Just as a heads-up, I have 40 edited pictures of every angle of my kitchen to show you…which seemed like a bit much. So today, I’m basically going to show you an overview of the updates we made without too much commentary on the specifics, and then I’ll be back later on this week with detail pictures as well as sources.
Sound okay?
O-kay. (Imagine my doing an awkward fist pump/clap that would make every legit cheerleader everywhere hang her head in shame).
Just as a refresher, here’s what the kitchen looked like last spring.
{If you want to see more pictures of the old kitchen set up from my first reveal, complete with terrible yellow light from 3 years ago, you can here}
I had a Project Elephant list of things I wanted to update, including new stools, new lights, decluttering the fridge/freezer, setting up a family command center, making word art for over the fridge, repainting the island, and sewing a new awning for the window.
Well, I am happy to announce that–although it might have taken me a good 6 months–I finally managed to check every last one of those items off my list.
But wait. That’s not all. Intrigued much? Okay, I won’t hold you in suspense. Without further ado, I invite you to grab a cookie if you like…
…and take a gander at our “new” and (in my mind) greatly improved kitchen.
Say whaaaaaat? This color-loving girl painted her cabinets white???
Yessiree, Bob!
And I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love it (even though the teal was pretty sweet too) for the sheer fact of how. much. BIGGER and lighter my kitchen feels now.
{Remember my chalkboard menu door? I finally found my spray paint and went for the aqua knob; I fully expect some of the paint to chip off, and I’m fully okay with it because I think it will add “character” ;)).
We toyed with the idea of painting the cabinets ourselves (Shaun did it the first time), but with 5 kids + a preggo lady in the house, we weren’t too keen on having to share space with the oil paint fumes for days on end. So, we paid to have it down while we were in Europe. 
And let me just say that, after DIYing your entire flipping house, it’s kind of beyond awesome to come home to something already done for you. Yes, it was more expensive, but it was also worth it. Times about a million, I think. 
Besides the new color scheme, my favorite part of the entire kitchen is something we did DIY…
…and that would be those funky pipe shelves that turned out even better in reality than they had been in my head.
A few more faves include my Chiang Mai dragon window awning…
And my “ENJOY” chalkboard letters + my sparkly new lights.
Honestly, as much as I loved the saturated colors in the old version of my kitchen, everything about the updated version just screams HAPPY to me. 
And, when you’re talking about a room that you spend the majority of your time in and sweep 3 times a day, HAPPY is a very good way for it to make you feel, indeed.
Oh, and just for fun, let’s do a little side-by-side before and after, m’kay?
So, what do you think? Do you like lighter and brighter? I sure hope so because I am not touching anything in the kitchen for a good long while!
Oh my gosh – I love love love your kitchen 🙂 I just ordered mine last weekend. Cannot wait to get it fitted.
Hellerrr! Can you tell me what color your kitchen walls are now? I LOVE that color!
Hey Sarah! Funny story: I ran into Sara Hanson at an event for Parental Care Ministries…rather unexpectedly. As in, I was talking to someone and there were people everywhere, and then Sara was saying hi, and my brain was totally overwhelmed for a moment (not an uncommon occurrence). ANYWAY, I knew I was talking to a “Sara,” but all I could think was “Sarah Cowan,” and I was like, “Oh man! I totally owe you a response to your comment about my paint colors, don’t I?” And she was like: “????”
: )
ANYhoo, we got it figured out eventually, but I was feeling pretty discombobulated for a bit there.
Oh, and the paint color is Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams
I love the chalkboard pantry door! Might just have to try that myself 😉
THIS.IS.BEAUTIFUL. I’m so jealous!!! Every detail is amazing! And I LOVE your window awning! Awesome pop of color. Love love LOVE this!!!!!!!!
Beautiful and amazing. Now, you mustmustMUST keep us updated on keeping white cabinets looking nice… and…white. I love pictures of white kitchens, but I can’t IMAGINE finding time to scrub my cabinets daily/weekly/meal by meal/whatever to keep up with the FILTH of 8 kids. I have a white island and can’t keep up with that! So I really want to know how this goes, and what survival tips you develop/have. Err…maybe I’m the only one on earth who doesn’t wash their entire kitchen down daily? Don’t tell me if that’s the case. I can’t take it.
I don’t wipe mine down daily by any stretch, Becky. More like once a week (although, I do try to scrub at obvious things as I go if I already have a rag in my hand, and I’ll sic my boys/Della on it every so often so I don’t have to do all the scrubbing on my own).
Overall, I would say that it’s not out of control as far as showing dirt just because it’s really fast/easy to wipe down.
And with 5 kids around, as you can imagine, there’s plenty to get them dirty. So, yeah. I would say I’m really pleased and don’t feel TOO overwhelmed by all the smudge marks. (They’ve been white for about 5 months now).
Very nice! Hmmm. Now you’re kinda tempting me. 5 months/5 kids is a pretty good trial period. I LOVE how bright and big your kitchen looks now. The color was amazing, it came off as comfortable and warm, but the white is airy, clean, and BIG. My kitchen could use some “big”. Thanks for your reply!
P.S. I keep wondering, if your comments have “sixth kid status” (don’t blame you there at all!), does this make your new little guy your seventh? : )
Ha! No, I just haven’t changed my comment tag yet.
