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Update on the $5k duplex kitchen renovation

10 years ago

Here are some updated pictures of my $5k duplex renovation. I'm 99% done on one side - about 99% on the other too but it was too dark for photos. Original thread is here: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0119410913915.html

This side has the mixed cabinets - about $300 cobbled together from what they had at the local habitat restore. $25 used undermount sink, $1,000 Chinese granite (sorry - I know people hate this but at the budget I was working with, I'm very happy - these were not fabricated in China, but here in NC). Appliances from Lowes (had the most horrendous experience so they no longer have any of my business).

The floors are the original pine for half the kitchen, half original oak. Stained to blend together - it's not too bad. The faucet was in my garage - I bought it at overstock last year and can't remember where I was planning to install it (I have another rental house and it may have been there).

I made the island with an extra cabinet, put casters on the bottom, cabinet plywood for the top and a small bracket to support the overhand. The floating bench seat is an idea I saw on Houzz. Kitchen table is an extra 12" upper cabinet with a plywood base and top.

Laundry room floor is "luxury" vinyl with gray grout.

Light fixtures from Ikea, along with cabinet hardware for the drawers, the knobs are the really inexpensive 10 pack from Home Depot in satin nickel (and I'm missing most of them - there are none on the uppers). White subway tile from the restore - under $1/sf - which I may extend from the shelf to the soffit. The fridge surround is a bit of a work in progress too - not happy with it yet.

If I'd had more time, energy and/or money, I would have spent more time pushing my electrician to rewire all the electrical, would have ripped everything out to the studs to have fewer challenges patching the plaster walls/ceilings, added under cabinet lighting, and probably bought a few replacement doors so I didn't have 3 different styles in the same kitchen.

Everything could probably use another coat of paint - but I'm calling it good enough for now. The gray cabinet paint is SW Porpoise. The walls are BM Revere Pewter.

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Comments (15)

User
10 years ago
I like it! If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have missed the lack of matching doors.

It's clean, tidy and well thought out.

