They say the kitchen is the heart of the home, and I couldn’t agree more. I love imagining and reworking kitchens — it’s one of my favorite projects. Funny enough, I’ve rarely left a kitchen untouched. Our very first one in the condo stayed almost exactly the same, except for a little creative cover-up we did on a burn mark on the white laminate counter. Newlyweds with no budget or DIY skills, we reached for White Out — a quick fix that, surprisingly, worked. The counter looked better than it did when we moved in, and that’s always my goal: to improve the home we live in, even in small ways.
Over the years most of our kitchens have received modest updates — fresh paint, new hardware, updated countertops, sinks or floors. Some needed new appliances or a complete refresh. If you’ve followed along, you may remember when we transformed a builder-grade kitchen in our craftsman new build into something with more personality. We took a basic layout and made it feel like home.
We also remodeled our last kitchen from top to bottom, a project that was featured in a small-space decorating spread. That kitchen was a joy to design and a pleasure to cook in. Each kitchen has taught me something different about function, flow and style, and I bring those lessons to every new space.
Many readers have asked if we’ll remodel the kitchen in our new house. I’ll share more photos soon, but here’s one I took when we moved in. The previous owners left a few thoughtful accessories and the kitchen already had a lot of charm. Because it was in good shape, we didn’t feel any immediate need to renovate. I prefer to live in a space for a bit first — to understand how we use it — before making permanent changes. Now that we’ve settled in, I’m starting to dream about updates and tweaks that will suit this house perfectly.
We’re grateful the previous owners added features that bring character: built-ins, box beams, wallpaper and custom blinds. Those elements gave us a wonderful starting point and saved us steps we might have taken ourselves. I’ve even been in touch with the previous owner, and it’s been fun to swap stories and ideas with her. Knowing she’s happy we’re enjoying the home has made the transition even sweeter.
Every day my husband and I pause and say, “Can you believe we live here?” This house feels special — like a lived-in beach cottage in a beautiful vacation destination. We plan to treat it as our forever home and make decisions that ensure it remains comfortable and welcoming for our family for years to come.
Although we’re technically empty nesters, our home is full. I work from home, our parents will be living with us, and our pups add their own energy. We want this house to be a gathering place for all of us, so functionality and flow matter as much as style. The house is modest in size, around 2,000 square feet on a small lot, and I love that. It’s the right size for our needs: cozy, efficient and full of potential. I enjoy designing thoughtful spaces that make every inch count.
So yes — I’m dreaming about the kitchen again. It took me a few weeks to feel settled, but now ideas are flowing. I already have plans that I think will be a great fit for this house, and I’m excited to share them. My mom, who has helped remodel many homes, has enjoyed brainstorming with me, and I can’t wait to share our ideas with you.
Stay tuned here and on Instagram. I’ll be posting photos and updates about the kitchen, the adjoining dining area, and our remodeling plans — both interior and exterior. I’ll also share inspiration you can save or use in your own home when the time is right.
More Posts on The Inspired Room:
If you’re catching up, you can find more posts about our new house in the site’s archives. If you missed it, I also shared a “Goodbye, House, You’ve Been Good to Us” post with many photos of our previous home before the move.