“We just couldn’t figure out why you weren’t tearing out the kitchen.”
One of the contractor’s guys said that to us when we moved in last year. I get why he was confused: we were replacing floors, moving doors, vaulting ceilings and more, yet we left the small, dated kitchen mostly as-is — mauve laminate countertops and all. But for us, living with a room that will be expensive to renovate (like a kitchen) before committing to big changes helps us avoid rushed decisions we might later regret. Over the past 16 months we ran through lots of ideas while adding small, inexpensive updates to test what works and what we truly want.
During that time we debated adding cabinets in various places, realized we could build a large pantry and tuck a built-in fridge into the stair wall, and explored creating a bathroom off the bedroom — a plan we later changed in favor of a better option. Living with the space and making incremental updates like painting cabinets, swapping hardware, hanging shelves and rearranging furniture gave us time to visualize permanent changes and save for the larger renovation we want.
A Quick Video Tour
A short walk-through video shows the room far better than photos alone. It captures flow, scale, and how the kitchen connects to the sitting area more effectively than still images.
Note: You can also watch this video on YouTube.
Below I’ll walk through nine updates we added over the last several months that made the most difference.
Adding A Built-In Pantry
The biggest recent change is a floor-to-ceiling built-in pantry that added a tremendous amount of storage. Before this, the kitchen only had seven cabinets and we relied heavily on freestanding shelving to hold food, serving pieces and appliances. That worked temporarily, but we wanted deeper, more functional storage for the long term.
We installed two large cabinet units — a tall pantry and an over-fridge cabinet — and added side panels to make everything look built-in. Keeping the new cabinets white and simple prevented that side of the room from feeling too heavy compared to the mauve cabinets elsewhere, and we matched the hardware so everything reads coherently.
Beyond the aesthetic improvement of a built-in fridge, this new pantry gained us so much usable storage that it transformed how the kitchen functions. We even installed the microwave inside to clear counter space — just remember to provide ventilation by leaving the pantry door open when it’s running if you store an appliance in a closed cabinet.
Organizing the pantry was simple: baskets for grouped items like baking ingredients, snacks, vitamins and backstock. We use the top shelves for items we access less often. We also added photos to the inside of the doors for a personal touch.
We chose a pantry with lower drawers because deep drawers are far more useful for heavy or bulky items than a shallow lower cabinet. The added over-fridge cabinet also increased storage considerably and made the kitchen feel more finished.
Wall-Mounting A Spice Rack
We previously kept spices on freestanding shelves a few steps from the stove. To move them within reach, we mounted a slim spice rack to the side of the new pantry. The rack holds matching jars and labels and even includes a paper towel holder, which freed up counter space and eliminated the need to fish through a drawer while cooking.
Having spices right next to the stove makes cooking easier and faster, and it’s a small change with a big daily payoff.
Beefing Up The Floating Shelves
The original floating shelves were a quick DIY from leftover plywood. After living with them, we upgraded to thicker, premade shelves that truly float and are deep enough to hold our largest plates. The new shelves are stronger, cleaner-looking and installed quickly — a simple change that had a noticeable visual impact.
The sturdier shelves visually balance the space and function as practical storage and display without adding visual clutter.
Hanging Wall-Mounted Sconces
We wanted sconces above those shelves but didn’t want to commit to hardwiring before we finalize a full reno. For now we mounted decorative sconces without wiring to test placement and scale. They’re attached to the drywall with the intention of wiring them later when we install the backsplash. As a temporary option, rechargeable battery bulbs let us turn them on without any electrical work.
Hiding Ugly Stuff Outside With A Window Box
The view from the sink looked directly at pool equipment and utilities after our pool was installed, so we installed a window box and filled it with plants to block the bottom of the window. Foxtail ferns and trailing inchplants now hide the unsightly equipment and make dishwashing a nicer experience.
Removing The Backsplash
We removed the short strip of laminate backsplash that rose a few inches above the counters. With it gone, the wall reads cleaner and more modern. Sherry pulled it off, patched and smoothed the drywall, and painted the wall while I was out — a satisfying surprise and another step toward a full tile backsplash we plan to install later.
Removing the laminate left a narrow gap behind the counters; a slim painted trim piece will be a practical interim solution until new counters and a full-height tile backsplash are installed.
Making Plans For A Door
One larger change we’re considering is replacing the side kitchen window with a door to the covered side porch. Over time we realized the porch would be far more useful if it connected directly to the kitchen. A door would:
- Provide a direct route for unloading groceries from our preferred parking spot.
- Create a convenient spot for a grill just outside the kitchen instead of on the front porch.
- Bring more natural light into the kitchen.
- Offer a fenced exit for our dog, making outdoor access easier.
- Give guests a direct path to our fire pit area without passing through the bedroom.
The trade-off is losing about 18 inches of cabinet space overall after accounting for a new corner cabinet gain. Because the new pantry added so much storage, and after living without that run of cabinets for several weeks to test the change, we feel comfortable sacrificing that space for the benefits the door would bring.
Keeping More Shelf Storage
We still like open shelving near the dining table for everyday dishes, so we brought in a narrow ladder-style shelf that nests beside the table. It creates a balanced visual and gives easy access to bowls, cups and glasses while keeping the area feeling light and open.
Styling tip: add a plant, a piece of art, or a tray to corral like items so open shelves feel intentional rather than cluttered.
Fine-Tuning The Sitting Area
The sitting area adjacent to the kitchen had to do a lot in a small footprint. We kept a comfortable loveseat, a pair of cozy chairs and a storage coffee table, and freed up breathing room by moving the bulky shelving elsewhere. The space functions well for mornings with the kids, casual hosting, and quiet weekends.
To make the entry feel functional, I built a custom four-cube cubby next to the door that fits snugly against the loveseat arm. It stores everyday shoes and items we grab on the way out, while jackets and backpacks hang inside the laundry closet doors. The layout took many tries, but now the room gets regular use and feels comfortably arranged.
A Few Quick Before & Afters
Here’s the kitchen when we bought the house:
And here is the kitchen now, after these gradual but impactful updates:
Functionally, the kitchen now works well for our family. The layout finally feels right, which is why we’re ready to plan the larger renovation that will include the new door, upgraded counters, a deep single-bowl stainless sink, and a full-height backsplash tile. We’ve already ordered backsplash samples and mapped out the cabinetry we want. Because we took our time and evolved the space slowly, the upcoming renovation will be more targeted, more affordable and better suited to how we actually live here.
*This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.