All the Details on Our White Kitchen Transformation

The #ThisRuffHouse renovation we did last summer has garnered a lot of questions from you all on Instagram. There have been a few additional projects in the works (like our gorgeous Dry Bar) but I gotta say, as for the transformation itself, I still cannot believe that this is the same house. The house had such good bones and it was hiding behind the 90’s-afied 70’s-afied kitchen that we were working with. Let’s just say we still believe renovating our home with this white kitchen was a better investment than a massive wedding! 

 

Vintage Rug (similar and see my post here) || Bar Stools (under $100 each) || Pendant Lights || 

All the Details on Our Kitchen Transformation 

No. 01) Indestructible Quartz Countertops

Since we love to cook, it was important to us that we have countertops that match our lifestyle and can hold up to stains, heat, and look great. It was a no-brainer to go with quartz, specifically Hanstone Quartz. I’ve seen Hanstone Quartz at multiple show homes I’d visited over the last year and after reading up on Quartz it was the best choice of “stone” for us. Quartz is a man-made material that mimics natural stone. Hanstone has a variety of colors to choose from but we went with Soho as the white slab on the island and Monterrey as the gray on the edges. I love the two-tone stone look and it’s been a nice touch of contrast for our white kitchen. 

Reasons to also love quartz countertops:

It’s not porous like marble/ granite so you will never have to seal it and it doesn’t hold stains. We’ve left rings of red wine, black soot from candle ashes, sauce stains, flower residue, and the next day, we just wipe it right off with water and a paper towel. Nothing has stained it. 

Also, it’s not as destructive to the environment or as oppressive to the workers as marble/granite mining is (source). Since it’s a man-made material, it means it’s produced in a factory and you’re not getting overcharged for a “particularly lovely grain” that runs through the marble slab you have. For a busy and active household, quartz is the most sensible choice. 

 

No. 02) Pre-fab Cabinets 

We knew we wanted white shaker style cabinets and we weren’t about to pay out the nose for custom cabinets. Our cabinets were sourced from JK Cabinetry just outside of Atlanta. It was nearly 1/10th the price we were quoted for custom cabinets and they function and look exactly as we had hoped. Pre-fab has some drawbacks, like minimal color options, but if you want a white kitchen cabinet, no need to go custom and waste all that extra money. 

No. 03) Beautiful Black Hexagonal Hardware from Schaub & Co. 

The hardware can make or break a space. In my post here, I talk about how easy it is to renovate a kitchen by switching out the hardware if you’re looking for quick home reno fixes. These black hexagonal hardware pieces from Schaub & Co absolutely make the space. I love how heavy duty the pieces are and how wonderful they make the cabinets look. I like the hexagon shape because it lends a more modern touch to the kitchen. The matte black adds an additional layer of durability and refinement. 

No. 04) Natural Pine Floors 

Most homes are opting for grayed/ beiged flooring but we wanted to retain our home’s historic floors, which meant revitalizing the natural 120-year-old heart pine floors. The problem was, the floors in the kitchen (previously covered up by tile as seen here) were stripped and couldn’t be reused. So these 3-month-old floors will just have to age naturally to meet the color of our 120-year-old floors throughout the rest of the house. 

No. 05) New Appliances from Ferguson

The majority of our home renovation budget went toward appliances. As I said, my husband and I are huge entertainers and love to cook with family and friends so having the best stove, fridge and dishwasher were high on our list. Wolf and Sub Zero are one of the industry’s best and most reliable ranges/ fridges out there. We were able to shop these on sale and ended up getting the Cove dishwasher significantly cheaper than retail. The Cove dishwasher has surprisingly been one of the most amazing appliances. It continually surprises us with its functionality! 

We truly truly truly love how our house turned out. I cannot get over the absolute enjoyment we both get when we wake up and make our way into the ktichen for that first cup of coffee. If you have any questions, drop them in the comments below.