I love room makeovers. I think most people hooked to home improvement shows like myself, do. There's something incredibly fun in seeing a room transform into something totally new and amazing. Especially when the "before" space was outdated and just plain ugly.

Sooooo, imagine my excitement when it was finally time to renovate the kitchen of our 1990's home. Pure elation! And we're not talking about a little room redo here either. This was a full gut job. We took out walls, removed windows, trenched under concrete, and ripped up 2000 square feet of flooring...all during the summer months...when my kids were off from school. Yah, slightly crazy but totally worth it. I love our new space and how open the kitchen and great room feel. But before I reveal our new digs, check out where we started:

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Look at these "before" pics above. Those soffet "dust shelves" took away from the overall design of the house, making the vaulted ceilings less grand and just plain awkward. The tile? Oy. Those grout lines still give me nightmares and the almond ceramic squares were way outdated, not to mention um, plentiful. They were everywhere!. While this kitchen was big, it just wasn't functional at all. And not to sound ungrateful (in any way), but it was ugly...seriously ugly. In fact, I'd spent four years waiting for the opportunity, scheming, planning, and pinning all the ways I could change it.

It started with this design.

Followed by the gut job. #demodays

Hardin Construction, LLC of Yuma, AZ did an awesome job ripping this bad boy up and then putting it back together. They were fast, efficient, and made all of those ideas I'd been dreaming up for years a reality. They even let my boys in on the action during demo day as we all got the chance to deconstruct that 20+ year-old kitchen.

Ready for the reveal? Eek!

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The kitchen is now a place where I totally want to hang out with my family and friends. The cool thing? After this remodel we can now house seventeen people in this space! Not only that but it's fresh, clean, and totally functional (even after removing over half of the cabinetry).

Here are just some of the details:

1. Cabinetry: It had to be efficient and pretty! White shaker custom cabinets in SW Alabaster White. Pantry and pots and pan cabinets all have sliding drawers, while the two long cabinets on either side of the stove house gadgets galore. There's plenty of storage space found in the hood and above the pantry and refrigerator.

2. The Hood: I wanted the hood to be grand and Hardin Development, LLC achieved the exact look I was going for. The cool thing? They took two black corbels I purchased from Hobby Lobby (for just $17.99 each), cut them down to size, added molding up top and down below, and painted it white. Amazing!

3. The Backsplash: I knew from the very beginning of this project (and even before that) that I wanted white subway tile for my backsplash. I had the opportunity to splurge on materials here because the backsplash of my kitchen consumes a very small space. However, I found just what I wanted at Lowe's for around $.89 per tile. Not bad and I really love the boldness it adds to the kitchen and the depth it provides. The only thing I would do different? Add a pot filler. I debated and went back and forth with the idea. I guess I can still add one but for now, I'm good. ;)

4.) Electrical: This may sound weird but I did not want any outlets interfering with my backsplash and disrupting the flow of the pattern. When it came to the center island, same thing. I asked that all outlets appear hidden as to not mess with the design on the end caps.

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5. The Island: This nine foot behemouth of a piece was exactly what I had hoped for. It's big, stout, fully functional, and I dig it. I really dig it. However, I knew that once I implemented the hood cabinet, our microwave would have to be housed in the island. This presented a problem as far as drawer space goes since two of my island drawers would have to be dummies/fakes/faux. Only the bottom drawer (pictured above) actually has contents within it. But it works!

The other thing? I didn't want to spend a ton of money on a new microwave. The built-in models are pricey. Like, koo-koo pricey. Instead I bought an LG model intended for a counter, and had the island constructed around it. My options as far as finishing touches included a flush mounted piece I could buy (for the same price as the microwave--um, no thank you). Instead, I headed to Pinterest and here is what we came up with. Wood moldings. They're awesome...and much less expensive.

6. The Countertops: Two words: Cambria Britannica. It's Quartz which means there is no variation in pattern of slabs like there is with granite. This piece was pricier than other Quartz options but I'm so glad I went with it. It's stunning and incredibly durable.

7. The Breakfast Nook: This area of the kitchen screamed "nook" from the moment we first looked at this home. Thanks to master carpenter, Nate Koogle, he made it happen. He created the banquette and it blended in perfectly with the rest of the kitchen. The wood tops can be removed for extra storage as well (yay for storage!), The table (purchased at Pier One) and chairs (Dandy Home and Ranch Boutique) made it all come together.