“I can’t believe this is the same kitchen” Jen Atkin's Kitchen Gut-Renovation | Architectural Digest 

Shop products featured in this video: OUAI Hand Wash: fave.co/350tc5v OUAI Hand Lotion: fave.co/3IttjEq Ballard Designs Blakely Stool: fave.co/3L1wS6n Samsung The Frame QLED 4K Smart TV: fave.co/3ipQ9lV When you buy something through our retail links, we earn an affiliate commission.

Wanted to bring in the outdoor indoor so he added a plant. Groundbreaking.

I agree w Jen A banquet in the breakfast nook would’ve been great Or maybe more comfort/cozy seating that makes it easy to spend hours eating/talking And a coffee bar would’ve been easy enough to incorporate imo

this is my fourth video of this dude and dear god does he just ignore his clients actual wants entirely and go for what he invisions? cause that's what keeps happening. i love the idea of this series but we need someone who listens to clients and knows how to put proper personality into a home.

for me, if a designer suggested a TV in the breakfast nook.... and thanks for your time, I think we're going to find a designer more in line with us...

He describes integrated dishwasher like a wonder never seen before 🙂

They HAD to throw in a frame TV somewhere 🙄🥱 The scale is never right for the rooms. A large scale piece of art would have been a nice option, in my opinion. But maybe that’s overdone too 🤔

A designer's priority should be both the clients needs, and then aesthetics of the space. He totally ignored what Jen wanted the space to feel like and focused only on Mike's needs. Jen doesn't look too happy with the space. Also, the TV was too small for that space, instead a wall art would have made a nice impact.

Beautiful job - however, Jen’s want for a built in breakfast nook was totally dismissed 😬 there are so many chic ways to do that, and he just totally didn’t try to make it work for her. They have totally different functions. If I was the client, I think I would’ve been pretty sad about that.

That table is too small for the nook. He should have listened to Jen and if not a rectangular table, he could have at least had an oval table so there is more room for people and stuff while also incorporating the rounded wall. Instead, he disagreed with everything she said so instead of feeling at home in her new kitchen, she just thought about how instagramable it was.

Something is off about the kitchen. I don't think the cabinets work. They remind me of a kids bedroom. I think if they incorporated what was there originally it would be alot nicer. I love the dining room chairs!

Big mistake not to have the banquette/comfy seating in the breakfast nook similar to the one in Matilda Goad's space - you were robbed, Jen! The boys should have listened to you.

This was painful to watch. And they seemed like good clients. Can’t imagine the complexity that bad clients would give you.

I love seeing spaces get redesigned but my god, that was a beautiful kitchen beforehand.

Dude is going to hate the microwave at his knee level. Give him six months of that and he'll be hacking a solution. Those old style subzero fridges are dangerous. My wife literally broke her finger when that heavy door slammed. You'll be replacing that before your kids get squished. What's with guy pushing that lame Samsung 'art' junk. Man, if you want art, support the local artists and buy something.

I actually like the before kitchen. Also, why did the designer completely disregard her wish for built in seating in the breakfast nook, could have been stunningly done, boo on the redo! 👎🏼

I don't even like white kitchens, but it was so much nicer than the makeover. If they wanted soapstone, they could have just redone the countertops. And he didn't give her the breakfast nook she requested. What a colossal waste of money.

Hiding outlets with cutting boards sounds so annoying, you're moving the cutting board somewhere else every time you need to access the outlet

He was like "round table" and she was like "no, square" and he was like "...no. round..."

