Disclosure: Bellacor provided me with the lighting for this room and Minted provided me with the art. All opinions are mine. Affiliate links may be included in this post.
We are in the home stretch of the farmhouse remodel, y’all! Well, the home stretch of the interior of the farmhouse anyway. We still have a lot of cleaning up and painting to do to the exterior of the house and the outbuildings, but it’s too hot for that right now, so for the most part we’ve been working inside.
We’ve finished up the living room (see how it turned out here), are thisclose to finishing the bathroom and now I’m setting my sights on the kitchen. This is what the kitchen looked like when we got the house:
Farmhouse Kitchen Before
Since then, we have had to have the kitchen sink completely replumbed, I’ve been able to find and repair some of the missing drawer fronts, the walls, cabinets and flooring have been scrubbed, we tossed the stove and dishwasher and have replaced the light fixture, outlets, switches, faucet and probably done other things I can’t remember right now…
As I told you when I first wrote about this project, the knotty pine walls and cabinets are staying. That being said, the lower cabinets are in pretty poor condition. While the upper cabinets and most of the paneling on the walls cleaned up pretty well, the lower cabinets are actually losing much of their finish as you can probably see by the photos. Still, I don’t plan on painting them. I’m hoping to be able to lightly sand them and then give them a fresh coat of poly. The cabinet hardware also needs a good cleaning for sure or to be replaced.
The countertops will be staying for now as well. After giving them a good cleaning, they are still in pretty good condition. We’ll use them as long as we can – because budget!
Here’s where the kitchen is headed:
Farmhouse Kitchen Plans
Light Fixture / Navy & White Striped Fabric / Faucet / Barstools / Art
We’ve already replaced the old ceiling fan with a new semi-flush mount fixture.
Drava 6 Light Semi-Flush Mount Ceiling Fixture
In the kitchen, I wanted a fixture that would make somewhat of a statement, but it couldn’t be too fancy. This is definitely not a crystal chandelier kind of kitchen. I found this semi-flush mount that fit the bill perfectly. It works well with the paneling without standing out too much, provided plenty of light and has a modern farmhouse vibe that fits well with our style. It’s also less than $200, so it’s budget friendly.
In my Pap’s old workshop by the house, we found this cool table that is going to function as an island in the kitchen.
Pulling this table out only cost me one yellow jacket sting, which really is a good deal given the multiple nests that were in the workshop and the huge snakeskin we saw there. It obviously needs a good deep cleaning. After that, I’m going to see how much of the rust I can get off and then go from there as to whether or not to paint that metal part or not. I have actually hung onto the Ralph Lauren Inspired green, navy and white barstools from the Beloved Foreclosure and I think they will go perfectly with this island.
Ralph Lauren Inspired Barstools Tutorial
I also think they’ll add a much needed shot of color to the room. And as it just so happens, I also have the navy and white curtain panels from our last house as well, that I’ll be shortening for the windows in the kitchen.
Navy and White Upholstery Fabric
They will of course tie in with the upholstery on the barstools, add color and a little more lightening to the space with the navy and white stripes.
We have also went ahead and replaced the faucet as the old one was leaking pretty badly.
Delta Trinsic Pull Down Faucet
Grunt and I both love the Delta Trinsic faucet we have in the kitchen at The 70’s Landing Pad, so we opted for the same faucet for the farmhouse, but in a matte black finish. Like the light fixture, it seems to give off that modern farmhouse kind of vibe to me and also works well with the paneling.
And then there’s the other side of the kitchen…
Eventully, the kitchen flooring will get replaced. We had hoped to replace it sooner rather than later, however the budget isn’t allowing for that right now. Instead I got on my hands and knees and scrubbed it with bleach and then cleaned it again with a basic floor cleaner. It actually cleaned up pretty well given what it looked like before.
Growing up, the kitchen table was always against this wall. It was rectangular and came out from the wall longways and I can still see my Pap sitting there drinking his coffee every morning in the same spot. If you look closely at the paneling there, you can even see where the table was up against the wall there for all those years. That kitchen table is actually now where I sit and write this very post as well as most all the other posts I’ve ever written on this blog. I made it into my desk a few years ago and I really like working here each day on the same table where so many meals were eaten, countless conversations were had and hours were spent digging for one single recipe for Chicken Spaghetti out of a box of a thousand.
