Kitchen Update

The kitchen's structure was solid, but the surfaces really needed to be updated to give it a newer, fresher feel. The blond oak cabinets and floral print wallpaper, along with the old Harvest Gold appliances, all contributed to this room's dated appearance.

Diane wanted a radical departure from the kitchen's tired look and 1970s feel. So I made a list of things that were destined for the dump: the linoleum floor, the extra bulkheads left over from some pre-existing cabinetry, and the outdated counter and backsplash. And at the top of my list were--you guessed it--those Harvest Gold appliances!

Once we got rid of the old, it was time to start bringing in the new. To begin, I chose porcelain floor tiles that incorporated a wonderful warm palette of chocolate brown, terra cotta and ochre. These are the colors that were woven throughout the room's new decor.

In the case of the cabinetry, the first thing we did was prime, paint and overglaze the light wood with a striated walnut finish. Instead of painting the bulkheads with the wall paint, I decided to use one of my favorite tricks. By adding some decorative molding to the bulkheads, and then continuing our walnut finish up to the ceiling, we created an illusion of custom cabinetry. Three of the walls were painted with a warm ochre color, with the remaining wall bathed in terra cotta as an accent.

I selected a new dark countertop with just a hint of silver sparkle in it. The counter flows right into the shiny stainless-steel tiles I chose for the backsplash. A gleaming new steel sink and faucet were also installed, and contemporary black appliances replaced the tired old models. The combination of dark cabinets and shiny steel is sleek and modern--and about as far from Harvest Gold as you can get!

As any great chef knows, proper lighting in the workspace is key to creating culinary masterpieces. The room's two old ceiling fixtures also made the trip to the dump. Then, to boost the light levels in the room, we installed pot lights, under-cabinet lighting and two pendants over the counter.

Diane's kitchen is family central. It's the gathering place for cooking, eating, chatting and watching television. To organize the TV, cookbooks, magazines and other kitchen clutter, I designed a custom wall unit finished in the same dark walnut as the cabinets.

As always, it's the little touches that really pull this recipe together! To cut down on refrigerator-door clutter, I designed a stainless-steel display board for photos, magnets and other trinkets. A warm-hued area rug, some new chairs to go with Diane's existing table and some whimsical artwork really contribute to the room's welcoming feel.

Diane wanted to claim this kitchen as her very own. Its dated look, dim lighting and old appliances definitely didn't suit her modern tastes. But by trimming down some of the awkward spaces, updating the finishes and brightening up the room Diane got the space of her dreams. Now this kitchen is really cooking--how divine!

(Interior decorator Candice Olson is host of Home & Garden Television's Divine Design.)