Our Phase 2 Kitchen Remodel Plans

Here’s the first look at what we are planning for Phase Two of our kitchen remodel. All my inspiration for the design, storage upgrade plans, and how we will stay organized during the renovation period are here.

It has been over two years since we did Phase One of our kitchen remodel. We moved into this house in 2020 and I had a vision for how I wanted the kitchen to look. Our house was built in the 1970s and flipped by a novice who didn’t do things very well. But we knew this coming into the house, and since they fixed all the electrical and structural stuff, we were happy to tear out the “bandaids” they put in and do the remodel the right way.

A month after we moved in, we hired local companies to reface the cabinets, reconfigure the wall oven unit to hold a wine fridge, add a tile backsplash, and make a few general repairs. This was a pretty pricey job on its own, so we decided it was more cost-effective to break the remodel into phases.

So here we are two years later, and the second phase is happening. I did have to shift my plans just a little due to lack of availability of cabinetry on the market, but I couldn’t be happier with the final plans. Ready to see what’s happening this week at Cardinal Hill? (If you’re new here, we named our house Cardinal Hill)

The Kitchen Mood Board

Way back in 2020, I put together this mood board, and the only thing that changed on it between then and now is the island and the light fixture. I’m definitely the type of person that gets a vision in my mind and doesn’t stop thinking about it until it becomes a reality. I’m going for a mix of vintage and modern for the kitchen because I love them both equally, and I think this design plan pulls them together perfectly.

The Diagonal Checkerboard Floor

The statement will absolutely be the floor. When we toured this house the very first time, I immediately saw Julia Marcum’s old dining room floor in here. She had just had it installed in January, and we toured the house in May, so it was all I could think about.

The kitchen is long, so it’s the perfect canvas for large-scale checkerboard tile on the diagonal. I just couldn’t imagine the kitchen any other way. We ended up getting the exact same tiles Julia had and they’re already in our garage just waiting for install day.

The Island Prep Space

In addition to the flooring, the other wow-factor will be the island. We have a galley-style kitchen, so an island technically isn’t possible, but due to a unique situation, we are making it happen. There’s a large gap between the refrigerator and the garage door and a very big air return vent on that wall. It’s the only air return vent on this entire floor of the house, so it can’t be covered, and there isn’t anywhere to move it.

I originally wanted to put cabinetry there with a floating countertop so the area could function as extra storage and prep space, but cabinets are out of stock everywhere and so is the existing countertop we have in our kitchen already. So I finally decided to pivot and ordered this gorgeous traditional island that has an open bottom to allow airflow to the air return. Picture the island up against the wall with a couple of floating shelves above it. It only came in gray, but I think I’ll probably paint it matte black to modernize it a bit.

The New Thor Appliances

As far as appliances, we sold the old stove, microwave, and dishwasher over the weekend and our new Thor appliances are arriving today! (Eeeek!) My son and I love to cook together, and we really wanted a nice set of appliances to level up our meals. Cooking on the new Thor range with a vent hood overhead instead of the bulky microwave is going to feel so fancy! We can’t wait until Thanksgiving!

The DIY Projects

The last part of Phase 2 is going to be a few DIY projects. My husband and I are going to cover the popcorn ceiling with beadboard, install new lighting, build new custom shelving for the cabinets, create an “entertaining closet”, and maybe build a frame around the refrigerator. We still haven’t decided if framing the fridge is in the budget right now, but if it isn’t, we can push it back a bit. It’s purely aesthetic and wouldn’t actually add any storage space.

How To Watch The Kitchen Remodel In Real-Time

So can you see my vision? And are you ready to see it come to life? Follow me on Instagram and TikTok @lelaburris to watch all the behind-the-scenes as the room comes together. I’ll also be sharing tips for planning a remodel and staying organized throughout the process, so you won’t want to miss it. Let me know in the comments below which element of the design plan you’re most excited to see!