Kitchen Tune-Up: Creating my own fresh look!
From Dark and Dated to California Cool: How Sara Transformed Her Kitchen
When Sara bought her California home two years ago, she knew one thing for sure: Nancy’s old kitchen wasn’t staying. The previous homeowner had kept the space functional, but it didn’t reflect Sara’s style, energy, or vision. The cabinets were far too dark, making the entire room feel smaller than it actually was. And the raised bar on the countertop? A barrier—literally—between the kitchen and the family room. For someone who loves an open, airy space, it just wasn’t going to work.
So, Sara set out on a mission. If she was going to live in this house, the kitchen needed to feel like hers.
Choosing the Right Team
After researching her options, Sara hired Kitchen Tune-Up, known for upgrading kitchens in relatively short time frames without the chaos or cost of full demolition. Instead of replacing everything, she chose to reface the kitchen, giving it a completely refreshed look while keeping the existing structure intact.
A Bold Color With West Coast Flair
For the new cabinet doors and drawer fronts, Sara went with a bold and beautiful choice: Denim Blue. It was striking without being loud, modern yet timeless, and—most importantly—it felt like California. Paired with sleek black handles, the hardware gave the entire kitchen a clean, stylish finish.
Light, Bright, and Open
To balance the rich blue cabinetry, Sara repainted the upper molding and kitchen walls crisp white, instantly brightening the entire space. She added a stylish backsplash, tying together the coastal tones and adding texture and interest.
To open up some space, she had 3 glass cabinets removed on the main wall and replaced them with 2 light-grained floating shelves. Now she had some room to stretch.
But the biggest transformation came from removing that raised bar. Suddenly, the kitchen opened up to the family room. Sightlines improved. Light spilled in. And although the layout hadn’t changed at all, the room felt significantly larger.
More Space, More Comfort, More Sara
With the new counter-height surface, Sara gained a long, uninterrupted stretch of workspace—perfect for meal prep, entertaining, or just sipping a morning coffee while looking out into her refreshed living space.
For the first time since moving in, she felt like the kitchen truly belonged to her. It wasn’t dark. It wasn’t closed off. It wasn’t dated. It was bright, modern, functional, and full of personality.
This was no longer Nancy’s kitchen.
It was Sara’s kitchen. And she absolutely loved it.
