After moving into our spacious farmhouse last year—with its stunning countryside views—we've been tackling renovations room by room. Now, it's the kitchen's turn. With two kitchens in our unique setup (alongside two bathrooms, three toilets, two living rooms, five bedrooms, and more), we're focusing on modernizing and improving functionality without a full replacement. Drawing from our hands-on experience, I'll share our practical steps and inspiring ideas to refresh your own kitchen affordably and effectively.
This article was created in collaboration with Lamps24, who provided the lighting fixtures featured in our kitchen.
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Our property blends two houses into one expansive home, which means plenty of space but also ongoing projects. Weekends are dedicated to renovations, maintenance, and now elevating our kitchens. If your kitchen is structurally sound but outdated—or if budget or rental restrictions limit major changes—smart updates can transform it into a more beautiful, practical, and inviting space. Here's how we're doing it, based on our real-world progress.
Replacing the entire kitchen isn't feasible right now—we'd rather invest elsewhere in the house. Since we spend so much time there, creating a tidy, cozy vibe is key. Our approach: targeted updates for maximum impact.
Upcoming: Demolishing select walls to connect the kitchen to the dining area and living room, forming a spacious kitchen-diner. We'll also remove the dated drop ceiling throughout. The kitchen and dining room ceilings are already gone, exposing the original beams for a modern feel. To minimize holiday disruption, this moves to the new year. Temporary supports will stabilize the structure, followed by steel beams installed by professionals, then rebuilding.
Impatient for change, we've started with lighting to bring calm and coziness. Our previous industrial steel frame (custom-made last year) felt too busy over the dining table. We swapped it for two sleek concrete pendants from Lampen24.nl.
Installation was tricky with the drop ceiling still in place, but testing the wiring revealed a surprisingly clean surface behind. We removed it last week, revealing lighter slats that will soon support plasterboard—a big improvement already.
I debated between standalone pendants or multiples on a bar (similar to trendy clustered looks). The singles won for their simplicity over the previous busy setup. Which style appeals more to you?
Discover these and more at Lampen24.nl
Another quick win: a custom magnetic spice rack. Herbs were once cluttered on a shelf; now they're neatly organized and stylish. Jars from AliExpress, magnetic board from Handles and More, and custom labels made with my Cricut Maker. (Full DIY tutorial coming soon.)
Ready for a full new kitchen? Check fellow blogger Linda's guide on smart buying decisions.
Our white cabinets might go black (though I'm wary of darkening the space). Wrapping in foil looks great but costs around €1000—not ultra-budget. Spraying worked well in our last home (dark oak to cream), but DIY painting is cheaper and empowers you. Choose durable, shock- and scratch-resistant paint like Flexa's Mooi Easy lacquer for cabinets.
Tiled counters are practical (heat-resistant, stain-proof) but uninspiring. We're applying béton ciré for a seamless, modern finish—like on our window sills and upcoming dining table—to tie everything together.
Repeat shades for harmony: Leather-wrapped spice rack accents will inspire matching cabinet handles (IKEA or online). Our Brabantia bin echoes the tone—visible beside the plant, under the pendant.
Tile it anew with herringbone patterns in bold colors, or apply béton ciré for seamlessness. Stone-look slips offer an easy, cleanable alternative to real stone walls—a hot trend.
Target weak spots: Our functional but dated hood is next for a sleek, ceiling-integrated design like the one shown.
Small changes count: Swap tea towels and linens in unifying colors. Greenery adds instant warmth—style plants on shelves or hoods.
Upgrade basics like roll holders and stack cutting boards for utility and style.
For flexibility, install a pegboard—rearrange weekly. Limited colors keep it cohesive yet cozy.
Painting transforms: Our dark brown windows and doors are shifting to black (kitchen windows done, dining doors underway). Steel-look doors are the long-term goal post-renovation.
Share your kitchen upgrade ideas or before-and-afters below!