This kitchen was bigger than the footprint of my whole house! It literally has an echo even after the remodel. So out of proportion it makes the humans inside look tiny (imagine how that little baby will feel when eating breakfast in their high chair.. like they're in a cafeteria.) There's a limit to what design can accomplish when the proportions are that out of whack but the neutral on neutral, minimalist aesthetic does it zero favors. It is an oatmeal colored cavern. Definitely needed more clearly defined zones rather than acres of bare countertop and one round table (which was also out of proportion with the space). More texture, pops of color (not just one plant), and some 3/4 walls or at least a folding screen to break up the space. Real art on the walls, maybe a tapestry to soften the hard lines and be proportionate with the space. A great sideboard. A cozy sofa/coffee area for mom and baby to play and relax while dad is baking? More textiles. Not putting a banquette under that bay window was a mistake, it could have been fab for entertaining. The tiles they selected were incongruous and look liked remainders from a La Quinta Inn buffet. Instead of adding texture or interest they just emphasized this blah oatmeal aesthetic. Was the plate collection just.. white plates? 🤔 If my friends consistently gifted me white plates, would get new friends (and plates). IMO - so much wasted potential in this space. It looked like a set from Gattaca. Guys! Clean/minimal design doesn't have to mean cookie cutter. The client saying it looked like a pinterest page was tragically apt.

Love the energy between the designer and client, although I do find the makeover rather underwhelming? The old kitchen had more character and felt homier. I also agree with the other comments that he completely ignored her request for a breakfast nook and gave them a dining room instead and was quite insistent on that TV they never asked for! So odd.

Don't like the recessed pulls (?) for the drawers. They are future dirt valleys.

Not even going to lie, I don’t like it at all. The cabinet doors look kind of cheap to me even though they’re obviously not. If you were going minimal, I would have just went for press cabinets, the cut outs take away the luxury that cabinets have because the pulls and hardware make the kitchen look like some sort of jewelry. I love the stone that they used, but it looked kind of disconnected from everything else, and to me it didn’t really make sense for the space. Love the backsplash and the range though. And I LOVE the overhang on the island. Maybe I would have added open shelving or glass doors for more dimension and so it doesn’t feel like a box The kitchen and dining space have a different vibe. The small round table makes the dining space look very void, it also isn’t focaled for the TV, so it doesn’t really make sense. I think a wide oval table would have been better with an open back bench on the window/wall side and minimal chairs on the other. I would have added a large vase with tall flowers in the middle to elevate the table a little bit so it wouldn’t look as grounded or heavy.

I like how they don't agreed everything the designer said like other celebrities, I think Erick should make it work for Jen's idea because she is his client too not just mike. As an interior designer he should focus on the client's needs and make it work in that space. ( I am not saying this like I am some kind of POPULAR INTERIOR DESIGNER) I am just telling what he could've done.

The functional upgrade to the island is good, but this remodel is a MASSIVE DOWNGRADE overall and an absurd waste of money and materials to re-do a was perfectly usable kitchen.

This is one of those videos where everyone should read the comments before throwing 10+ minutes of your life away.

Love the soapstone. EVERYONE goes for marble and it just isn't a durable surface and it's not this unique.

I like the little details like the amount of storage, the outlets on the island, the things making life easier but overall there is nothing special for the room that is supposed to be the heart of the home. It’s pretty bland and cold. The breakfast nook could have been so welcoming and cosy.

"Do you need 2 dishwashers?" "100 per cent!" Rich people and their luxuries- ugh! Other than that, yes, lovely example of minimalism.

Most people would have killed for the before kitchen.

Wait I’m confused, I thought the table was to be able to fit 11 people??? That table looks so small in that nook IMO Also, I wonder if they’ll regret the handles with the baby

omg; i love her! She tells jokes at an impressive clip and never cracks a smile. gorge

The dinning table should be a bit bigger though. It looks so small on bigger room like that. It need more drama in my own opinion, but if the owner loves it. Then, he succeeded!

That guy should've been fired as soon as he dismissed Jen's idea for HER home! I hate how they both disregarded Jen's suggestion and laughed at her. THEN, to add insult to injury, Mike didn't even have the decency to defend or comfort his wife. Jen looks so unhappy @ 12:12. This guy did way too much fast talking which says he's trying too hard to convince them to like his lackluster ideas. The finished product is giving Ikea builder grade for me, not custom whatsoever. "Mike and I have secret conversations where we text each other." - SO EFFING CRINGE! 🙄

Very practical and looks like it would be easy to keep clean. My favourite is the island.

looks dated already, i had such high expectations for this kitchen

Bizzare. Outlet hidden by a chopping board? Was just as nice before.

