I dream of the beach frequently. Whether in daydreams or night dreams, I am often thinking of those turquoise waves in the Caribbean. So when I got the opportunity to remodel my kitchen following a water faucet breakdown, the beach and sea were the obvious choices for inspiration in my new kitchen.

I’ve previously posted the “before” pictures here, and showed you the horrible tile floor being removed. Once the new cabinets were in place, I could finally clean the house up a bit and empty out boxes that were taking up room everywhere. Another month has passed, and I am down to tiny touchups left. It’s finally time for the “after” photos!

To give you the maximum shock value, I’ll post the “before” pictures again, along with a shot from a similar angle of the new kitchen. I wonder if you’ll be as shocked as I am when you see it?

The old kitchen, with the horrible tile floor, ancient cabinets, stained formica and rotting out fixtures

What can I say? Can you believe this is the same place?

The broken Saltillo tiles with inch-wide grout are gone (some made it into the garden path), replaced by a Teak hardwood floor (you know, Teak, like they use on sailboats). The stained formica that ran up the wall to also become the backsplash has been replaced by glass subway tiles in the colors of my beloved Caribbean Sea and Granite countertops that remind me of sand dunes. While the refrigerator is in the identical place in the room as it was previously, it now has a context by being contained by a new walk-in pantry on one side, and overhead cabinets above. The sink and dishwasher traded places, to give me a long working countertop space. And while I lost a bank of upper cabinets by taking out the wall separating the kitchen from the living room, I gained it back with the tall upper cabinets, lower drawers, and oversized pantry. I’m not missing that bank of cabinets at all, believe me!

The old view of the kitchen, looking at it while standing in the living room. The old seventies style pass-thru window definitely aged the house.

Instant modernization happened when I created a "great room" concept by opening up that wall.

I haven’t yet found the right piece of art for the wall in the dining area to the left, but I have some ideas brewing. If you can imagine it, when I bought this home 9 years ago, there was a 7′ ceiling in the dining and kitchen area, with drop down fluorescent lighting. The pony wall to the left was topped with those twirly-wood posts that ran from the top of the half-wall to the 7′ ceiling. It was a cave! I wish I had pictures to compare to, but I couldn’t bring myself to take a picture of it back then.

I never liked eating at the table, because it felt so claustrophobic to me.

It doesn't feel claustrophobic now! And yes, that's the same light fixture. I painted it turquoise (of course) and gave it a new life.

I love the wood floors and the feel that it adds to a space. By using all natural products, the kitchen and dining room has an energy that it lacked previously. While it’s not my usual style to stick with off-white walls, I like how it opened up the space this time. I hope to get new dining chairs that are less busy, but all things in due time, right?

I’ve been wanting a Margaritaville machine that shaves ice, not only for the requisite Margaritas, but for smoothies as well. I found a display model on sale for half price, and I snatched it up. It’s now in a place of honor on top of that gorgeous exotic granite.

Now while standing at the sink, I can look directly out into the garden and deck. Okay, and yes, I can watch TV, too.

It feels like the beach, doesn’t it?

I wonder how long I can keep it looking so new and shiny?

And the under-cabinet lighting makes it look pretty at night as well.

And my first ever Ranunculus bloom from my garden!

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