Adding Simple And Modern Cottage Touches To Our Kitchen

See how we updated our builder’s grade kitchen by adding a few simple and modern cottage touches.

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Welcome to Week Three of the Jeffrey Court Challenge

We’re officially halfway there as we enter week three of the Jeffrey Court Renovation Challenge. It’s been another busy week of changes, but before I share what we’ve been up to, let’s take a moment to recap what we’ve accomplished so far!

Adding Simple And Modern Cottage Touches To Our Kitchen

Last week I shared how we prepared our kitchen for the reno. And, if you missed the very first post in this series with my big news, make sure to give it a read to learn more about the challenge and our plans to give our outdated builders-grade kitchen a makeover.

This week our focus was on making small changes that have a big impact by adding simple and modern cottage touches to our kitchen. I am in love with how it all turned out, and I can’t believe how easy these updates were to make.

Are you ready to see what’s new? Let’s go!

Installing A New Pendant

First on our to-do list? Get rid of the current pendant above the sink. I loved the pendant when we added it a few years ago, but it no longer fit our style or our home.

So, we decided to replace it with something that’s more in line with our overall vision for our home.

The new pendant is a mix of glass and brushed brass. I love how much more light it gives off, and the clean, classic look is exactly what I wanted.

Updating The Chandelier

To match the new pendant we updated the existing chandelier. And we did it for less than $20!

Several weeks ago, I was set on buying a whole new fixture. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I could repurpose our current one and save a bunch of money in the process.

We started by picking out some champagne-colored spray paint to match the new pendant.

Then we hung the fixture over a tree and used a spray tent to protect the landscaping from overspray.

With just a few coats of paint, the chandelier was completely transformed.

It was such an easy and inexpensive fix.

Not only does it look brand new, but it’s the perfect way to add some modern cottage touches to our kitchen.

Replacing The Microwave

Another small change that made a big impact? A new stainless steel microwave.

We had a team help with the installation, and I’m so glad we did. They made it look so easy!

Sometimes it’s the little things, and finally having matching appliances makes my heart so happy.

Replacing Our Barstools

Our kitchen island is a high-traffic area. We eat almost every meal there. We hang out there. And the girls often do all their homework there.

With all of the use over the years, the old seagrass barstools had taken a beating and were starting to show their age.

Add in two cats who like to use them as a scratching post, and it was time for something new.

I found some new wood barstools online that lend themselves to more of a cottage style. They were on backorder for a few weeks, so you can imagine my excitement when I came home one-day last week to see some giant boxes on my front step!

The barstools are exactly what I hoped for. I love the natural wood tone colors. Since they are more durable than the old barstools, I’m hopeful that they will last for a long time to come.

Giving New Life To A Family Heirloom

The small table in our kitchen is a family heirloom that once belonged to Kirk’s great grandparents. It’s been passed down through the generations and was eventually gifted to us.

At almost 100 years old, it’s still in amazing condition and holds a lot of sentimental value. But the dark stain made it feel dated and worn. We didn’t want to replace it, so after some debate, we decided to paint it.

I love the green color that I used for our recent bathroom vanity makeover. And lucky for me, I still had over half of a gallon left, so this DIY furniture flip didn’t cost us a dime!

I used a deglosser to prep the table for painting.

Then I used my Wagner FLEXiO 3500 paint sprayer to apply the primer, two coats of paint, and some matte poly topcoat.

The sprayer worked like a dream and cut my painting time by more than half.

The paint went on smoothly and easily, and I didn’t have to worry once about paintbrush lines.

The FLEXiO 3500 cleans up easily, and I used some cup liners for the paint to make the cleanup even faster. I can’t wait to use it again when we refinish the cabinet (hopefully later this year!)

How amazing does the table look? The green tone adds a subtle pop of color to the space (which I love) while still feeling cohesive with the neutral cottage style decor.

To finish the eat-in area, we paired the table with some new kitchen chairs and hung botanical artwork on the wall to tie it all together.

Week Three Recap

That’s it for this week. I’m so happy with the progress we’ve made so far, and I can’t believe how different the kitchen looks already. But we still have a ways to go and only THREE weeks until the big reveal! Here’s a quick look at what we’ve done and what we have left to do.

• Add a fresh coat of paint on the walls and paint the window trim
• Install a new cordless blind
• Demo the counter for backsplash installation
• Update our existing light fixtures with a new pendant and a new chandelier
• Purchase a new stainless steel microwave to match the rest of our recently upgraded appliances
• Replace our old barstools and kitchen table chairs with some cottage-style barstools and dining chairs
• Paint our kitchen table
• Paint the laminate counter tops to replicate quartz
• Hire a plumber to install a new sink and faucet
• Add a tile backsplash

Next week the new sink and faucet will be installed. I’m beyond ready to have the boxes out of my dining room and both pieces in the kitchen where they belong.

The counters will also be getting a facelift with the help of some DIY magic. I’ve never done anything like this before. It’s a bit of a risk, but if it turns out, it will all be worth it.

Now excuse me while I go binge-watch YouTube videos to prepare!

Adding Simple And Modern Cottage Touches To Our Kitchen

As always, thanks for being here and for all of your love and support! It means so much to both of us, and none of this would be possible without YOU!

Head on over to the Jeffrey Court webpage to see updates from all the designers competing in the challenge. And don’t forget to keep voting for your favorite projects.

Can’t wait to share more again next week!

Xo,

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