A Family-Friendly Kitchen and Dining Nook Makeover for Under $15K

Photographer Robert Peterson renovated the kitchen of his own 1970s Atlanta ranch with a modest budget of under $15,000. Robert's had a crash course in renovation as the photographer of HGTV Dream Home, HGTV Smart Home and HGTV Urban Oasis, among many other home renovation projects. Daughters Grace and River are always there to lend a hand.

When Robert first bought the house, the kitchen was dated and forgettable. In order to make it more up to date, he needed to completely remove the wall that divided the kitchen from the adjacent living room.

Prior to the remodel, the walls were covered in a contractor grade wainscoting that Robert ripped out himself before opening the dining room and kitchen to the rest of the main floor.

The renovated kitchen is designed with two distinctive zones: the cooking and prep area and the breakfast nook. Although modestly sized, the space feels larger thanks to the open and airy design.

During the renovation, Robert and his wife, Tiffany, decided to have the dated stain of their 1970s hardwoods updated with a shade that wasn't too dark or too light, settling on a light greige look. The kitchen has a limited palette of greige and white, with brass accents in the lighting fixtures. This allows for accent colors to be introduced over time and easily swapped out as tastes evolve.

Rather than incurring hefty custom costs, Robert decided to build out his own kitchen island. He framed the area with 2x4s and then placed 24-inch deep cabinets along the back side butted up directly with 14-inch deep cabinets along the front. Once in place and trimmed out with base molding, he finished it off with a seamless look by adding panels along the sides. To ensure plenty of space to maneuver around the kitchen, Robert left a five-foot opening between the island and the perimeter cabinets.

When choosing depth for the central island, Robert opted for four feet to maximize prep space for the entire family of four.

Space is at a premium in the kitchen, so using every square inch for storage was a must. Robert configured the island with concealed storage on both sides with the forward-facing side dedicated to games and art supplies for the girls.

With a light, neutral backdrop, it's easy for the family to accessorize the kitchen with just about every color in the spectrum. To tie together the bold hues from the small appliances and accessories, a playful rainbow print hangs above the range.

Of all design elements in the kitchen, the white apron sink is the most indicative of farmhouse style. Second is the horizontal nickel gap on the walls and backsplash, which Robert opted for over tile. Once it was all affixed to the wall, the wood paneling was sprayed with a semi-gloss shade of ultra white.

One of the most important elements of a farmhouse-inspired kitchen is open shelving for easy access to everyday cooking and baking items. Robert cut and installed the L-shaped floating natural-pine shelves himself by creating cleats that anchor into the studs, then sliding the shelving surfaces onto the cleats for a seamless look.

The breakfast nook gets the most traffic of any space in the house. If they're not sitting down for breakfast or lunch, Robert and Tiffany's girls can be found putting the area to good use as a place to work on creative crafts.

To pop organic texture against the smooth white of the cabinets, walls and countertops, Robert introduced natural wood with the floating shelves and a load-bearing beam which separates the kitchen from the adjacent living room.

For a farmhouse touch, a vintage coffee bean sack was hung as art beside the kitchen sink.

When choosing the proper metallic for the kitchen, Robert and Tiffany both agreed on brass in a more subtle matte finish. Shiny, polished brass tones can take on a more formal or glamorous look whereas the matte look results in something more casual.

In addition to his work as an interiors photographer, Robert also shoots adventure travel. One of his favorite photos from a waterfall in Iceland serves as the featured art for the breakfast nook.

At any given time during the day, the Petersons' kitchen island is covered in art projects and fresh, organic ingredients.