Budget kitchen remodel update - bamboo blinds?
reallymelanie
8 years ago
Good morning!
I'm still cleaning up from the installation of some kitchen updates, but I'm already thinking about the next pieces!
JCPenney is having a great sale on the bamboo blinds I've been considering for the windows. Privacy isn't much of an issue - we're pretty well surrounded by pines. Blocking the sun isn't an issue either - we welcome it! I've been thinking about bamboo blinds because they'd add some texture. What I'm planning on doing is ordering these as an outside mount (window depth is too shallow for inside mount). I'm not sure what color I want, though. I'm thinking Oak, because I think we need some wood in the kitchen.
I believe the Oak woodwork will stay. I have an OLD Oak hexagonal kitchen table that I plan to refinish. I'm having a moveable island built, to replace the microwave stand, and will mount three wooden shelves above it. I'll be painting the cupboards a grayish blue - bottom at least, though I'd consider a creamy white for the top. The wall color is Valspar Cream in My Coffee. I think I like it. Still need lighting of course, and cupboard hardware, but we're making progress.
Here's the old thread with pics of our kitchen: http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2897070/budget-kitchen-remodel?n=56
Here is what the kitchen looks like this morning (just three days after the contractors left).
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Comments (19)
jlc712
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Help!! Kitchen(Cave) Remodel/Update on a BUDGET
Comments (16)I think the light fixture's yellow glass shade is probably contributing to the problem, so I would take it off and get a better read on the cabinets and countertops. The next thing I would do is remove the wall paper. Where the wallpaper is in front of the window to the left of the sink, what is that, some kind of valance? Can it be removed, it is blocking sunlight. Then remove the cabinet handles and give them a good cleaning with a degreasing product. In our last house they cleaned up and got about three shades lighter. You will need to thoroughly clean before painting anyway so this will not be wasted work. I have even had to scrap layers of built up grease off with a razor blade- ick. I kind of like the green color of the Iaminate. The full splash makes it a bit intense but it is probably just a thin sheet of the laminate glued to the wall and may come down very easily. It could also be covered it like nosoccermom suggested. Two full height stainless backsplash panels can be gotten pretty cheap at HD or Lowes. I don't know your storage needs, but you could remove all the uppers on the sink wall and the backsplash, You could do a small splash behind the sink to protect from water, it could be stainless, or tile, and then do open shelves on that wall. If you do decide to paint the cabinets, think a soft grey-green would look nice. If you can remove the backsplash, I think I might go with a chocolate brown on the lowers and a light off white on the top....See MoreKitchen Update on Tight Budget
Comments (8)Thank you, everyone! You've all given me some ideas to think about. After reading these posts and talking with my BFF, I am going to retract my statement that countertops MUST be first and go instead with flooring first -- for several reasons: 1.) It will require the biggest outlay of money. 2.) It's the one area I feel most decisive about -- i.e., though lovely -- not wood -- nor bamboo, nor cork, nor vinyl, nor granite nor marble (though thank you for thinking about my aching joints!) 3.) Past experience has taught me in order to do such projects-- time, money, and energy all have to come together at once. Right now we have all three and my husband and son are raring to go just as soon as I make the call -- that may not be the case six months from now. (Sigh. Such is the life of a carpenter's wife.) : / 4.) I think it better to lay flooring now before the cold weather sets in -- probably not a good idea to lay slate in the middle of winter. 5.) Once I see how the slate looks, then I can make a decision on the countertops. Yes! You've all helped me realize I am about 98% certain we'll go with slate. I actually have a slate floor in my current kitchen (will post pics later when I figure out photo bucket) and after 13 years I still love it. People thought I was crazy when I chose slate and that was when all sorts of lovely tile was the rage, but my thinking then was similar as now: I want timeless, durable, non-slippery, low-maintenance, practical for our purposes and to still looks nice no matter what the men drag in on their boots. ; ) Hmmm....I never even thought about painting the cabinets -- but I do like the idea, especially milk paint! I really do like the look of milk paint! And I like the fact that the painting could be done "later" -- maybe next summer. Thank you, too, for pointing out there might be too much wood going on if I go with wood countertops. That is definitely something to consider. Have already looked at a number of custom-metal countertop sites (copper, zinc, etc.) but I just can't envision the entire countertops being all one sheet of any kind of metal. Plus while I do like the aged patina look I don't like acid spill spots and scratches and all the dings and dents that come with soft metals. Hubby has actually done some lovely copper work (lamps and planters) and I know he'd do a great job, but you see he's from the Southwest and I'm afraid he'd go a little nuts and get too south-western adobe-ish if I just let him have at it. ; ) Maybe a natural (no stain) sealed cherry countertop with stamped or hammered or beveled copper edges might be a compromise. Then, too, if I go with wood countertops we could always tile over them 10 or 15 years down the road... But enough about countertops for now. I really feel the floor throughout the entire area should be slate. I agree, in part, with the notion of living in a house awhile to see what you want to do. But I thought slate flooring when I first walked into the house and every time I've looked at it online and every time I've been there since. (God willing, the cherry flooring will come later with the living room and bedrooms.) But first things first...I still have to finish packing! :o...See MoreMini reveal for low budget DIY kitchen remodel
Comments (25)The sink did fit within the 24" wide cabinet without sitting on the frame. The sinks rim was about 1" wide, and there was maybe 1/8" gap between the sink and the cabinet on one side, and about 3/8" gap on the other. To mount it under the counter, I made a frame from oak boards, cut small slots in the boards for the mounting brackets the were already on the sink. I then mounted the frame tightly to the bottom of the sink through the sides of the cabinet. Once I had it mounted tightly, I lowered it down, used a clear silicone-like sealant around the rim, and pressed it back tightly into place and reinstalled the screws through the cabinet sides....See MoreLow budget kitchen remodel suggestions
Comments (10)I should have worded my original post a little better. Walls will be painted agreeable gray and cabinets will be painted alabaster. Light fixtures will also be updated regardless. I am exploring the thought of updating the flooring and/or countertops. Mostly looking for ideas and price options to update those two. Trying to see what the cost would be and deciding on if I am able to go ahead and replace both now if it isn’t so expensive or which one to update first with the other being replaced later on (within a year.)...See More
sheesh
8 years agotuesday_2008
8 years agomelle_sacto
8 years agosheesh
8 years ago
grapefruit1_ar
8 years agoreallymelanie
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8 years ago- reallymelanie thanked jlc712
reallymelanie
8 years ago
missymoo12
8 years agonosoccermom
8 years ago
PROBlinds-US
6 years agok9arlene
6 years ago
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