Before & After: Dated '80s Oak Cabinets Get an Airy Green Makeover (the Transformation Is Dramatic!)

Yahoo

20-07-2025

ABOUT THIS BEFORE & AFTER
HOME TYPE: House
PROJECT TYPE: Kitchen
STYLE: Traditional
SKILL LEVEL: Professional
RENTAL FRIENDLY: No
'If you trust the process, you will get what you want,' Jennifer Tampasis of Jennifer Lynn Interiors says. Her recent kitchen project she tackled for a couple who had never worked with an interior designer proves just that. Her renovation of the 1989 Poughkeepsie, New York, kitchen made it optimized for storage, set up for hosting, and, most importantly, a place the homeowners, a family of four, can spend quality time.
While any remodel, especially in the kitchen, can be a major financial undertaking, the homeowners were confident that the options Jennifer presented would stand the test of time.
'We wanted a perfect kitchen for us, but we honestly had no idea how to put that together. It was like we knew what we wanted in our heads, but we didn't know how to put that down on paper,' the owners say. Jennifer looked to their other spaces, especially the living room, which can be seen from the kitchen, for inspiration. 'It was a dark green, but instead of dark, we went with a paler color,' she says. 'We wanted it to feel bright.'
The previously cramped kitchen, with dark wood cabinetry, yellow walls, and a separate dining set, was transformed into a classic space with her help. The new kitchen is painted in Benjamin Moore colors: the island is colored with Heather Gray, a shade with sage undertones, and the cabinets are clad in Chantilly Lace. New light fixtures from Hudson Valley Lighting Group warm up the room, too.
The renovation was straightforward, but the impact is striking — and the kitchen is significantly more functional. 'They had a lot on their counters before and wanted it to feel less cluttered,' Jennifer says.
'When you walk into the kitchen first thing in the morning, what do you do? It was really about understanding how they function,' Jennifer explains. Storage for small appliances like their tea kettle and blender was key, while a long central island serves for prep, hosting, and more.
'By some magic, Jennifer extracted the design from our heads, creating the perfect color scheme and layout without our ability to articulate our desires to her directly,' the owners say. 'It was a totally fascinating experience.' And the appreciation was mutual: 'We want all of our clients to be like them,' Jennifer says.
One standout is the hydration center, a recent signature of the designer, who first came across the idea at The Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS). Not only are hydration stations becoming trendy, but they also help busy families by centralizing access to water and beverages. The homeowners' original butcher block island was repurposed into shelving for the station. 'She picked up on the fact that I was proud of the butcher block, which I had installed during the pandemic, and recognized the beauty in the cherry wood it was made from,' the owners say.
Another favorite feature is the floating table, an idea Jennifer developed in collaboration with the contractor. The round table extends beyond the island, and while the homeowners had some initial doubts, it has allowed them to maximize their space without the need for a formal dining room. The table accommodates everyone comfortably and is a unique feature that visitors always admire.This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: Before & After: Dated '80s Oak Cabinets Get an Airy Green Makeover (the Transformation Is Dramatic!)
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