13 Kitchen Makeovers That Prove Every Room Has Potential
We love an ugly duckling story that ends with a beautiful new layout.
Don't let previous owners' questionable decor choices stand in the way of your dream kitchen. These total transformations prove that some white paint and new lighting can erase even the biggest interior design sins.
BEFORE: Vinyl Flooring
Kim and Scott Vargo of Yellow Brick Home had a common problem: The kitchen had good bones but was covered in dated decor.
AFTER: Scandinavian Haven
In a lucky break, Kim and Scott discovered original 1930s Douglas Fir flooring under the vinyl and worked to refinish it to its earlier glory. The gray tile, wooden shelving, and modern tools make the rest of the kitchen a minimalist dream.
BEFORE: Yellow, Yellow Everywhere
Elsie Larson of A Beautiful Mess fell in love with her home the second she saw it, but knew the kitchen would need some TLC to become a bright and functional space.
AFTER: Clean and Modern
Elsie swapped out the dated cabinets for sleek open shelving and went with a mostly neutral color palette. The best part? The gorgeous mint green oven adds the perfect amount of fun to a bright white space.
BEFORE: Halfbaked Accent
Alysha Findley, blogger behind Old House New Tricks, thought her kitchen's red wall was an eyesore and craved a more cozy room for her family.
AFTER: Updated Paneling
A breakfast nook and island now fill out room that once had little counter space. Alysha covered the red wall in paneling that's much easier on the eyes.
BEFORE: Divided Layout
A maze-like first floor left Taylor Kaye's living, dining, and kitchen areas dark and cramped. The TV personality recruited designer Jo Alcorn of Whitewash & Co. and engineer Yu Ching Lai of YCL Structural Designs to reconfigure the split-up space.
AFTER: Sprawling Floor Plan
Knocking down walls — including one behind the stove — made the entire floor more airy, not to mention family-friendly. A new island with cabinets on both sides helps keep clutter at bay.
BEFORE: Awkward Storage Space
Tanya — the blogger behind Dans le Lakehouse — described her kitchen cabinets as "small and awkward."
AFTER: Open Shelving
Open shelving isn't a risky choice when you have all that great bakeware to show off. "The lower cabinets were painted turquoise (to match my Pyrex collection, naturally)," Tanya wrote about the renovation.
BEFORE: Dark and Outdated
Abby of Just a Girl and Her Blog had her work cut out for her when redesigning this kitchen. First things to go? The tiled backsplash and brown cabinets.
AFTER: Bright and Functional
Abby swapped out the white tile for a gray backsplash and chose white cabinets to brighten up the space. She even added a desk by the window — perfect for combing through recipes!
BEFORE: Neon Eyesore
Victoria Hunt, interior designer at Ash Bradbury Design, was determined to fix up the cringe-worthy kitchen that mimicked an ugly Christmas sweater.
AFTER: Breathing Room
To make the room feel airy, Hunt opened the space by pushing the counters to the edges of the room. She painted the walls Benjamin Moore's Revere Pewter (a favorite of interior designers), which expands the room while offering delicate warmth and freshness.
BEFORE: Dated Space
When Jen — the blogger behind Tatertots & Jello — bought a cute 1905 cottage, she knew she'd need big plans for its tiny kitchen.
AFTER: Fresh Fixtures
New white cabinets and tile, a poppy yellow chandelier, and a more open layout immediately brighten what was dingy before.
BEFORE: Harsh Lighting
Blogger Kaylor Little of Fisherman's Wife Furniture was stuck in a kitchen with builder-grade cabinets, simple laminate countertops, and not-so-soothing lighting.
AFTER: Bright Surfaces
The butcher block countertops (which Kaylor installed herself) and light blue glass backsplash subtly contrast with the white cabinets and stainless steel.
BEFORE: Unwelcoming Space
Christina (the blogger behind Christina's Adventures) was determined to make her dark, cramped, and seriously dated kitchen lovely again.
AFTER: Farmhouse Charm
Wood accents impart a farmhouse-friendly theme while remaining refined and polished.
Nostalgia Decor: 2025's Most Comforting Home Trend
18 Bathroom Design Mistakes Pros Always Avoid
A Look at Behr's 2026 Color of the Year
9 Designer-Approved Paint Color Combos
