A dark, basic builder-grade kitchen gets a budget-friendly modern farmhouse makeover with practical DIY projects, painted cabinets, concrete countertops, a farmhouse sink, and warm rustic details.
It is finally kitchen reveal day, and I can hardly believe it. After two and a half years, two gallons of paint, countless batches of concrete, and a serious amount of sweat equity, this modern farmhouse kitchen makeover is complete.
This project has been a long time coming, and seeing the finished room feels like a huge celebration. What started as a dark, builder-grade kitchen has become a bright, welcoming, budget-conscious space filled with DIY ideas that are actually doable.
As a reminder, this is what our kitchen looked like on the day we moved in back in December 2013, with my mother-in-law, Barb, standing there in the room.
To be fair, even the “before” version of our kitchen was not terrible. Robert and I have always been grateful that we were able to build a new home and focus mainly on personalizing the standard builder features that came with it.
This was not the same kind of intense renovation many homeowners face when updating an older kitchen. We did not have to gut the room or rebuild the entire layout, and that made a big difference in both the workload and the budget.
During the first few months after we moved in, we painted the walls, changed the lighting, added a chalkboard wall, and then the kitchen progress paused for quite a while.
We were comfortable waiting a couple of years before taking on this room because we knew it would become one of our more expensive projects if we wanted to do it properly. The extra time also helped us understand the style we truly wanted: a bright, modern farmhouse kitchen with rustic texture, simple finishes, and plenty of function.
And now, here it is completely finished.
Because our kitchen has no windows, painting the cabinets white was an easy decision. The original dark wood cabinets made the room feel cave-like, and the red undertones did not blend well with the rest of our home decor.
I actually like being able to see small smudges, splashes, or cooking grease on the white cabinets because it makes it easy to know what needs a quick wipe-down. Even with plenty of cooking, including our love of frying bacon, the cabinets have stayed surprisingly clean so far.
One thing that was always difficult to keep clean before was our stainless steel sink. Washing pots and pans under the short faucet was also a constant frustration.
At first, I planned to install a white drop-in sink. After a lot of encouragement, we decided to take the scarier route and cut into the countertop and cabinet to install a large farmhouse sink. It was intimidating, but it was absolutely worth it. The farmhouse sink we found at IKEA cost only a little more than the standard white drop-in option I had originally considered.
Robert and his dad deserve major credit for making that part of the project happen.
Washing dishes is much easier now. I would not say it has become my favorite chore, but it is definitely far less annoying than it used to be.
Our original kitchen also had beige Formica countertops and a beige tile backsplash. They were standard builder selections, and I never really loved them.
After applying several layers of feather finish concrete to the countertops and installing whitewashed faux brick paneling over the existing tile backsplash, the whole kitchen began to look completely different. Both finishes brought in the modern farmhouse character we wanted without requiring a full demolition.
We later replaced our black gas range with a stainless steel version after finding one during a 30% off appliance sale at Lowe’s.
Although we were not ready to replace the vinyl flooring, we are happy with it for now. The striped jute runner, which I found for 40% off, helps soften the space and adds a bit of texture.
I will admit it: I now walk into this kitchen just to stare at it. The transformation truly feels like night and day. Painting the cabinets made the biggest visual impact and instantly brightened the entire room.
Baking with Olivia is much more fun in this space now, even if I completely cheated and bought this particular treat from the grocery store.
She loves climbing onto one of the barstools to eat lunch every day. The reclaimed wood we installed along the bar protects the surface from those little swinging feet, which makes cleanup easier for me.
One week, on a whim, I pulled wood from our scrap pile and made the Farmers Market sign using paint I already had. It became one of my favorite free decor pieces and fills the awkward space above the cabinets perfectly.
I did not officially include our DIY wood beam in the kitchen makeover because it connects to the living room, but it still makes a strong visual impact from this side of the house.
The wood beam also ties in beautifully with the framed chalkboard, which we built using reclaimed wood from our scrap pile. Robert’s parents cleaned out part of their barn and gave us several beautiful reclaimed wood pieces, and we hope to use more of them for future furniture projects.
