Is a "budget" kitchen reno possible? Pics added #24

[SandrA9810]

Add the trash can to the inside of a cabinet.

Add glass to a couple of the cabinet doors is one option to change the look. A white distressed paint could keep the country look to the room without the darkness of the wood. Or sand them down and do a light stain (if it's possible). With white it'd be easier to add a tile backsplash. There's some amazing concrete countertops that are usually significantly cheaper than stone countertops. Plus it doesn't look like a high end kitchen so granite would look really out of place. Tile countertops are a pain, and the grout discolors so easily.

Instead of a pantry where the trash can is, do a microwave/oven built in. Microwaves above the stove are really annoying after a while. It looks cool, but I really hate it. Especially that I have to take everything out to stir it or look at it to see if it's done. You can do a cabinet space above for baking dishes. And below a space for the trash can.

I'd add a "wet bar" where the desk is now. Nice little cabinet for glasses and a wine cooler. Have the counter up at the window. Pull the outlets up to the counter, and add a blender for mixing drinks. Or have it to make it look cool.

Then put the pantry on the right wall between the corner and the window (or smaller, can't really tell the length). There seems to be plenty of room to slide the table over to make room for it.

I have no idea what to do with your corner office there. Maybe create an all in one little unit to the side of the pantry. Just looks like you need a place to store the laptop and a printer.

 

[tlbwriter]

heres a link to my b4 after cabs

wanted to also suggest turning one of your cabs into trash pullout so you can put wine fridge in pantry...that's what we did.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0109393919706.html

That looks great!

 

[SaraJayne]

heres a link to my b4 after cabs

wanted to also suggest turning one of your cabs into trash pullout so you can put wine fridge in pantry...that's what we did.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0109393919706.html

Your "after" pics are beautiful! Great job!

 

[herdtoDisney]

From looking at your pics, seems like you have nice solid cabinetry. I would keep them, and paint them. I personally like darker colors like an espresso brown, but I think with your country theme, maybe white or an off white would work. If you find a matching pantry cabinet-or have one made-you can paint it too and it will all match. It would be worth it to hire someone to paint it if you do not want to do it yourself. But my mom did hers-lots of work but they looked good for several years (she did have them refaced last year but that was not cheap!).

If you can afford granite, I'd do that (or whatever solid surface you like) and I'd do the computer desk top in the same material. They make laminates now that look very close to granite, if it's too much $.

I'd tile the floor too, it's not too hard to DIY that. Or maybe wood laminate, with your country theme. I'm not sure about your backsplash, I did glass tile for less than $200-came out GREAT but it might be too contemporary for your room. Maybe a tile that matches what you do on the floor? The ones that come on the sheets are so easy to DIY on the backsplash.

Are you replacing the stove? I'd do the hood too. I personally don't like built in microwaves, but that is because they are over my head so mine is always on the counter. I also prefer a free standing trash can, I have a nice stainless one.

So to sum up, I'd probably keep and paint the cabinets, putting the the pantry also, re-do the countertops and do the computer desk too, and do a new floor.

It really is amazing what small things, and paint, can do. I did a mini-facelift on our kitchen here when we moved in 2 yrs ago. New appliances (had to), new hardware, paint, tiled the backsplash, painted the countertop (it still needs replacing but for $20, an amazing improvement!). I can live happily with it for several more years, for not much money.

 

[SaraJayne]

Add the trash can to the inside of a cabinet.

Add glass to a couple of the cabinet doors is one option to change the look. A white distressed paint could keep the country look to the room without the darkness of the wood. Or sand them down and do a light stain (if it's possible). With white it'd be easier to add a tile backsplash. There's some amazing concrete countertops that are usually significantly cheaper than stone countertops. Plus it doesn't look like a high end kitchen so granite would look really out of place. Tile countertops are a pain, and the grout discolors so easily.

Instead of a pantry where the trash can is, do a microwave/oven built in. Microwaves above the stove are really annoying after a while. It looks cool, but I really hate it. Especially that I have to take everything out to stir it or look at it to see if it's done. You can do a cabinet space above for baking dishes. And below a space for the trash can.

I'd add a "wet bar" where the desk is now. Nice little cabinet for glasses and a wine cooler. Have the counter up at the window. Pull the outlets up to the counter, and add a blender for mixing drinks. Or have it to make it look cool.

Then put the pantry on the right wall between the corner and the window (or smaller, can't really tell the length). There seems to be plenty of room to slide the table over to make room for it.

I have no idea what to do with your corner office there. Maybe create an all in one little unit to the side of the pantry. Just looks like you need a place to store the laptop and a printer.

I'm not interested in putting in a wall oven/cooktop. The configuration of the kitchen will stay the same, with a microwave over the stove.

But adding the wine fridge under a new built in desk area is a great idea.

 

[herdtoDisney]

I just remembered something I saw at Home Depot-it's a backsplash that is like pressed tin. Comes in silver and copper color. It's self-stick and easy to cut, a very DIY install. Might look good with your country decor, and inexpensive

 

[SandrA9810]

I'm not interested in putting in a wall oven/cooktop. The configuration of the kitchen will stay the same, with a microwave over the stove.

But adding the wine fridge under a new built in desk area is a great idea.

I'm not saying move the stove to the other wall. Just put in an oven (maybe a convection oven) with the microwave above. That way you can have the oven a bit higher, and the microwave a bit lower. With the counter space right behind you, you'd have someplace to set stuff when you take it out.

Ok, in my fantasy kitchen, I'd have double ovens in a wall unit like that, and a microwave on the counter. I had an apartment with a microwave over the stove, and my aunt's house has one over the stove too. It worked out just fine, but it wasn't my preference. I like watching my food cook, and I can't stand ovens that don't have windows on it.

Unless your family is tall and doesn't mind the added height to the microwave. Don't forget you still need to leave enough room to work on the stove. I guess the first steps would be to see if there is enough space for a microwave below the cabinet.

 

[leebee]

I want your kitchen, SaraJayne! Mine was original to my 1912 house until it was redone in the early 1940's. Nothing much changed until the previous owners pulled out the back wall to put on an addition about 15 years ago, so we have a peninsula where the wall used to be. Metal cabinets and melamine wall covering and countertop in the original part, but the peninsula cabinets and countertop are... laminate, I think. Original melamine is sick hospital light green, peninsula countertop is forest green. All cabinets are white, although the metal ones are... ecru? There is a beaten JennAir oven/2-burner stove/grill that slides into the corner where the peninsula comes out (like in the crook of an L), a black dishwasher to the left of the stainless steel double sink, and the fridge just kinda sits there. There's no nook or anything to set it into, it's just perpendicular to the original counter, so if the dishwasher is open, you can't open the fridge- it's blocked. The "other" wall has metal cabinets and melamine counter top, swinging door into dining room, and then a blank wall that used to be the corner before the original back wall was removed. In two words: BUTT UGLY!!!

At least the wood floors were redone two years ago when we had a pipe freeze and flood the entire downstairs (4" of water in the tool boxes in the basement, ugh) and we replaced the utility room fluorescent light fixture with a nice, 4 globe lamp with ceiling fan (gotta have it, no exhaust fan anywhere in the kitchen). I REALLY want SaraJayne's kitchen!!