Drew and Jonathan Scott’s Beach House Kitchen Makeovers 

Preservationist and DIY Network host Brett Waterman (Restored) visits his friends Drew and Jonathan Scott to offer a discerning eye on the new kitchen spaces in their Galveston beach houses. 

With a budget of $40,000, Drew’s plan to completely gut his dark grotto of a kitchen is ambitious and exciting. His dreams of a high-end rental property with tile-covered walls, top to bottom, and open shelving have to be scaled back a bit after some bumps in renovation, but the finished product more than makes up for it.

While the main living area and kitchen were essentially open concept, one might be left thinking, “Open to what?” With stone and wood paneling as far as the eye can see, Drew was determined to take advantage of the light and view from the adjoining patio and bring the space into the 21st Century. 

The new kitchen has extensive counter space, a beachy color palette and infinite light streaming in from the exterior wall. 

Goodbye, retro vinyl bar stools … 

Hello, porcelain countertops and a spacious island for mealtime gatherings! 

The former kitchen area was closed off from the rest of the floor with dark and dated cabinets and an obstructed view of the outside patio.

Drew opted to change the entire layout of the kitchen, positioning the counters along the exterior walls to create new space for an expansive island with seating and a separate dining area. 

Blues, greens and light woods continue Drew’s beachy color palette from the living room.

Custom cabinetry extends the storage capabilities from the kitchen’s design-centric open shelving into the dining area. 

With plenty of seating at the new island, a small dining table with room for six is just what this kitchen needs for an intimate mealtime setting. 

The original design plan called for a tile backsplash that stretched throughout the entire kitchen, including the exterior wall, and a large collapsible window for letting in that waterfront air. Due to complications with the planned window and cutting the unique tiles to fit, Drew moved to a Plan B that continued the painted shiplap from the living room.

Drew’s waterfront home already had excellent high ceilings and eye-catching beams. With a little paint and stain, these features stand out even more. 

Final touches like these place settings and cozy seats help buyers picture themselves — or vacation renters — in the home. 

The “mermaid” backsplash tile carries the home’s coastal design into the kitchen, while the open shelving maintains a casual, vacation vibe for the space.

Drew loves to use color coordinated appliances and tools in his kitchens to help buyers picture themselves in this high-end vacation rental space.

In the end, Drew went over his $40,000 budget for the kitchen and spent $52,000, thanks to some hiccups during demo and some last-minute design switches. 

With a comeback on his mind, Jonathan budgeted $30,000 for his revamped kitchen, which he hoped to take from retro and cold to modern and inviting. 

Yes, this is a real fish phone that was left behind by the previous owners. No word on its whereabouts post-renovation. 

Not exactly a home away from home, is it? The dated peninsula, carpet and light fixtures have to go. 

With sleek cabinets, new flooring and a waterfall island, the new kitchen is nearly unrecognizable. 

With a dining area already created during the living room challenge in the entrance of the home, the space for the previous one is no longer needed and now available for some much-needed kitchen real estate. 

The new island may be bigger than the previous kitchen entirely. 

The former kitchen was not exactly an ideal gathering space for vacationers.

The island has ample seating for entertaining, as well as some much-needed standing room.

While the exterior wall previously had plenty of windows for natural light, the dividing wall between the kitchen and the dining area obstructed the potential view. 

The new collapsible doors out to the patio were a massive project for Jonathan’s new kitchen that paid off exceptionally to let the outside in. 

With the dividing walls gone, the living and kitchen areas are now entirely open concept, ideal for vacation entertaining. 

The new island has a chic white glass countertop that offsets the dark flooring and light wood grain on the lower cabinets and island. 

Jonathan opted for two-toned cabinets to create depth and interest. He also had to allocate budget for smoothing out the “humps and bumps” in the flooring throughout. 

Modern light fixtures and a few organic design elements add to the sophisticated and sleek space that speaks for itself. 

The brothers are at the mercy of guest judge Brett Waterman and referee J.D. Scott.

Will Jonathan settle the score, after Drew’s living room win, for challenge No. 2?

Jonathan! Brett called Jonathan’s kitchen clean and sophisticated, noting the high-quality materials and workmanship throughout. “I could live here full time,” he said. 

Brett also correctly guessed which brother designed which room, noting Jonathan’s eye as a contractor favoring clean lines and modern touches.

He’s taking it well, we think?