Lighter, brighter, and the place I want to spend all my time.

We’re all drawn to novelty—it’s human nature. The shiny and new all present opportunities for innovation, growth, and progress along the path forward. Of course, change doesn’t come without challenge. And this little Santa Fe home of ours was quite the challenge to fix up. Sometimes I think a full demo is easier than fixing something up! LOL.

Jamie Haller, an interior designer once said “Be discerning about the characteristics of a home you cannot change.” And that really stuck to this day.

Also remember contractors are not designers. Do your own research and find your own materials or hire someone to help. Thankfully for us, Lin is a mechanical engineer with a degree in architecture, and designer. This helped our budget drastically because we would have had to outsource these people. And luckily we did find a great contractor in Santa Fe. I will say though this part of the world is on mountain time where time moves slow so just know they might start later but work later or they might take a long lunch but will come work on a Sunday.

Our remodel started as a major renovation, and then along the way, we decided to scale things back and focus just on what would make the biggest difference for our budget. And the design process has changed a million times throughout this process. Initially, we thought we’d change out all the cabinetry and replace it but once we realized how expensive that was going to be, we decided to see what we could do with what is there. Custom cabinetry is not cheap, and doing this one element would have basically blown our entire budget because we also would have had to change all the doors and bathroom cabinetry that are just like the kitchen cabinets. All the Zocalo units have this original wood unless someone changed it and it seems to be well liked with people who move there. This is not a forever home for us so we want to ensure we sell it one day and make a considerable profit.

Sooo much to consider!

We knew we wanted to put most of the reno budget into the kitchen so that’s what I am sharing today all though it’s not entirely finished. But I know y,all have been eager to see the progress. Although it might seem fairly inoffensive to some…the horrid microwave and appliances the current owners installed had to go. And the high bar and dark tile had to go as well as the lighting.

APPLIANCES

So let’s dive into the appliances which I did give you details on in this post here. But I just can’t get over how much I love them. They look so good in the space now that they are installed!! We purchased our Bertazzoni appliances from A. J Madison.

So, let’s talk about this range, aka the new love of my life. It’s the Bertazzoni 30" Professional Series Induction Range with 4 Heating Zones in Stainless Steel. The new Bertazzoni ranges are superb cooking appliances designed, engineered and made in Italy. All Bertazzoni appliances integrate seamlessly into style-harmonized suites for a true, high-performing kitchen.

This all-new induction range has 4 high-power heating zones with maximum power output of 3700W. The right-side heating zones can be bridged to create a larger cooking area. Each induction area is controlled with knobs and has a convenient read-out interface on the glass worktop.

The 4.7 cubic feet oven cavity is the largest in its class, with dual convection fan for balanced airflow and even temperature baking and roasting on 7 shelf levels. The elegant large temperature gauge monitors the actual temperature in the oven. The extra wide electric broiler with optional convection is ideal for grilling and searing at high heat. The oven includes convenient soft-motion doors. The edge-to-edge interior oven glass door maximizes interior volume and can be wiped clean without effort. Love the under cabinet range too.

If you like bold pops of color, this range is perfect because it’s available in some poppy colors too including a seamless white!!!!! It’s truly the best of both form and function, and I honestly cannot recommend this range more highly.

The Bertazzoni 36 French-door stainless steel refrigerator is designed and engineered with the highest grade materials and components. Using one of the 3 available handle kits in Professional, Master and Heritage Series style, this refrigerator integrates seamlessly with all other Bertazzoni appliances into style-harmonized suites for a true, high-performing kitchen.

This counter-deep refrigerator has ample storage capacity, with 15.9 cubic feet of refrigerator volume and 6.6 cubic feet of freezer. Dual air-cooling flow with independent no-frost system for refrigerator and freezer compartments provide optimal temperature and humidity control to keep food fresher longer. The internal configuration of the upper compartment is designed for maximum flexibility, with shelves that move and fold, high-capacity drawers and crispers with dedicated humidity controls, and several gallon-size storage bins in both doors. Two freezer drawers allow easy access, and the top compartment holds the tray for the automated ice-maker. It’s so beautiful! We did have a hiccup with this though as we specifically talked to AJ Madison to make sure this fridge had the proper hinge to be tucked in right by a wall. And that was not the case unfortunately so we had to have our marble guy cut an inch off our marble making a huge mess and a bill for three hours of work. WE are still working with AJ Madison to see how they help resolve this problem and I will keep you updated!