For smaller decor items, I found a few thrifted pieces, including this working food scale. It was originally worn stainless steel, so I painted it to give it a vintage, aged look.
When we bring vegetables in from my parents’ garden or our backyard garden box, I like to display them in the bowl on the scale until I have time to cook them.
Lately, I have also been stepping into the backyard to snip mint leaves for mojitos. Summer is always a busy entertaining season for us, and the spot beside the refrigerator works well as a small drink station.
On the chalkboard, I still plan our meals for the week. There is also a small area at the bottom where I can write grocery reminders or where Olivia can draw while I make dinner.
A couple of years ago, we hung these wall planters and repurposed them as storage for fruit and vegetables. I liked the look and function so much that they stayed.
This small tiered tray is another practical addition. It keeps dish sponges, soaps, and sink essentials organized and within easy reach.
That is the finished modern farmhouse kitchen makeover. It is hard to believe we only have two main rooms left before the whole house feels complete: the playroom and the laundry room, with a few closets likely mixed in along the way.
If you missed any of the projects from this kitchen makeover, here is the full project list from the beginning:
- Kitchen makeover plans and mood board
- DIY industrial pendant lights
- Installing an IKEA farmhouse sink
- DIY feather finish concrete countertops
- How to paint kitchen cabinets like a pro
- Faux rusted vintage scale makeover
- DIY reclaimed wood bar
And now for the final cost breakdown.
Source List and Budget Breakdown:
- Wall Color – Sherwin Williams Perfect Greige
- Cabinet Color – Benjamin Moore Simply White
- Painted Cabinets – DIY – $152
- Cabinet Knobs and Pulls – D Lawless Hardware – $105.59
- Concrete Countertops – DIY – $250
- Faux Brick Backsplash – $75
- Farmers Market Sign – DIY – Free using supplies from scrap pile
- Framed Chalkboard – DIY – Free using supplies from scrap pile
- Produce Sign – $0 gifted
- Cage Pendant Lights – DIY from original builder-grade fixtures – $20
- Flush Mount Light – Amazon – $113.42
- Stainless Steel Range – Lowe’s – $419.00 after 30% off sale
- Bar Reclaimed Wood – Stikwood – $560
- Farmhouse Sink – IKEA – $312.98
- Sink Faucet – Amazon – $187.20
- Barstools – Target – $143.97 for all three after 40% off sale
- Striped Jute Runner – Target – $43.24 after 30% off sale and 10% off coupon
- Cake Stand – World Market – $0 using loyalty rewards points
- Storage Jars – Walmart – $59.80 for all five
- “Antique” Kitchen Scale – Thrifted – $16
- Mug Drying Rack – World Market – $16.99
- Large Pastry Board – World Market – $34.99
- Small Cutting Board – World Market – $0 using loyalty rewards points
- Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer – $0 Christmas present
- Blue Striped Dish Towels – World Market – $0 using loyalty rewards points
- Gray Striped Dish Towels – World Market – $7.98 for both
- Wooden Spoon Holder – Kirkland’s – $0 gifted
- Galvanized Tiered Stand – Curtis Creations – $35
- Wall Planter Baskets – Already owned
- Galvanized Tray – Walmart – $7.94
- White Pitchers – Thrifted – $6 for both
- Glass Pitcher – $0 wedding gift
If anything is missing, it is only because this became quite a long list.
TOTAL: $2,567.10
I was genuinely surprised when I calculated the final cost of this kitchen makeover. It is the most expensive room project we have completed so far. Still, considering the new stove, farmhouse sink, faucet, concrete countertops, backsplash, painted cabinets, barstools, lighting, and smaller decor items, the total makes sense. The kitchen is 20 feet by 12 feet, so the size of the room also played a major role in the overall cost.
By the end, we may have spent almost as much eating out during the three-month process while parts of the kitchen were periodically out of commission for cooking.
This makeover is officially finished, and I could not be happier. If you are planning a large kitchen renovation or budget-friendly kitchen update, the best advice I can offer is to take it one step at a time. A big space can feel intimidating, but simple DIY changes can add up to a dramatic transformation. Paint alone can completely change the look and feel of a room.
