When we bought our house last October, it wasn’t the first house we put an offer on - it wasn't even the second. People told me that the house that was meant for us would find us, but I didn’t believe them. Instead I cried back, “you don’t know the Bay Area housing market!” And when our first offer didn’t get accepted, even after I wore my best enhance-the-baby-bump dress to the open house, I sobbed into my pillow.
But that kitchen? That kitchen was the original kitchen from 1940. It was a 7x7 box with just enough counter space to do dishes and literally no place for a modern refrigerator. I pretended I didn’t care and fell in love with the house anyway. I pretended we’d have money in 5 years to expand it. I pretended that was only a very short time to live with no counter space. And I mourned it.
Then we met this house - THE house. And it turns out people were right. It found us.
Today I'm excited to share a peek inside Snixy Kitchen. (With the help of our tour guide cat, Artichoke).
The kitchen is almost the biggest room in the house and omg the counter space - OH the glorious counter space! The previous owners updated the kitchen in 2005 while still keeping some of its original 1940s charm; They replaced the lower cabinets and countertops, but kept the original upper cabinets with built-in shelves flanking the corner window above the sink. One side holds jars of all my gluten-free flours, while I rotate the decor on the other side to mix things up.
Since we stretched our budget just to buy the house, we only made minor updates to the kitchen, but focused on ones that would have a big impact. Here's what we did:
As soon as we moved in, we changed out all the knobs and pulls from black to brushed gold to soften the room up. I was surprised how much of a difference this small change made.
This kitchen screamed for an island and I’m glad we listened because it’s my favorite feature. A dinner invitation to our house should come with the caveat that dinner is never ready on time. Having island stools makes the kitchen the hang-out spot while I cook (c'mon all the cool kids are hanging out at the island, you should too). It's also the perfect perch for the baby's counter seat so she can watch me cook while smearing sweet potatoes as far as she can reach.
We bought an inexpensive Ikea island, but Lucas gave it some pizzaz by adding a custom copper towel rack that he made out of parts from the hardware store.
Those quaint upper cabinets I mentioned earlier come with one nuisance: the clearance above the countertops is too low to fit modern countertop appliances. Guess how many appliances we have? If you guessed "a lot," you win. And yes, I use them all. So I now have two small kitchen carts just for appliances.
One of the more significant changes we made was in the stove corner - we added upper cabinets, a hex tile backsplash, and an above-the-stove microwave hood. Our eventual plan is to replace all the upper cabinets and backsplash throughout the kitchen to match. We'll give clearance for countertop appliances, but keep the built-in shelves above the sink.
Baby steps! Lucas and my dad did all the work themselves right after Zoella was born, but most of our home improvement projects are taking a back seat to Daddy/Zoella weekend hang-out time right now (is this what being a parent is for forever?). It'll probably get done around the time she's old enough to help.
Since I took these photos, we've checked one more item off our home improvement to-do list: we painted the kitchen from a very pale yellow to white, which makes the ceiling look even higher. Our long-term goals include finding a new light fixture for above the sink, swapping the countertops for something gray, and replacing the upper cabinets & backsplash. I'll keep you posted if we actually do any of this - ha!
Update: Sonja's comment reminded me that, while I didn't take before pictures (oops), I do have pictures of the house from the original listing with all the staging furniture for comparison!
Before we bought the house:
Andi @ The Weary Chef -
What an absolutely gorgeous kitchen! I'm so impressed, Sarah! Also, I'm in love with your cat. He is SO big and SO orange! I'm glad you included him :)
Sarah Menanix -
Aww thanks!! He LOOKS rather large in this photo - and he'll be so happy to hear you say that - but he's a miniature kitty...only about 8lbs haha! We keep trying to feed him more to turn him into a fat cat but it's not working...
Kate -
The light in there is magnificent!! What a gorgeous space and I love all the little touches. Beautiful job!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you so much! We still have more to come - I'll update when that last final touch is in place! :)
Ellie | from scratch, mostly -
Hoomaagooodness Sarah....My jaw almost broke at the gorgeousness of your kitchen! Can it come find us too? Probably not. But I enjoyed this since it was out of the norm, keep 'em coming girl. ;)
Sarah Menanix -
You are so sweet!! You should come visit and cook in this kitchen with me:)
Tori//Gringalicious -
OMG, I love getting to see sneaks into real lives of my blogger friends! Thanks so much for sharing!
Sarah Menanix -
Aw thank you so much!! <3
Marissa -
Your kitchen is just beautiful, Sarah! All of that natural light. And I love your simple, elegant style. Love the tour guide too ;) sweet kitty...