And of course wanted a matching dishwasher. All Bertazzoni dishwashers are designed and engineered with the highest grade materials and components. Using one of the 3 available handle kits in Professional, Master and Heritage Series style, this stainless dishwasher integrates seamlessly with all other Bertazzoni appliances into style-harmonized suites for a true, high-performing kitchen. This dishwasher is Energy Star compliant using as little as 3.5 gallons for a complete wash cycle.

This XT model dishwasher offers superb cleaning performance with 3 spray arms and the dedicated high-pressure Power-Zone to remove tough deposits. Load up to 16 place settings thanks to the flexible top cutlery drawer and the one-touch height-adjustable middle basket. Select one of the 6 available wash cycles and 5 wash options through the concealed LED interface. This top-of-the-line dishwasher is perfectly insulated and virtually inaudible at 45 DbA.

COUNTERTOPS AND BACKSPLASH

We replaced the dark countertops and backsplash with a gorgeous APPIA GREY LEATHERED MARBLE from Aria Stone Gallery out of Dallas. It was over $3000 dollars to ship to Santa Fe! Leathering gives marble a more natural feel, with varying texture that mimics the movement of natural stone - perfect to emphasize the straight-from-the-earth aesthetic. ( #StoneIsArt ) Lin completely surprised me with this and I was a bit surprised but now it has really really grown on me and I am in love with it! Linking it here should you have interest.

Love that the bar area is now flush and seamless. doing this really creates an open feeling in the kitchen. I mean just look at these before and afters!

SINK AND FAUCET

We ordered this sink and I love the look of it! The ultimate sink for the modern home chef. Inspired by professional kitchens, this kitchen sink is designed with a full-service prep station for ultimate convenience and entertaining in style. The versatile dual-mount design allows you to install this sink as a drop-in with any type of kitchen counter, with an extra-thick 4mm deck that sits flat against the countertop for a perfectly finished look. Packed with premium accessories such as the multi-purpose dish drying rack and bamboo cutting board, the ultra-functional design of the integrated ledge system allows you to wash and dry, or chop and slice without losing an inch of counter space. For unbeatable value, the set includes a stainless steel bottom grid that protects the sink surface and keeps dishes elevated for optimal draining, a drain assembly, and a decorative drain cover that creates a clean seamless look.

And the faucet is from Wayfair. It’s the Kraus Oletto Pull Down Kitchen Faucet.

This product features a distinctively modern design with universal appeal. Every design detail is carefully thought through to create a perfectly balanced faucet that enhances any kitchen or laundry room. The high-arc spout offers maximum space for oversized items like large cookware and tall pitchers. Designed for ease of use, the ergonomic comfort grip handle operates with 90-degree forward rotation, allowing for smooth operation as well as installation flexibility in spaces with limited backsplash clearance. A pull-down spray head with a swivel adapter provides maximum maneuverability, with ultra-smooth retraction and secure docking so you can flex, pivot, and reach all around the sink. The robust design features lead-free solid brass construction and state-of-the-art components, including a ceramic cartridge engineered to last twice as long as the industry standard, to ensure a lifetime of worry-free use. Installation is simple and convenient with flexible pre-attached water lines, Quick Weight snap-on counterweight, and an easy-install Quick Connect sprayer hose that snaps together for a leak-free connection. To personalize the look, choose from a variety of durable and corrosion-resistant finishes that are designed to protect your faucet over a lifetime of use – including proprietary Spot Free Finishes that make an ideal choice for busy kitchens.

LIGHTING

Obsessed with the Nordic-Style pendant lights we picked from Noosh Decor. Adore the minimal finishes to accentuate this space with subtle elegance. Glass is available in several colors too. And shapes.

BAR STOOLS

We searched high and low for the perfect bar stools. And while we have not ordered these yet..we think these are the ones!!! They are the Oeste Counter Stools in black coffee from Arhaus. Craftsman-built by Mexican furniture artisans, chairs seats are expertly formed from hand-sewn leather, featuring an artfully applied organic, dyed finish. Wrought iron chair frames are hammered by hand for added texture and finished with a natural, black patina.

What do you guys think?!!