I spent $50,000 remodeling my kitchen. Here are the 5 smartest decisions I made — and one thing I wish I'd avoided.

I spent years saving money so I could have the kitchen of my dreams. Jill Schildhouse I spent years saving $50,000 for a kitchen remodel that'd give me the space of my dreams. I'm glad I kept my layout the same and chose a timeless color palette for the space. Reupholstering my dining chairs saved me money, but I wish I hadn't done this project during summer. I hated my kitchen for 19 years and spent just as long saving to remodel it. My goals were to build a bright, modern kitchen that was more functional, offered additional storage solutions , and created a cohesive look when viewed from the two entryways to my living room. After spending nearly $50,000 on my kitchen remodel, there are a lot of choices I'm glad I made — and only one I really regret so far.