Lifestyle blogger and mother of three Shannon Morscheck of Living with Lady has been documenting her DIY projects since moving into her 2000s-built home in Spokane, Washington. While the home had plenty of potential, it felt dated, especially the kitchen with its clunky layout and orangey wood cabinetry. “The main floor was cut up into different rooms with a wall separating the kitchen from the living room,” she says. “Our goal was to make it more inviting and family-oriented, somewhere all of us could be together when cooking, dining and just living.” Beginning in September 2020, the family completely renovated their kitchen into a highly functional and stylish space utilizing Semihandmade, which ultimately saved them thousands. 

Renovations can be tough, especially when on a tight budget, but Morscheck knew that Semihandmade would be their best option, especially with all of the cabinetry they planned to purchase and the custom look they hoped to achieve. “When my in-laws remodeled their home, they did so with Ikea cabinets and had nothing but wonderful things to say about them. That’s what first piqued our interest,” she recalls.

In order to figure out the right layout for their space, the couple worked with IKEA’s Kitchen Planning department virtually. “We worked with their assistants to get the layout right,” she says. “It took us three times before we finalized everything.” In the end, they decided to knock down the separating wall, remove the load-bearing beams on either side of the island and install glulam beams across the ceiling, which act not only as an architectural detail but provide structural support. A large farmhouse sink and refrigerator wall with varying size cabinetry pair with the neutral palette, oversized pendant lights, and 25-foot ceilings.

“I always knew I wanted to do an oak and white combo,” she says. “I saw Nesting with Grace and Kelsey Fullmer’s (done by Chris & Julia) kitchens. I also looked to Pinterest and asked people on Instagram stories what their biggest must-haves are in doing a renovation.”

The biggest feedback from Morscheck’s followers? You can never have too many drawers.

Morscheck and her husband ordered the IKEA bases and Semihandmade fronts in Cove and White Supermatte Shaker and then contractors did the installation. For the central island, they used six cabinets (three 30″ on each side) to maximize storage, and because they wanted the sides of the island to match the Semihandmade fronts, they ordered extra panels the carpenter could add to finish-off the island. 

“I love the refrigerator surround and the different size cabinets,” she says. “The hidden drawers are so great as well along the back wall and in the island.” Instead of searching through drawers, smaller compartments make for specialized storage. The renovation, which was completed in January 2021, has transformed the kitchen from boring and blah to storage-savvy and sophisticated.