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you! If you came over to visit, he would gladly tour you around the house with loud meows;)
Brian @ A Thought For Food -
I'm having such kitchen envy right now. It's the one room we haven't touched because it needs a little love (it's totally an eighties kitchen). I am so anxious to lighten things up and to replace our appliances... but we keep putting it off. You're definitely providing some wonderful inspiration here.
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you!! In my adult life, this is the first time I've lived in a kitchen that I LOVE - I can't tell you how refreshing it feels!
Sophie MacKenzie -
What an amazing kitchen! And that little corner sink is a dream <3
Sarah Menanix -
Aw thank you! Truth be told, we need to replace the sink because it's old and all scratched up inside, but we can't seem to find the right one for the little corner space!
Megan {Country Cleaver} -
I love the lines, and the color palette and everything about this!!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you so much Megan!! <3
Blue -
even tho, I only first visited a while ago, and only for a recipe. I came back to read your blog. Finding myself thoroughly full of giggles and smiles and of course the desire to try to follow your recipes here.. you made my day, just that..
... today, reading your post on your home, I began with a bit of trepidation.. what if I didn't like it , as it has happened so many times reading a blog; or what if its just so much more expensive that I couldn't even fathom considering, which often is the case on tv shows and such. but instead, it was truly a breath of fresh linen air sheets! lovely, clean clear accessible, workable, and .. of course delightful. I liked both your choices for now and later. you lady, are wise.. and of course as a baker/chef/ blogger.. you are delightful. Thank you so much for including us, your readers , in the discovery of your artful life in white!
Sarah Menanix -
Wow - this is so so sweet of you to say! Thank you so much for your sweet comment! This kitchen is 100% my happy place - I'd rather sit at a stool at the island than lounge on the couch.
gerry @ foodness gracious -
Awesome job, looks bang-on!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you!!
Sonja -
Sarah, this looks AMAZING! Do you have before pics? So gorgeous!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you thank you thank you! I just updated - thanks for the reminder about the before pics!!
Tessa | Salted Plains -
It's beautiful! Love that natural light. We have slowly been remodeling our kitchen over the last year too and it is amazing what little tweaks make a huge difference. Also afraid we will never get it finished. HA. That copper towel rack is SO cool! Kudos to Lucas!
Sarah Menanix -
Haha I feel you on that fear for sure! We have so many projects that we want to do but then life is just too much fun! I can't wait to see pictures of YOUR kitchen!!
Amy @ Thoroughly Nourished Life -
Your kitchen is gorgeous! I went from cooking in my parent's spacious beautifully renovated kitchen, to a 1950s kitchen with NO counter space and it made me cry. Thankfully when we moved into our new townhouse last year I got a gigantic galley bench that makes my messy baker's heart happy. I am intrigued by the Kitchen Aid convection microwave hood. I'm off to investigate. Enjoy your glorious kitchen!
Sarah Menanix -
Oh man - I know the the tiny kitchen woes all too much! I want to see pics of this big galley bench now! We still have one wall that we're trying to figure out what to do with as a permanent solution...
Aysegul -
Oh Sarah.. This is such a beautiful kitchen. I love all the whites..
And that light.. So SO gorgeous.
I have been eyeing the Ikea island for sometime now. After seeing them so beautifully positioned in your kitchen I think I will get one for myself.
I hope you will built many memories and have a lot of laughters with Baby Zoe in that space in the years to come.
Cheers!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you so much Aysegul! Our friends had the island first and we loved it so we stole the idea! I would definitely recommend it! And if you do, make sure you seal it with something good - we used "The Good Stuff" and it's held up great! xoxo!
Jeff -
That is a seriously gorgeous kitchen. Congrats!
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks Jeff!!
Lisa / Good on Paper Design -
Sarah! LOVE your kitchen and so happy I got to step foot in it for real ;) So much work and love and PATIENCE getting it all together. Beautiful!
Sarah Menanix -
Yay! Me too! You are always welcome in my kitchen. I'm so looking forward to our date next week too!
Lauren at Keep It Sweet -
Your kitchen is amazing! We are in the middle of a huge house reno and I'm also doing a brushed brass handle for the cabinets, etc. Have you had any issues with yours staying nice?
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you so much Lauren! We just got our brushed handles at Ikea (I think they're like $4 for a set!) and they've held up great - no problems at all! I can't wait to see your finished kitchen!!
Amanda @ Cookie Named Desire -
Wow. Just wow! As someone who doesn't have a kitchen of her own, I can say with confidence that this is the kitchen that I definitely aspire to have in the future. It is gorgeous and I love the subtle mesh or rustic and modern together. There isn't anything I don't like about this kitchen (sorry for the double negative, I'm excited) So.... when can I come over? haha
Sarah Menanix -
Aw that's so sweet of you to say! You are always welcome for a visit!
Kelly @ Nosh and Nourish -
I love it all sooooooooooooo much!!! The backsplash is gorg. The glorious counterspace, indeed!!!!! And how lovely it all is displayed... simply divine. When can I come over to make cobbler with you?!
