• Our Homes
    • Decor & Remodel
    • Food & Drinks
    • Parties
    • DIY
  • Lifestyle
    • Mom Advice
    • Beauty
    • Travel
  • Shop our look
    • Shop our Instagram
    • All The Deals
    • Daily Deals
    • Where We Shop
  • Shop
    • Mom Style
    • Dad Style
    • Toddler Style
    • Gift Guides & Round-ups
  • Meet Us
    • meet the blondes
    • get in touch
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure
    • Email
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

the babbling blondes

kitchen update on a budget

in Decor & Remodel, Home on 09/28/17

We recently gave our kitchen a face lift and I am loving the finished product! Our home is around 20 years so it needs some TLC.  We still have many things we’d like to do, but updating the kitchen was our biggest priority since I am always rarely cooking for everyone (haha).  My husband constantly jokes that if he wasn’t around, I’d starve to death.

I knew I wanted to stick with the “theme” of my home (farm house chic) but also keep it simple and light.  I love the all white look, but also have two boys so practical is key.

I adore marble countertops, but didn’t want to break the bank so I started to look at comparable options.  I needed something a little more durable and kid friendly, especially since these were going in my kitchen and used heavily.  I ended up going with quartz countertops in Olympia.  It mimics marble and is non-porous so it resists staining.  It also requires no maintenance whereas others do.  Done and done… I was SOLD!

Next was changing the color of my cabinets.  We had a few people quote us and it was going to be around $10,000 for new cabinets.  I wasn’t ready to make that commitment so we decided to hire someone to paint them for us for 1/4 of the cost.  I am SO happy how they turned out and wouldn’t have changed a thing.  I wanted them to be white but not a bright white.  I ended up using the color Simply White by Benjamin Moore.  We also changed the hardware out which completely changed the look.  I found mine on amazon!


The backsplash was my favorite part of the rehab.  Our kitchen has a separate area that we call our “coffee/beverage” station (mommy fuel) so I knew I wanted to do something fun over there.  I went with the Camilla with mirror glass from The Tile Shop.  The rest of the kitchen was done in the classic subway tile from Home Depot – Daltile – Finesse Bright White .

Here are the before and after pictures!  Enjoy!

xo-Carley

xo- Carley

6 Comments

« meet the blondes
favorite nail polishes »

Comments

  1. Lauren says

    February 17, 2018 at 8:45 pm

    Do you know what grout you used with the Camilla mirror tile? Just purchased the tile and wasn’t sure what grout to get.

    Reply
    • the babbling blondes says

      February 18, 2018 at 7:16 am

      Hi Lauren- thanks for stopping by! We used dove color for the Camilla Mirror Tile as well 🙂

      Reply
  2. Niki says

    June 28, 2018 at 8:10 am

    Wow! This looks amazing! We are going to give our kitchen a facelift too…whenever I find the time to make some decisions! I love the quartz you chose and how it all ties together! Muy bueno!

    Reply
    • the babbling blondes says

      July 2, 2018 at 8:43 am

      Thank you! It so hard making decisions and hoping it all turns out! Can’t wait to see yours when its all done!

      Reply
  3. Heather Holt says

    October 15, 2018 at 2:08 pm

    was the Olympia quartz on the less expensive side? Some of the quartz is very expensive. Love your kitchen. I have a separate area for a coffee bar as well. Love what you did. Did you use same quartz on coffee bar or something different? Thanks.

    Reply
    • the babbling blondes says

      October 16, 2018 at 1:26 pm

      Yes! I believe we picked one right in the middle. It’s all based on an A-F scale. A- being low grade and F- being exceptional!I used the same quartz throughout the kitchen but did a fun backsplash for the coffee bar! Thanks for reading and we’d love to see pictures!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

the babbling blondes

theHey girl! Thanks for stopping by. We are Lindsay and Carley. This is our little area of the world where we share everything we love from fashion, mom life, laughter, cocktails, fitness and home decor.

Looking for Something?

Instagram

thebabblingblondes

life & style, 2 moms- 4 boys + 2 girls, figuring out life, one mess at a time! #betterbeauty, margs & laughs!
📧thebabblingblondesblog@gmail.com

