Before & After Makeover: A Dark, Dated Kitchen Goes Light and Bright

By painting the existing cabinetry, replacing the countertop, and swapping the ceiling fan for pendant lights, designer T. Keller Donovan transformed his Florida kitchen on a tight budget. Here, he shares his time and money-saving tips for getting a dream kitchen — without having to demolish the whole room.

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Metal Shelves

To make the kitchen more open and to match the new stainless-steel appliances, Donovan added metal shelving from Ikea. "It feels so airy with open shelves. I can visualize every single thing that's going on the table, and I'm not constantly opening and closing doors," he says.
Metal Shelves

To make the kitchen more open and to match the new stainless-steel appliances, Donovan added metal shelving from Ikea. "It feels so airy with open shelves. I can visualize every single thing that's going on the table, and I'm not constantly opening and closing doors," he says.