AI Kitchen Remodel: See Your Kitchen Before You Spend a Dollar
AI Kitchen Remodel: 3 Ways to Redesign a 1907 Victorian Kitchen
Old homes come with character. And difficult design decisions.
A homeowner recently shared their 1907 Victorian kitchen on Reddit and asked a question many owners of older homes eventually face:
Should we keep the kitchen closed for more cabinets, or open it up with an island?
The kitchen already had beautiful architectural elements:
Exposed brick accent wall
Original hardwood floors
Classic farmhouse sink
Industrial cage pendant lights
But some elements felt outdated. The white beadboard cabinets looked like they were stuck in 2005, and the black granite countertops weighed the entire room down.
So instead of guessing what might work, I opened the space in Renovate AI and tested three different design directions.
Each design took about 10-15 seconds.
Original Kitchen
The bones were already strong — brick, wood, and traditional fixtures. The challenge was simply choosing a direction that respected the home's age while making it feel modern.
1. Victorian Farmhouse Revival
This approach leans into the home's 1907 heritage instead of fighting it.
Design changes
Sage green shaker cabinets
Honed Carrara marble countertops
Brass lantern pendant lights
Aged brass cup pulls
Cream subway tile backsplash
The exposed brick and original hardwood floors stay untouched.
What We told RAI
“Sage green shaker cabinets. Carrara marble countertops. Brass lantern pendants. Keep the brick and floors.”
Free · No account needed · 10 seconds
Why it works
Green cabinetry paired with brick feels intentionally vintage instead of accidentally outdated. The brass fixtures unify the room into a cohesive historic aesthetic.
If I were renovating this kitchen myself, this would be my pick.
2. Dark Moody Victorian
This design takes the exact opposite approach. Embracing drama and depth.
Design changes
Deep charcoal shaker cabinets
Dark soapstone countertops
Matte black hardware
Edison bulb cage pendants
Copper cookware accents
What We told RAI
“Dark charcoal cabinets, soapstone counters, matte black everything. Edison bulbs. Keep the brick.”
Free · No account needed · 10 seconds
Why it works
The exposed brick becomes the hero of the room rather than a background accent.
The dark palette adds richness and contrast, especially when warm Edison lighting reflects against the brick and copper cookware.
⚠️ One thing to consider:
This design works best if the kitchen gets good natural light, especially afternoon sun. Otherwise, you're cooking in a cave.
3. Bright Scandinavian
Maximum light, minimum fuss.
Design changes
White shaker cabinets
Light butcher block countertops
Floating oak shelves
White globe pendant lights
Minimal brass hardware
What We told RAI
“Keep the brick. White shaker cabinets, butcher block counters, floating oak shelves. Globe pendants.”
Free · No account needed · 10 seconds
Why it works
The butcher block countertops create a natural connection with the hardwood floors, while the white cabinets reflect light and visually enlarge the room.
The exposed brick becomes the single textured focal point, allowing the rest of the space to stay clean and minimal.
The trade-off: less cabinet storage due to open shelving.
Which Design Works Best?
Each direction solves the space differently:
Victorian Farmhouse (Sage Green)
Honors the home's original era
Balanced mix of classic and modern
Warm and timeless
Dark Moody Victorian
Bold and dramatic
Brick becomes the focal feature
Best for kitchens with strong natural light
Bright Scandinavian
Feels the most spacious
Clean and modern
Less storage due to open shelves
For a smaller kitchen — especially with a baby on the way — a closed layout with more cabinetry is the smartest option.
More wall space means more storage, and storage becomes priceless over time.
How These Designs Were Created
I opened the kitchen in Renovate AI and told RAI what to change and what to keep.
Tell RAI what you love first. 'Keep the brick' anchors the whole design. Then you guide the changes. RAI fills in the rest.
For example:
“Keep the brick wall. Add sage green cabinets. Carrara marble countertops. Brass lighting.”
Free · No account needed · 10 seconds
Each design came back in about 10-15 seconds.
You can get specific with materials and colors, or keep it loose and let RAI fill in the rest.
Each design also includes a rough renovation cost estimate to help you compare options like marble vs butcher block before committing.
Try It With Your Own Kitchen
If you're stuck between design options, seeing them side-by-side changes everything.
Instead of guessing what might work, tools like Renovate AI let you test ideas instantly.
Open your space, tell RAI what you'd change, see it in seconds.
I built it because I kept seeing homeowners stuck between options with no way to see the difference. 👉 Try it here:
https://renovateai.app
Three design options of the same room can teach you more than a month of Pinterest inspiration.
Inspired by a real question posted on r/kitchenremodel.
Designs created using Renovate AI.
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Sid Sarasvati · Founder, Renovate AI
Sid Sarasvati is the founder of Renovate AI, featured in the Wall Street Journal and Morning Brew's The Playbook. He studied architectural philosophy at Harvard GSD and has tested AI design tools on 200+ real homes.