Before and After Makeover: Southern-Style Kitchen

Emily and Kerry Kennedy used double-hung windows, beaded board, and antiques to create a kitchen full of country charm.

view all thumbnails

Country Charm

New Heights

Out with the Old

Special Entrance

Vintage Find

Savvy Storage

Great Escape

Open Country

More Winners

Related Links

Country Kitchen Ideas

Kitchen designs come in many different forms, but ...

Kitchen Backsplash Ideas

Give your kitchen a focal point with a beautiful b...

L-Shaped Kitchen Design

Beautiful L-shaped kitchens with smart designs and...

How to Cook Sweet Potatoes

If you want to know how to cook sweet potatoes, yo...

Your Comment:

Country Charm

When Emily and Kerry Kennedy returned to their hometown in Tennessee, their dream was to give their home the Folk Victorian-style feel of the homes in historic Tennessee. But the kitchen posed a problem. Folk Victorian calls for 10-foot ceilings and their new kitchen had 8-foot ceilings.

Find a decorator or designer in your area.

New Heights

In order to compensate for the kitchen's lack of height, the Kennedys used elongating remodeling techniques. They gave the 8-foot ceiling more prominence with coffered beaded board. The builders removed the upper cabinets and added high wainscoting, capped by 1-inch molding. A few old upper cabinets were used to construct the maple-topped island.

Out with the Old

The old kitchen was dark and closed in. Removing the upper cabinets, changing the paint and wood to white, and adding triple-hung windows gave the kitchen a more open feel.

Find a decorator or designer in your area.

Special Entrance

Arched doorways also draw the eye up. This arched doorway leads to the butler's pantry where the couple keeps heirloom china and crystal ready for entertaining. An arched alcove houses the refrigerator and freezer.

Tip: After seeing how much a 60-inch refrigerator-freezer cost, Emily found a cheaper alternative. She bought separate but identical 30-inch units and put them side-by-side with the handles in the middle.

Vintage Find

In the past, this antique hutch would have stored everyday dishes and dry ingredients in its lower bins. Today, Emily uses it as the focal point of the kitchen. It's a great place to display collectibles such as antique tablecloths, greenware, and other china.

Find a decorator or designer in your area.

Savvy Storage

Cookbooks, countertop appliances -- including the microwave -- spices, and other food items are at home in the 4 X 7-foot larder. Emily calls this the most important room in the house. Freeing the kitchen of these items keeps the area focused on food preparation, cooking, and pan-washing.

Great Escape

The 264-square-foot remodeled kitchen holds an informal dining area and the vintage hutch. They unified the space with white paint and trim. The doorway leads to the back porch where the Kennedys spend most of their time.

Find a decorator or designer in your area.

Open Country

The home's generous porches are what drew Emily and Kerry to the property. Having the kitchen and dining room open out to this porch allows them to spend the majority of their time outside.

More Winners

Before and After Makeover: Southern-Style Kitchen

Top Brands

Top Searches