Formica to Farmhouse – kitchen renovation

Reworking a dated kitchen into a relaxed farmhouse space.

Ridge, NY

Design direction, hands-on creative work, project coordination

Context


The project began with a simple question: could the existing Formica cabinets be painted to give the room more of a farmhouse kitchen feel that the homeowner had in mind?

A quick assessment showed that painting them wouldn’t make enough difference. Their dated shape and lack of character meant the whole room needed a rethink. 

The homeowner had assumed hiring an interior designer would be beyond her budget. After discussing what she was comfortable spending, I was able to develop a plan that included new cabinetry, stone countertops, continuous flooring — and my design and coordination fee — while staying within that budget.

From there, I reworked the approach, setting priorities and developing a scheme that could translate the farmhouse references she shared into something practical and cohesive.

My involvement

Using the references she provided as a guide, I pulled together a farmhouse-inspired scheme that felt warm and practical, introducing storage that was both useful and in keeping with the character of the space.

Alongside guiding the design and coordinating the work, I was closely involved in the creative side of the project — adapting pieces, developing finishes, and introducing character through practical, hands-on solutions.

Caption text here for before and after images

Key Decisions

  • Rethinking the project beyond repainting the cabinets
  • Translating the farmhouse references into a simple, practical scheme
  • Using continuous flooring to unify the ground floor
  • Replacing several of the original Formica cabinets with a large pantry while introducing open shelving to lighten the space
  • Repurposing a step-back cabinet as a coffee station
  • Using reclaimed wood details, layered paint and faux-wood finishes to add warmth and texture

Outcome

The finished kitchen feels warm, practical, and comfortably farmhouse-inspired without feeling forced. What began as a question about painting cabinets became a broader rethink of the ground floor.

The homeowner was delighted with the result and asked me to continue into the adjoining living room.