Home tour: the Kitchen Reveal!
Oh I am so excited to finally show you my kitchen reveal! You guys have heard me talk many times about how it took me fifteen months to renovate my grandparents’ 100 year old farm house. It was a tremendous amount of work but I did get the majority of it done and now I’ve been living here for a year in August! I know, I know, you can throw tomatoes at me, I have not yet given you guys the complete home tour.
(8/1/2019 OMG I can’t believe its been three years since this post came out! Since then my kitchen has gone through a ton of transformations, almost as many as I have myself! I am still so thrilled with the kitchen I built but now I just finished remodeling the entire room! CHECK IT OUT HERE!)
You’ve seen my Master bedroom, closet and bathroom as well as my office but, after that, I’ve been pretty much mute.
SO, I got out my camera, did a little staging, and tackled the big photography job for this kitchen reveal. But, first, allow me to take a trip down memory lane 🙂
This shot I took not long after I had finally concluded the majority of the electrical and plumbing throughout, this was the winter/spring of 2015. What a lot of work!
Look at that my Grandma’s old Cosco stool just hanging out – it was my constant companion during the renovation and I just gave it a makeover – click here to go check that out.
Here I am, the first picture I took of my floors right after I finished sanding them! I was so excited to get to this point I could barely contain myself.
Remember my very first post here on the blog? How to: install an inexpensive wood floor that looks like a million dollars. That’s that very floor there in the fore ground butting up to the original hardwoods!
And now the last shot before I finally show you guys the kitchen reveal! Here is my Grandma’s kitchen right before I started my renovation, my grandparents’ built this kitchen when they installed indoor plumbing in the home for the very first time in 1958.
They put the bathroom behind the kitchen which I relocated to another part of the house. I can only imagine how exciting it must have been for them: a brand new kitchen AND indoor plumbing!
I will be the first to admit that tearing out my grandma’s kitchen was a very hard thing to do and, looking at it now, my heart aches a bit.
I think this might be my favorite view 🙂 You can see the wall I took down in the before pic and replaced with a beam and you can also see the front door that remains the EXACT same door and screened door in both pictures!
(Yup they need a new paint job BADLY!) And, of course, like it almost always is in the summers, the door was left open so I could get a breeze through the screen 🙂
You can also see in the after picture one of my old rocking chairs and that closet I built to cover up my major eyesore!
“When using salvaged cabinets for a renovation, cabinet refacing is a great solution to refresh them. The older the better, as these will typically be furniture-grade and of the highest quality.” says Linda Fennessy, Marketing Manager of Kitchen Magic
There are so many elements here that I’ve shared along the way on the blog that completes this kitchen reveal! My kitchen sink base I made from scratch to fit that old cast iron sink that I found in a shed and fell in love with.
It was only a couple of weeks ago that I showed you guys my $5 garage sale desk that became my coffee station and, of course, one of the most popular posts I have ever written, my red kitchen island I built out an old radio stand of my great grandpa’s.
The wood shed door (over there to the right of the stove) I built out of an old window screen and even wrote a tutorial on how I stenciled “wood shed” on the screen.
There are some things I haven’t had a chance to tell you about though, those glass cabinet doors are not perfect if you look close, in fact they are WONKY and that’s because they’ve never been cabinet doors and they were never built to be cabinet doors and they’re really old! They’re windows! In fact, I have a picture of my cabinet doors before in their old life 🙂
When I converted the old wood shed (yup, that was actually a wood shed that I made into living space during the renovation) I took out those windows. SO I had those three pretty and very old windows stashed (along with all the others in the house that I was able to salvage) and from day one I really thought I would be able to use some of them for my kitchen.
When I tackled my kitchen cabinets (yup I built almost all of them and I was not being brave lol I was terrified the whole time I was gonna screw them up!) I took my tape measure out to the garage and held my breath.
I needed THREE matching windows that would fit the cupboards I had just built. Honestly, in the beginning, I wasn’t sure where they had come from I always just thought “old windows out of the house” I had no idea they were the wood shed windows until I started looking close at that very picture.
(Fifteen months is a long time and most of the windows I took out in the first month of renovation and I built my kitchen literally the month I moved in so I just plain forgot!)
