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Kitchen Update complete!! (B&A pics!)

13 years ago

First, thanks to everyone in this forum! I've done a lot of lurking, and some posting. I appreciate all the help.

We moved in to our house 3.5 years ago, and have been dying to give the "builder-grade" kitchen an update. We couldn't do a complete renovation, due to lack of funds! So here's what we did:

- add hardware to doors & drawers

- gel-stain the cabinets: General Finishes "Java"

- new stainless appliances (fridge, dw, range, microwave)

- new Delta faucet: Leland, single handle

- replaced laminate counters with Giallo Ornamental granite

(please excuse the state of our kitchen in these pics...I'm not a great "stager" for photos!)

Range side BEFORE

Range side AFTER

Sink side BEFORE

Sink side AFTER

Bartop BEFORE

Bartop AFTER

AFTER

For now, we're holding off on adding a tile backsplash. Most likely we'll add one later down the road.

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Comments (37)

dar5
13 years ago
Nice...love the contemporary vibe and it looks elegant. What was your process for the gel-stain?
Janet
13 years ago
Terrific update - love the contrast of the cabinet colors and your granite.
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Here is my oak kitchen with the wooden valence piece above the sink removed and a roman shade - it is actually a "faux" roman shade. I have a cottage / vintage style so it is in a floral fabric: https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~110720042 I have a glass door as suggested. I also retrofitted a plate rail into a cabinet. The best thing I did was not cosmetic - but I added under cabinet lighting between my sink and range - it is so helpful, and it makes my kitchen brighter: https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~109854029 I also really like my cream subway tile backsplash. While my countertop is light, I have seen cream subway tile with black counters too: Now I have a question. I realize I cannot see the whole kitchen, but your stools at the island appear to be on the working side of the kitchen and infringe on the needed 42" of walkway space between counter and island. Is that so people can see the TV? I would turn that island around so there is room to work or move it farther away from the counter. If you can afford to lose the storage, take out the cabinet to the right of the sink and put up a couple of shelves and put your decor items there - help get them off the counter. I hang some of my favorite decorative plates on my walls. There may be another wall for shelves or a wall hutch to display them too. Wall hutch:
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gsciencechick
13 years ago
It looks great! Love the espresso color on the cabinets with that beautiful granite!
10KDiamond
13 years ago
Wow - talk about bang for your buck! And I bet you weren't displaced for weeks on end either! Congrats on a great improvement!
cat_mom
13 years ago
What a difference! Great job!
User
13 years ago
LOVE the cab re-do and the granite looks great with them!
breezygirl
13 years ago
That is one great cosmetic transformation. Your cabs don't even look the same. It's amazing what a great granite and some elbow grease can do for you. Enjoy your great and inviting space!
kathec
13 years ago
It looks great and definitely not builder. Kudos to you! Enjoy!
marytwit
13 years ago
Wow -- great job!!! You must be so pleased with the result.
wizardnm
13 years ago
Nice job...a huge improvement!
kitchenaddict
13 years ago
Hi khills...

Wow! What an awesome updated kitchen you have....Love it! Those cabinets look sooooo good... Like dark chocolate..

KA:)
dianalo
13 years ago
Very nice! That is great you were able to keep your cabs and layout and end up with such a nice outcome ;)
doggonegardener
13 years ago
What a difference it made to simply flip your lights and darks. Much more modern and very nice. Yeah for you.
inspiredisabel
13 years ago
You did such a fantastic job! And you probably appreciate the results more since you did the cabinet work yourself! Enjoy it!
rosie
13 years ago
Khills, what a striking difference for so little! I predict a lot of newly inspired viewers.
khills28
Original Author
13 years ago
WOW! Thank you all so much for the nice comments!

@ dar5 - the process we used for the cabinets was very easy (tedious, but easy!). Here are the steps-
- remove doors, drawers, & hardware
- lightly clean gunk off with soap & water, dry well.
- do minimal sanding just to roughen a bit (maybe 30 seconds per door)
- use tack cloth to get the dust off
- last cleaning with mineral spirits
- 1st coat of gel stain. I used a foam brush to apply. Do NOT wipe off. You're basically using it like normal paint. Let dry.
- 2nd coat of gel stain, let dry
- I put all the doors back on and then applied a coat of poly for protection.

