I was just looking at the Rustoleum transformations website and was surprised to see how good some of the before/after photos looked.

Your cabinet style is nice in that it's simple.

Maybe you could change the color of the cabinets (see the Rustoleum page), add a mosaic backsplash, replace the hardware (or paint it - I used a blackened bronze paint on our old sixties hardware as well as many other metal items), replace the fluorescent light with a pendant (or 2 - depending on the size of the pendants - or maybe a drum pendant - and replace the light over the sink, strip off the wallpaper border, take down the blinds and sham and put up woven/bamboo shades and then live in the house for a while to get a feel for what you'd ultimately like to do.

Just random thoughts.

(Also, I was looking at the before/after kitchen pictures at a site called Design on a Shoestring earlier today and saw some pretty nice low-budget before/afters - if you search the name it will probably come up - I found it via Houzz.com)

Leia, never thought about painting the hardware. And I agree, new lights are a must. And you're right, probably best to live in for a while before I start ripping up tile. I appreciate your time in writing a reply. thanks!

In this order...
Remove the wallpaper border & paint
Replace counters and....
Make the island surface all one height
I would eliminate seating on the short end of the island b/c it could be in the way of seating at the kitchen table (depends on dimensions of space) [If it's not in the way, maybe build a set of shelves for under the overhang on the short end...or maybe put a trash can there if there's no trash pullout]
Increase overhang on back of island to 15", if it's less than that right now; you have plenty of room from what I can see
Replace backsplash
Is the cabinet over the refrigerator full-depth or at least pulled out so it lines up w/the front of the refrigerator carcass/box? If not, look into pulling that cabinet out so it appears full-depth
I'm not sure about gel staining the cabs darker w/the dark floors
If there's money left over (or later), add crown molding to the ceiling
Maybe add some storage accessories over time...tray storage, roll out tray shelves, pullouts, etc. They can be added as money is available.

That's it, I think.

Functionally, the layout is pretty good...count yourself lucky!

Hardware does not have to be all that expensive. If you don't like the existing hardware, I suggest replacing it instead of painting it. Besides, paint tends to chip and look bad over time (and not that long a time), especially on something that's used all the time like drawer pulls and door knobs.

As to the lights...maybe. But keep in mind that most pendants are meant to be accent or task lighting and not meant to light up an entire room. Lighting changes can get expensive...especially if you have to get an electrician involved and/or have to put holes in the ceiling.

If you keep the center light, stain it whatever color you stain the cabinets OR paint it white to blend in with the ceiling.

How are your DIY skills?

You're welcome. :) We've lived in our house for six years and I know that what I would do today is much different than what I would have done when we first moved in.

Somehow I missed your top photo when I first replied. The island looks bigger than I thought it did in the second photo.

About the hardware - you might not need to paint it. After I replied I enlarged the photo and with darker cabinets the hardware might pop out nicely - especially with what looks to be white countertops.

Something else I just thought of (I get really hyper at this time of night!) - today I was perusing the NKBD site and their 2011 grand prize winning kitchen is a dark color. I've looked at so many kitchen photos today so I'm going to have to go back and find it but I think it was a chocolate oak color because at some point I started looking at chocolate-y oak cabinet doors and I think that photo was the impetus for the search.

Anyway, if you were able to lightly sand them enough to re-stain them a darker color - so the oak grain would show - you might have a different kind of look (the NKBD says dark colors are on the way back "in" - not that that really matters considering it should be what you really like/love.

(I think one of the darker stains is called Wenge)

I'll see if I can find that one photo. It had me considering dark cabinets for the first time in a few year.

I love this kitchen but it's not oak - it's mahogany. In the past few days I've seen a chocolate oak that was really nice. It had a Craftsman feel.

