We moved into this house last summer. In our house prior to this, we renovated the whole place. Top to bottom. Literally. New drywall, floors, siding, windows, you name it, we did it. We are do-it-yourself people. Not because we want to be (although I do enjoy it most of the time), but because paying someone to do the work makes most of the projects cost more than double what the materials alone do. So, out of necessity, we have learned to do a lot things. We are not intimidated by hanging drywall, plastering, re-working electrical or plumbing. Flooring & paint are a walk in the park. Enter…this kitchen. It was small, and after coming from the kitchen we had created for ourselves in the other house, we knew this was something we were going to have to “fix”. Not that it was broken. It was just poorly designed, and closed off. After getting a professional to come in and assure me that the wall was not a structural wall (and give me a quote of $4500 to remove it *choke*), I began removing drywall. 🙂 I did forget to get pictures of the kitchen before. You can see in this picture where the wall was though, and that there was a small doorway from the dining are to the kitchen. The stove was up against the outside wall, and the dishwasher was right beside the fridge.
I feel I have to add this…
WARNING: DO NOT PROCEED TO REMOVE WALLS FROM YOUR HOUSE WITHOUT YOUR HUSBANDS FULL SUPPORT. YOU WILL NEED HIM THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT. 😉
Have I mentioned…my husband is awesome?? He didn’t want to do this project, but saw that it was necessary, so we went ahead with it. Good thing we work well together!
Welcome to The Baking Beauties DIY Kitchen Renovation…
There were no cupboards on the wall we removed, it was supposed to be used as a small eating area.
The wall is removed, and all the electrical that was in it is all re-worked. Like the carpet under the dining table? 😛
We put laminate floor in the living & dining room areas, as well as in the kitchen.
Getting the wall in place where the island will be. Put electrical in the sides of the island too.
Upper cabinets are out! You can see, not much usable cabinets/drawers on the bottom. And very little counter space. 
Installing upper cabinets. I knew it was going to be OK, check out the boy, oozing with optimism. 
New base cabinets are in, and the new countertop as well. Next, the sink!
Installing new under-cabinet lighting (still the old base cabinets).
The boy helping remove spacers while doing the tile backsplash. (just like his Dad…on the counters)
FINALLY! My new kitchen! Love, Love, LOVE it! (want to do a red window treatment yet)
The amount of space that I have now with the island and a full counter top is amazing! 
View from sitting in the living room. You can see the dining area, and the kitchen. One big open floor now.
The baking center that I showed you yesterday. I don’t even have to remove my flour containers now, just scoop!
The huge lazy susan that makes everything in my corner cabinet totally accessible now.
My little cabinet that I use to store my rolling pin & cookie sheets. LOVE it!
Had a small space, so I made it into a small bookshelf for some cookbooks.
Love it! A pull out cabinet where I can keep all the tall bottles, and I don’t have to reach to the back of a cupboard.
Lauren says
It's gorgeous! I love all of the storage space you have, and such a great idea to do a flour drawer like that!
tallmisto says
Such a gorgeous kitchen. You did an amazing job. I love the baking station, such a great idea. The stove looks great too. I like how it blends in to the island.
Our kitchen needs a grenade taken to it and start all over again. My husband and I know nothing about how to install anything. Your post is very inspiring.
Jeanine says
Thanks, Lauren! I'm lovin' the flour drawer right now. Usually I run around, looking for all my bags of flour, and I figured if I was gonna do this, I was gonna make it MUCH easier on me. 🙂
Tallmisto, I bet if you tried hard, you could do it too. There are SO many resources available online, you can learn how to do just about anything. Well, electrical & plumbing I leave up to my husband, but anything else, you can learn online.
Colleen/And Baby Makes Five says
Oh, Jeanine … it's gorgeous!!! I love how open everything is too. And the baking station and specialty drawers/spaces are genius.
It was quite the family affair, wasn't it?! What a talented group you are 🙂
Todd and I are die-hard do-it-yourselfers too. It's the only way to get the look we want for the prices we can pay. And it's always fun to learn a new trick or skill.
Enjoy that wonderful new space. You done good, my friend!
