One of the many perks of my job is being afforded a front-row seat to see how people, from all professions (not necessarily design backgrounds), make big, stunning, clever, and overall incredible changes to their kitchens. (And even though it’s arguably not always the case, they make it look easy.) I’m constantly served design inspiration on a silver platter and I’m the happiest while I’m writing about it — so I thought it was only natural to share some of my favorite spaces from 2024.
All kitchen makeovers, big or small, are fantastic, and I’m so pleased to write about them, but some just won’t leave my mind. Keep reading to learn more about my five favorite kitchen transformations that I wrote about this year.
A “Drab” 1970s Kitchen Gets the Cutest Makeover (The Cabinets Look Brand-New!)
What I love most about the kitchen renovation in Kara Harms’s 1970s California cabin is that she and her husband, Robin, pulled influences from travels while reimagining the room. While the kitchen is technically in a cabin, it doesn’t necessarily look like something you might traditionally expect. It’s a colorful take on the cozy, woodsy classic style.
Kara described the original kitchen as “seriously outdated.” So, she and Robin gave it a modern, vibrant transformation (and did most of the work themselves). “I know mixing bold florals and checkered floors might seem unconventional, but I love how the contrasting patterns create a unique balance between retro and modern vibes,” Kara said. “At the end of the day, our whole cabin is designed for the girls, and a bold pink kitchen is the hero room.”
Fresh Paint Gives the Old Cabinets in This “Dark, Drab” Kitchen a Breezy New Vibe
When Emily Raciti first toured her gorgeous California townhouse, she was in love — but knew the kitchen needed a makeover immediately. “It was a bit dark and drab with black tile counters and old, chipping wood cabinets,” she said.
Knowing that the integrity of the existing cabinets was solid, Emily kept them and painted them a lovely shade of blue from Benjamin Moore. They updated the appliances, DIY-installed tiles, and swapped out the countertops. “I just love how bright and cheery it is now,” Emily said at the time. “It’s not the biggest kitchen ever, but I think the changes we made go a long way towards making it feel more open and spacious than it really is.”
Striking Purple Cabinets Transform a “Very Early 2000s” Kitchen
“The kitchen before was very early 2000s — dark wood IKEA cabinets, pink marble floor, and white subway tile backsplash,” Nate said at the time of the article. “It was never bad — it just wasn’t that interesting.”
Adding visual interest to the room is exactly what Nate did. The cabinets, dishwasher, and even walls and ceilings got a bold refresh with Farrow & Ball’s Brassica (he used different finishes, though). And to fully nail that ‘70s look? He completed the room with a dazzling disco ball.
A “Dull” Kitchen Gets the Prettiest Painted Cabinet Makeover
When artist and photographer Cass Danson bought her home in Melbourne, Australia, it had wonderful bones but lacked the character and color that she infuses into so many of her pieces. The kitchen was one such space that was without her artist’s touch.
“We wanted the kitchen to feel softer,” Cass shared at the time of the article. “We liked the tiles, so we wanted to do something to complement them. The aim was for it to feel more inviting.”
Since Cass is an artist, it’s only natural that she felt that the room needed some color. She chose Dulux’s Pancake Mix, a soft, luxurious pink, and swapped out the existing hardware for something warmer. This makeover proves that you don’t have to do a full renovation to see a major difference, and it can cost only $500.
The DIY Makeover That Made a Tiny Brooklyn Kitchen Work for a Family of 5 (For Just $1,200!)
Photographer and content creator Lisa Miller moved with her family of five from Tennessee to Brooklyn (and now lives in this gorgeous apartment), and one of the biggest challenges was adjusting to life without the space they were used to. One such room where they experienced this was the kitchen.
Their rental apartment’s existing kitchen was OK, but it wasn’t the most functional for the family, who spends much time in the room. “The kitchen was slightly dated, but more than anything, it just needed a good scrub, some paint on the cabinets, and some organization and decor,” Lisa shared at the time of the article.
For $1,200, Lisa made some clever changes (including smart storage solutions!) to create a gorgeous heart of the home for her family, even though she had a small square footage to work with.