Alise O'Brien photography
Designer: brooksBerry Kitchens & Baths, St. Louis, MO

RE: painted hardware - it worked surprisingly well on our drawer pulls/hinges (I painted them in 2008) but there's just two of us using the kitchen and the pulls were the vintage Amerock flat metal. I don't think it would work on all types of pulls - especially not ones with a porcelain insert. Either way, your kitchen (and pulls) are Taj Mahal-like in comparison to ours and I had a true devil-may-care attitude when I started painting our old kitchen cabinets (and wouldn't advise anyone do it that way).

Here is a link that might be useful: NKBA link

Like buehl...
1. remove border
2. change lighting
3. new counter (you can use laminate or even granite tile)
4. new backsplash
5. create one level island

I don't know that I'd stain the cabs... they really look quite nice. i'd leave the floor for now and see how it grows on you.

Congrats on your new home!!

I agree with all of buehl and remodelfla's suggestions.
Buehl's crown molding to ceiling is an interesting suggestion.
This would permit you to cover the odd duct work area over the vent hood.
I wouldn't gel stain the cabinets.
until you've finished the other small renovations.

If you start with

1. remove border ("free"/diy)
2. change lighting (could be less than $500 if you diy, or much more)
3. make island all one level (diy wood top for less than 1,000;
inexpensive granite for 1,000 to 2,000)

you may find that you can stop with that for a while
and spend some time thinking about the counters and backsplash.
Since the counters are plain white tile, you may be able to live with them.

I can't see what your sink and faucet look like.
Are you happy with them?
If you don't have under cabinet lights you might consider having them installed.

Best wishes for your new kitchen!

remove wallpaper, window curtain, change cabinet hardware to iron or pewter, look into changing top of island. New light fixture above sink and at dining table-satin nickel or cooler metal to look better with new cabinet hardware.Then live with it....to know the changes you will want later.

I would go ahead and have the hardwood threaded into the kitchen the same as the adjoining room and hall, that is bothering me more than anything else. They can match it exactly these days and even have better ways of sanding the other room to have it all match. Then you could do a bit lighter floor if you plan to gel stain the cabs in a darker color.

New hardware or paint it for sure.

I think you were already planning to remove the border. I would paint the same color into the adjoining areas to add fluidity or at least a close in color alternative.

New lighting as much as the budget allows:
can lights
under cab lights if not there, I'd really hate to live without those in my kitchen, use them all the time
remove the fluorescent they just cast such a harsh light

Some countertop places in our area are selling granite for $29 a square foot, but I wouldn't really go for that right now as it will eat up a lot of budget and you could do laminate and get a beautiful top for so much less and then do a really nice backsplash.

You could add end panels on the island and lower the top to all one level.

If there is money left over a fresh new sink and faucet for you!!! I think it's going to look great, you might even have money left over which is always nice : ) You have a very nice kitchen to start from to add your own personal touch, good luck!

Ditch the border, darken the cabinets, install recessed lighting, remove existing ceiling lights, nice new backsplash, new countertop (need not be an expensive material), sink, and maybe faucet, new cabinet handles (Ikea has some nice looking ones that are cheap, as do the big-box hardware stores).

A new stove is a budget-buster, so scour Craigslist for an upscale slide-in range that's a few years old, and for an over-the-cooktop Advantium 120 or at least a microwave/range hood combo to replace the range hood, and remove the existing microwave and shelf. Use the latter space for something neat like a wine rack or a horizontal, lift-up glass-door cabinet ($96 at Ikea).

I agree with beuhl, et al...
Before reading the replies my response was:
-remove wallpaper border
-make island all one height with a new top (Ikea butcherblock is CHEAP!)
-definitely get rid of the flourescent box light; replace all lighting (Lowes Allen&Roth line has nice-looking but cheap choices) and add inexpensive DIY plug-in undercabinet lighting for functionality
-Replace or paint cabinet hardware

Then if budget allows later, you can change out the rest of the perimeter counters, maybe upgrade appliances, maybe change flooring. The floor tile doesn't seem too bad, but I fear if you stain the cabs darker, the room will be TOO dark. The kitchen leia posted, with dark cabs, works because it has a light floor IMHO.