Jeanine says
Thanks, Colleen! I know you and Todd are DIYers as well, I'm still waiting to see the final product from your bathroom re-do. 🙂 Love seeing before & after pics of what people have done.
Thanks for your comment, it feels great to be done. Yep, 3 generations worked on that kitchen. I think the kitchen really is the heart of the home, and now it feels like it's ticking right again. 🙂
Carolee says
The new kitchen looks fantastic! First time commenter, but thanks for all the great recipes. My non-Celiac boyfriend asks for the salisbury steaks all the time!
Susan says
great kitchen and great pics…now I only wish I had one…Love all the little drawers…could have used you to plan mine..I guess you were just a little young at the time 🙂
Mom
Jeanine says
Hi Carolee! So glad that you decided to post. When people comment, I know I'm not just talking to myself. *smile* And the salisbury steaks…also my husbands favorite! Must be "man food", huh?
Jeanine says
Ha, Mom! I guess no one asked for my input at the time, huh? ;o) You actually have a very nicely designed kitchen, I'd say that Dad did a really good job with it. Maybe you just need to purge your cabinets of some stuff. lol
danamichelle says
Hi Jeanine! I love your kitchen! very inspiring. My husband and I just moved into a house about 4 months ago, and like you, we have a partial wall separating the living room from the kitchen. I would love to remove it and redo our kitchen…but if you wouldn't mind me asking, how much does something like that cost to do? We are very DIY too, seriously anything my husband sets is mind to do, he can do!
GF Gidget says
OMG I am in love with your new kitchen! Gorgeous!
adventuresofaglutenfreemom.com says
Flour Drawer… BRILLIANT! I am so jealous. 🙂
Beautiful kitchen and so very cool that you did it yourselves!
Heidi
Betsy says
What a pretty kitchen – that flour drawer is soo nice as is the huge looking lazy susan. Wow. What fun when the kids get to be involved as well!
The Not So Perfect Housewife says
WOW!! I love my kitchen, but I think I actually have a little kitchen envy.. LOL!! You are truly blessed with so many things.. awesome hubby, cute kids.. and now a beautiful kitchen!!
Enjoy
betty r says
Wow Jeanine, a great job indeed! I saw the layout of your kitchen, dining room and living room before..what a change..you have worked hard and everything looks beautiful!
Word verification is 'plate'..you had a lot on your plate and now you can enjoy the fruits of your labours!
Renaissance Woman says
I'm rapidly becoming one of your biggest fans. The gluten-free recipes are Heaven-sent. Thanks. Now — about this new kitchen. OMG! Your gift for seeing the potential in that kitchen was inspired. I'm really impressed. Congratulations to you!
Dani says
what an inspiring kitchen! thanks for the great ideas 🙂
[email protected] home to dream home says
I LOVE IT!!! Congrats on getting your kitchen done.. I am almost there! I bet you just love spending time in there now, it looks just amazing!
The Gluten-free 'Dish' says
You must be thrilled to have your new kitchen! It looks wonderful! Great job! I love my lazy susan, too and it looks like we have the exact same model dishwasher. Have a great time cooking in your new space. Love it!
Michelle says
Wow, your kitchen is so pretty! You guys did a great job! I like the pictures of the progress and the start and finish. You really opened it up.
Jenn says
I just found your site recently, and my love of interior design drew me to this post. Can I just say, ya'll did a fantastic job! It looks wonderful!
Anonymous says
You new kitchen is absolutely gorgeous…you are very lucky! 🙂
anng27 says
We're getting ready to remodel our kitchen, and I've been a total loss on laying it out. But a flour drawer under the mixer has just been added to the must-have list. Brilliant!
Cathy Bray says
Jeanine! You are so smart to have removed that wall! Your new kitchen is BEAUTIFUL!!!
Barbara | Creative Culinary says
Lovely job. As gorgeous as it all looks it’s the removing of the walls that I would love the most. Being sequestered in a kitchen would make me feel claustrophobic so even though I don’t have a husband, I’m thinking I would have had to do the same!
Jeanine Friesen says
Thanks, Barbara! When we moved here, we’d just finished renovating the kitchen in the house we’d sold. I knew this kitchen was closed, but figured, I could make it work. I was wrong. 🙂 Thank goodness I have an understanding husband. 🙂