I actually love this kitchen. It's tasteful, cool, soothing, and natural. I don't get the soapstone though. I love soapstone and have it in my bathroom, but it looks beat up in every kitchen I've seen it in. It's relatively soft and will show so many scratches as he works on it, as well as dings around the sink.

loved seeing a Latino designer on this channel!

I wanted to like it but it doesn't speak to me, not that it matters it's not my kitchen. I wish they went with a larger grander round table to really fill up that space, that the cream and dark counters which is usually good contrast seems polarizing and I wish they changed the stove out because the red handles also seem odd in the minimal space

The lack of cabinet hardware is going to come back to haunt them. Fingerprints, paint wear. And, with the permanent cutout, repainting will be the only option.

Hahaha, he is so funny he said that Ficus doesn't need a lot of light.

Jen seems cool. Mike seems like that spoiled, whiny, picky kid you grew up with that nobody ever wanted to invite over.

if you watch this at 0.75 speed, it's much less stressful

I liked ALOT OF JEN'S ideas but her designer & husband kept shooting them down. Banquet/bench seating is popular for breakfast seating areas in kitchens. Especially. the L shaped benches with chairs arranged around the rest of the table.

Can't believe the waste that's promoted. The kitchen was perfectly ok. Most people would envy such a kitchen. Absolutely insane!!!

I don't like the kitchen. The style of the cabinet doesn't work with the worktop. The back splash isn't very nice. And the TV on the wall is too small. I guess the clients ask for it but a TV in a dinning room is an ambiance killer. You're supposed to have a nice chat around a meal.

Didn't want features to stand out in the kitchen ... uses bright red knobs for the oven

Did this take longer than the 2 months the designer stated? In the empty room she said they had a newborn, and during the reveal she said they had a 1 year old!

Not loving this aesthetic, She asked for a built in breakfast nook, 🤔, why does he not listen to the client. How is that breakfast nook indoor/outdoor?? Great opportunity to be creative but missed the mark. It looks like your at the Marriott breakfast lobby. Glad they are happy with it , and as always everyone has different taste.

Why does every sentence sound like a question while describing the changes done?

When the before is what my kitchen would look like renovated

This series would be so much more interesting if it focused on smaller spaces from real people. These types of videos don't really help anyone.

We debated sink on island versus hob when we remodels, and decided on hob in the end. I prefer spending time at the stove than the sink, so I wanted to be social at the island while cooking. And also sinks get pretty messy, so I didn’t want that to be the focal point of the island!

They could have just put new fronts on the old cabinets

For a family that enjoys entertaining, that is a small table...

Jen's old house was my dream house. If only... Better yet, one day!

Why didn’t they just change island to add the extra dishwasher and relocate the sink plus add seating? She could have had a cool banquette against the tv wall or an oval table for more seating That round table seems too small

I would never let this guy decorate my house so ugly

I would just redo the island to move the sink closer to the stove. The rest of the kitchen was fine no demolition needed.

Fighting about the dishwasher- so relatable

Gotta be honest. I can't watch this. Stopped as soon as I realized they ripped out the previous kitchen to completely replace it. Why not make adjustments. Move the sink if it doesn't serve the function needed. I know designers gotta design, cabinet makers gotta make cabinets, sellers gotta sell, clients gotta want what they want, and AD is here to further them all. Doesn't anybody ever ask, when is enough enough?

This is so good with Jen questioning many parts and not just taking everything in

I like this kitchen, however. The designer did not take his clients' viewpoints into consideration, which I would consider unprofessional. It is a big "Your ideas aren't good." statement when you say multiple times "I know you wanted this, but-" A nice, soft, breakfast nook in that area would have been amazing, especially with a kid growing up there.

Dream gourmet kitchen "The kitchen we had was just terrible" 🙄

There's something a little grotesque about them ripping out the entirety of the old kitchen. It looked to be in great working order, I'm sure much of it could have been repurposed.

I fast forwarded this and when I saw their faces it looked like they were smiling with their mouths but their eyes were dull and/or shocked. They were not happy with the outcome. And wow, undermining Jen's needs/wants. I'm sure they had some agreements on things and it wasn't a surprise but it really missed the mark here. Underwhelming.

