So much progress has been made since my last update. It’s amazing to see how the space has evolved from the early March demo to the recent installation of floors, cabinets, and sink, and now the flurry of activity over the past two weeks.
The kitchen is coming together exactly as I imagined. There are still a number of finishing touches to arrive over the next couple of weeks—like the range and faucet I’m excited about—but each day brings us closer to cooking in our new kitchen.
I wanted to share a catch-up post since the last two weeks have been especially eventful. A few recent developments have been particularly fun, so I’ll highlight those here.
You may have seen some of these updates if you follow the newsletter or my Instagram stories. I sometimes share behind-the-scenes glimpses there, and subscribers get sneak peeks and links to project posts and resources.
The French doors are installed and they’re stunning. Everyone who has visited comments on how much they add to the room. With sidelights and a transom, the door is a real focal point on that prominent kitchen wall and brings beautiful natural light into the space.
The marble and soapstone countertops are also in and they exceeded our expectations. Many people will advise against real stone for practical reasons, and that guidance can be useful. Still, when decorating a forever home, it felt right for us to choose natural stone. It gives the kitchen a warmth and character that is hard to replicate with manufactured materials.
We’ve been happy with quartz in previous kitchens—my husband appreciated the low-maintenance aspect—but for this house and this stage of life, real stone felt like the right choice. It brings an organic, lived-in quality that contributes to the overall feeling of the room.
Over the past week the crew focused on door trim and casing the openings between rooms. Where there was once plain drywall, we now have cased openings that add a finished, intentional look. We also had the two openings made taller and wider, which opens sightlines and lets light move through the rooms without losing each room’s identity.
The opening between the entry and living room received new trim as well, so the entire flow will feel cohesive and thoughtfully detailed.
Another highlight: they began installing tongue-and-groove beadboard on the walls and V-groove tongue-and-groove on the kitchen and dining room ceilings. Painted wood paneling adds texture and classic character to a home, and we’ve used wood walls in every house we’ve lived in. Paneling creates a comfortable, familiar atmosphere that feels like home to me.
Because we have limited wall space in the kitchen and dining area, we decided to keep the treatment consistent by installing wood paneling on all exposed walls and ceilings in those rooms, then painting everything to match the cabinets and trim. The unified treatment softens the space and creates a cohesive look.
Crown molding will be added around each room soon to tie everything together and give a polished finish. There are a few more architectural details on the way that will enhance the overall look, and painting prep begins this week, so we’re definitely on the home stretch. Hardware and appliances will follow before long.
I’ll share more updates in the next post as items arrive and the final details come together. For now, the space is feeling bright, warm, and very much like a home in progress.
You can find the full series of remodeling posts in the project archive.