Most People Would Have Kept This Dark Kitchen. I Removed It Anyway
Kitchen remodels usually begin because something is broken, outdated, or worn out. Mine wasn’t. The kitchen already had premium appliances, custom cabinetry, a large island, built-in wine storage, designer lighting, and generous workspace.
The dark gray and black finishes looked modern, the layout worked, and most people would have considered the project finished. Yet after living with it for some time, I realized it wasn’t giving me what I wanted from the apartment.
Instead of updating a few finishes, I removed the entire kitchen and redesigned the layout from scratch. These photos show the kitchen before the transformation and the features that made the decision far more difficult than a typical remodel.
Matte Gray Cabinetry Defined the Space
The original kitchen used flat-panel MDF fronts finished in a dark gray tone paired with black countertops and a matching backsplash. Tall storage cabinets stretched to the ceiling while upper cabinets formed a clean horizontal line across the main wall.
Nothing about the kitchen looked outdated. Handleless fronts, integrated appliances, and a restrained material palette gave the room a contemporary appearance that could fit into many new apartments today.
The Island Combined Seating and Workspace
One of the most distinctive features was the island configuration. A black preparation zone sat at the center while a natural wood extension created seating for four people.
The contrast between the wood and black surfaces prevented the island from becoming visually heavy. It also allowed dining, casual work, and food preparation to happen within the same footprint.
Foscarini Pendant Lights Framed the Island
Three Aplomb pendant lights from Foscarini hung above the island and helped define the center of the room.
Their slim profile maintained open sightlines across the apartment while introducing a sculptural element above the work surface. The fixtures became one of the first details visitors noticed when entering the space.
Built-In Wine Storage Added a Custom Touch
A Liebherr wine refrigerator was integrated directly into the island and surrounded by matching cabinetry.
Rather than treating wine storage as a separate appliance, the design incorporated it into the island itself. The glass door introduced another material layer among the matte cabinet fronts and dark surfaces.
Premium Appliances and Designer Details Were Already Part of the Kitchen
The kitchen already included Siemens built-in appliances, including the oven, microwave, induction cooktop, and washing machine. Functionality was never the issue. Storage, workspace, and everyday usability had already been addressed through the original design.
A large black Falmec Laguna hood occupied the corner section and became one of the strongest visual elements in the room. Its glass surface contrasted with the matte cabinetry while connecting with the black countertop and backsplash to create a consistent material palette throughout the kitchen.
Costa chairs from Kare Design introduced natural wood and leather into a space dominated by darker finishes. Their sculptural shape softened the strong lines of the cabinetry and island while echoing the wood extension attached to the island.
Combined with the Foscarini Aplomb pendants above, these details gave the kitchen a custom-built appearance. Premium appliances, designer lighting, integrated wine storage, and carefully selected furniture made the decision to remove the kitchen much harder than a typical renovation.
The Kitchen Was Beautiful. I Removed It Anyway
The kitchen wasn’t old, damaged, or poorly designed. It came with many features people add during expensive renovations: premium appliances, a large island, designer lighting, built-in wine storage, and custom cabinetry.
The reason for the remodel was much simpler. The kitchen came with the apartment, and while I respected the quality and craftsmanship, I never connected with the dark gray and black design direction. I wanted the space to reflect my own taste rather than someone else’s decisions.
Removing the kitchen meant taking almost everything out. The cabinetry, island, countertops, backsplash, and most of the appliances were removed to make way for the new design. Only a few elements stayed behind, including the Foscarini Aplomb pendant lights and selected Siemens appliances such as the built-in oven and microwave, along with the Liebherr wine fridge.
The original kitchen wasn’t discarded. Around 90% of it was relocated and reused in another property, including most of the cabinetry, island components, appliances, and storage units. Knowing the kitchen would continue serving its purpose made the decision much easier. Rather than ending up as renovation waste, it became part of another home while allowing me to create a completely different vision for this apartment.
The First Cabinets Revealed a Completely Different Direction
After months of planning, waiting, measurements, revisions, and production, the first pieces of the new kitchen finally arrived. Seeing cabinetry return to the space after demolition made it easier to visualize the direction of the project.
The difference was immediate. Instead of dark gray fronts, black countertops, and black cabinetry, I chose a walnut finish as the foundation for the new design. The warmer material brought a completely different look to the apartment from the moment the first cabinets were installed.
The layout also changed significantly. Rather than recreating the previous kitchen, I used the renovation as an opportunity to rethink how the island, tall storage, appliances, and work zones interacted with the rest of the room.
What had started as an empty space with exposed connections and bare walls was beginning to look like a kitchen again, but one built around a completely different vision.
