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Farmhouse Kitchen Update

Our Farmhouse Kitchen Update: The Finishing Details Are Finally Coming Together

If you’ve been following our home-building journey, you know our kitchen has been one of the most anticipated spaces in the house.

While many of the major elements were completed last year, a series of unexpected setbacks delayed some of the finishing touches we originally planned to complete much sooner.

The Delays We Didn’t Expect

After moving into our home, we experienced a major plumbing leak that resulted in damage to our kitchen ceiling.

This was due to the negligence of our original plumbing contractor who we had to fire and then find someone else who we could trust to come in and make the adequate repairs.

Once repairs were completed, we had to allow everything to dry thoroughly before patching and repainting. The patching and repainting took a little longer than expected as well since our original drywall company was no longer in business and we had to search for another trustworthy drywall repairman who would make the drive for “smaller” projects.

Shortly afterward, our water heater failed due to improper installation by that same previous plumber, requiring a complete replacement. This was more out of our budget and timeline that we had to accommodate for.

Then came additional delays from HVAC modifications. And in November I fell and broke my arm which required surgery. I experienced weeks of sleepless nights because of the pain coupled with the discomfort of being so far along in my pregnancy.

While still recovering from my broken arm, I then gave birth to our baby girl very early this year.

Then came even more sleepless nights of taking care of a newborn who was quite fussy due to an allergy (that will eventually wear off as she gets older). I still haven’t been able to sleep through the night (since November now). I have never experienced this much lack of sleep in my entire life and what it does to your productivity, let alone functionality as a human is quite astonishing.

Needless to say, this kitchen update has been a long time coming. I have shared the video version of this already, but if you still haven’t seen it, here is what I went over.

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Kitchen Fixtures We Chose

One of my favorite features is our Gerber kitchen faucet paired with a farmhouse sink.

I loved this faucet so much in our previous cottage kitchen (below) that I knew I wanted to use it again in this home.

We also added a built-in soap dispenser to keep the countertops clutter-free.

Installing Our First Pot Filler

Another exciting addition was the pot filler above the range.

Neither Nelson nor I had installed one before, so this project definitely pushed us outside our comfort zone. Fortunately, with some guidance from our plumber, we were able to successfully install it ourselves.

Our ZLINE Range

Cooking was a major consideration when designing this kitchen. I cook almost every single day, multiple times a day.

We selected a larger ZLINE range featuring:

Six burners
Center griddle
Double ovens
Propane conversion capability (since we don’t have natural gas out in the country)

The size and functionality have been exactly what we hoped for.

Cabinet Hardware & Lighting

Finding the right cabinet hardware was surprisingly challenging.

I needed something that worked with both the warm brass tones and the stainless steel finishes throughout the room while also complementing our white and wood cabinetry.

The oversized pendant lights above the island may be my favorite design decision in the entire kitchen. Their scale works beautifully with our 10-foot ceilings and helps anchor the space. I wanted something unique and eye-catching the minute you look over at the kitchen once you step into our home.

Butler’s Pantry Progress

We’ve also made progress in the butler’s pantry by installing:

Base cabinetry
Butcher block countertops
Deep freezer
Beverage refrigerator

This area still needs shelving, countertop stain, and additional finishing work, but it’s already proving incredibly functional. I hope to share more about it once it’s a little more presentable.

What’s Next?

Although the kitchen is fully operational, we still have a few projects left to complete, including:

Glass cabinet inserts on upper cabinets
Additional outlets underneath cabinets
Trim work
Seating selections
Final butler’s pantry details
Decor

We’re getting closer to the finish line and can’t wait to continue sharing the journey with you. As of right now I am extremely happy with how everything is turning out. It was my first time designing an entire kitchen from scratch and I am quite proud of myself for being able to pull it off so far.