No, they are not perfect and they will never be “straight” but, honestly, that’s what I love about them 🙂 Another one of my most popular posts here at Grandma’s House DIY was about how my oak kitchen counter tops looked like a hill billy after a bad fight.
And I am so pleased to report that after I fixed my DIY oak kitchen counters they have really held up well over the passed few months! Anyway, back to the kitchen reveal!
I purchased all of my LG appliances “new” at a scratch and dent seller and I absolutely LOVE them. I got them for HALF their new cost and was able to get far nicer appliances then I ever dreamed of and never could have afforded otherwise.
If you notice you can see the dings on them and the refrigerator door handles are bent. All of it can be fixed but, at least for now, I just don’t have the extra money to spend on something cosmetic like that.
My grandparents’ made my paper towel holder and I had always planned on having an open shelf above the sink for a place to hang it. The light above my sink was the yard light hanging off the pole for about thirty years before it came down and I had it replaced with a modern light.
I also have an old yard light above my master bathroom sink too and I’ve got plans on writing a blog post about them someday, I love them. I also really love my magnetic knife rack and, so far anyway, I love the back splash I chose and installed with liquid nails. I purchased it off of Amazon.
It comes in 2×4 foot sheets and at only $17 per sheet, you really can’t beat it and it cuts with a pair of scissors and I like that it looks like old tin ceiling tiles 🙂
I wish I had went ahead and put it behind the stove too because it looks a little naked in the pictures but, honestly, on a day to day basis, I never even notice it.
When I installed those two glass exterior doors (one on either side of the kitchen) I was given more then a few odd looks from my family members.
No one doubts that choice now though, the kitchen flows right out on to my deck from two different places and the glass doors let in so much light! I’m currently working on getting screen doors on those doors as we speak and, of course, I’ll tell you guys all about it when I do get them done 🙂
I think of my kitchen as a working man’s kitchen – it doesn’t feel new nor does it feel fragile or breakable in any way. It’s tough like the 100 year old house I put it in.
There is nothing that’s truly “new” feeling here, I didn’t mean for it to end up looking like an old country kitchen but I am glad that it did.
There is SO much storage! Because I built everything I was able to plan down to the smallest spoon where everything would go and just what I needed.
My pantry remains one of the coolest things in the kitchen – every time I pull it out I can’t believe how much stuff it stores.
In the end, even if I had had the money to hire someone else to build this kitchen I’m very glad that I didn’t. As beautiful as the master bedroom and other places of the house turned out it is true what the say: the kitchen is the heart of the home and I am more proud of this portion of my home then any other aspect.
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I’m Tarah!
It’s been a hell of a ride since I started this blog and renovated and moved into this old farm house back in 2015. I got married, divorced, lost my doggo soul mate, spent two years as a single gal, remodeled everything, threw my back out countless times and was even found by an amazing guy in my own backyard! (The story behind Storyhardt Farm.)
Around here we’re totally fearless when it comes to bettering our home. We love to refinish old furniture, re-purpose old pieces, build it from scratch and totally renovate anything that needs it! If we can do it – so can you. We’ve got some serious plans for this old farm and, for first time ever, I have a real partner!
This is gonna be so much fun!
You can also find out more about the amazing Grandma behind this blog who moved in to this old farmhouse with my Grandpa nearly 70 years ago!
Wow, this is beautiful and has so much character. I love how you reused old windows for your cabinet doors and reworked an old heirloom for your kitchen island. Also it has a lot more light now that you got rid of the little bathroom and have that extra window. This kitchen tells so many stories, and it’s beautiful and one of a kind. Love it!
Thank you so much Heidi!
You can feel the love in that house just looking at all of your accomplishments…so very proud of you for tackling this monumental task. Still can not wait to see it up close and personal!
Thank you again for sharing. Loves and hugs from the Dammers’, Merlyn and Carol.
Carol, thank you so much! Can’t wait for you to see it too! 🙂
Great job and so much history there 🙂
Thank you!
wow! you have a real beautiful farmhouse kitchen….i don’t blame you for falling in love with that sink, i did too! and, there is nothing like an old wooden screen door that squeeks….also, red is my favorite color, so it’s just the right pop…..great job!
Thank you so much Penny!
loved the kitchen, all the recycled objects, great imagination. your granma would be proud.
Thank you so much Frances!!
