Should I refurb these retro cabinets or buy new?
Melissa West
7 years ago
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Comments (19)
Melissa West
7 years agoRelated Discussions
What should I collect to go in my new kitchen?
Comments (6)I think too much time on Etsy is what's gotten me thinking about this in the first place! I probably should wait... it's just fun to think about now... I'm impatient for the move (still 4 months away) and I like to daydream, what can I say!...See MoreShould I just give up and buy even more oak?
Comments (20)I ordered shaker style doors for another cabinet area I'm building. They're so inexpensive, I couldn't NOT buy from them. I've purchased drawer boxes from them before and couldn't be more pleased. Their door style selection, though, I found to be limited. Granted, I guess they do fewer things well, rather than a bunch of half-assed stuff. :) Their videos and instructions are very clear. As I mentioned, I also plan to buy from the Door Stop. Their selection is great and prices not so bad. Butt doors do meet in the middle, but I hesitate to say yes, chop that center thing out. Depending upon the width of the cabinet, it might be an important support. Imagine wide shelves, for example. There's usually a support on the inside of that thing. (What ARE the vertical things called? Rails or stiles?) My plan is to just get the butt doors and leave the middle thing. At 30" wide, it still leaves me some wide access. If it were a 24? Chop that puppy out. What's the name of your grain filler? I am going to go at the face frames of these other cabinets with something like that, and probably purchase maple or some other smoother wood for the doors. Cool! OH - and I also have mixed woods. Painted oak kitchen and painted maple credenza on another wall. I have chocolate hard wood floors (I can't remember what they're made of), and a teak dining table. The oak cabinets whose doors I want to buy from Door Stop I might even stain after really treating the face frames. Haven't decided. In my bedroom, where I've built the 16' 10" Tansu, with doors from Barker, I'll paint the maple. The en suite has espresso maple vanities, but from DirectBuy's ordering errors, I have 3 unfinished cabs in the window area, visible from the MBR. I'll probably paint those to match the Tansu on the opposite wall. Matchy-matchy in woods is unimaginative, to me. Like buying a showroom living room with all the furniture upholstered the same. Where's the character! :) C....See MoreShould I buy this house for the kitchen remodel I want?
Comments (29)Thanks about my mini fridge idea. We have had many years of living in a house with 5 or 6 folks and those drinks - milk - pop - juice - beer .. take up way to much valuable space. We are currently 5 with the main fridge and a mini. No room nor need for two fridges here with this. I would not write this off until you !get a handle on the costs! and I do not recall your dilemma with current and all that and I admit not going to dig. It sounds like you got cabinet cost GOOD start. SO. People will tell you such and such will be so much. Well that depends on a bunch of factors. Are you ok with doing a kitchen for YOU? Ok with not so expensive finishes to get into the area/house you want but with more function? So not stone but maybe butcher or laminate counters. Do a not too expensive floating vinyl plank floor (easy to replace and demo). backsplash wall - well folks have had painted gloss walls for years or try removable wallpaper- again really easy to change to tile or repaint when you can do it. Can you do some work yourselves? Want a contractor? We had our contractor walk through two of our homes before we bought so we had a good idea what it would cost to do the changes and negotiate. Act as your own contractor? Bring trades in to say how much another sink would cost, update electric, lay down a new floor. We did not have a contractor for three of our kitchen remodels. We hired trades. Rent a dumpster and do demo as a family. Borrow and rent tools to help with that. Save money by NOT removing /cutting down walls nor replacing any working appliance. If no need to go down to studs then don't. If worried about pinch at fridge well--- maybe move that into the breakfast room space. Is it a pantry now? If so is it wide and tall enough (add electric and a water line if you like ice). Yes it is outside the main area but then a fridge should not be in the middle of the action - sinks are. Do the mini fridge with a small drawer cabinet next to it in the space. Remove the overhang on the family side at least. So I would highly encourage you to find what is the min. thing that is acceptable, get that priced and work from there (too much than non starter but if less - do more bells and whistles). It can be time consuming and frustrating but also enlightening ... if you pass on this you might visit other homes that need some of the same work. At least you have some idea based on your standards/goals. OH- Has anyone even tried to get a contract on the house? Some folks might have gone in and said yes I would buy it but knock off x due to the kitchen based on "industry or average costs in this area" BUT not YOUR numbers. Yours might be more palatable to the seller. Just saying....See Morepost #3 possibly buying a retro house-ideas if it can be update
Comments (9)Ok so... here are the other threads... Help me convince my husband this house is perfect out post #2 possibly buying 50’s retro house-ideas needed You say the house is perfect, "I think this house is very unique and amazing and vintage" But then your threads are about changing the dining room, kitchen cabinets- you aren't sure if you want all the wood walls, you hate the wood ceiling, and not happy with the bathrooms. You only kind of half like the house, like the stone floor and some ceiling beams, but want to take away a lot of what makes it unique, amazing, and vintage. I understand updates, but by your threads this house might not be for you- you should probably leave it for a buyer that will really love more of the features you aren't keen on. You might be better off getting a house you more fully embrace, rather than trying to change this house from its character. Keep in mind your husband needs to love the house too, since you both will be living there. If he isn't convinced, then respect that and keep looking for something you both are convinced is great and you both love it....See Morewritersblock (9b/10a)
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