26 Gorgeous Kitchen Makeovers That Prove Anything Is Possible (2024)

The nondescript kitchen in a Palm Beach home was last updated in the 1980s. Not only was it lacking in personality, but it was also too small and cramped for cooking big-batch meals for a family of five. So designer Lindsay Lane was enlisted to overhaul and enlarge it.

Handmade mosaic wall tiles and Caesarstone countertops are durable and beautifying, the ideal combination for a hard-working kitchen. It opens into the living room, so the tiles play off of the beachy take on black and white in there. Open shelves allow for colorful tableware and artwork displays but also easy access while cooking.

While this kitchen was working hard to do it's best (hanging pots and a knife magnet holder to keep counters clear of clutter), it was in desperate need of a facelift. Sarah Stacey continued to keep storage in mind, but made plans to remodel the layout and incorporate way sleeker, more sophisticated materials throughout.

A waterfall natural stone counter adds a touch of glam—the perfect match for the moody blue hue used on the cabinets and cool pewter hardware—while the subway tile backsplash and hardwood floor keep it down to earth.

Though this layout certainly isn't terrible, it'd be better if the workstations, like the stove and surrounding counters, had better access to natural light.

In a kitchen, the layout is everything. And refrigerator, countertop, and stove placement are most important. Designer Shon Parker moved the stove closer to that large window for a lighting fix and swapped out old materials. "A Checkerboard floor laid on the diagonal is more forgiving—in an old house, it helps hide crooked lines," says Parker. We're glad the exposed beams got to stay, too.

With typical 1980s construction, this California kitchen originally had weird angles, orange laminate floors, and honey pine cabinets. It also had varying ceiling levels and an unnecessary wall between the kitchen and living room.

In less than two months, designer Anne Sage gave it a contemporary upgrade. She removed the wall between the kitchen and living room and evened out the ceiling. The black cabinetry—BOXI by Semihandmade’s Peppercorn Edge—is the real star of the show. Counters made of black quartz with amber veining and gray-green glazed tile enhance the look. See more photos here.

Okay, obviously this low-quality photo isn't doing the kitchen any favors—or is it? Designer Melanie Turner was brought onto the project to give the outdated traditional kitchen a more modern, polished spin while still feeling classic.

The lower cabinets are painted Midnight Blue by Benjamin Moore to match the upholstered stools. A nailhead trim nods to the rivets on the hood, and pale gray natural stone complements the blue tones, which are warmed up by the gold accents. Turner also added a built-in bookcase and chose cozy lighting fit for a study to give it a library-like elegance.

This 1950s California home needed some work done. The homeowners had lived in it for 30 years before they tapped designer Mindy Laven to give it an entirely new look with old-world charm.

The lower ceilings and bulky cabinet uppers on the left side create an unbalanced, cramped look. To solve that issue without compromising storage space, designer Sarah Stacey had to get creative.

Black cabinets line one wall while lighter oak cabinets line the other. The island combines the two with a black stone countertop and a light wood base. The chic counter stools also share the neutral color combo, while brass accents and an antique runner introduce just enough contrast.

Designer Cortney Bishop's kitchen was a remodel created out of the back screen porch. “It was a wonderful kitchen for many, many years, but it was a little small for us as a growing family," she says.

Not only does this kitchen need some work aesthetically speaking, but it's also extremely cramped, with very little useable surface space. Time for a major upgrade.

This kitchen renovation by Steve Pallrand of Home Front Build is truly stunning. The gorgeous blue backsplash tile along with the vintage introduce warmth and character that fit right in with the reclaimed floors and cabinets. From the prep sink to the gorgeous arches, we've met our dream kitchen.

While the layout of this kitchen was a great starting place, Sarah Stacey knew that it needed a major overhaul in terms of finishes, materials, and most importantly, lighting.

Sarah Stacey installed wood beams and ditched the harsh recessed lights, and instead, bringing depth and character to the entire room.