Ikea Numerar countertops in various thicknesses and wood species. For a 39" wide x 79" long slab (probably wide enough for your island, you'd shorten the length) it's less than $200. If you don't mind a seam, you can glue together two 25" wide ones for $80-$160 depending on species.

Honestly I would just remove the border wallpaper and paint the kit. If you really dislike the hardware look for something you like.
Enjoy your new house, eventually things you really want to change will become obvious to you.

I agree to keep it simple, but I'd do the following:

1. remove border and valance, paint

2. gel stain cabs darker, but not all the way to esspresso and change hardware

3. change overhead lights, track lighting for the middle fixture will be cheaper than pendants to install

4. new counters, esp on island, which you make 1 level

5. change out cushions on chairs or re-cover

6. IF the budget still has room, re-do the bs

I actually like the stain on your cabinets...I, too, wouldn't go dark with the dark tile floor. Although it may be a budget buster, I think one of those green granites with burgundies moving through it would look great on your island. I suppose you could try to find a remnant ? It would tie the oak cabs and green floors together.

Something like what sixtyohno has (hope she/he doesnt' mind the link!):

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg1123233332172.html?43

If too expensive, maybe in the future if you decide to keep the cabs...

You have dark appliances, and dark floor. If you stain the cabinets dark, it will be all dark and all different colors (brown cabs, green floor, black appliances). I don't think it's going to come out very well. I know it is easier to make changes now than after you're all settled in, but I would wait. You really do have to live with the space to know what you want. Why waste money now just to redo it later or want to redo it later and not have the money? For now I would just do some minor free or very cheap things to make it livable. Remove the wallpaper border, remove/change the window treatment, paint the ceiling fixture over island white to match ceiling and get some new hardware, doesn't have to be expensive to make a difference. Also, if there is anything wrong with the faucet, I would change it. Inexpensive faucets can be gotten at big box stores. The thing that then sticks out the most to me, is the island. The 2 levels makes it less functional and just weird looking. Maybe that is the one thing I would spend some money (not much!) to do something about for now.

If you have basic DIY skills the island shouldn't be too difficult to change.

-Carefully remove the lower counter and supports. See if you can get the supports off without damaging them so you can re-use them (although you can get some great, inexpensive brackets or corbels online or at Ikea.)

-Carefully remove the tiles on the "backsplash" part of the island, as well as on the top counter area.

-Assess the damage caused by removing those things. Where the brackets came off, are there just small holes that can be filled with oak-colored wood putty? Can you scrape/sand the mastic from the tiles off enough to look "OK" (remembering that area will be mostly hidden by the new countertop overhang)? If not, you will need to face those 2 sides with something. Maybe see what oak paneling products are carried by local lumberyards that could be stained to match existing. If you're painting the cabs, then it'll be easy, you can use any thin paneling material, beadboard, etc. install and paint/stain small trim to hide edges.

-Install new countertop in basically the same "footprint" (size/shape) but at regular counter height. Attached to the top of the cabinets. This could be DIY wood, or DIY installation of a granite remnant, or professional granite install. Or laminate. Or new tile.

- Install new supports (reuse existing or new brackets) if needed depending on the counter material and overhang.

- Get new counter-height bar stools. (Lots of decent ones available for

I agree with all the comments above.

You could have all or many of your uppers cut for glass, you can get glass that is obscure. That would cut down on the amount of the same brown wood.

Get lots of quotes on the counters if you go for granite. I had estimates from reputable places ranging from 8K to 3K! Big box stores tend to be expensive.

I agree with all of the above. However, my daughter was able to get a granite remant for her island for a few hundred dollars -- she kept the laminate on the perimeter and it looked very good(she was fixing up/staging to prepare to sell)

You can do a lot with 6K if you are super careful. I did a kitchen in my old house for about 7K (see the thread Granite on 80s oak cabinets). You need to buy online with free shipping, etc, and get several estimates.

