Materials provided by Signature Hardware.

In September of 2020, I finally planted some roots here in Portland, Oregon, and purchased a house. And in true form, I didn’t just buy a home; I bought my own fixer-upper. This house is a 1929 Tudor style that had been all but abandoned. But when I walked through the shabby front door, all I could see was the charming details and the potential of this little cottage. I immediately made an offer, and when handed the keys, I named my fixer-upper, The Willow House.

One of the clear reasons I saw this house as such a great fit for me was the large addition behind the cottage. This area immediately became my home creative studio with plenty of space for the craft room, our monthly photography, and room to film our videos and tutorials. You can view photos and video of my home studio here.

Though the addition was ready to move in, the kitchen was a different story. It was all but unusable with its vintage pink appliances, peeling vinyl floors, and dirt caked in every corner. I could not have been more delighted to have bought a house that, first things first, needed a complete kitchen remodel. Let the fun begin! Did I mention that I lived in the house during the 10-week remodel? That adventure could be another post.

I started my kitchen remodel by creating a design board for hardware, fixtures, surfaces, lighting, and appliances. Wanting to stay with a classic look to enhance the Tudor detail, I found Signature Hardware carried elegant vintage and modern options that I could choose. Not only for my kitchen but throughout my entire house! For example, I purchased this gorgeous hardware for my newly installed front door from their online shop.

I knew this kitchen would look best if I stayed with a predominately white color palette, mixing in a dark grey-blue for the shaker style cabinets and a beautiful honey brown for the floating shelves and new cork floor. I then worked with the cabinet designer to make the most of the open concept kitchen space.

With the remodeled layout, the kitchen’s central hub is the sink area. The floating shelves on both sides of the window create a frame around the sink window. The best proportion for my design is a large, wide sink. I chose the 33″ Grigham Reversible Fireclay Farmhouse Sink from Signature Hardware. Then I finished the look with a Rhine Single-Hole Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet. I love the clean, simple lines of the tall arched kneck and the oil-rubbed bronze finish. Of course, I picked the Contemporary Soap Dispenser with the same finish. The combination is not only eye-catching but extremely functional.

The oil-rubbed bronze finish on the Signature Hardware faucet is a perfect complement to the brushed bronze handles and knobs of the matte white appliances. This warm-toned metal’s final touch is the honey bronze drawer pulls and knobs that accent the grey-blue stained cabinets.

For a full walkthrough tour of my new kitchen remodel, be sure to watch the video below and don’t miss the before & after image at the end of the photo tour. I think you will agree that it is quite an upgrade!

The kitchen is complete. Now, on to the next room that desperately needs love. Currently, I am remodeling two bathrooms with Signature Hardware. Each one is completely unique, modern, and fresh. And with the help of my friends at Signature Hardware, they complement this vintage cottage so well. I promise that you will want to see the finished looks, so stay tuned and check back as we continue to tour The Willow House.