Many renovations involve gutting every square inch of a space and starting from complete scratch. The final product is surely gorgeous and impressive, but have you considered the jaw-dropping nature of just a slight home refresh project? This before and after blog post today will prove the power of changing a few key elements. The room feels fresh and brand new, but the renovation pain and cost is very minimal.

WEST UNIVERSITY KITCHEN - BEFORE

This gorgeous home in West University Place, Houston TX has great bones and charm. The kitchen was well laid out and incredibly functional for this bustling family, but the finishes were looking a bit dated - are you seeing the early 2000s Tuscan feel here??? The tumbled travertine backsplash and golden brown stone countertops had seen better days, and my client was looking to push this kitchen into 2020 style.

WEST UNIVERSITY KITCHEN - DESIGN BOARD

With a few impactful changes, I knew this kitchen could be easily transformed! We agreed that a classic honed marble backsplash in a more modern diamond shape would elevate and brighten this space. Lovely quartz countertops were selected to pair with the backsplash and provide a sophisticated work surface. Another key change was selecting hardware, plumbing, and light fixtures in a softer metallic finish - polished nickel. These new finishes and materials were going to work beautifully with the existing white cabinets - we didn’t even need to paint! Other than the kitchen island, which we painted a nice grey for some contrast.

WEST UNIVERSITY KITCHEN - AFTER

The kitchen refresh is such a great example of how a few well-planned changes can make a DRAMATIC imapact! I love how the soft polished nickel finishes sparkle against the sophisticated marble tones. The existing kitchen cabinets somehow look brand new with all of the other updates! What’s your favorite change in this West University Kitchen refresh? Let me know in the comments below!