LOVEEEEEE this!!!! <3
I love it! We went for all white cabinets two years ago…best. decision. ever! I love how CLEAN and OPEN your kitchen looks. Enjoy, indeed!
Love it! A+
Wow!!!! Looks great.
Liking the freshness of the white a lot. I’m itching to put pulls on those cabinet doors and drawers, though. You seem like a pull girl, too, as you have some very creative ones on some furniture pieces, so…
You’re right. I definitely want hardware. That post is coming. 😉
Nailed it! Sharing on twitter!
Thanks, friend!
It looks like a bigger kitchen…and I really like the more white kitchen with just splashes of color!!
I loved it to begin with and I love it now! I’m so glad you had someone else do the painting…I pictured you in there doing it at first. The lighter and brighter colors are happy for sure. You are so good at finding unexpected, cute places to put a spot of color. Love it!
It’s beautiful! It has a much calmer and cohesive feel. Good Job!
Great new look! Very fresh and I love the wall color.
Wow! I already liked your ‘old’ kitchen a lot, but the ‘new’ one is gorgeous! I would definitely hire you to restyle mine! 😉 I hope you and your family make tons of happy new memories in there!
Aw, thanks, Tineke! I would happily come play around in your kitchen. It’s just fun to me! 🙂
I really love what you did with this kitchen. I also clicked back to see the article on the original building of your home. I’d seen it before but had forgotten it was the same house you built. lol We’re in the process of planning a huge in-law’s quarters addition so my mom can come live with us, huge because I want her to be comfortable and not feel like she had to sacrifice anything. Anyway, we moved to some rural acreage a few months ago so we have the space to build but I have no idea how to find a good contractor to help me with this. We’re getting older and will need a lot of help to complete this. I’m thinking of joining that review site but am not sure they’ll have much listed this far out of town. Do you have any advice on finding good, reliable contractors? Thanks.
I really don’t, Thalia, except for asking around amongst people you know who have had work done. I mean, we did SO much of the work ourselves that we dealt with contractors hardly at all, and even with that limited exposure, we had some good experiences and some not-so-great.
Again, sticking with a personal recommendation from a friend is definitely the safest way to go. They’re the most likely to be honest with you and have your best interests at heart.
I love it! Great job!
wow wow wow I cannot find the words except HAPPY and JOYFUL
I LOVE the change! It is absolutely gorgeous. The white with the teal/aqua pops of colors = perfect. Love the modern but cozy look.
That looks wonderful!! I love it! 🙂
You have excellent taste… I have a few of the pieces you have in your kitchen ;). You did an excellent job, very well put together and inviting.. Loveeeee <3
The new kitchen looks great! I love the look of white cabinets and paying someone to paint for you is def the way to go! Did you paint your mixer or buy a new one?
I sold my old one and used the proceeds (I got more for it used than I originally paid for it new) toward a new one. 🙂
I notice that you had a red kitchenaid mixer and switched it out for an aqua one and that is exactly what I did! My original red one quick working and my mom bought me a new aqua one!
My jaw seriously dropped when I saw the white because it never even entered my brain that you would consider painting the cabinets! I LOVE the new look and it’s still so YOU, just a bright white version.
Thanks, Lisa! I’m not surprised that you were shocked…but I am glad you love it. 🙂
It looks wonderful! I really think if you’re going to have the KitchenAid out on the counter you might as well count is as part of the color scheme! My question is where did you hide all the pots and pans you were hanging up before? (Cabinet organization is the bane of my existence!)
Well, I had to pull EVERYTHING (and I mean that) out of the cabinets to have them painted, so I did a lot of editing and donating and reorganizing when I put everything back in, which cleared up some cabinet space for my pots and pans. They’re basically all stacked inside that tall cabinet on the right there. My husband thought I wouldn’t like having them put away, but it doesn’t really bother me a bit to have to pull them out only when I need them. Plus, they stay cleaner this way. I’m happy! 🙂
LOVE the new white cabinets…and that awning window treatment – to die for! Congrats on being able to farm that job out to someone…we are planning on painting our cabinets very soon, but we will be DIYing it!
I do, really do love it! Although as a fellow teal lover, I’m a little sad for the cabinets to no longer be teal. But everything looks amazing!
Totally agree! I LOVED the teal cabinets! It does look like a much cleaner palette to make easier updates in the future though. Always great taste Abbie!
now wait: did you get a new kitchen aid mixer to go with the kitchen???? I just noticed that changed colors too 😉
I did get a new one! I sold my old one for more than I paid for it new (crazy!) and used the proceeds towards Audrey, the aqua mixer! 🙂
Thanks for all your sweet comments, Megan! You are such an encourager!
what a great surprise!!!! I had NO idea you were going white and bright!!! It looks STUNNING!!! Every shade you chose looks perfect together and all your accessories are perfect little candy-like accents…yummy!!
Super fun and so happy to see it all together! You have an eye for design, that’s for sure!!! Looks amazing!!
I was going to pick a favorite part, but I really can’t because “One” without “the other” just messes with the whole look!! You put it together masterfully!!! Very modern, bright, warm and inviting!!!