A State-of-the-Art Kitchen Transformation You Have to See to Believe

Taking a kitchen that hasn’t been touched since the 1980s and giving it a modern revamp was no small task, but the Save My Reno team was game to get going and bring this space into the modern age.

Modern kitchen full of bleached oak cabinets and large grey herringbone tile floors

HGTV Canada

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Kitchen Confidential

Homeowner Melina and her teenage stepdaughter Emma decided to tackle the kitchen renovation while husband Derrick was away on business, and surprise him with all their herculean construction efforts when he got back.

It’s not all work for the Save My Reno team. Watch how they liven up at trip to an antique market.

Modern kitchen full of bleached oak cabinets, a huge quartz island and large grey herringbone tile floors

HGTV Canada

2 / 10

Started From the Bottom

Designer Sabrina Smelko and contractor Sebastian Clovis started from scratch on this kitchen, demo’ing the existing 1980s design down to studs and building it back up into a beautiful modern space.

Old 1980s kitchen with white laminate cupboards and blonde wood floor

HGTV Canada

3 / 10

Dated Downer

While white laminate cupboards and blonde wood floors would have been cool in a 1980s kitchen, the decades have not been kind to these features. This tired kitchen had definitely lost its design edge.

Modern kitchen full of bleached oak cabinets and sit at kitchen island set for a chic dinner

HGTV Canada

4 / 10

Modern Miracle

Now this kitchen feels warm, airy and modern thanks to Sabrina’s choices of bleached-oak cabinets and drop-down island, Scandi-inspired lighting solutions and a wall of state-of-the-art stainless-steel appliances.

See how this simple semi get a masculine makeover.

A custom bleached oak cupboard with wine fridge, wine storage, white pot drawers and a juicer

HGTV Canada

5 / 10

Smooth Storage Space

Personal touches are found throughout this spectacular kitchen, such as this custom cabinet for storing cumbersome pots and pans, wine bottles and juicing appliances, all of which can be tucked away out of sight thanks to a set of hideaway doors.

1980s kitchen with white laminate cabinets, black oven, white fridge and worn out blonde wood flooring

HGTV Canada

6 / 10

Reduce Reuse

Since the oven was still in good condition, Sebastian was able to sell it to put more money back into the $65,000 kitchen-reno budget. Sabrina also salvaged a piece of the pantry door for a future upcycling plant-wall project.

Modern kitchen full of bleached oak cabinets and a large sit at kitchen island with a stovetop and quartz hood

HGTV Canada

7 / 10

Counter Attack

To make use of the ample square footage in this graceful kitchen, the Save My Reno team designed a unique drop-down island and dining bar that combines the pleasing grains of bleached oak with the grey veins found in the quartz countertop.

See how Sabrina Smelko creates a country-chic kitchen.

Large stainless steel sink set in a white quartz countertop with a chic bronze faucet

HGTV Canada

8 / 10

Window Dressing

Teenager Emma actually helped Sebastian install this new panel of energy-efficient windows, which not only keeps in the heat but also provides a glorious view out into the greenery of the lush backyard.

A futuristic black three shade light fixture sits in a modern kitchen with bleached oak cabinets and white countertops

HGTV Canada

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Black Out

To help train the next generation of interior designers, Sabrina asked Emma to select the overhead light fixture as a surprise for her stepmom. She went with a Scandinavian-inspired matte-black design with swivel shades to match the black cabinet hardware.

A bronze pan sits on a chic gas stovetop set on a white quartz countertop

HGTV Canada

10 / 10

Stylish Sous Chefs

Even though it’s husband Derrick who has done most of the cooking in the past, now that Melina and Emma have had a hand in the complete transformation of the kitchen from 1980s disaster to modern miracle, they may even have a go at dinner prep next.