TThis week my kitchen remodel took a big leap forward: the new counters were installed and the subway tile is being applied. I’m trying not to squeal too loudly, but this stage is so exciting—I finally get to see what I’ve been imagining come to life.
And thank goodness, I’m very happy with how it’s looking so far.
I tend to overthink decisions and worry I made the wrong choice until everything is installed and I can see it all together. Remodeling a kitchen feels like such a big deal—I don’t want to mess it up.
Remodeling a kitchen is a big deal. I don’t want to mess it up, right?
Please excuse the cell phone photos—these updates are easiest to capture when I can quietly snap a quick picture while the crew is working.
As you can see, I didn’t stop at a simple subway tile backsplash. I decided to tile the entire kitchen—floor to ceiling around the cabinets, around the doorway, and the window above the sink. My kitchen isn’t large, but the full tile treatment will make a bold, cohesive statement that feels fresh and clean. I already love it.
Best of all, it already feels like home.
You might remember I had subway tile in my previous kitchen too. That remodel was done several years ago and I still love subway tile, so I’m confident it will remain a favorite for a long time.
The tile crew will finish the remaining areas Thursday, grout on Friday, and the sink, faucet and dishwasher will be hooked up on Monday. Cabinets still need painting, new hardware will be installed, and updates in the adjoining family room are underway.
The only hiccup so far was that the new drawer fronts arrived in the wrong style for the two banks of three drawers next to the dishwasher. Correct shaker-style fronts were reordered and are on their way. Other than that, the project is moving along well.
I’m absolutely in love with the sink. I’ll share better photos once the faucet is installed next week. I also adore the long counter to the right of the sink—so functional and nice to have.
Jack had to be barricaded in the family room so he’d be out of the way of the tile installer. He wasn’t thrilled about it, but he enjoyed watching the progress from his chair.
My counters are white. While I love the look of marble and considered it, marble didn’t make sense here because my floors already have a lot of grain and I didn’t want competing patterns. Instead I chose a white quartz—Caesarstone Organic White—with a subtle, almost imperceptible pattern that keeps the surface from feeling too stark. From a distance the counters read as clean white, which is exactly the look I wanted.
I also wanted a slightly more updated, beachy feel rather than a traditional marble look next to the subway tile. Quartz offers that fresher mix, and paired with the warm wood floors it creates a balanced contrast—cool stone and tile against warm wood.
This time I used the same countertop material on all base cabinets to achieve a streamlined, cohesive appearance across the kitchen. In my last house I mixed materials, but here I wanted a unified look. I will have a freestanding island, which will be an opportunity to introduce a contrasting element without breaking the overall flow.
So that’s the latest: counters in, most of the tile installed, and several finishing details left to complete. Next up are finishing the remaining wall tile, installing the new faucet, reconnecting the dishwasher, painting the cabinets, and adding new sconces. There are many details still to address, but we’re getting close to completing the bulk of the work.
Next up: remaining tile, the faucet, and the dishwasher install, followed by cabinet painting and new lighting. So many details, but we’re getting there!
Thanks for following along with these updates.