For us, having a kitchen table in here really just wouldn’t make sense. The island will work better for our needs and we’ll eat family meals in the dining room. Instead of a kitchen table on this wall, I’m planning to do a gallery wall.
This is the first piece of art I have for the wall. I have probably been looking at this Tropical Still Life print for two years now, but have never had the perfect place for it. It’s bright colors just always sucked me in and when I came across it again while gathering ideas for the farmhouse, I knew this would be perfect for the kitchen. It brings in some much needed bright colors against the dark walls and the green ties in perfectly with the barstools. The wall isn’t going to be just filled with art prints though! My grannie used to have lots of little knick-knacks hanging on that wall and above the cabinets and I actually still have quite a few of those pieces. (Yes, I am a packrat and damn proud of it!) I’m planning to work them all into the wall somehow.
That’s all I have for now, but what do you think? Can I balance out all the knotty pine and make it work?
Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says
I am sure it will be stunning when you get finished. Can’t wait to see it all done.
Jenna says
Thank you so much, Marty!
ashley says
Have you thought about painting the linoleum if you’re not super in love with it for the time being?! I’ve seen some pretty great transformations just using paint! 🙂 Love where you’re goin’ with your sweet farmhouse!
Jenna says
Why haven’t I thought of that before?! I’ve seen some cool linoleum makeovers too and never once did it cross my mind to try that in the kitchen! Thank you, Ashley! I’m going to think about what I could do to it now!!
ashley says
I got your back girl… but seriously… painted linoleum could be so majorly great. can’t wait to see if you incorporate it 🙂
Shirley says
You have worked hard. Love the light fitting& the picture. Think it’s nice that you are also going to put some of your grannie’s knick knacks on the wall also.
I couldn’t believe you saw a shredded snakeskin & you are still living there!!!! I would have run right into the next state……
Jenna says
hahaha!! Well, the snakeskin was in one of the outbuildings near the house – it was creepy though!
Lois Stimax says
Have you thought of painting the door white to brighten the area. I think a green door would look cool too-that reddish stain should be retired! I look forward to seeing the final resesult!!
Jenna says
That’s a good idea, Lois! That door is actually in pretty rough condition and is slated to be replaced when we have the funds to do so. Painting it for now is a great idea though! Thanks!
Patty says
I know a lot of people would have tore out all that knotty pine because they hate it, but I love knotty pine it is so warm and inviting and with just a little bit of care can be beautiful for years and years. I think what you you are planing with the island and those gorgeous stools will be be so pretty and the colors perfect which will enhance the knotty pine, as will the curtains. that light fixture is so pretty I love it, where did you find it, cuz it would be perfect in my kitchen.
I think the kitchen is my favorite space and I can’t wait to see it completed. I almost forgot, love love the faucet.
We have done a little mini kitchen redo, new stove and frig. (first time I haven’t had white) all stainless. my husband bought new sink and faucet, he picked it out I have not seen it yet and I have to admit I am almost afraid to look. He is going to install it this weekend and if I don’t love it the fur will fly, he knows better than to go buy something like that without me, I think he is nervous, haha. Our house is long overdue for updating, I have done painting and little things, but we concentrated on getting it paid for that is done so now we are doing things that need to be done.
Jenna says
Thanks, Patty! The light fixture came from Bellacor. There’s a link to it in the post just under the photo of it. 🙂 I think you guys were smart to get the house paid off first – that makes life a little less stressful! Congrats on those updates! Sounds like fun! We will have to get a new stove and dishwasher for here, but are waiting to recoup a little money first. Until then, we are microwaving just about everything when we are over there.
nancy says
Good for you. I know it’s very “Ozzie and Harriet”, but I adore knotty pine. Besides, if you wait long enough, white kitchens will be out and knotty pine will be in again. 🙂
Jenna says
Everything comes back in style again, right?!
Kim says
I have this in my 1960s kitchen/dinning area. Looking for flooring. Nothing that I like so far. Interested in seeing what you use.