And thats it!
cardamon
13 years ago
Khills, It looks so fantastically refreshed. I like the darkness of the cabinets with the Giallo Ornamental. Light stone and dark cabinets looks so good. Good job well done.
blfenton
13 years ago
Wow! I can't believe it's the same kitchen. I really admire those homeowners who can take a builders special oak cabinet kitchen, look beyond it and see the possibilities. I was admiring your counter until I realized it was what I have but mine is paired with cream cabinets. The whole thing looks great. Well done.
flwrs_n_co
13 years ago
Beautiful transformation! I can hardly believe those are the same cabs! They look great with your granite, appliances, and hardware. Definitely a successful update!
dar5
13 years ago
Thanks khills...I might have to try it on my small bathroom. It truly looks amazing.
never_ending
13 years ago
Hooray Hooray! Love gel stain!!! I just talked a friend into doing this to her kitchen in Nov. Because I have used gel stain, somehow her project ended up being OUR project-lol. We got it done in the short course of one week. Really a Friday night, Sunday afternoon, and a few hours here or there during the week to poly. In fact,the next Saturday she also added in vinyl tile floors and new track lighting. They just built a beautiful addition onto their house and she wanted something to tie her over until they could re-do the kitchen down the road.! I'll have to show her. Again it looks fabulous-HOORAY!
khills28
Original Author
13 years ago
Couldn't agree more about gel stain! I am love-struck by it!! It's so stinking easy, and for about $40, I have "new" cabinets. And I have to admit, I am NOT one of those crafty, DIY people. That side of my brain just doesn't work so great. But if you can follow directions and have a little patience, this is a super easy project.
aloha2009
13 years ago
It's a good thing you didn't have the money for a complete makeover because you ended up with a beautiful and sophisticated look for a fraction of the price! Not only did you save money but saved on the lack of disruption to your daily life. Enjoy!!!
elizpiz
13 years ago
Great job - really nice update! You must be thrilled.

Happy cooking,
Eliz
regina_phalange
13 years ago
Wow, it looks amazing!!! I'm a white cab fan but when I see gorgeous kitchens like this it makes me change my tune towards dark cabs. You did a fabulous job!

Quick question - can you tell me what, if any, seams you have on the counter on the sink run? We have an angled counter run like that with our sink and are adding a bar behind the sink and are concerned about what seams we will have when we redo the counters so I'm curious about yours.
nini804
13 years ago
Just lovely!! You should be so proud!
khills28
Original Author
13 years ago
@ regina - Our granite installer/fabricator did an AMAZING job on the seams. Most people don't notice unless you point them out. I believe (terrible, but I don't know for sure!) that there are 2 seams on the sink run, and 1 on the bar top. I'll take some close-ups of them tonight and post the pics to show you where they are.
regina_phalange
13 years ago
That's great to hear! Thanks for offering to take pics :).
bostonpam
13 years ago
What a great job! Love the color on the cabinets and the granite. Enjoy.
noellabelle
13 years ago
beautiful kitchen! You did an amazing job...I love these kinds of makeovers!
gmnolen
13 years ago
It's beautiful! I love the dark stain with the Giallo Ornamental!
taggie
13 years ago
Wow, those don't even look like the same cabinets ... and I can't believe you did it yourself!! Fabulous job, and a great looking kitchen!
shelayne
13 years ago
It looks fantastic! I love that yummy rich cabinet color with light counters!

Congrats on a spectacular makeover!
cjc123
13 years ago
You must be so proud! Great job done!! What a transformation... Enjoy!!
khills28
Original Author
13 years ago
@ regina - Took some pics last night of the seams. There are 2 on the sink run, 1 on the BS, and 1 on the bartop. As I was uploading the pics, I think I notcied another one of the bartop, but I'm really not sure! Thats how hard they are to see in person. But, regardless, this should give you a good idea of how they look. I think the busy pattern of the granite helps them blend in more.

All Seams

Close-up of sink run (no flash)

Close-up of sink run (with flash)

Both seams on sink run

Bar top (look to the left side of the pic, I think thats another seam I missed last night!!)

Hope that helps!
scootermom
13 years ago
Ok, I'm getting a little dizzy from scrolling up and down, up and down, between your before and after photos...but I can't stop, because it's hard to believe it's the same set of cabs! The flip from light cabs to dark and dark countertops to light is just stunning. With the new appliances on top of that, it's just gorgeous! You must be really happy about it!
regina_phalange
13 years ago
Thank you so much for taking the time to take photos of the seams. The seams look so good!!!! They aren't noticeable at all. This is so helpful :).

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