Hey guys, it’s Darlene. In this video I’m showing you my coastal kitchen before and after—and when I say before, I mean dark, dreary, and just not my aesthetic, especially when you have this view. My goal was light and bright with a “cottage chic coastal” vibe, and it all started with color. I walked you through how I tested cabinet blues in a north-facing kitchen (where blue can read gray fast), and how Benjamin Moore Breath of Fresh Air ended up being the perfect coastal color for this house. For the walls and trim, I stuck with my ride-or-die white: Chantilly Lace—bright, clean, and it works in every home I’ve owned. Then we get into the design choices that make the whole thing feel custom without wasting money. I’m a marble girl and I’m not afraid of it—Shadow Storm is what I chose, and I love the warmth in the veining plus the little shimmer at night. I also share my backsplash solution (using the same slab in a unique way), my farmhouse sink and simple one-hole faucet, plus the milk-glass style light that ties in with my bobbin trim. Finally, I warmed up the space with live-edge wood shelves, gold hardware, and soft finishing touches—curtains, flowers, and styling the shelves so everything flows beautifully.