Did a full kitchen remodel for my sister last year and the before and after photos look like two different houses

I redid her whole kitchen in 2024, took about 5 months working weekends. The big change was switching from dark cherry cabinets to a pale blue shaker style. I also raised the upper cabinets 6 inches to the ceiling. What really made the difference though was adding crown molding and under-cabinet lighting. She sent me a picture from the original listing when she bought the place and I barely recognized it. Anyone else ever look back at your early work and almost feel embarrassed by what you used to think looked good?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_dakota7d ago

You ever catch yourself watching one of those home renovation shows where they make everything look completely different? I read this article in a nursing break room magazine about how the 90s and early 2000s were all about dark wood and heavy cabinets, and now it's all light and open. That pale blue with crown molding sounds like it really opens the space up. The under-cabinet lighting is probably a game changer too, my buddy did that in his place and says he can actually see what he's chopping now. That six inch lift to the ceiling is a clever trick, makes the room feel way bigger than it actually is.

white.alex7d ago

My old truck was a 1992 F-150 with rusted wheel wells and a bench seat that had been patched with duct tape. I finally replaced it last year after 14 years and 300,000 miles. That truck got the job done through all kinds of weather and I guess there was a weird pride in making something beat up work for so long. I get your point about looking back and seeing how far things have come, but for me those early builds had a certain honest toughness I kind of miss.