before + after: beach bungalow kitchen on a budget

When my client and good friend asked me to help her update the kitchen of her beautiful bungalow in Wrightsville Beach, I jumped at the chance!  The kitchen is the first room you see when you walk into the house, and since we were on an extremely limited budget, paint was one of the fastest, easiest ways to make a dramatic first impression.  The house is incredibly charming, but in the kitchen, all that charm was hidden under layers of dull, chipping yellow paint all over the walls and beautiful wainscoting:

The homeowners are young and fun and the yellow just wasn’t a reflection of their lifestyle and personalities, so we painted the walls the most beautiful greige, Benjamin Moore’s Valley Forge Tan, which actually looks like wet sand.  Sherwin Williams Extra White makes the wainscoting and trim really pop.  The result is so crisp and clean:

Storage was limited, so a corner hutch was painted and distressed and now showcases the client’s crystal and serving pieces. An antique crystal chandelier adds a touch of elegance, while the reclaimed pine farmhouse table and bamboo blinds add warmth and texture:

 Working on a tight budget can definitely be tricky, but with a few cans of paint and a little elbow grease, this kitchen has been brought up-to-date and now totally reflects the young family who lives here.  Stay tuned for more pics of the rest of their bungalow!