Lindsay + Carley
To all the homeowners and parents these are staple To all the homeowners and parents these are staples to keeping this house clean! Linked all in our profile // amazon store front! Share you must have in the comments too!
Most requested amazon find….. budget friendly jo Most requested amazon find….. budget friendly joggers! Which are your favs?? 
.
.
.
#amazonmom #amazonfinds #amazonfavs #amazonfashion #amazondeals #amazonfashionfinds #amazonmusthaves #amazonbestseller #amazonfallfashion
5 years!!! It’s hard to believe it’s been 5 ye 5 years!!! It’s hard to believe it’s been 5 years on this space with one of my fav blondes! It started as an idea and turned into something so fun! I couldn’t imagine a better biz partner to do this blog thing with. We have fun, laugh, and celebrate hard! 
.
Thank you to everyone that’s been around and continues to push us to keep this lil thing going. Cheers to another 5 years on the inter-webs (well maybe)! Love ya Lindz 🖤
.
.
.
.
.
#bloganniversary #thebabblingblondes #5yearsofcelebrating #wehavefun #stlblogger #blondeshavemorefun
We had the most magical weekend away with friends We had the most magical weekend away with friends and made it back to STL for the kick off to the fall and some gorg temps. This was also my reminder to have @hoffmannbros come by this month for our bi-annual tune up with our  Home Protection Plan!! Hoffmann is easy to schedule, they arrive on time and are the most knowledgeable in the business 💥HVAC, Plumbing, Electric, Duct Cleaning, Appliance Repair 💥 
.
.
.
What’s on your fall must do list for around the house?? 
.
.
.
#stlmom #stlmoms #stlouis #nashville #nashvillemom #stllocal #stllocalbusiness #fallhouse #fallfootball #footballseason #footballweekend #collegefootball #auburn #auburnfootball
I’ve always loved a good protein bar but I found I’ve always loved a good protein bar but I found that most are packed with sugar! These two have been in my weekly rotation with only 230 cals and 1 gram of sugar! And the best part is they actually taste delicious! I often have to hide these bars from the kiddos 🤣
.
.
.
.
.
#proteinbar #thinkbars #onebars #healthylifestyle #proteinsnack #healthysnacks #eathealthy #momsnacks
Whew! What a day. Lilly is 2.5 and gave me a run f Whew! What a day. Lilly is 2.5 and gave me a run for my money. She woke up crabby and her mood remained the same throughout the entire day! My oldest had these days a lot and I still have some PTSD from it. 
.
Luckily since this is my 3rd I know to brush it off and give myself a little grace! Kids will be kids and it’s completely normal to have “bad days!” I promise they do grow up and you will forget these types of days!
.
So whatever type of day it was for you, relax, breathe and pour yourself a stiff cocktail! Tomorrow is a new day 🖤
.
.
.
.
.
#terribletwos #wegotthismamas #longdays #wewillforget #harderdays #lifeisgrand #parentingishard #giveyourselfgrace
@postmalone last night was 🔥🔥🔥and thanks @postmalone last night was 🔥🔥🔥and thanks to one of my besties for braiding my hair! Glad to see he’s recovering from his fall and he will continue on tour.
.
I’m tired, my voice is hoarse and I stayed up way past my bedtime but it was SO worth it!
.
.
.
.
.
#postmalone #ilikeyou #summerconcerts #enterprisecenter #myheadhurts #istayedupwaytoolate #beerbongsandbentleys
The must have #amazon dress for fall! It can take The must have #amazon dress for fall! It can take you from #brunchin ☀️ #datenight ☀️#weddingguest and everything between! I’m wearing the medium and have it linked in our stories! 
.
.
.
#amazonfinds #amazondress #amazonfashion #amazonfallfashion #amazondeals #amazondeals #amazonprime #stlmom #midwestmom #midwestmom #momlife #momsnightout #momsoutfit #winerylovers
I just recently switched to a @vitamix blender and I just recently switched to a @vitamix blender and our lives are forever changed! Sometimes my kids will eat fruits and veggies and sometimes they won’t! What they don’t know is that spinach and all the good ingredients are packed in this delicious little smoothie! 
.
For today, I’ve considered this a HUGE mom win and not sure why I waited this long to get on the smoothie train! I promise it’s worth the splurge 🙌🏻
.
.
.
.
.
#vitamix #vitamixsmoothie #vitamixblender #healthyliving #kidapproved #welovesmoothies #momhack #smoothierecipes
Our lives have forever changed from regular family Our lives have forever changed from regular family to sports family and I feel unprepared! 
.
Really need to step up my setup // haul for the million games we run around to on the weekend! This picnic blanket is from my wedding shower 🤪 honestly most used gift ever but needs an upgrade. 
.
Soooo #baseballmoms  #soccermoms and every other sport I didn’t know existed….PLEASE drop your must have swag in the comments or send us a DM with the best stuff! 
.
.
.
#soccerlife #sportslife #sportsweekend #littleleague #weekendvibes #stlmom #weekendwarriors #fallball #idontknowsportsmom
It’s been 1.5 weeks since we started potty train It’s been 1.5 weeks since we started potty training Lilly! Although it’s going pretty well, I have mixed emotions! This is a huge milestone that comes with a little more independence. 
.
Since Lilly is our final babe I’m secretly holding onto all the “lasts!” As much as I want her to gain her own independence, I still want her to to be my baby forever 💙
.
Side note: our cute rompers are apart of the @lillypulitzer sale and are under $50! See stories for details! 
.
.
.
.
.
#mommyandmephotoshoot #matchymatchywithmommy #momsminime #mybabyforever #pottytraining #pottytraininggirls #pottytrainingjourney
It’s finally FRIDAY which means the weekend is h It’s finally FRIDAY which means the weekend is here! Yep, we will be doing our usual mommin’ things like soccer games, laundry, and enjoying time with our families! 
.
We also called a sitter and will be taking the night off and enjoying some much deserved adult time! It’s okay as a mom to let loose with friends. After all, isn’t that what keeps us waking up and doing it all over again! 
.
.
.
.
#fridaynightcheers #momsofinstagram #enjoylifetothefullest #itstheweekendbaby #wegotthisgirls #makelifebetter #highnoonsunsips #cocktaildresses #cocktailhourclub
@thebabblingblondes x @laurenmuckler Heirloom Sess @thebabblingblondes x @laurenmuckler Heirloom Session Giveaway! 

