A while back I announced here on the blog that my husband & I are renovating a house in Michigan that we are moving into when we get out of the Marine Corps next year. You can see that full post {here}. The good & the bad thing about our home in Michigan is that we are literally starting from scratch. We gutted the whole inside of the home, & we are starting with a blank slate. It’s great because it will be all new, but it can also be pretty overwhelming. Here we are, two 25 year olds with two homes each in different states all while renovating one of them from 17 hours away. Despite the stress of this, we are so BLESSED to have amazing family and amazing friends that help us out so much, & it’s so helpful that we are renovating the home in the city we grew up in because everyone knows someone who does something that can help us out. I could go on and on, but let’s just say there will be lots of thank-you letters going out! On that note I wanted to start sharing with you our thoughts, ideas, and inspirations on how our home in Michigan is going to look. Today I wanted to share with you some kitchen inspiration that we have been loving for our new {old} home in Michigan. Also some tips and tricks on how to make your dream kitchen inspirational photos a reality. I hope you get the feeling we are going for in this space, & I can’t wait to bring you on this amazing DIY home renovation journey we are embarking on. Let’s start with our kitchen brainstorming…

O, I’m sorry. Does this picture scare you? haha This is the kitchen! If this doesn’t make you excited, then we need to reconsider our friendship. It’s a blank slate. It’s exciting stuff people! This is even before the old doors & windows were removed and that molding. That molding. It’s a small kitchen, It opens to the dining room and somewhat of the upstairs living room. We want it to be bright, light, warm, & fresh. Here is a little peek at what the space looked like before we ripped the cabinets and everything out. It was one hot mess, but you can get an idea of how the space is laid out…

To help us brainstorm we have turned to finding inspiration online, drawing up ideas, & of course pinning away like crazy. Another great way to brainstorm a kitchen remodel is to go to websites like Home Depot to check out the latest products like cabinets, back splashes, counter tops, hardware, paint, & more. It’s a great way to get prices so you can estimate costs, get ideas, & also get reviews from real customers on products. Here are some examples of how you can search products from your favorite inspirational photos & turn your dream kitchen into your reality…

For this inspiration photo I simply went to the Home depot website & searched << Subway tile>>, <<farmhouse sink>>, & <<Marble countertops>> it brought me to a list of relevant products with prices, reviews, and it was great for me to get an idea of whether or not these pieces that I love would work in our space.

The Inspiration photo is simply there to inspire you & when you look for products it does not have to be the exact product, just a close representation of what you liked in the inspiration photo. “pinning” the items on a board on pinterest is a great way to keep yourself organized & a great way to take notes on items that you find like this <<backsplash>>, <<Faucet>>, & <<hardware>> that I found inspired by this photo I pinned on Pinterest.

I love taking pieces from different inspiration photos and putting them all together to make a perfect space for us. In this inspirational photo I took the <<dishwasher>>, <<chandelier>>, & <<wood floors>>.  Now of course I am only sharing a few of my inspirational photos with you today because I don’t want to bore you with all of the ideas that are racing through my head. The one stressful part of kitchen remodels is cost. Set a budget & make your product list work for you. Tweak your list to fit your budget & get inspired by higher end products & shop budget friendly alternatives. Watch this inspirational video from Home Depot that shows you that you do not have to sacrifice quality for a great price & easy remodel…

I hope you enjoyed seeing a sneak peek into the behind the scenes into how we are brainstorming now for our kitchen remodel. I can’t wait to share this house renovation journey with you guys. Updated photos on the kitchen & the rest of the house will be on the blog very soon. What do you guys think of these inspirational photos? Do you guys like the products? How do you get inspired for room makeovers? Do you have any favorite stores that you look to for inspiration? Share your thoughts in the comments below or {here} on the facebook page. Talk to you soon!!