Now I could live in that kitchen! I replied on Hometalk but am still having disappearing keyboard issues there, lol. I know that we have the same kind of sentimental soul because everything I see and every story you tell behind it just makes me want to tear up with joy for you! I LOVE that I can see your grandma’s Costco stool in all of your kitchen pics (I love that thing!)
I know you probably get tired of hearing from me, lol, but I just love your stories and your home. I wanted to tell you that Miriam from Hometalk sent me an email asking if I had made any friends thru posts and comments on Hometalk and you’re the first person that came to mind. They haven’t asked who yet, they’re supposed to be contacting me again, but I hope you don’t mind if I tell them it’s you. I just feel like I know you and we have so much in common, except that I don’t have an amazing farmhouse, tho mainly because of your blog, my husband and I decided to start actively looking for one. If it’s meant to be and that’s what God wants for us, we’ll find one. Anyway, the I didn’t want you to be surprised if they contact you about me and have you say “Candy who?” lol
Thank you again for sharing so much of what you and your husband do and all the stories behind them.
Blessings,
Candy
Candy it is always wonderful to hear from you and I’m honored you would call me a friend! Your comments are always so good for the soul for me, not all the comments us bloggers get are good ones 😉 But I will say the majority of folks out there are wonderful and seem to stick by the “if you can’t say anything nice don’t say anything at all” mantra! Which I also live by lol. I am absolutely stoked for you and hope so much your search proves fruitful! I want to hear all about it if you do find a place!!
Thanks so much~you’re so kind. And yea, I’m hoping we can find something in our price range~you would think that in Central Arkansas there would be plenty to choose from but I guess a lot of them are family homesteads that have been in the same family for many years. Unfortunately we don’t have that option, we’ve only lived here for going on 6 years and don’t really know too many people here other than church and my husband’s job. We don’t have a whole lot of family and have never had that history and legacy that you have. You are so incredibly blessed! But who knows, maybe we’ll stumble across something :).
Thank you Tarah, I can use a sweet friend who seems to love the same things I do and lives by the same values.
Candy
Hi Tarah! I hope all is well with you and you’re not working too hard, yea right huh? I wanted to tell you Hometalk contacted me and I told them all about you and how we have kind of a long distance friendship so I don’t know if they’ll contact you or not. I’m not real sure what that’s all about, but I guess we’ll see.
I have a question about one of your projects~I know you refurbed your grandma’s Cosco stool that i love so much and I happen to run across one today!! It was a little place I ran across named the Rusty Bucket and it was like hitting a gold mine, lol. You know for the farmhouse that it seems we’ll never be able to find. Anyway, it had several tears in the vinyl seat and back, so I sadly left it there. And then I thought about how you redid your grandma’s. Do you have a tutorial on how you did that or can you give me any pointers? I think I have to go back and get it!!
Thank you so much and I can’t wait to hear from you!
Candy
Hey Candy! I have a tutorial all about how I refinished grandma’s step stool here :http://www.grandmashousediy.com/step-stool/ It actually wasn’t too difficult, I just used chrome spray paint on the body, black flat rustoleum for the steps and the seat popped off and I just wrapped it in new vinyl with some hot glue 🙂 I’ve actually been thinking about how I should find another one to match eventually so then I would have a pair! We’re actually going camping for one night this weekend, its our big “trip” this summer lol we don’t get out much but after all the work to finish the house neither one of us ever wants to leave it for very long (or at all!) Anyway, have a nice weekend!
Thank you SO much! I looked underneath and I couldn’t see how it came off. I could see that the seat unscrews but I couldn’t tell how to get the vinyl piece out. So it just pops out? Does the back do the same? It’s yellow right now that I kinda like but I’m not sure what color I would want, I just want the stool. Lol.
Ya’ll have a nice weekend, even tho I’m sure you could use more than one night. We used to do a lot of camping but we don’t anymore with my husbands work schedule. We’ve had a camper of some sort the whole time we’ve been married and we finally made it up to a motor home and it just sat, so we sold it a month or so ago.
Blessings to ya’ll and relax ?
Candy
Hey Candy, my old stool of my Grandma’s didn’t have a back – just a seat but I was so relieved when I inspected it closer to see that it just had four little tabs on the bottom that bent out and then it popped right off! I had to remove all of the old fabric and replace with new (as opposed to just covering the old) so it would fit back in its slots tightly and correctly.
