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DIY Remodeling Kitchens

kitchen demolition & remodel

Desiree Cresswell

6 years ago

Split entry home. Atop stairs to the right in the picture is the small u shaped galley kitchen. I despise the half wall with cabinets dividing the space - I want it gone. It will be gone. We will be removing all of the cabinets & replacing them with handcrafted (husband is a cabinet maker) kitchen cabinets. Although I want a particular finish & I don’t know what it is called - shiny (almost mirror like) lime green door & drawer faces...What is that finish-very modern? Those are the only two things I am certain of 1. Half wall gone 2. Shiny lime green cabinet & drawer faces. But the layout & design is up in the air - unknown. I live in it day in & day out so can not imagine what it could be, I am stuck in where it has been since we bought the house 5.5 years ago. We possibly want to add an eat at island located where the round white vegetable & fruit table and the rectangular dining room table is located in the picture. Ideas? Suggestions? Advice? Experience? Insight?

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Sina Sadeddin Architectural Design

6 years ago

Keep that wall with the sink. Not sure why you want it gone, but this is a small kitchen and getting rid of storage isn't going to help.

Also, you're talking about acrylic cabinets, which as others pointed out are not like normal cabinets. Look at IKEA, they're well made and nicely priced. Don't even think about an island, it's a dream that will never happen. Even a peninsula would be too tight in this space. Get a counter depth fridge too when you renovate, it will save you so much room.

As for the lime green colo...if you want it I guess go for it but if you ever try to sell you can almost guarantee that will be a massive roadblock in your way.

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Comments (10)

User
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Hire a Kitchen Designer. You need independent experienced eyes helping you.

You are not getting high gloss acrylic doors and frameless cabinets from a back yard cabinet guy. That’s a higher end European product.
Desiree Cresswell
Original Author
6 years ago
Yes hiring a kitchen designer is an option. I’ve always wanted to have an HGTV designer come into my home & show me the wonderful options that it could be. High end European product - do you know what it is called?
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I'm with weedmeister on this one. You've got to ask yourself some questions, and discuss the implications with your builder. If that's an exterior wall, how to you plan to insulate it? Even if it's not, (I think it's a party wall,) consider it carefully. Stud construction is convenient for lots of reasons. Where are you going to run Romex and where are you putting electrical boxes? How are you going to anchor cabinets to masonry? ascorsonelli shows an example with a brick wall that was likely intended to be exposed. Yours might look charming now, but (no offense) it's not the finest brickwork. It was meant to be covered with lath and plaster. Sorry to rain on your parade ;) But sometimes what we think is a charming discovery turns into a tedious chore down the road. Ask yourself: what do you like about the brick? Maybe you can incorporate that (color/ texture/ whatever) into your scheme in a way that pleases you. That's just my two cents, having been through a lot of these dilemmas. It's easy to get carried away with an old house. I like your house in particular. I remember the cute butlers pantry! To me, your house has plenty of charm already, and I would make sure to weigh the consequences before committing to a potentially problematic exposed brick wall. Good luck, no matter what, and I'll be interested to see what you do with the space!
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Desiree Cresswell
Original Author
6 years ago
Different viewpoints.
Desiree Cresswell
Original Author
6 years ago
Different viewpoints.
User
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Ask the cabinet maker about frameless cabinets. It’s doubtful that he has the machinery to construct it properly.

Hire annindependent Kitchen Designer who has experience designing in modern frameless cabinetry.
sheloveslayouts
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
You do not have room for an island. At all. You need to let that hope go. Without major, significant changes your best layout is a U shape like you have. The cut out above the kitchen sink is odd - I'd probably want to put the sink under the window, and put the fridge on the stairwell side.

Does your husband like to build you things? Is he good at it and can he get it done before the next winter olympics? Seriously. If my husband were to take on a project like that it could ruin a good marriage. My husband is a software engineer. He has had an IT to do list from me for a long time. The cobblers children go barefoot, right?

If you don't mind a toned down greenish color, Ikea kitchen cabinets are available in these cool doors and drawer fronts that are shiny and modern. I really like these.

I appreciate your love of lime green, but maybe you can bring that in with accessories. This turquoise color would have a much more broad appeal to buyers when you go to sell someday. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20322721/
sheloveslayouts
6 years ago
If your husband hasn't looked at Ikea cabinets, he should check them out before saying nay. My friend's dad is a retired carpenter by trade and it was his assessment that the quality of Ikea sektion boxes is much better bang for his buck (and his time) than building her kitchen cabinets. They picked them up the same day they nailed down a plan and had it all assembled and installed lickety split.
PRO
User
6 years ago
Acrylic or high gloss lacquered doors are not very budget oriented. They also tend to be best reserved for accents rather than the majority of the space.
kim k
6 years ago
Do you have a measured layout of the space? It looks like you need more storage based on all the items currently out in the open. Post a layout and people can maybe help!

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