Sarah Menanix -
Eeee!! Thanks! And um...tomorrow? You free tomorrow? :)
Julia @ Happy Foods -
Beautiful kitchen! Love the hex tile backsplash and the isle and the chopping boards, cake stands, hang on... I think I love everything there :)!
Sarah Menanix -
Hehe thank you! It's my happy place!
Em -
I've sat there! I've cooked (chopped watermelon, that counts, right...?) there! I've eaten food that came out of that oven! Whoever is polishing your pans is doing a bangup job! You should see my house! Dark! Boring! Finger-printy! THOSE CUTTING BOARDS! (Yes, all of them!) This exclaiming!!!! <3
Sarah Menanix -
Totally counts! Come over. Let's make more bowls. Those pans were brand spankin' new in that picture there - they aren't so polished anymore;) And now that Zoella has taken a new interest in pot drums, they, too, are finger printy.
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness -
DUUUUUDE, your kitchen is AMAZE! Mine is a closet and it's all dreary and dark colors. Can I just come live inside yours forever? SRSLY, I LOVE
Sarah Menanix -
Aww thank you so much! I have had my fair share of dark and dreary kitchens so I'm soooo happy to finally have one that makes me happy! And yes. Maybe if someone else is cooking in it, I'll be more productive:)
Carla -
I like how you're just inviting everyone to sit in MY seat at the island. SMOOTH, SARAH. ;)
Sarah Menanix -
Oh, no, there's two seats and one of them is CLEARLY reserved for you. Come tomorrow. Bring boba. We're shooting KA videos.
Raschell -
Love your kitchen; white is so clean and airy! Thanks for sharing...
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks Raschell! I always thought I loved bursts of color, but I've been really into the white walls/cabinets with the pots and pants being the pops of color!
Karen @ The Food Charlatan -
It's gorgeous Sarah! See the right house did come along! Your kitchen is awesome. I'm basically copying everything you're doing--grey counters, gold (maybe copper?) fixtures, white backsplash. I looked at the hex like you said but I think we might go teardrop?? we'll see :) It's lovely!!
Sarah Menanix -
I love the idea of copper fixtures! Ikea didn't have them or else we might have done that! I can't wait to see your kitchen when it's all finished!
Nancy Stern -
Looks fabulous!
Sarah Menanix -
<3 <3
sarah -
It is stunning! Well done and since you spend so much time there it is so worth it. My kitchen cabinets and wall are being painted today and it feels so wonderful to have a clean perfect kitchen to work in.
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks! Oooo - I was soooo excited when our kitchen walls got painted - I can only imagine the excitement for the cabinets and walls! It's going to feel like a whole new kitchen!
Emilie @ The Clever Carrot -
I can't think of anyone more deserving! It's so beautiful! Love the island, the towel rack, the WHITE! You go girl. Enjoy! xo
Sarah Menanix -
Aw thank you so much Emilie! It's a work in progress but it makes me so happy! I spend at least half of my day in there, even when I'm not cooking haha! xoxo!
Matt -
Such a beautiful kitchen, so happy for you!
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks, Matt!
Joyce @ Sun Diego Eats -
Stop, Artichoke is SUCH a good name for a kitty. And those hex tiles! We're considering doing the exact same thing to our backsplash but maybe with black grout? Eek hope it wasn't too hard to do it, it looks great!
Sarah Menanix -
Hehe thanks! We call him Arti for short and his sister is Aioli. Oooo! We strongly considered the black grout route, but then we learned that they show imperfections in the grout-job much more obviously, and since we were doing it ourselves, we decided to go with something that would hide our lack of precision! Haha.
Abby @ Heart of a Baker -
Oh goodness, I LOVE your kitchen! My dream is a white kitchen with lots of counter space, but unfortunately, we have an old brown one right now, ha!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you! You have no idea how giddy I got when we finally painted the walls white - it feels like it opens things up sooo much!
Becky Winkler (A Calculated Whisk) -
Your kitchen is so gorgeous, and Artichoke?!? Just the best. We are living in a tiny guest house right now and hoping to buy sometime within the next year--I hope a house half as wonderful as yours finds us!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you so much! Eeeee - good luck with the house hunt! You should just listen to me right now when I tell you the house that is meant for you WILL COME. I am proof. <3
Veronica -
Sarah I love your kitchen! It is beautiful and nice touch upgrading to the beautiful KitchenAid appliances! Lucas and Tom are hired! They did an amazing job of installing the new cabinets, backsplash and KitchenAid Convection Microwave! Such a beautiful room to create some amazing meals!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you so much! I love it so much that I can hardly wait for them to do the backsplash on the rest of the kitchen!