I bought this small cottage house for a STEAL 3 1/2 weeks ago - it was virtually unlivable (hardly a kitchen, no toilet, termite damage, roof leaks, etc). I've done several other houses (this is #7) - so it didn't scare me off too much. But, I'm getting divorced - and have very little money for the entire redo - so my plan was to do it all on $20k. By "all", I mean - new roof, repair all the termite damage, new bathroom, take down a couple walls (DR/Kit DR/LR), install a new kitchen, all new plumbing, and an HVAC system (currently nothing there). It's been a huge challenge - anyone can remodel on an unlimited budget - this makes it more "exciting".

So, here's some before & afters. We (me and my framers) took down the wall between the kitchen and dining room - The kitchen has a long narrow design - mainly so that it's open at the back area of the house - where I plan to put an addition next year when I have more money from selling my current house (i'll put another large arched opening at the back wall of the kitchen to open that to a new addition with a den, master suite, and covered porch at the back of the house). there's now no "official" dining room, but there's a perfect spot for a banquette with built in seating.

We put an 8 ft arch between the former dining (now a huge kitchen), and living room. I found my cabinets at the Habitat Restore for $1700, including the corian tops (sink too). I have some cabinets for the island too (not all shown in the photo) - and the island is getting Uba tuba granite. I bought the mircowave hood on craiglist for $75. I'm buying a bosch ascenta for $420 (my 5th bosch - and I never use anything but one cycle - so I'm gonna try the low end to stay in budget), a whirlpool gas range with a center grate (so it'll feel more like the high end ones I'm used to) for $600, and a fridge, standard depth side by side that's recessed in the wall. the glass tile backsplash was at HD for under $10sf. It's all come together really quickly - i'm pretty excited. my hardwood guy is sanding and staining this weekend - so next week i'll be nearly done!

this pic shows the kitchen wall completely gone and the arch framed between the living room and kitchen:

I am a bit over my budget (not too much) maybe $22k - but I had planned to go for all used appliances and after buying a bumm dishwasher on CL, decided it wasn't worth the trouble. I'm the painter, landscaper, tile person, and trim carpenter - so labor costs are pretty low. I have paid for an electrician, plumber, HVAC, hardwoods and my framers.