Winner will receive an Heirloom Session with @laurenmuckler !

Session Valued at $1,200 . Valid for one child only and must be redeemed before 12-15-22. Children must be ages 18months and up. 

How to enter:
1- Follow both @thebabblingblondes and @laurenmuckler
2- Tag three friends in comments
3- Share in story for an extra entry

Winner will be announced on both of our pages this Friday 9/9 at 4pm.
I guess you could say that Halloween is our thing I guess you could say that Halloween is our thing so we had to jump on the trend from @amanda_stantonn // @amandanighbertrd to share our costumes from the past few years! 
.
.
.
Which is your fav?!?
.
.
Tag a bestie that needs to save this for next month! 
.
.
.
#halloweencostumes #halloweencouple #halloweenchallenge #halloweencouplescostume #hallowenparty #halloweencostumeideas #october #fallideas
We’re sadly kissing summer goodbye! It’s been We’re sadly kissing summer goodbye!  It’s been one week since the kids have gone back to school and I’m finally getting organized at home! 
.
Thankfully, @hoffmannbros take care of all the nitty gritty stuff when it comes to home repairs and maintenances.  If you don’t have their Home Protection Plan, I seriously urge you to get one. Also, during the month of September they’re offering $500 off an HVAC installation in STL 🥳
 .
Most importantly, they’re donating a percentage of their sales in August and September to Stray Rescue of St. Louis.  @strayrescuestl is near and dear to our hearts.  They do so many incredible things to help the homeless and neglected animals. 
.
.
.
.
.
.
#hvaclife #ad #goodbyesummer #homeprotectionplan #hoffmannbrothers #ad #sponsored #fallprepping #homerepairs #homemaintenance #organizedhome #strayrescuestl #stlgivesback
It’s that crossover point when you go from embar It’s that crossover point when you go from embarrassing your husband to embarrassing your kids❤️💥🤣🎉 @shopthereshegoes until the next WNL ❤️
.
.
.
.#momsofstl #momsofinsta #momsofinstagram #stlmom #midwestmom #momsover30 #momreels #momreel #funnyreel #momlifestyle #midwestboutique #stlshopping #shopstl #dancemoms
Cheers to all the other moms out there that feel t Cheers to all the other moms out there that feel this pain. The endless pile by the stairs that no one else takes or sees. 
.
Tag a friend that feels this…. 
.
.
#momreel #viralreels #momljfe #parentingtips #parentinglife #momlife #momfunnies #dailyreel #laundryday #homeorganization #messyhouse
Traveling with kids is always an adventure! No mat Traveling with kids is always an adventure! No matter how many suckers, electronics, games, and snacks you pack, nothing ever goes as expected! 
.
Thankfully the hubs can rest and relax on the flight knowing it’s all under control! I’m sure he’s exhausted from all the packing leading up to the trip 🤣🤣🤣 I know I say this a lot but, MOTHERS RULE THE WORLD! 
.
.
.
.
.
#travelingwithkids #traveladventures #momswegotthis #theplanners #themothers #momsruletheworld #airplaneadventures #travelingwithkidsisfun #kidstraveltips #kidstravel
Fridays are bad biatch days….. the hubs was golf Fridays are bad biatch days….. the hubs was golfing so I went to @salon210stl to see @reesebondhair so she could feed me wine and fix these roots! 
.
Also because salon chats are my fav… would you rather be compared to “Hannah Montana” or Margot Robbie. My vote is Robbie, drop your in the comments. (And clearly the company wasn’t to me🤣) 
.
.
.
@theparlourhouston you babes killed this reel thanks for the idea! 😍
.
#blondehair #blondehairdontcare #momlife #golfwife #golfwifelife #fridaywine #stlmom #stlouis #stlhairstylist #stlhair
These last weeks of summer always bring all the fe These last weeks of summer always bring all the feels. We are in a season of change in our family so trying to soak it all in! 
.
.
Our sweet girl is moving to a new school and we couldn’t be more excited to see her grow! ❤️ Yes, she’s wearing winter boots with her dress bc no one tells her no🤣
.
Brooks is bringing his wild spirit to kindergarten and can’t wait to ride the bus. 
.
Cam is the cool guy moving into first grade. He’s having feels about new friends in his class : ) 
.
I’m over here on a tight rope trying to balance all of the above and being 3 months in at a new job. 😵‍💫
.
I wouldn’t change these moments for anything and can’t wait for the next few weeks! 
.
Who’s kiddos have some big moments coming up??? 
.
.
.
#firstdayofschool #firstday #familytime #familychanges #preschoolclassroom #prek #stlchildcare #familylove #stl #stlmom #stlmom 
Dress 👗 @domeafavorstl
Follow on Instagram
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Pinterest