The kitchen was perfectly fine. All he had to do was move the sink which was in an odd place. Money wasted. 😂

Oof. This was pretty awful. It's completely lacking in character, plus they didn't really listen to what she wanted at all.

The before kitchen was prettier (am all for decluttering) but it seems like this new one is much more functional for the family 😀

To be honest, the kitchen is underwhelming, from the mood board that was put together, this is a little too simple… the cabinets had no interest and made the kitchen seem so plain. It was a little too minimalist for what the inspo seemed to be like. You can tell they weren’t happy.

The soapstone counters are absolutely beautiful 🤩…

LOVE THE SOAPSTONE ❤️😍

Love the house. Funny how the designer uses so much upspeak. Everything he says sounds like a question

I don’t agree with all the hate for this kitchen, the minimalist look is a lot better than the fussy, busy old kitchen and don’t see this falling out of style anytime soon. Could do with some more texture or art but it’s a kitchen after all

"hide the outlets" or you know.. you could recess them in countertops since it's custom made kitchen. And it's not even that luxurious, I've done it over 10 years ago with the cheapest ikea furniture...

Friends and family gave all white plates. Gee everything white, with green plants and dark things to match, I thought maybe the coffee station could hold some unique interesting element, but nope. This look is so repetitive.

Those built into the cabinet "handles" will show endless dirt and will wear. There is a reason for hardware because it is not a painted surface. I also liked the idea of bench seating. Before Kitchen was much better.

i really dont like how he dismissed jen's desires from jump & the husband just allowed it. Y'all need to find a new designer that doesn't ooze condescension & sexism

This kitchen is when function meets beauty! Love it!!! All the materials are so gorgeous and can go with any decor! She can add and layer in her home and that kitchen will be good for 30 years to come. Well done 👍

Except the breakfast nook, I like the before better. Why do they make new rooms look like cold institutions?

The before was so much better!! They seemed disappointed but obviously couldn’t express it.

I liked the before kitchen a million times better, though agree about the weird placement of the original sink and the lack of island seating. The new kitchen is going to look outdated in two seconds. The After kitchen looks like a 1990s kitchen to me. I am so done with black/grey in kitchens -- cold and uninviting.

Beautiful triangle - washing vessels, cooking, fridge.

Love the end result, beautiful!

The designer is nice, I can totally hear him saying “This one time at Band Camp!”😂

Mike doesn't look so impressed. lol

What type of plant is used on the counter? The living branches with roots in the glass vase.

Hilarious about the Pizza Hut bench idea and the two guys are like Noooo!!🤣

Two dishwashers/areis so very good

Wow! Stunning!

The dishes in that tall cabinet are like an accident call

I don’t get the tv in the dining room. I suspect it’s only there because of a sponsorship.

As another man who cooks!! It is great to hear the husband talk!!

people boo-ing the designer for prioritising Mike when the couple made it clear in the beginning itself that he is the one who uses it more! And that bench thing, suggested by Jen, for which ya'll are dying for, let me just tell ya, he saved her from a great regret! Saying from personal experience, as beautiful as it sounds, it is not at all functional😣 and did you guys even watch from 13:15 and the rest?

why do i get the vibe that she’s condescending towards Erick? :(

Clearly this designer knows nothing about cooking or baking... this is not suppose to be a showroom but a functional kitchen, remember? Where do I start? Height of cabinetry for one: how do you get up there?? (is the trampoline included?) Why is the microwave so low? So that the kids can use it and burn themselves?? The coffee station: do you mean the coffee appliance on the wall?... under shelves where she can "display" her collection of plates (stacked on one another - just a pile of white porcelain baby and good luck to reach the 2 upper shelves). The soapstone island... no plugs (yes they look ugly but they are useful) only on the stools side so no standing mixer for the baker I guess... and also soapstone is not good for heavy duty, it chips, it needs some waxing and so on... again, it looks nice but absolutely not good if you bake or cook...

Dang so was this the ignore Jen show? 😂

The before kitchen, except for the island was a much more beautiful kitchen. And a few months to accomplish the renovation ? Really ?

Another thoughtfully executed design by Erick! Congrats Maison Trouvaille for another fabulous feature 🤍 the best!!!