Checking In With Chelsea

DIY ideas, crafts, and tips for your home

subscribe and never miss a thing!

Receive Free Email Updates

  • About
  • Videos
  • Projects
    • Indoor Projects
    • Outdoor Projects
    • Craft Projects
  • House Tour

Featured on Today’s Homeowner: Efficient Kitchen

February 27, 2015 By Chelsea Lipford Wolf Leave a Comment

As many of you may be aware, part of my full-time job is co-hosting the Today’s Homeowner TV show. It’s great to be able to meet new people every week or so when we’re taping a new episode. And I get to work on different projects that I might not be able to do in my own home. And that’s certainly the case for the project that airs this weekend! (You can check where it airs in your area by visiting the TV show local listings page.)

We added an island to a big, open kitchen where there wasn’t one before!

open kitchen with dark tile floor white kitchen cabinets no island and copper light fixtures

wood top island in middle of white cabinet kitchen

And I’m so jealous of the results! I really wish I had a big open kitchen just so I could add an island! But I guess my tiny kitchen has perks of its own.

galley kitchen with stainless steel refrigerator

Back to the kitchen at hand. The goal was to make it more efficient for the young family who lives there. Having all of that open space doesn’t help you make dinner or keep the children occupied. So we installed 3 stock cabinets in different widths and styles, painted them to match the existing cabinets, and created a shelf for a microwave. And adding the microwave meant we also ran some power to the island for an outlet or two.

microwave on shelf in kitchen island

And since we relocated their microwave, it freed up the space above their stove for another efficient upgrade, a range hood.

Range Hood Above Stove-After

Not only was that a huge improvement for their indoor air quality, but it also looks much better since it matches the stainless steel appliances. Unlike the previous microwave which was white.

I love how the island looks like it should have been there all along. But my favorite part is the black walnut countertop that goes on top of it! It really ties together nicely with the existing granite on the surrounding counters. And now I really want wood countertops. Anyone else?

black walnut wood countertop kitchen island

Completed Island in Efficient Kitchen-After

And one last “efficient” addition we made was installing pull-out trash bins since their previous trash can was all the way on the other side of the kitchen by the back door!

gray trash can pull outs in white kitchen cabinet

Seriously, I can’t get over how great the island looks in this space. And now the homeowners’ little children have a place to hang in Mom’s sight while she’s preparing snacks or cooking dinner.

Open Kitchen Before Island

Kitchen With Black Walnut Island

You can found out more of how it came together and meet the cute family that this home belongs to on Today’s Homeowner this weekend!

What’s your favorite part about the island? What would you change if this was your house? What projects have you done in your kitchen lately? Spill in the comments below!

Thanks for Checking In ~ Chelsea

Subscribe for Free Updates!

Stay up-to-date on Chelsea's latest projects, tips, useful resources and more.

Previous Post
Putting the Molding to Bed
Next Post
Final Window Trim Roundup

Related Content

Brick Retaining Wall How to Waterproof and PaintWaterproofing Vertical Masonry WallSitting on Back Steps After Finally Sealing BricksStripping Paint from BricksSimple Board and Batten Fireplace UpdateDIY Double Batten Accent WallCompleted Wire Shelf Pantry UpgradeWire Shelf Pantry Makeover

Please Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Welcome!

I’m Chelsea. DIY
enthusiast who loves
sharing my victories
and mishaps!
Learn more
here.

CHECK IN WITH CHELSEA ON INSTAGRAM

Thank Heaven for little girls!💕The best part of Thank Heaven for little girls!💕The best part of having daughters is getting to dress them up in clothes from my baby hood.😍🥰Not sure where Clara got her dark hair but it’s a fun change to have a baby with actual hair this time around! Doesn’t she look like a little baby doll?!
.
.
#newbornlife #changingtable #babygirl #thankheavenforlittlegirls #mommasgirl #allpinkallthetime
Welcome home Baby Clara! We love you so much alrea Welcome home Baby Clara! We love you so much already!💕
.
.
#welcomehome #familyofsix #babygirl #happybirthday #3girls1boy
Monogrammed washcloths and clear hooks was an inex Monogrammed washcloths and clear hooks was an inexpensive fix to a constant headache in my kids’ bathroom!🤯 As with many organization projects, hanging it on a wall makes all of the ugly go away!👏🏻
What simple fixes have you done around your house lately?Washcloths used here➡️ https://amzn.to/3bd9Gpv
Clear hooks here➡️ goto.target.com/zaGZ5x
She’s a Brick. House. Who went through mighty mi She’s a Brick. House. Who went through mighty mighty changes to get here!👏🏻Peeling paint was our nemesis on this project, but we eliminated it with persistence and determination. 👊🏻
.
.
We took it a step further by waterproofing these bricks to PREVENT paint from peeling in the future. A fresh coat of matching house paint and it’s like it was always meant to be🥰
.
.
All the details are in my latest blog post which is linked in my profile now! I know it’s not a project on everyone’s list but save it if you have a painted brick house or retaining walls around!
.
.
#brickhouse #paintedbrick #bricksteps #homemaintenance #homerepair #diyrepair #diyhouse #diyhouseprojects #diypainting #ironhandrails #wroughtiron #wroughtironwork
Still pregnant over here🙃Just finished up these Still pregnant over here🙃Just finished up these concrete spheres and will have a video to share soon! I first discovered them visiting my sisters in Mountain Brook, AL. They seem to be used to keep people from parking in the yard along the street. But I think they are so neat just as yard decorations! What other purposes could they serve?
.
.
#rainymonday #39weekspregnant #yardwork #paintedbrick #exteriorrenovation #cedarshakes #cornerhouse #lawndecor #yarddesign #yarddecor #yarddecorations
For my 4th baby, clothes become nursery decor. Bud For my 4th baby, clothes become nursery decor. Budget-friendly and practical. But how stinking sweet?! Most of these my sisters and I wore as babes 30 years ago😳Still trying to figure out the origin of the sweet blue dress though.🤔
.
.
What have you reused or repurposed as wall decor in a nursery or other space? I just love personal touches like this!
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Indoor Projects Outdoor Projects Craft Projects
Facebook Pagelike Widget
  • Contact
  • FAQs
  • Advertise with Chelsea
  • Media
  • Today’s Homeowner

Search This Site

Receive Free Updates Via Email

Copyright © 2022 Checking in With Chelsea • All Rights Reserved