How a Couple Transformed Their Brown Kitchen Into a French Country Cottage
When content creator Adrienne and her husband bought their Texas home in 2019, the kitchen wasn’t exactly what they were looking for. She described the original space as “dark, cramped, and dated.” Initially, the couple only made minor changes until this year when the oven, which was built into the cabinets (totally separate from the stove), broke. The couple decided it was finally time to renovate the entire room.
“I wanted my kitchen to feel like a French country cottage while keeping some of my rustic touches,” Adrienne says. “Although I want all of my rooms to feel like a vacation, I still have to keep the functionality and personal style that makes it true to us.”
For the kitchen renovation, Adrienne did most of the design brainstorming while her husband, a mason, considered the practicalities. Once they were on the same page, the first step of the transformation was removing and replacing the existing cabinets. They also purchased a new, functioning oven from The Home Depot. However, the biggest change arguably came from the stone walls, which the couple DIYed themselves.
To make the room feel like something you’d find in the French countryside, Adrienne used a curtain to cover the dishwasher and installed a curtain rod above her stove to store and display her pot collection. She also filled the space with vintage, durable finds for added charm.
The kitchen took a month to complete and would’ve cost around $11,000 — but the couple notes they saved $5,000 by doing most of the work themselves. “I love how elegant it feels!” Adrienne says. “Every little detail matters. I love the mix of metals and wood, making the kitchen feel so cozy.” It highlights so many of this year’s hottest design trends, too, with cozy vibes, mixed natural materials, and rustic flair.
This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: “I Wanted It to Feel Like a French Country Cottage": How a Couple Transformed Their Brown Kitchen Into a European Escape