When Bryan and Catherine Williamson, the husband-and-wife duo behind popular home blog Beginning in the Middle, purchased a home over a century old, they knew they were in for quite the exhaustive renovation. The residence, which is located in the historic King Lincoln District of Columbus, Ohio, was built in 1900 and comprises 3,000 square feet. While the now four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom house had bones, it would require a full gut and remodel “from the roof to the basement,” says Catherine.

The transformation is especially dramatic in the kitchen, which has been brought into the 21st century with classic elements and clever, budget-friendly choices.

Before

“The home had its original character, but it was in terrible shape,” says Catherine. “Our approach was to work with the bones of the house and to accent those with our design, while adding in some more modern touches throughout. It was really important for us to keep character of the home the star.”

The first priority was opening up the kitchen, which was a meager, 12-foot by 12-foot square.

“We started by taking down two of the adjoining walls that previously closed it off,” she says.

After

The Williamsons looked at layouts that gave them the most storage and functionality without having to alter the existing footprint of the home.

They began by laying new hardwood flooring and adding crown molding to complement the existing style of the home. And when it came to creating a kitchen that felt custom—but without the price tag—they turned to Semihandmade, a line of doors designed for IKEA cabinetry often utilized by other design professionals like Emily Henderson and Sarah Sherman Samuel.

“By using the IKEA and Semihandmade combo, we were able to customize our cabinet configuration in a way that we wouldn't have with another cabinet brand,” says Catherine.

The couple was even able to get customized refrigerator panels, cabinets to conceal the range hood, and custom-size doors as well.

Throughout the kitchen, Behr’s Black Sable paint accents the cabinetry, a sophisticated choice that plays against the neutral color palette of the rest of the kitchen and living areas. A walnut-and-marble waterfall-edge island acts as the focal point.

More Before & After:

A 1966 Airstream Gets Road-Ready For a Single Mom and Her Son

A Glass Bridge Links an Alabama Midcentury to a Strategic Expansion

An Italianate-Style Brownstone in Brooklyn Rises Above Years of Ad-Hoc Remodels

Project Credits:

Builder: Mix Design Collective / @beginninginthemiddle

Structural Engineer: Ravinder Gupta, PE, BG Engineering

Interior Design: Mix Design Collective

Cabinetry Design: Mix Design Collective

Appears In

Before and After: A Victorian Kitchen Gets a Fresh Look With a Smart IKEA Hack