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Homeowners Michelle Samuels and EJ renovated their kitchen, preserving and repainting its original upper cabinets while replacing worn lower cabinetry, counters and flooring. The project also moved a radiator and refrigerator, added storage and brought a red, yellow and white palette into the room.
Homeowners Michelle Samuels and EJ renovated their kitchen by keeping its original upper cabinets and painting them warm white, while replacing most of the worn lower cabinets with cranberry-finish plywood cabinetry. The makeover also shifted the refrigerator to a more practical location and added checkerboard flooring, new counters and storage, according to an Apartment Therapy report.
The couple’s kitchen combined elements from different periods: its upper cabinets dated to the home’s circa-1940s kitchen, while most lower cabinets were IKEA boxes. Michelle described the old room as having mottled gray laminate counters that never looked clean, imitation wood linoleum and a refrigerator positioned beside a doorway. The couple first handled smaller projects, including addressing a ceiling panel light and upgrading the backsplash, before hiring professionals for a larger renovation.
For the main work, the homeowners worked with Boxco and contractor Dan Baker. The project included removing the old counters and lower cabinets, taking up the old floor, installing new cabinets and appliances, and adding checkerboard tile from Fireclay. A heating company moved a large steam radiator, which made it possible to relocate the refrigerator. Taylor Powell of Hill Street Concrete provided the new countertops, while plumber Harvey Rivard and electrician Harry Kuenzel helped with the installation work, according to the report.
Professional painter Mark Barry painted the retained upper cabinets Benjamin Moore’s “Palace White.” Michelle and EJ painted the rest of the kitchen themselves. The new lower cabinets have exposed plywood edges and a “Cranberry” finish. The couple also replaced fixtures and hardware, painted designs on tiles behind the stove and installed William Morris fruit wallpaper, which Michelle said inspired the red, yellow and white color scheme across the kitchen, entryway and bathroom.
A More Usable Kitchen, Same Cabinets
The renovation is a specific example of how a kitchen can change substantially without replacing every cabinet. The homeowners kept the original upper units, which Michelle said were in halfway decent shape, and paired them with new lower cabinetry. That choice preserved a feature connected to the home’s history while addressing the worn storage and finishes below.
The layout changes also addressed a day-to-day problem, not just the room’s appearance. Moving the radiator allowed the refrigerator to leave a cramped spot by the doorway. New storage features include a spice rack, LeMans shelves in a blind corner cabinet and gentle-close drawers. The couple also added an upholstered bench with lift-up storage where the refrigerator had been. Michelle said it holds food for their dog and cat, and has become a place to sit near the cooking area.
The account offers practical inspiration, but it is not a cost comparison or a general renovation guide. Apartment Therapy lists the project cost as not available, and the report does not provide measurements, contractor estimates or product pricing. Readers can see the design decisions and described functional changes, but cannot use the story to determine what a similar renovation would cost in another home.
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From Small Fixes to Full Renovation
Michelle and EJ were first-time homeowners who had rented previously, according to the report. They began with smaller kitchen projects before taking on a broader remodel with tradespeople. Michelle said the couple’s painting skills improved during the work and that painter’s tape was more of a hindrance than a help for them. That comment describes their experience; it is not a recommendation for every painter or project.
The kitchen’s existing mix of old and newer cabinetry shaped the plan. The original upper cabinets were retained and repainted, while most lower cabinets, described by Michelle as past their best, were replaced. The resulting room also includes personal details: EJ painted green designs on tiles behind the stove featuring the year the couple bought the house, their pets, the zodiac, nearby landmarks and a rooster tile copied from Michelle’s childhood home.
“The old fridge was stuck in the corner by the doorway to the rest of the house and in the way, but with no other spot to put it.”
— Michelle Samuels, as quoted by Apartment Therapy
Costs and Project Dates Not Listed
Apartment Therapy’s project listing gives the cost as not available, and the report does not state when the renovation took place or how long it lasted. It also does not give cabinet dimensions, exact countertop materials, a full itemized list of expenses or a detailed account of permits and contractor arrangements. The listed professionals and work are reported by Apartment Therapy, but the source does not include independent verification or separate statements from the contractors.
The couple reported one unresolved design detail: after moving the refrigerator, the ceiling lights were no longer perfectly centered. Michelle said that was slightly annoying, though the couple was learning to live with it. The report also does not establish whether any of the project’s products or services are still available at the same specifications or prices.
Floating Shelves Are Planned
The next project on EJ’s list is to add floating shelves for Michelle’s cookbooks, according to the report. No schedule or further renovation plans were given. For now, the reported work is complete, with the couple using the new storage, seating and cooking area while adapting to the ceiling lights’ shifted alignment.
Key Questions
Which cabinets were kept?
The homeowners kept the original upper cabinets, which Michelle said were in halfway decent shape, and had them painted Benjamin Moore’s “Palace White.” Most lower cabinets were replaced.
What color are the new lower cabinets?
The new Boxco lower cabinets have exposed-edge plywood and a “Cranberry” finish, according to Apartment Therapy.
Why was the radiator moved?
A heating company moved the large steam radiator so the couple could relocate the refrigerator from its spot by a doorway to a location they found more practical.
What features added storage?
The kitchen gained a spice rack, LeMans shelves in a blind corner cabinet and gentle-close drawers. An upholstered bench with lift-up storage also provides space for the couple’s pets’ food.
How much did the renovation cost?
The report does not provide a total. Apartment Therapy’s project listing marks the cost as not available.
Source: apartmenttherapy.com
