I’m super excited today to finally share my new kitchen with you! I’m so sorry it took us forever to complete making the kitchen tour video. It was hard to find time to edit and film additional footage for the video on top of our regular recipe production, but we finally managed to finish it!
For those of you who requested my kitchen tour video, thank you so much for your interest! Many of you asked me to open all the cabinets, so I really did! 🙂
If you’re fairly new to my blog, I had my kitchen and its surrounding area of the house renovated this past summer when we were in Japan for two months. When we came back, it was supposed to be finished or close to finish, but due to the complications with the structural support for the house, the renovation extended another 2 months.
Before I give you a tour of my kitchen, I will share a little bit about the story behind my kitchen renovation.
Previous Just One Cookbook Kitchen
Here’s the fun part. Most of you probably didn’t know what our old kitchen looked like because all of our videos only focused on my hands and the cutting board area. So let me show you…
Outdated kitchen with old cabinets
Our house was built in 1976 and the cabinets were close to 40 years old. We did update the counter top and some of the appliances several years ago, but that was pretty much the only change we made for the kitchen since we moved in 8 years ago.
Kitchen with no window
As you could see in the photos, the kitchen has absolutely no window. The closest window (the one you see above) is the sliding door in our breakfast nook. Because the kitchen itself has no window, it was always dark and the lights were always turned on even during daytime.
Not enough storage and counter space
There was a pantry on the left side that is not shown in above picture, but what you see is pretty much all the space I had in the kitchen. Because of the lack of storage space, I used to have shelves in our living room and family room where I keep extra plates, pots, and props for photo shoots.
Since we started making videos, we also realized we didn’t have enough space for me to cook and for Mr. JOC to place his camera equipment and lights for filming.
Solution to the problems
To make better videos, we needed a kitchen island with range top facing toward the camera, and a large space around the kitchen island for prepping.
To create the space, we decided to knock down the fireplace that was in the family room. This fireplace had divided the family room from the kitchen and laundry area.
Here’s what it looked like after the wall was removed.
Where did the fireplace go? We actually used it to vent our range hood. We still don’t have any windows to get natural light in the kitchen, so we decided to go with the white color theme kitchen to bring out the brightness. In addition, we used the glass cabinets to make it more airy.
We combined the space of the old laundry room, kitchen, and breakfast nook to create a long kitchen. By removing the fireplace wall, we can place the kitchen island facing toward the family room. This way Mr. JOC can set up his camera equipment in the family room area.
If you are interested in some construction photos, check my Instagram #JOCremodel.
The Kitchen Tour!
Ready to look around in my kitchen? If you have any specific question, please leave a comment on my YouTube video and check out the description box below the video for additional information. Now come on in!
I wish I had even half the counter space you had before the remodel. I cook all the time and I work with 2 feet of counter space and a stove with no hood 🙁
It’s like an apartment-sized kitchen that i have in my home…
Hi Amanda! I am used to a small size kitchen in Japan too. For this kitchen, we used 3 rooms… I don’t know if anyone wants to buy this unproportional house that has a big kitchen… Haha…
Dear Nami, what a great renovation!
Your kitchen became so bright, spacious, funny and warm. love touches of colour and wood. Not mentioning your amazing organization! Thank you a lot for sharing your kitchen and your recipes. Thank you for your blog 🙂
Hmm… And I was thinking I had a lot of kitchen stuff 😉
All the best for you and JOC 🙂
Hi Wiola! Thank you so much for your kind words! Haha yeah I have collected a quite bit of kitchen stuff over the years… ????
Your kitchen is BEAUTIFUL!!! I love how neat and organised everything is too, will definitely be copying some of your ideas 🙂
Hi Alice! Thank you so much for your kind words! Organizing is my favorite things but I’m not so good at decorating the house. 🙂
Wow! Congratulations, Nami! I’m completely blown away. You have the kitchen of our dreams and I’m sure I speak for every single of your readers! I cannot even imagine how pleasant cooking must be in such a fabulous place… I think I’d sleep there 😉 Thank you so much for making us dream.
Haha thank you so much for your kind words! Sissi, if you’d visit us, it would be a nice dream come true for me and of course you won’t be sleeping in the kitchen! We’ll also hang out all night eating food. 🙂
Hi Nami
I am inspired by your kitchen video! I am having a new kitchen fitted in the spring so it is really helpful to see how you have stored everything.
