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See what this cave-like kitchen looks like after a bright, sunny makeover

Brett Foken is a pro at taking houses and turning them into homes, but the kitchen transformation in her own home will leave you speechless.
/ Source: TODAY

Brett Foken is a pro at taking houses and turning them into homes.

Over the past year, the 29-year-old interior designer behind Decorotation has taken on the most personal project of all: her own home.

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Located in Oakland, California, this craftsman-style house that was built in the early 1900s was in shambles when Foken and her husband, Brandon, 31, moved in.

Foken saw nothing but possibility, and while the overall transformation is stunning, nowhere is the makeover more evident than in the kitchen.

Foken before
When the Fokens purchased the house it's safe to say the kitchen was ... different.Laurel & Wolf

“My overall goal for the kitchen was for it to be really open and airy,” Foken told TODAY. “I wanted to maximize the natural light that we do get.”

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Foken explained that, due to the home’s placement on a hill under beautiful trees, it was initially dark and cave-like. The wood throughout the home didn’t help.

Foken before after
"I just wanted it to be really open and airy," said Foken.Laurel & Wolf

She was determined to lighten it up with an open floor plan and bright color scheme.

“That was my main goal — to bring in a little light and for it be outdoorsy,” said Foken. “Now it actually does get light whereas before it was like a dark cave.”

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While Foken is used to taking her clients’ preferences into account, for this project she was happy to focus on her own interests, and the kitchen has always held a special place in her heart.

Foken before after
"I'm really into Scandinavian design and California eclectic," said Foken.Laurel & Wolf

“I collect ceramics so I wanted to do open shelves to display that,” said Foken. “And I love cooking — the kitchen is my favorite place to be.”

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Foken and her husband purchased the home in February 2016 and started renovations immediately. They were completed in August 2016.

Foken in her kitchen
Foken now loves her kitchen almost as much as we do!Laurel & Wolf

“We pretty much had to re-do everything,” said Foken. “But we were able to keep a lot of the original wood work.”

While the changes are drastic, the house still has a certain charm leftover from its olden days, and that just may be our favorite part.

See inside this 1900s firehouse that is now a home

Slideshow  14 photos

See inside this 1900s firehouse that is now a home

Sound the alarms, because you won't want to miss this historic firehouse. - Alycia Lucio, Zillow.com