Go from dreary and drab to your dream kitchen

Our relationships with our kitchens can sometimes become dysfunctional, unorganized and downright aesthetically unappealing.

But it wasn’t always this way. Remember when you first met? It was a casual Sunday, and the “For Sale” sign posted on the patch of grass beckoned you to come inside.

You were pleasantly surprised that this home checked off many of your wish list boxes. You saved the kitchen viewing for the very last, and the anticipation was building as you thought about the storage, the natural light and whether it had an island or a peninsula. Would it be everything you dreamed a kitchen could be?

Forty-five days later, you and your new kitchen were a match made in real estate heaven. You moved into your new home and unpacked with such joy and excitement. You could be yourself in this relationship: cooking and baking every Pinterest recipe you came across, organizing the cabinet drawers and cubbies to your heart’s content and entertaining in your kitchen from dawn until dusk.

This kitchen was nothing like your last kitchen. You could finally let your hair down and enjoy.

Yet as the years passed, those rose-colored glass lenses faded and you saw a new side of your kitchen. The cabinets and hardware seemed weak and unsubstantial. The storage, or should I say lack of storage, was just embarrassing, and the hardwood floors were in sudden desperate need of refinishing. The lighting that was once so bright and shiny was now dull. And that brown and green tile – where did that come from? The ’80s?

It was as if you and your kitchen were complete strangers sharing a common address.

It’s no secret that even the best-designed kitchens will eventually need some sort of updating. It’s not necessarily because you or a previous owner had a bad design, it’s just that trends change. Something created in years past no longer has that same sparkle.

Part of the problem is that all of us design aficionados love to tweak our kitchens, continuously. It’s where we spend enormous amounts of time, and, therefore, we require things to look and function a certain way. We want cutting-edge technology, energy-saving appliances and light fixtures, and tile and flooring that err on the side of classic and timeless.

A kitchen should be highly functional, from storage to layout, with classic materials that will age gracefully.

Kitchens are really interesting spaces. There’s so much more to them than you may realize, from hidden vaulted ceilings and wasted cabinet space to the option of moving a wall or two for a different layout.

If you’re in the market for a new home or considering a remodel in your existing home, really explore the kitchen space. A well-seasoned contractor will help you see the potential before you begin the design process.

If your kitchen is years old, do not fret. Instead, think of all the exciting things to come with a new layout, functional storage and building materials that will make you want to dance on your polished quartz countertops.

Jennifer Leischer is the owner of J. Designs Interior Design based in Clayton. Contact her with questions, comments and suggestions at jenna@j-designs.com.