It’s finally here—the big kitchen reveal! After months of living through the chaos of construction, dust, and decision fatigue, our kitchen is officially finished, and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. This space is now everything I dreamed it would be: functional, elegant, and full of personality.
If you’re planning your kitchen remodel or just love seeing a good before-and-after, I’m excited to walk you through the journey (all the tips, lessons learned, and details) that turned a dream into the most beautiful kitchen I’ve ever designed. I am so proud of how this space came to life and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
The Monarch Colonial Kitchen Costs:
Renovating a kitchen is no small undertaking, and I understand the importance of being transparent about the budget. From the beginning, I worked to prioritize key elements, like the Calacatta Viola marble slab and gold finishing touches, while also making smart choices, such as opting for RTA cabinets to achieve a custom look for less.
Balancing splurges with savings made it possible to bring my vision to life without overspending, and I hope sharing these decisions inspires you to feel confident about your renovation budget.
Appliances:
- Fridge: $4,682.66
- Range: $3,500.00
- Dishwashers: $2,398.00
Cabinetry & Hardware:
- Kitchen Cabinets: $14,908.00 (gifted)
- Hardware: $2,561.78
Plumbing:
- Sink: $499.00
- Pot Filler: $1,005.96
- Faucet: $1,711.39
Lighting Fixtures:
- Hood Sconces: $1,078.20
Surfaces:
- Countertops: $4,835.00
- Island: $9,690.75
- Backsplash: $4,465.00
Living Through A Kitchen Renovation Demo
If you’ve been keeping up with Monarch Colonial Renovation, you know we’ve been working through a HUGE floor-wide demo. To see a breakdown of all the steps we’ve worked through, check out this post: Why We Decided To Work With An Interior Designer… Thankfully, the construction zone is almost complete and we FINALLY have a livable first floor again!

While living through demolition is hard in any space, a kitchen is a whole different uphill battle (especially if you have five boys). To make this transition semi-manageable, I set up a makeshift kitchen which is my most recommended tip for anyone trying to live with a work-in-progress cooking space. For a more thorough explanation of everything I recommend having in a temporary kitchen, check out my post: Kitchen Renovation Tips | Creating A Makeshift Kitchen For Your Sanity (& Wallet!).
RTA Cabinet Installation
Ready-to-assemble (RTA) cabinets have been a staple in nearly every renovation I’ve ever done, so of course this kitchen needed to have them as well. While custom cabinets are beautiful, RTA makes it so easy to get the custom look for a lot less. I’ll never go back to traditional options again.
If you’re curious to try out RTA cabinets in your home, my post – RTA Cabinets Review | How I’ve Made Them Look Custom! – is a great place to start learning how to do it yourself.

While I typically gravitate towards white cabinets (and still have them in certain parts of the kitchen) I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and go with a different color choice – natural wood brown. I chose the color Florence Honey and loved the result for our island!
Let this be a reminder that stepping away from your usual preferences can lead to stunning outcomes. Sometimes, the choices that feel “out-of-the-box” end up being just what a space needs.
Picked Out Our Kitchen Renovation Statement Piece – Tile!
In any renovation project, I believe it’s essential to choose a few standout elements that immediately catch your eye when you enter the space. For this kitchen, my goal was to create something more elegant than any I’d designed before. I’d always dreamed of making a stunning marble tile the focal point, and this was my chance to bring that vision to life.

While I tend to order things online when creating a space, going in person to select the tile centerpiece is one of my best choices to date. Do not underestimate the power of a face-to-face visit with your showstopping piece! At Southern Stone Nashville, we had the chance to take our time and examine the details—the colors, textures, and subtle crackling in the marble that simply doesn’t come through in photos.
We ultimately chose a stunning polished Calacatta Viola marble slab for the waterfall island and range backsplash. To elevate the look even further, I opted for an ogee edge (an elegant S-curve), which perfectly highlighted the natural veining and marbling. Seeing how the details came together in person made all the difference in achieving the timeless and luxurious feel I wanted for the space.
Installed Countertops
For the countertops throughout the rest of the kitchen, I wanted a neutral option that would complement the marble tile without stealing the spotlight. I chose honed Negresco granite in a deep black finish, paired with an ogee edge for subtle elegance.
This granite was the perfect choice to pull in tones from the marble tile while staying understated. It allows the showstopping pieces, like the waterfall island and range backsplash, to shine.

One of the best design tips I’ve learned is to let some elements in the space play the role of supportive characters. Not every detail needs to compete for attention—when you strike the right balance, the focal points feel even more impactful. The countertops are a great example of how neutral choices can elevate the overall design without overwhelming it.
Brought Back Our Smeg Appliances
The Smeg appliances in our previous home were something I just could not part with when we sold it. They are the perfect appliance combination for our family of seven that combines beauty and functionality so well. While all of the appliances were non-negotiables, I immediately told our realtor the Portofino range would never enter the discussion. It is so gorgeous and will travel with me no matter where we end up.

You don’t always have to leave behind the things you love when moving to a new home. If something has worked for you before, bring it with you and make it part of your next chapter! I did this with several things and have zero regrets.
Rebuilt Our Previous Kitchen Hood
While it may sound silly, I feel like I left a piece of my heart with the Monarch Revival kitchen hood. Yes, I loved it THAT much.
I’d always planned to recreate a crown molding kitchen hood in whatever home we moved into next, but it somehow never made it to the top of the to-do list. After hearing me talk about it for probably the hundredth time, our amazing contractor offered to take the project off my plate and build it himself.

The gesture alone meant so much, but the final result blew me away. It turned out even better than I had imagined, and it became one of my favorite features in the entire kitchen.
What I learned is that while I love being hands-on with every part of a renovation, sometimes trusting the professionals you hire can take a space to a whole new level. It’s worth letting go a little!
Added In Gold Finishing Touches
To add a touch of elegance and warmth, I brought in gold accents throughout the kitchen. These finishing touches help tie everything together while adding a bit of luxury.
The over-the-counter chandeliers (which I vowed to take with me to every home) and sconces with gold detailing were the perfect choice for both function and style, providing soft lighting while enhancing the overall aesthetic. The gold barstools, with their sleek lines, complement the other golden elements in the space and add a modern, refined feel, especially with the faux leather cushions.


I also chose gold faucets and hardware, which provide a subtle yet sophisticated contrast to the rest of the kitchen. The gold workstation sink is the standout feature to me, bringing both beauty and practicality to the space.
These gold accents add that final layer of polish, elevating the kitchen from beautiful to truly stunning. I cannot recommend choosing a metal as a color within a design – it elevates a space more than you can imagine.
Monarch Colonial Kitchen Renovation Sources:
- RTA Cabinets – Florence Honey
- Calacatta Viola Marble Slab
- Smeg Portofino Range
- Barstools
- Kitchen Rug
- French Crystal Chandeliers
- Gold Wall Sconces
- Gold Hardware Knobs
- Gold Hardware Pulls
- Gold Faucet
- Gold Pot Filler
- Gold Workstation Sink
- Crown Moulding
What do you think of the Monarch Colonial Kitchen Reveal? Please let me know in the comments!





The chandeliers, sconces and sink are my favourites. So much to love here.
Aren’t they amazing?! Thank you for sharing!