We did have a good time, I love camping, this is the first time in two years we had time to go! I sure am hoping next year we’ll be able to take a couple of nights but we’ve got horses to feed etc so we never want to be gone long 🙂
Yea, yours has a back but not vinyl on it right? This place here that has it is only open on Friday and Saturday so I’m dying for it to be Friday again, lol. I’m glad ya’ll had a good time and we never leave for long either because we have two dogs. When we camped it was ok, we brought them, but now if we ever want to go anywhere, we have to stay in a hotel and I don’t like to board my precious Yorkie :).
I think I am seriously obsessed about wanting to find an old farmhouse and my Pinterest boards are quickly filling up, but still nothing. I think my husband and I have two different ideas about what a true farmhouse is. He doesn’t want to have to buy something he has to work on and I so do!
Do you have any small pets? I’m gonna give you my email address so we can chat if you ever want to without our convos taking up all of your comment space, lol. It’s ***, keep in touch and let me know what’s coming up next!
Candy
Yup it has a steel back but isn’t covered, I just spray painted the whole thing in that really cool chrome spray paint. That stuff goes on like liquid aluminum foil, very cool! I’m going to hide your email here, so its not in the comments for every one to see 🙂 And shoot you a line! Well, a big old, untouched farm house really is a ton of work – but I remain very glad we did it, especially because it was my grandparents’ old place. I’m also glad I made the decision immediately that we would NOT try to live in it while we were working it. I did that once and it was such an incredible trial, it was wonderful to be able to get away from the renovation and sleep somewhere clean lol
You are one seriously talented lady!!!! Your kitchen is amazing, and I absolutely love that you used the shed windows for cabinet doors. Also loving the screen door chalkboard and of course that adorable island. This home will truly be a reflection of the family that lives in it – it is simply beautiful!!
Thank you so much Liz!!
Oh wow! What an amazing transformation. I love your kitchen! Over three years, we renovated our home built in 1859, so I can totally relate and appreciate all the work you have undergone! 😉
Rebeca
Rebeca, oh my gosh 1859!? That’s amazing! Thank you for coming by!
What a wonderful job, as well as a loving tribute towards your Grandparents. I wish you many happy and loving years with each other in the house you built. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
Thank you so much Ann!
What an amazing renovation project! So much hard work, but it really paid off. I really enjoyed seeing many of your smaller projects placed in this room. Together they give it so much character and “charm” 🙂 Thanks for linking up your reno with us at Vintage Charm–
As always, thank you Diana 🙂
I love the windows as cabinet doors!! Beautiful new room – Thanks for sharing on the Pleasures of the NW’s DIY party!
Thank you Helen!
This is amazing! I can’t wait to look at the other “reveals”. Thanks for sharing at Over the Moon.
Thank you Shelley!!
I have just enjoyed this post so very much that I took a stroll through the other rooms at Grandma’ house. I am so impressed with the love and work that’s gone into the place and I’m reminded of my own grandmother’s house (which I would buy and renovate if I ever won the lottery!). I’ve chosen this as my featured post selection. Be sure to stop by Over the Moon this next week to pick up your badge.
Oh Shelley, thank you so very much! This has definitely been a total labor of love for us, sometimes it was real tough but totally worth it!
Wow! This looks incredible! You are so talented!! I love the character you brought out – the details are amazing. Especially love the backsplash!!
Thank you so much Eileen! It is definitely the heart of our home 🙂
Tarah I have seen your kitchen so many times, I cannot believe I’ve never commented before. You have worked miracles on this house. It is beautiful and in keeping with the farmhouse character. I have a special love for all the red you’ve added it really gives the house personality.
Oh Mary, thank you so much! It was a tremendous labor of love for us, but the kitchen is truly my heart and the heart of our home 🙂
Wow, what a beautiful job you did! Very impressive!
Roseann thank you!!
What a great renovation while keeping the old character! Thanks for sharing for the Home Matters party.
Thank you Lindsey! It was definitely a labor of love!
wow the transformation is amazing!! I love it you guys did an awesome job! 🙂 I especially love the repurposing of the windows for the cabinet doors!
Thank you Courtney!
