope you enjoy the transformation as much as we do. — Morgan
Thanks to Morgan and Kevin for sharing their impressive den-to-kitchen transformation. They didn’t stop at the kitchen: the couple is reconfiguring and redesigning other parts of the house as well, including turning multiple closets into a bathroom. Visit their blog to see more project photos, step-by-step progress, and a full source breakdown for this kitchen if it’s available.
Update: The blog experienced heavy traffic and was temporarily unavailable, but it may be back online soon. In the meantime, reflect on your own favorite details from this renovation: the runner and tile backsplash, the large glass doors, the layout changes, or the clever use of secondhand appliances. Which element speaks to you most?