Debrashoppeno5 says
I like the direction you are taking the kitchen. The knotty pine cabinets remind me of the one in the house I grew up in. It is funny to see the styles that were popular back then and compare them to what we like now.
Jenna says
Thanks, Debra! I think it’s neat to see the different styles as well and fun to see how we can make them work again just in our own way.
Susan the Farm Quilter says
Of course you will be able to balance out that knotty pine with your decorating. This is a farmhouse and expected to be a bit rustic. Love what you have done so far and I can’t wait to see the finished product! I have a wall of icky paneling in my dining room…is it easy to paint? I don’t think I would be allowed to remove it (heck, I may not be allowed to paint it either, but a girl can hope, right?).
Jenna says
The only paneling I’ve painted before was the thin stuff from like the 70’s. It was easy – you just have to prime it first.
Christa says
I am impressed that you decided to keep the knotty pine and of course you can make it work. The only thing I have left of my grandparent’s farmhouse is a picture of us in their knotty pine den and every time I see knotty pine it takes me back. So, bravo for saving your happy memories!
Jenna says
Thanks, Christa! We have knotty pine in the den there as well – lots of happy memories!
Lori Jepson says
As someone who has refinished her knotty pine cabinets against all the “just paint them white!” cheerleaders, they are completely worth it. I took them down, cleaned them well with TSP, stripped, and sanded them. They then got a coat of poly and put back up. They look fabulous. I also soaked the copper hardware in TSP and cleaned it well. Unfortunately, it still looked like black, greasy crap, so I primed and spray painted them. That was almost 4 years ago and they have held up awesome!
Good luck!
Jenna says
That is SO good to know, Lori!! Thank you so much for telling me!
Elizabeth says
I can’t wait to see what you do with the kitchen! I have knotty pine cabinets in my kitchen and, even though my style leans more cottage/farmhouse, I still can’t figure out how to make it work without painting. I appreciate you showing us the process with your budget as well. So many home blogs seem to renovate rooms so quickly with all the expensive stuff and the vast majority of us can’t do that. Thanks for keeping it real! 🙂
Jenna says
Yea, we are definitely on a tight budget with this one, Elizabeth. Like you said, that’s life though!
Stephanie S. says
I really like the knotty pine cabinets.
Jenna says
Thanks, Stephanie! Me too – hoping I can salvage the finish on them, especially the lower ones.
Wendy says
Love the reuse of the cool green stools and nave & white striped fabric. The lighting choice is spot on, and I concur with the suggestion of painting the door for now until budget allows. Either green or white, but maybe even nqvy or black.
Jenna says
Thanks, Wendy! I worked on it all this past weekend and it’s coming together nicely!
Sheena says
Those cabinets are stunning!! Thanks for joining us at #HomeMattersParty I hope you will join us again this week!!
Brigitte says
Ooo, I can’t wait to see this kitchen! I’m not a fan of the knotty pine, but I know you….you will make it beautiful and it’ll be PERFECT! No matter what my design choices would be in the same situation, you are YOU and I’m always blown away by how beautifully your projects turn out!
I second painting the door. I’d go with either black to match the other accents, or green to match the stools and that cute artwork (which is ADORABLE, I love it).
Love, love, LOVE the light fixture and faucet!
Jenna says
Thanks, Brigitte!! You have so much faith in me! haha!
Margie says
I was amazed when I saw your knotty pine kitchen because I am in the process of buying a home with a remarkably similar kitchen–even the ceiling is done in wood planks. At first glance, it was pretty; at second glance, it seemed like just “too much brown,” but third time’s a charm–I love it now and can see working with it. I, too, have an island that might work in there and I love to use artwork, et. al to give a home personality. I love your choice of faucet/light fixture, as well as the bright colors you are bringing to your blank wall. I look forward to seeing how it all progresses. Thank you for sharing!
Jenna says
Thanks, Margie! Yep, those cabinets are pretty special to me. I still have a lot of work to do in that space though! Good luck with yours!
Afton says
Our cottage looks identical can we see ur remodeled pictures?
Cathy Lee Aaron says
Where are the after photos, can’t wait to see ‘em