I spent :

$3200 92' granite
$300 trim, beadboard, corbels for peninsula and moulding
$1500 professional painting of cabinets
$600 wood floor refinishing/repair
$180 tumbled travertine tile for backsplash, grout, etc
$500 tile installation
$125 knobs/pulls (eBay)
$125 cabinets cut for glass/glass
$400 silgranite sink (Homeperfect)
$125 delta faucet (eBay)

My in-laws saved a lot of money on their sink by buying it online. IIRC, it was about $400-500 less than what they were looking at in brick and mortar stores. CBsinks. I just looked at their site again and their prices include free strainers and free delivery. They sell sink grids but they're only available for purchase with their sinks.

I saw a few farmhouse sinks on Overstock the other day and on ebay as well but I don't know about the quality, brands, etc.

Right now, my husband and I are working on lighting in our kitchen. I would discourage doing lighting if you are counting on it to be "cheap." If all goes well, it could be cheap. Or not. Here's the deal: Years of being next to a lighting fixture can cause your sheetrock to become brittle. You may lose more of it than you think as you remove the old fixture. You could have some significant patching to do around either current lighting fixture. If you aren't comfortable with drywall repairs, I'd think again.

Sink light details: Since you would probably want either recessed lighting or a pendant over the sink, both would likely have a smaller base than your current fixture and if anything, you want a bigger base. Painting that brass is a possibility, but I would not remove the fixture to do it! If you can find something with a bigger base diameter than current fixture, that might also be a possibility.

Island Lighting: Strongly advise you just paint the oak trim around your island lighting fixture.

The track lighting suggested means you will need to replace sheetrock in an area that is approximately 18 inches by 4 feet long (just my guess from looking at your picture). Remember that your patch would need to extend to the nearest rafters for attaching the screws to the sheetrock. What ceiling texture do you have? That can be hard to match. Then you're hiring a texture guy and even they can't always get it exactly to match. So it could end up being a bigger eyesore than it was.

When I looked at your photos, my initial reaction was "The island is what needs to go." I also immediately noticed the wallpaper border and the balloon blind (easy no brainer fixes). So,my personal recommendation is to completely replace the island, with a more functional one-level one. Use the base of it if you can (as suggested above), or have it made, or make it. Do a darker color perhaps, and put the butcher block on it. Granite slab would work, but I believe that puts you over budget. Not granite tile because then it is too close to your ceramic tile. If you are doing JUST the island, you could incorporate a trash pullout or tray dividers while you are at it. If you need to have a new island made, add more big drawers. I know you are thinking appearance right now, but functionality makes us all feel better too.

I would not darken the perimeter cabs with those floors.
Love the glass door idea if you can find the person to do it. I would live in the kitchen a bit before doing this portion. See what items go where in your kitchen. Then you will know better whether you want clear glass or not, and which cabinets you really want solid doors.

Good luck!

Turns out, I wasnt as savvy as I first thought.My 6k budget is now non-existent... But if we do end up with this house, at least I have ALOT of great advice for the future.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to guide me. If we end up buying this house, I'll post back with my progress.

The first thing to do is to realistically assess your DIY skills. The key to stretching any budget is DIY. If you have to pay for labor, you more than cut in half what is possible to do. You can't safely go from 0 to 60 in 3 seconds flat on the drag strip if you just learned to drive. Spend some time on the residential streets at 30 mph first. Buy some tools that you will need. This is a great time of the year for package deals. Set up space in your garage for those tools.

You can remove the wallpaper border and paint to start with, because that's a 1 star skill level, but be sure you take the steps to do even that properly. Then pick another small project in another room to practice something on. A laundry room is usually a great place to learn to tile a floor because it doesn't have that many cutouts (like a bathroom will) and it's behind a closed door so your mistakes can be hidden! ;) If you are adventurous in your decor, you can even gather together a lot of broken tile from relatives projects and mosaic the walls in that laundry room. It's good prep work for doing a backsplash or a bathroom later. There will always be dozens of projects in a home that will be on your list to accomplish. Start with the easiest ones first!