LIKEtoKNOWit

Where we love to shop

DSW
Evereve

Nordstrom

Madewell

Old Navy

Target

Wayfair

Rugs USA

Walmart

subscribe to our newsletter

FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM

thebabblingblondes

life & style, 2 moms- 4 boys + 2 girls, figuring out life, one mess at a time! #betterbeauty, margs & laughs!
📧thebabblingblondesblog@gmail.com

Lindsay + Carley
To all the homeowners and parents these are staple To all the homeowners and parents these are staples to keeping this house clean! Linked all in our profile // amazon store front! Share you must have in the comments too!
Most requested amazon find….. budget friendly jo Most requested amazon find….. budget friendly joggers! Which are your favs?? 
.
.
.
#amazonmom #amazonfinds #amazonfavs #amazonfashion #amazondeals #amazonfashionfinds #amazonmusthaves #amazonbestseller #amazonfallfashion
5 years!!! It’s hard to believe it’s been 5 ye 5 years!!! It’s hard to believe it’s been 5 years on this space with one of my fav blondes! It started as an idea and turned into something so fun! I couldn’t imagine a better biz partner to do this blog thing with. We have fun, laugh, and celebrate hard! 
.
Thank you to everyone that’s been around and continues to push us to keep this lil thing going. Cheers to another 5 years on the inter-webs (well maybe)! Love ya Lindz 🖤
.
.
.
.
.
#bloganniversary #thebabblingblondes #5yearsofcelebrating #wehavefun #stlblogger #blondeshavemorefun
We had the most magical weekend away with friends We had the most magical weekend away with friends and made it back to STL for the kick off to the fall and some gorg temps. This was also my reminder to have @hoffmannbros come by this month for our bi-annual tune up with our  Home Protection Plan!! Hoffmann is easy to schedule, they arrive on time and are the most knowledgeable in the business 💥HVAC, Plumbing, Electric, Duct Cleaning, Appliance Repair 💥 
.
.
.
What’s on your fall must do list for around the house?? 
.
.
.
#stlmom #stlmoms #stlouis #nashville #nashvillemom #stllocal #stllocalbusiness #fallhouse #fallfootball #footballseason #footballweekend #collegefootball #auburn #auburnfootball
I’ve always loved a good protein bar but I found I’ve always loved a good protein bar but I found that most are packed with sugar! These two have been in my weekly rotation with only 230 cals and 1 gram of sugar! And the best part is they actually taste delicious! I often have to hide these bars from the kiddos 🤣
.
.
.
.
.
#proteinbar #thinkbars #onebars #healthylifestyle #proteinsnack #healthysnacks #eathealthy #momsnacks
Whew! What a day. Lilly is 2.5 and gave me a run f Whew! What a day. Lilly is 2.5 and gave me a run for my money. She woke up crabby and her mood remained the same throughout the entire day! My oldest had these days a lot and I still have some PTSD from it. 
.
Luckily since this is my 3rd I know to brush it off and give myself a little grace! Kids will be kids and it’s completely normal to have “bad days!” I promise they do grow up and you will forget these types of days!
.
So whatever type of day it was for you, relax, breathe and pour yourself a stiff cocktail! Tomorrow is a new day 🖤
.
.
.
.
.
#terribletwos #wegotthismamas #longdays #wewillforget #harderdays #lifeisgrand #parentingishard #giveyourselfgrace
Follow on Instagram
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Copyright © 2023 · The Babbling Blondes · · Implemented By MLL DESIGN + BRANDING STUDIO

  • get in touch
  • shop our IG
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok