Budget Kitchen Remodel

Welcome to our new home!

When we bought this house six months ago, I was excited to make a lot of changes.  And, because it really the heart of the home, the first room that I chose to tackle was the kitchen. 

Because we were working on a modest budget, I had to made careful choices.  My goal was to implement low cost changes that would simultaneously make a big impact. 

DIY kitchen flip

All in all, it took about two weeks to complete the kitchen re-do that you see in the photo above.  But, I also had 3 small children underfoot.  So, if you are working without "distractions" then you will likely be able to utilize the following ideas to make even faster changes.

The first steps in my process:

- Remove old the wallpaper

- Remove an unnecessary door

- Repaint the dated oak cabinets

Before

During

Removing Wallpaper

A friend of ours walked into this kitchen (pictured above) and exclaimed: "It looks like Debbie Gibson threw up in here!"  

We had to agree!  One of the main culprits causing the "frozen in the 80's" motif was the unfortunate wallpaper.  It had to go!

Wallpaper can be tricky to remove.  Depending on the type of paper used, and the original adhesive method, you may be able to pull it all off in one sheet. Or, you may find that you need the scrape it off.  I had to do a little of both.

The best method for removing wallpaper is as follows:

- First, pull off anything you can using just your hands.  Luckily I was able to get most of the top layer off this way.  Look for loose pieces at the seams and gently pull the paper in a downward motion.

- Second, make a mixture of 2 parts hot water, 1 part liquid fabric softener, and 2 parts white vinegar.

- Third, protect your floors with a drop cloth, then use a rag to liberally apply the mixture to the paper that you wish to remove. 

- Lastly, after letting the mixture sit for a few minutes, use a paint scraper to scrape off any remaining glue and paper.

We also removed a door that didn't seem to serve much of a purpose. This helped to open up the spce and create a flow into the adjoining rooms.

Next, I used paint to update the original to oak cabinets.  Often times you can easily update a kitchen by simply painting the cabinets or even replacing just the cabinet doors. 

Painting Cabinets

For this job I used my favorite go-to paint, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.  Purchasing this paint can seem like a big investment at first, but a little goes a long way.  It only took 3 quarts to cover the entirety of the cabinets in my kitchen (2 coats).

But, perhaps what I love most about this paint is the fact that you don't need to do any prep work.  You can literally just slap right onto any surface!  I don't even bother to clean the grime off first.  It adheres to anything beautifully.

Photo Credit

Then, knowing that with little kids in the mix, my kitchen would likely see some heavy use, I roughed up the corners and edges of the cabinets with a sanding block.  I knew that doing this would make any future dings look like an intentional part of the patina.

I also used the same brand's clear wax after the paint dried to increase the strength and make the color richer.  If you prefer a completely matte finish, you could also leave your cabinets unwaxed.

I am fortunate to have a store in my town that carries this paint.  But, if you don't have a local vendor, you can also buy it online.

Painting the Walls

After removing the wallpaper, and completing the cabinet makeover, it was time to paint the walls. 

 

There was an interesting paint job hidden under the wallpaper (circa 1972!).

70's stripes!

I used my favorite go-to paint color for this room: Benjamin Moore, Ivory White #925.  

Ivory White is the perfect warm white, and it literally looks good with everything!  Your local paint store should be able to look it up and mix it for you.  Just provide them with the brand name, the color name and the number.

After, Wall Paint

Organization

As a delightful added detail, and to help others find their way around my kitchen, I also painted the inside of the cabinets with two layers of chalkboard paint.

Chalkboard paint (on the interior of the cabinet) doors will allow you to label each cupboard's contents, and provide an element of whimsy to the space.  Then, if you decide to rearrange, a simple damp cloth easily removes the chalk. 

*Note: "Chalkboard" paint is different than "Chalk Paint"

Chalkboard painted cabinet doors

Countertops and Backsplash

Like almost everything else in this house, the old laminate countertops were pink!  They were worn, and not attractive. 

Countertop; before

I would have loved to replace the counter entirely, but that wasn't in the budget.  So instead I used a product called RustOleum Countertop Transformations to cover the old pink laminate.  

I used "desert sand."  It is light, but also had flecks of black.  These dark black specs tied in nicely with the new black cabinets.  I used 2 "small" sized kits to complete my counters. 

The countertop was a MESSY job.  Those little flecks are individual chips, that go everywhere.  So, have a good vacuum handy!

The backsplash was made of ugly off-white tile and dark grout.  Again, a new backsplash wasn't in the budget, so I just painted it using Rustoleum Tub and Tile paint.  This product was a little runny, and tricky to use. However, it was worth the hassle because changing the tile and grout to bright white really helped the overall aesthetic of the space.

If you use this product, please be sure to ventilate the area well.  It has strong fumes!

Backsplash; before

After

Floors

The floor was made of (stained) old linoleum that had a pink flower pattern. 

So, working with our small budget, we simply covered the old linoleum with peel and stick black and white squares.

We ordered ours from this eBay seller.  This product was very inexpensive, and relatively easy to install.  All that you really need is: a clean floor, a ruler/ straightedge and a box-cutter (for trimming corners). 

Floor; after

Lighting

Getting rid of old florescent lighting is crucial.  Florescent light creates an unflattering cast and dates a space.  Spaces need flattering lighting to live up to their full visual potential.

Lighting, Before

We removed the old plastic panels, painted the oak trim white, and rewired for standard light fixtures. I chose inexpensive chrome fixtures, and we installed them in the recess (where the florescence had been). 

It made a world of difference!

Lighting, After

We also added strips of LEDs under the cabinets. Under cabinet lighting warms up a space, and adds added interest.  Also, because they are LEDs these lights hardly use any power.

Under cabinet LED strip lighting

Details

After all the hard work was done, the really fun part began. I love the color, so to give the black and white some pop, I chose red accents. 

3 pops of red

Most of the items that you see in these photos I found for at discount stores, on clearance racks or on overstock.com. 

Vintage curtain tie-back towel holder

Fresh flowers and a retro inspired clock add charm.

Clearance rack faucet

Red counter height stools liven up the space and allow the countertop function as additional dining space.

When displaying decorative items, use the"rule of 3's."  For a pleasing visual impact, it is always best group odd numbers of items together.  So, groups of three are particularly pleasing to the eye.

Odd number grouping

Another pleasing display method can be to use a collection of similar colored items.  I used my collection of white ceramics and milk glass. We removed the cupboard doors above the refrigerator in order to have open shelving to display this collection. 

"Splurges"

With the money we saved, we were able to spend on a few high cost items.  So, we chose to replace the dated appliances with new stainless steel models.

Dishwasher and sink, Before

After

I'm used to a gas stove, and at first contemplated running a gas line. But cost was an issue so we stayed with electric.  I love how easy it is to clean the new glass top!  

Range; before

After

The final splurge was on hardware.  

Hardware can be purchased relatively inexpensively.  But, I fell in love with the retro style handles and drawer pulls available through Rejuvenation Hardware (note: this is different than Restoration Hardware).  This company specializes in creating replicas of vintage items.  I'm in love with all of their products!

New hardware

Overall I am extremely pleased with out new kitchen!

Before

After

Before

After

Thanks for stopping by!

I also completely remodeled the kitchen in our first home.  Here is the link to my post detailing that project: 

Click here: Retro Kitchen Redo

Linking up to these parties:

http://www.tipjunkie.com/post/diy-decorating-add-yours/
http://funkypolkadotgiraffe.blogspot.com/2014/09/too-cute-tuesday-linky-par-tay-202.html
http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/inspire-monday-23/
http://www.abowlfulloflemons.net/2014/09/one-project-at-a-time-9214.html
http://cornerstoneconfessions.com/2014/09/titus-2-tuesday-119.html
http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/2014/09/take-a-look-tuesday-2.html
http://www.tinysidekick.com/makers-link-party-33/
http://thecraftyblogstalker.com/create-link-inspire-linky-party-40/
http://www.carolynshomework.com/2014/09/the-inspiration-board-creative-party.html
http://ladybug-blessings.com
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/2014/09/september-linky-party-2014.html
http://strangersandpilgrimsonearth.blogspot.com
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2014/09/wow-us-wednesdays-185.html

http://www.gingersnapcrafts.com/2014/09/wow-me-wednesday-170.html

http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/

http://milkandcuddles.com/2014/09/wednesday-blogger-link-up/

http://www.sewcreativeblog.com/awesome-link-party-week-11/

http://www.familyhomeandlife.com/2014/09/wow-u-s-wednesday-linkparty.html

http://www.thelifeofjenniferdawn.com/2014/09/a-little-bird-told-me-link-party-106.html

http://thenymelrosefamily.com/2014/09/whimsy-wednesdays-131.html/2

http://thehappyhousie.com/work-it-wednesday-features-500-giveaway-2/
http://www.bacontimewiththehungryhypo.blogspot.com/2014/09/anything-goes-linky-170-and-features.html