Last summer we decided to make a few minor changes to our kitchen. It was "builder's beige" and boring! And I have such a love of cooking and baking that I just didn't want to settle any longer. We have a very open floor plan and our kitchen is definitely the heart of our home. So we wanted it to be a place that we actually WANTED to spend a lot of time in.
So I started watching a lot of kitchen design shows on HGTV and DIY Network, looking through magazines and decorating blogs for ideas, asking lots of questions and planning, planning, planning.
The big problem was budget. Most of the custom kitchens I saw were $30,000 - $70,000! I just KNEW I could copy those ideas for much, much less. So Scott and I decided on a much smaller budget of around $2,000.
We didn't need new appliances or cabinets, which is a big chunk of remodeling a kitchen. We just wanted to make small changes that would add up to big impact.
So here is the before - boring builder's beige kitchen with cream counters, red stained cabinets and drawers without knobs or pulls, and lovely 4" deep sink. We had already installed the tile when this pic was taken, but it used to be a beige vinyl floor that I couldn't seem to get clean enough!
Then last June we got new counters in a neutral tone (just laminate since we won't be in this house forever), added a peninsula bar and new sink (WAY deeper!) and faucet. Here is that "after."
Then I knew I had to decide on a backsplash (as you can see, there was none and a big 4" wide piece of blank wall is showing). I didn't want tile - overdone. I didn't want to do any type of metal or anything "faux." So after stalking blogs and Google images, I decided on beadboard with a small piece of molding where it meets the counter. And I couldn't do that without finally framing in the window and adding a window sill (there was none before). So one weekend in October, Scott took the boys camping, Eva spent the night with Aunt Jacquie and I started cutting, painting and installing! I also added cabinet knobs and drawer pulls at this stage. Here is that "after."
Then I painted it a blue/aqua color that I happened to see at Walmart, then had it matched at Home Depot. I love the color! It reminds me of the beach. The two walls look like they are different colors, but they aren't. It's just the lighting with the camera. The wall on the left with the fridge is the true color.
I still thought something was missing though. The cabinets were still that weird stained red color and the room still had a little too much 'earth tones' going on for me. And it was dark. The cabinets were bringing the room down.
So, Wednesday I started on the big cabinet painting project I had been scared to death of doing. I knew I wanted cream cabinets, knew exactly what paint color I wanted (same as the backsplash), knew exactly how to do it and all the work involved. But I was petrified! Then Scott went out of town and I thought this was THE perfect time to tackle it.
I still need to add molding around the tops of the cabinets to give it a more custom look and quarter-round where the cabinets meet the floor, but I can finally see what I've been picturing in my mind!
So here it is - finally a kitchen that I just adore being in for LESS THAN $2,000!
I still have three major things to do - add molding on top of the cabinets to give them a more custom, finished look, add beadboard to the peninsula so it matches the backsplash and change the lighting fixture. I love the amount of light the current fixture gives out, but I hate the look of it. So I'm on the hunt for something new! I'll post more pics when it's completely finished!
And just because I like it when other bloggers do this, here is a before and after picture next to each other.
Thanks for looking!!
