The kitchen is the heart of the home and most of the time the most important! We spend so much time in this room, we want to make sure it’s a place you want to be in. Making cookies, doing homework, cocktailing with my girls, or devouring some new dip I found at Trader Joe’s… the kitchen is such a hub. About every 5-7 years I’m always ready to add some simple updates as trends and styles change to keep my home feeling fresh.

Below is our kitchen before my mini updates. It’s beautiful but not quite where I wanted it to be, missing warmth and modern wow-factor from the lighting I decided on. Keep scrolling to see the updates as well as a few of my favorite kitchens from our past and present Yeager Team listings for more inspiration!

You don’t have to break the bank to create a space you love being in. I focused on lighting, barstools, and simple decor which made a major difference in functionality and style of my kitchen. My advice would be to find a few kitchens you love on Pinterest or our real estate search app Zenlist and identify why you love them. Is it the color scheme? The lighting? The floors? and go from there. I have a neutral kitchen so I decided to add in pops of brightness and warmth with gold lighting and by exchanging my wicker stools with no backs, to upholstered grey swivel chairs. I also wanted the lighting over my island to coordinate with the statement piece I have over my dining room table (below). Scroll for instant inspiration curtesy of closed and current listings.

Lighting:

I had been on the search for lighting to go above my island that would also coordinating with the kitchen dining area. Something timeless with current style factor. These are from circa a few years ago, but still have plenty of great options. A few budget places to browse: The Home Depot, and Crest Lighting in Lakeview and Ballard Design.

My dining light is an older piece I put in, and it still looks great, but I’m starting to think I want to add a vintage vibe to go with my vintage 1901 home. Any suggestions? Crystal chandelier perhaps?

Barstools:

Is anyone else as obsessed with HomeGoods as I am? It’s the rush of finding a deal, snagging it as fast as I can? It’s also amazing for a budget, being a deal seeker I will always check a place like this before going to a retail store, and I do love the hunt of a special piece. At $129 a pop, I found a great barstool option for my home that couldn’t be a better steal and while having 3 kids they are bound to have some spills on them. They’re cozy, more streamlined, and chicer than my old wicker ones. Now even more time is being spent in the kitchen.

Decor Pieces:

Napkin Holder. My kitchen is neutral, but I like to add pops through accents of metal! I found this napkin holder at Ikea. It’s only $6.99 but I think looks more expensive and adds some fun flair. It’s a palm leaf design and just creates a cute element to the dinner table. Also, having kids means a wipe or napkin must always be at the ready for pasta covered faces or spills. Always be prepared, and with a cute napkin holder!

I love seeing how people design their respective homes so differently to fit personal styles! Get inspired to try your own mini kitchen update! Check out YeagerTeam.com for available listings and photos or contact me directly if you want more photos of a kitchen you saw here.

As always, stay safe and stay healthy.

xoxo, Juliana

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