The contrast between the old and new kitchens went far beyond color. The walnut cabinetry introduced texture and grain that were absent from the previous flat gray surfaces, while the revised layout created a very different visual presence inside the apartment.
For the first time since demolition, it became clear that this wasn’t an update. It was a complete transformation.
The Marble-Clad Island Became the Centerpiece
The arrival of the island marked one of the biggest milestones of the renovation. After months of planning, demolition, and installation, the kitchen finally started to resemble the vision I had in mind when the project began.
Wrapped in black marble-look stone with subtle white veining, the island introduced a strong contrast against the walnut cabinetry while becoming the visual anchor of the entire room. The waterfall edges gave it a sculptural presence from every angle, and its scale immediately shifted attention toward the center of the space. Together with the walnut cabinetry and the Foscarini pendants that remained from the original kitchen, the island confirmed just how different this new kitchen would be from the dark gray design that came with the apartment.
Pull-Out Pantry Storage Was Built Beside the Appliances
Rather than filling this section with fixed shelves, we added a full-height pull-out pantry unit next to the Siemens oven and microwave. The system uses sliding shelves that move forward with the cabinet door, bringing everything into view at once.
Integrated LED lighting was installed inside the tower to illuminate the shelves when opened. The pantry provides dedicated storage for dry goods, bottles, and everyday kitchen items while keeping the main cabinetry wall clean and uninterrupted when closed.
The Same Stone Was Extended Across Multiple Surfaces
Rather than limiting the stone to the island, I used the same black marble-look material for the countertop, backsplash, and side panels. Continuing the surface across multiple planes reduced visual breaks and gave the kitchen a more cohesive appearance.
The stone also extends up the side of the cabinetry and into the recessed section beside the coffee station. Using one material across the horizontal and vertical surfaces created a stronger architectural effect than a standard countertop-and-backsplash combination. The subtle white veining remains visible throughout, connecting the island, work area, and surrounding cabinetry into a single composition.
Floor-to-Ceiling Cabinet Fronts Completed the Design
The final cabinet fronts transformed the kitchen wall into one continuous surface from countertop to ceiling. The added height increased storage while giving the walnut cabinetry a stronger architectural presence.
With the waterfall island, black stone surfaces, integrated appliances, and retained Foscarini pendants in place, the kitchen renovation was finally complete.
Hidden Appliance Storage Was Integrated Into the Cabinet Wall
Push-to-open doors finished in the same walnut material conceal a dedicated storage section for small appliances. Keeping coffee machines, blenders, toasters, and other countertop items behind closed doors helps maintain a cleaner appearance across the main work area.
When closed, the storage blends into the surrounding cabinetry and reads as part of the continuous cabinet wall rather than a separate feature.
The Finished Kitchen Looks Nothing Like the One That Came With the Apartment
The final design combines walnut cabinetry, black stone surfaces, and light oak flooring throughout the open living area. Floor-to-ceiling cabinet fronts conceal storage, appliances, and pantry space behind continuous walnut panels, allowing the kitchen to read as part of the architecture rather than a collection of separate cabinets.
At the center of the room, the island was redesigned around a large walnut dining extension connected to a raised black stone preparation surface. The integrated dining section creates seating for four with Igloo chairs from Calligaris, while the retained Liebherr wine fridge remains built into the island. The original Foscarini Aplomb pendants were also kept and incorporated into the new design.
Looking back at the dark gray kitchen that came with the apartment, the difference extends far beyond color. The layout, materials, storage solutions, and overall composition were reimagined from the ground up. During the day, the walnut cabinetry becomes the dominant feature. At night, concealed LED lighting beneath the cabinets and along the toe-kick creates a floating effect that changes the appearance of the entire kitchen.
While several premium elements were preserved and reused, the finished kitchen reflects a completely different vision and the design direction I wanted for the apartment from the beginning.
From Dark Gray to Walnut: Which Design Do You Prefer?
Looking at the before-and-after photos side by side, the transformation goes far beyond a color change. The original kitchen combined dark gray cabinetry, black surfaces, and a lighter wood island extension. The new version introduces walnut cabinetry, floor-to-ceiling panels, integrated storage, a redesigned island, concealed appliance zones, and LED lighting that changes the appearance of the kitchen after dark.
Both kitchens offered premium appliances, quality materials, and strong functionality. The difference comes down to design direction. One embraced a darker, more minimalist palette, while the other uses walnut, black stone, and integrated lighting to create a completely different atmosphere.
What do you think? Did replacing the original kitchen improve the space, or would you have kept the dark gray design that came with the apartment? Let me know which version you prefer in the comments.