Can I see a picture of the floor? My bathroom in NM mysteriously was part oak and part pine.
andreak100
10 years ago
Looks very nice! I wish that the places we rented would have had a kitchen even a 1/4 as nice as what you are showing here. You should be very proud - you've done a great job - I hope it rents for you very quickly!
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the other $5k duplex kitchen renovation
Q
Comments (12)
kirkhall - that was a fridge lowes brought out - 33.5" wide - it hangs out the doorway to the kitchen from the living room by at least an inch. Although larger is usually bigger in fridges - in this case, it's only a 2 bedroom one bath duplex - they don't need a huge fridge. I asked for 30" wide, give or take 1.5" - and that's what they brought out - just way too large. (what I ordered never came in - so I could only pick from their in stock merchandise). Each time they have brought out a fridge that is 30" wide, the door is not reversible. I bought this french door model at sears outlet yesterday - just need to get it there. it's 30" wide, the door swing won't be an issue... and it was the same price at the sears outlet as the one lowes had charged me for. lowes picked up that fridge this afternoon. this way I'll be able to build a cabinet surround for the fridge too.
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Quote for kitchen renovation. Does this seem reasonable?
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Comments (21)
Often, if walls are significantly out of plane, or damaged by electrical runs, it makes more sense to remove the existing drywall and shim/sister the studs, and rehang new. It depends on the house. Take a long straight edge and find the high and low spots in the floors and the ceilings both. Then the high and low spots on the wall. It's better to use that knowledge on the front in to design a response to the issues, than it is to find out in the middle of the installation, and have to brainstorm a fix and endure a delay. I too think that the quote it low for the level of inset from Conestoga. They do great cabinets, but they aren't the cam lock snap together type of assembly. Inset is much harder to design with, install, and own. Be sure that it really suits your house too. Too many people aspire to inset, without really thinking through if the extra expense and fussiness even suits their homes. Be sure that your designer is providing your contractor with enough diagrams and specifications that he is giving you an accurate bid. I have a whole Idea Book devoted to some of the jobsite Design Bible that I create for reference for all trades on site. It includes everything from appliance specs for electrical locations, to the paint color and sheen, to any installer notes for the cabinets, to tile pattern and grout choice for the tile along with it's specs. That shared communication is how you get a good bid from a contractor, and it's how things stay mostly on track.
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Can i get advice on how to renovate and improve my kitchen?
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Comments (24)
When you listed the things that you don't like, none of them would require you do do big structural changes. things I do not like include: old, run down cabinets that are chipped and very worn inside, not having efficient and useful storage/cabinets, including two corner cupboards that are black holes; chipped flooring; 1990s countertops... I'd like something new and clean, with ample storage and more counterspace. If you change the way you use your rooms so that you only have one living area and one dining area, each can be a good size. Moving walls can add unexpectedly to your expenses because you need to re-do all the flooring and the ceilings too. If you can find a way to meet your needs within your existing footprint, you can use more of your budget for, for example, these very efficient storage units to make good use of your 2 corners. With the right units you can get a lot into those corners and make them fully functional. I lengthened the wall of your kitchen beside the refrigerator, which is a very inexpensive renovation, to give you more wall space and more counter space. I switched the refrigerator and the "new" counter space, to give you a nice long counter between the refrigerator and stove. But you could leave the refrigerator where it is and put a pantry to the right of it, or a second counter, if you feel that meets your needs better. I think you have room for a storage pantry in the dining area too, especially if you switch the "swing" of the door which is not a big structural change. Your current nook area could have a movable island like this to avoid issues with the low window, or a peninsula of some kind if you like. You haven't given us exact measurements so these are just ideas. Renos can run away with you cost-wise, and it's easy to get carried away and over-improve your home relative to others in your area. I think you can get the kitchen you want without structural changes.
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If you had $5k-$9k to remodel this kitchen...
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Comments (47)
Mockup of your kitchen with only the changes you were thinking of: - removed bridge over window, added roman shade - removed wine brackets and used as shelf with canisters (which I love the look) - only counter on island is replaced and backsplash - replaced microwave with stainless - replaced lights over island
...See More
williamsem
10 years ago
Wow. Proof that if you care a little, you can make a nice kitchen on a short budget. That kitchen beats most rentals I've seen, and would be a welcomed remodel for some outdated kitchens around here! And that grey is gorgeous! I can't wait to see part 2.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
10 years ago
Great job especially for the budget.
bicyclegirl1
10 years ago
Excellent job....killer budget! You should be very proud of this kitchen. Way to go!
rockybird
10 years ago
Looks great! Does the island roll? I really like the grey for the cabs. Pretty innovative how you used the cabinets for different areas. I also wish the kitchens when I was renting were this nice. Dont forget to post pics of the other kitchen!
robo (z6a)
10 years ago
Looks super cool! I love the floating bench. Love everything really!
mudhouse_gw
10 years ago
I like the bold satin nickel handles you chose for the drawers. They work with the gray and tie in the appliances.

I also think it would be pretty if you could extend the tile from the shelf up to the soffit height.

We visit our ReStore weekly, but it's weak on cabinets (I think Restores in larger cities may have better finds!) Good job on the bargain hunting. Thanks for showing what can be done with hard work and a low budget!
Amy Sumner
10 years ago
Lovetorenovate--beautiful work! Any renter would be privileged to rent from you! Gorgeous. So, we used the same vinyl tiles! I put them in our hall bath as part of a quick/small reno of that room. Love the look, especially with the grout lines. No one can believe its vinyl. Hope you all will be as happy with yours as we are with ours. I may not want to take it up in a few years when we get around to the real reno of that bath! :)
texasgal47
10 years ago
Wow, extremely creative. It's amazing how the mismatched doors come across as almost a non issue in such an amazing kitchen. The creative seating is a wonderful idea. Thanks for sharing!
beachpea3
10 years ago
You are one talented and clever renovator! Love the mix of the SW Porpoise and the Revere Pewter. The paint unified the cabinets very well. Great job all around!
lisa_a
10 years ago
Wow, another fabulous remodel on such a small budget! Never would have noticed the different door styles if you hadn't mentioned it; the paint really ties it all together. And wow, that laundry room is really nice for a rental.

I've never rented an apartment or house that was as nicely put together as this and your other kitchen.
lyfia
10 years ago
This is too nice to be in a rental, wish I had found places to rent that were nice like this. Very functional layout too.
romy718
10 years ago
Amazing that you did all that with 5K. Love the gray cabinets with the white backsplash & gray grout. Looking forward to seeing the other side.
nosoccermom
10 years ago
Really, really nice! What kind of paint did you use for the cabinets?

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