Forget Replacing Countertops: Update Your Kitchen Around Them (Thanks, Emily Henderson)

Anyone who's done a kitchen remodel will tell you that it can get pricy quickly. So if you're on a budget, it's worthwhile to consider what elements of your existing kitchen can still be used, and what needs to be replaced. When it comes to the counters, here's how to know when to repair vs. replace your countertops. And if they're still in usable condition, don't ditch them, update your kitchen around them. As design pro Emily Henderson did for a summer 2023 kitchen remodel for a client, she kept the countertops, then made design choices that worked with them.

On a blog post about the project, Henderson wrote that the countertops were "A medium gray, with some [warm] flecks in them (a pretty generic quartz I think)." She shared that they were in decent shape and only required some cutting. Because they were a neutral gray, Henderson used that as a base for the other design choices, most notably paint. For this project, she chose dark sage green cabinetry, a soft pale "blue/green/gray" on the range hood and beadboard above the counters, and a pink and green wallpaper on the top quarter of the wall, as seen in an Instagram video she posted about the project.

One of the steps Emily Henderson took to remodel a client's kitchen with budget in mind was not only to keep the countertops, but also reuse the existing cabinets. Like these kitchens that prove painted cabinets can transform a space, Henderson refreshed this room with fresh paint. Originally, the cabinets were a cream shade with black handles, and there were white appliances. In the spruce-up she used Sherwin-Williams paint in Rosemary, which is a green shade with cool gray undertones. Those undertones are what make it work so well with the existing gray countertops. She also covered the appliances with cabinet fronts, which gives the room a much more streamlined effect.

Another thing that makes this kitchen a master class in mixing textures and materials is the island; the Crate and Barrel piece has a marble top and natural oak wood, which are neutral enough to work with the gray quartz, but add contrasting interest thanks to the textures. To incorporate some cottagecore interest to the space, Henderson updated the beadboard with a paint that had gray undertones to again complement the existing countertops. And then the pink and green wallpaper tied it all together with a touch of whimsy. While Henderson was very pleased with the final result, she was particularly happy to keep the remodel budget low ($4,000, not including the island).