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Our Farmhouse Kitchen Renovation on a Budget (Before & After + Sources)

Lauren Alonso
Apr 19, 2019
4 min read

Why the Kitchen Is the Heart of Our Home

This is LONG overdue, but I wanted to have everything done before I shared this post... for one, because my kitchen is my pride and joy. I've been in the kitchen since I was 4. Yes... I've always loved to cook. When girls were buying ipods and new kicks and the latest fingernail polish, I was stashing china away in my hope chest as a teenager. Though my taste has changed over the years, the kitchen is still my favorite room of a home. It is where creativity is birthed from our hands and consumed by our stomachs! It is where we gather and enjoy a meal. It is where we get to share our talent with those we love most. It is where love is created.

The History of Our 1953 Farmhouse Kitchen

Our home was built in 1953 by the Chandler family who owned a wholesale nursery on Pine Acre Farm. After the Chandler family, the Williams family grew their family for 4 generations over 50 years in this home. And in March of 2016 we bought it and began to make our own memories.

So here is our farmhouse kitchen renovation- and all the juicy details that mean so much!

See the brick behind the stove? Keep that in mind, because that was hand-laid by Mrs. Williams.

Wooden kitchen with white fridge, stove, and sink. Brown brick backsplash. Beige tiled floor. Lace curtain on window, cozy atmosphere.

The photo below is taken from what used to be a porch and was a sunroom/breakfast nook when we purchased it. I have since moved the door to another wall to make a door to access our laundry room. And now, this is my office {another blog for another day}. Notice the bar and the wall though!

Warm kitchen with wood-paneled walls, checkered curtains, and tiled floor. Features a bar with orange stools, fridge, and overhead light.

Kitchen with wooden cabinets, white fridge, and stove. Brick backsplash and tiled floor. Window with checkered curtains above the sink.

Why We Removed the Wall (Accessibility Matters)

This wall was removed to allow Joel (my husband) to have access to the kitchen and open the space.

Kitchen with wood cabinets, tiled floors, and two yellow bar stools at the counter. A dining area with wood panel walls is in the background.

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Process photo:

Two men in a kitchen installing light fixtures; one kneels on a countertop adjusting a lamp. Shelves, tools, and bottled water visible.

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Our Farmhouse Kitchen Renovation on a Budget

And here is the final product!!!! We were on a tight budget, but totally made it work just fine. Please also keep in mind... this is NOT a show house kitchen. I live and breathe in this kitchen and I did not alter it to get a "good shot". I wanted it to feel lived in and authentic. I did not de-clutter. If you show up at my house... most likely this is what it will look like with a few more dirty dishes. So here goes!

We removed the wall between the kitchen and dining room. Added a faux beam to hide the exposed ceiling. And had a friend find the perfect chipped gray corbels to finish it off!

We removed all of the cabinets with the exception of the pantry (which I painted).

Farmhouse Kitchen Sources & Budget Breakdown

Farmhouse Sink from Ikea {$312}
Cabinets and counter tops from Ikea
Drawer pulls from Hobby Lobby {$4.50/each- a fraction of the cost of most standard pulls}
Open Shelving stained in walnut (Just common board from Home Depot) {$10/8' board}
Shelving Brackets from Hobby Lobby {Seriously $3/each}
Antique Coca Cola Crates re-purposed into Spice Rack from Girl Pickers on Etsy
Pendant Lantern light fixtures from World Market {$100/each}
Blue Mason Jar over sink pendant from Lamp Goods on Etsy {$90}
Our old electric stove was found road side.
The refrigerator was a sweet gift from the seller's realtor as was the farm signage with our name on it! Sweet sweet people!
Recessed lights from Lowe's
A gently used dishwasher and microwave
We put up white painted brick paneling on the walls {$26/8'x4'}
Added backsplash to tie in the gray and rustic look.
We also purchase the old Chinese washtable circa1900 off of Craigslist for $60, added leg extenders and chalk paint {I'll share my chalk paint recipe with our subscribers real soon} it to match the pantry.

I painted the window with some paint we had left over from another project.

Cozy kitchen with orange stools, hanging lights, white cabinets, and shelves. Plants decorate the corner. Visible text: "my cup runneth over."

And yes, those are the original stools from the 50's!

White bowls stacked on white plates on a wooden shelf with ornate metal brackets. Blue bowl in the background. Bright, rustic kitchen vibe.

Oh how I love the contrast of the white and walnut! And what is a farmhouse kitchen without jar drinking glasses?

Rustic kitchen shelves displaying dishes, jars, and vintage teapots. Toaster oven and mixer on countertop. White brick wall background. Warm mood.

I can't even explain how handy these drawers are. We only have 2 cabinets... yes 2 (and under sink storage). And, we have plenty of room because these drawers make it happen. And if you ask me how much I mind my uppers being exposed... I'd tell you... it's my favorite thing about our kitchen besides our sink. I can literally keep everything organized and never have to worry about losing items in a dark corner in a cabinet and find it 5 years later.

Open kitchen drawer with assorted containers and lids. Wooden countertop and stove above, patterned rug and tiled floor visible.

We mounted our microwave a little higher. Though I'm only 5'2", I can still reach it and I don't have to worry about bumping my head. Plus my stove is illuminated more because there isn't a dark space.

Kitchen scene with white microwave, spice rack, and utensils in a blue box labeled "STORAGE." Shelves hold jars. Cozy, organized vibe.

Glass soap dispenser with blue liquid on a white sink, against a tiled wall. Rustic shelf and cup in the background. Cozy kitchen vibe.

Keeping the History: Repurposing the Original Brick

Remember that brick from the original kitchen? Behind the stove.... so here it is! We re-purposed it to keep a piece of the history in the house.

White aprons hang on hooks over a brick column. A wooden beam and a sign are in the background. Soft lighting and neutral colors.

These knobs are from hobby lobby too!

Let's talk about this gorgeous blue mason jar, y'all!

Kitchen shelves with labeled jars of flour, oats, sugar. Coffee maker, utensils in "Storage" box. Pastel floral mitts, cozy vibe.

I just love my baking/coffee shelves! It's pretty and functional!

Wooden spice rack with labeled jars, knives on a magnetic strip, and a stove below. Warm lighting creates a cozy kitchen feel.

And that knife strip! AHHH!!! Ikea y'all.! Enough said!

Framed "Recipe for a Happy Marriage" text art with heart design. Three mason jars with red gingham bows sit on a wire shelf below. Cozy vibe.

A Kitchen Made for Real Life

Did I leave an element out that you're dying to know where I got it?! Just comment below. I'll be happy to direct you.

Do you love our kitchen renovation?! Please feel free to share, ask design advice, or follow us for more on home decor in the future! We love to hear from you.

I'll leave you with three generations of our family having a beautiful time in our kitchen! {From the left: me, Lauren Jackson, Lisa- Joel's mom, Virginia- Joel's Nana}