Oh, wow! I absolutely LOVE your kitchen – especially using the windows for cabinet doors! Thank you for sharing at Tuesdays with a Twist linky party! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
Thank you so much Marci!!
This is truly incredible. I absolutely love it! I wish I had the ability to do such major renovations. Maybe someday… I love that you converted the windows into cabinet doors. Brilliant!
Thanks Amy!!
Tarah,
the kitchen looks beautiful! so much character! I love how you upcycled windows, and that red cabinet/console looks great! excellent job!
Thank you so much Nadia!
Hi, Tarah! I found you through the #happynowlinkup and omg, what you’re doing is absolutely amazing! The kitchen looks incredible. I adore the red accents! Grandma would be so proud!
Off to browse the rest of the house now!
Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much!!
Your hard work paid off, Tarah! Your kitchen is darling and using the windows as cabinet doors was genius! Blessings, Cecilia
Thank you Cecilia!
This looks so amazing!
I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Thanks Jess!
I absolutely love this makeover! Thanks for sharing at Funtastic Friday.
Thank you Sherry!!
It looks great! What a difference! 🙂
Thank you Katy!
Love what your doing. When I read your story I could understand. I sometimes think I could replicate my Maternal Grandmothers home with the things I have. I also purchased my Paternal Grandparents home, and have done a mini remodel to remind our family what it looked like when they owned it from 1925-1978. Keep up the great work
Thank you so much Ann! Sounds like you’re doing wonderful things!
I think I love everything in this post. You did an amazing job 🙂
Thank you so much! 🙂
Taralynn, your rehabbed farmhouse is simply magnificent! You have taken a vacant (but much loved) house and recreated a true HOME. It was a labor of love. I’m certain your grandparents would be tremendously proud. I hope your life together in it is filled with joy and the love of family. One day may your grandchildren love and appreciate it as much as you and your husband do.
Wishing you a lifetime of blessings,
Suzanne G.
Suzanne, what a wonderful and thought comment, thank you so much for that! It has truly been a labor of love for me but, in the end, it was all so worth it!
Great job! You guys are fantastic!
Thank you!!
Hi,
Thanks for coming to the Blogger’s Pit Stop last week.
Janice, Pit Stop Crew
Thanks for coming by Janice!
Very nicely done! The kitchen still has that old world charm.
Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you Karen!
What an amazing job you’re doing on this house! I love seeing how this room came together with all your creativity and hard work. I know you must be proud of your new kitchen!
Thanks so much for joining the Grace at Home party at Imparting Grace. I’m featuring you this week!
Thanks so Richella! It really is the heart of our home!
That was a lot of work, but with great results. I wish I could get more room in mine, but the footprint of my 420 square foot downstairs makes it difficult without giving up our 9X10 foot spare bedroom that we use for indoor storage, another very important need we have. Living in the wilderness with lots of mice and critters outdoors makes a secure storage area important as well. Such decisions. – Margy
Hi Margy, I hear ya! Working in any kind of foot print means sacrifices and so much give and take. I agonized over this kitchen and, though I am really happy with it now, I think there will always be things that bug me.
Wow – this is amazing!!
Thank you!!
Nice color combination of white, bright red and brown… i love the red stand and the red kitchen aid mixer 🙂
Thanks Sheilla!
Wow what a transformation and so much light coming into the kitchen now. Love what you did to the the old windows and using it as cabinet doors. We’ve also did some building and it was a mess and lots of headaches but the end result now makes it all worth it.#Dreamteam
Hi Noleen, it was definitely a big mess and a ton of headaches but, like you said, totally worth it in the end!
My wife and I are no strangers to home renovations, as we expanded and completely reno’d our house. If yours only took you 15 months, you did pretty good on time. I bet my wife would love that kitchen window idea for the cabinet doors.
Thanks Mike, it was definitely the hardest 15 months of my life lol, but totally worth it in the end!
It’s amazing. Love the floors and the upcycled windows/cabinet doors. Thank you for joining The Really Crafty Link Party. Pinning!
Thank you, have a great weekend!
All I can say is WOW. I admire you so much and love everything you’ve done in your grandparents’ house. How special for you to have done so much yourself and I know you are so happy to have made it your own!
Thank you so much Anne, this place has been a total labor of love and absolutely worth the work!