Thank you
Sue
Thank you so much Sue! Good luck with a new kitchen project! 🙂
Hi Nami, your kitchen looks so nice! I love the light and bright cabinets, and the floor color is so pretty. It must be nice to have everything finished and be enjoying cooking again :).
Thanks so much Laura! Yes, and I enjoy the big (regular size) oven too (my previous ovens are both smaller and the 1/2 sheet pan didn’t go in sideways). I need to get back on baking your recipes!
This is the post I’ve been waiting for! YAY! What a gorgeous kitchen and look at all of your “stuff”. I’m forwarding the video to Bobby because he says I have too many props and all of my drawers and shelves in the kitchen are too full, and stacked too high. 🙂 Aren’t drawers for pots and pans storage great? Very clever to use the chimney flue for the stove top vent. Great conversion! I could go on and on and list all of the things I love, so I’m just going to say that I love it all! Thanks for the tour!
Hi MJ! Hahaha thank you so much for waiting! Ohh a great cook like you will never have enough props and cooking tools. 😀 I can totally imagine you have so many great props stacking high! Yes, drawers for pots and pans are great – no more searching pans in the back of cabinets! Thanks so much for checking my video, MJ! Wish I could really invite you over to our kitchen!
love love love it! 🙂
Thank you Sasha!
Hi Nami!
I really love your new kitchen! It’s practical, functional & so pretty. You’re so organize! I hope I have the same kitchen as yours. I always enjoy your recipes and videos, most of them are linked to my Facebook timeline, so my friends can also enjoy them.
Thank you for sharing your kitchen to us. May I request, if it’s not too much to ask, if you can also share your pantry and what’s inside the refrigerator? Thanks again and take care!
Hi Bess! I love organizing, so thanks so much for the compliment! 🙂 And thanks for sharing my facebook posts! It means a lot to me!
I’ll go over my pantry and refrigerator maybe next year. I still haven’t stock up condiments that I threw away for remodeling (as I didn’t have fridge during the construction). I’ll definitely do it one day! Thank you for your request!
Congratulations on your new kitchen! It looks beautiful. I agree that it looks much bigger and brighter once you knock down the fire place. Now you have a beautiful island to work on your wonders in the kitchen! I love the cabinetry, too! Great job!
Hello Holly! Thank you so much! It’s interesting how we can open up the space by removing a wall. It made the kitchen island possible! 🙂 Thank you for your kind words! I hope you’re doing well!!
Hi Nami,
I like your kitchen so much. Maybe one day. I will keep on waiting. My kitchen looks like your old one. Where is your suribachi stored? I didn’t see it but I’m sure you have one. I have a small size one. I should have bought a lage one. I must put it on my wish list. I’m sure I will be able to order it on line. Also, where did you get those little whisks I love them. I would like to get some of those. Where can I get them?
Your kitchen looks so nice and so much storage space. Kitchens need so much more space and outlets. Using your old fire space for your hood is so smart. I can imagine how much more your fan can pull air out of the house.
Thank you!!!!!
Hi Suz! Thanks so much for your kind words! Suribachi is under the stone mortar (video at 1:47). 🙂
The flat whisk: http://amzn.to/1NRX3r9
Yeah we were lucky that we could use the chimney for the ventilation! 😀
Thank you!
Nami you should be so proud, it looks beautiful and when you opened that pottery cupboard WOW, so much beautiful china.
Happy cooking and creating.
Hi Linda! Aww thank you so much! I hope to add more Japanese pottery. 🙂 Every year I go to Japan with empty suitcase and come back with pottery and kitchen stuff. 😀
What a pretty kitchen! I love the layout:)
I’m remodeling my kitchen right now, so thank you for showing us what’s in your cabinets and drawers. It reminded me of so many little things that either forgot or didn’t think of yet. Is the spice rack for the drawer custom? Thanks again!
Thank you so much Candy! How fun! I hope your project is going well smoothly.
The spice rack is custom, but basic measurement. Though we had to cut the drawer short in the back for gas line for the stove, so we lost one row of spice rack.
Wow this is hardcore renovation to accomodate those things, you are truly a professional Nami
Thanks Raymund! The kitchen is pretty straight forward and not super fancy, but foundation of the house cost us way more for this remodel… 🙁
Nami,
What a lovely and well arranged kitchen.
I dream to have one too and we are doing a interior decoration of our new house too. The kitchen cabinets have not been finished and we still have lots of stuff to improve. You really inspire me so much!
Hi Elaine! Thank you so much! I’d love to get interior design help for my house! I lack on design element and I really don’t know how to decorate the house. Enjoy decorating your new home! 🙂