Adding Interest to a Builder Grade Kitchen Before/After Pics
My retired parents purchased a new builder grade home several years ago that had some lovely features, but also felt a bit bland and came with bad laminate counters that really lacked any wow factor in the kitchen. My husband and I are experienced DIYers so we helped them punch up the drama and interest in their home with a small kitchen upgrade that included new 180fx laminate counters, since real stone or quartz was out of their budget. The small dual stainless sink was replaced with a large Blanco Silgranite gray metallic sink and a new faucet. We then added a real stacked stone backsplash that has a ton of sparkle and texture. We added retrofit pendant lights in place of the can lights above the island so there was no need for an electrician. The dining room lacked drama so I painted the ceiling inset a metallic aqua, and we replaced the typical builder grade chandelier with something with more shine and bling. Even small changes can make a large impact when dealing with a smaller, limited budget. They now feel they have a more modern, colorful, stylish home- not typical of a couple in their 70s. They love the younger, fresher feel to the space and it suits them, as they are not your typical grandparents.
As usual, we realize this won't be everyones cup of tea here, as we all have different tastes and likes. This post is to show what you can do to make smaller changes for a larger impact within a limited budget- especially if you can do some of the work yourself.
Before Kitchen:
After Kitchen:
Open Concept Living/Dining Room Decor:
Comments (18)
ilikefriday
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoRelated Discussions
85% Finshed French Ikea Kitch need help - before and after pics!!
Comments (13)Bonjour Belle cuisine ! Ooooooo La La. You have done a lovely job. A bright glass tile would be wonderful. Or super tiny octagonal tiles perhaps a few in the slate color you like but the rest in whites, grays, creams and a favorite color. Slate is beautiful but the gray might cool the room to much. You need more warmth. (birght colors)Yes Madame Hospital needs a little color. :) What colors do you and your husband love? What colors and style are you using for bar stools or perhaps kitchen curtains? Or maybe a frame pictures. Not too much color as you don't want to crowd the space I assume you like clean lines and simplicity. No Pendants it will fight with the hood. If you do use shelves be sure to pick items that would be lovely to see when sitting in the LR. Vases or nicely shaped coffee mugs. Something bright or warmer to add to the color you might be using as accents. Here are some pictures of small kitchens that might give you some ideas of how to finish off your beautiful space. Open shelves Idea. If you do not want clutter this may not work for you but it is one idea. This reminded me of your kitchen. The picture kind of pulls it together. The gray might give you the idea of slate if you did go ahead with slate. This backsplash brightens this kitchen up. It is hard to see but it is light blue green glass tile. this back splash might work for you too. See the open shelves to the left. So many ideas so many ways to be creative. Plants can also warm up a room without over powering it with clutter. Je souhaite que j'aie été en France aussi. Enjoy your home in France. ~boxerpups...See Morepainting update - before and after pictures (pic heavy)
Comments (26)Clyft, yes, the Smoky Mountain is on the fireplace wall, as well as through the living room, the foyer, the upstairs hall, and the kitchen. It really does well with the natural woodwork and the neutral-with-green-undertones carpet that we had to work with. When we first sampled it I was afraid it looked rather stodgy and dated, but once it was on the walls it has enough of a grayed-out cast to it to look contemporary. In some lights it looks much more blue, and in some it looks green. Meghnjosh, good luck with your blues! I actually didn't want to go with blue, but this was definitely the choice that worked the best with the other requirements we were working around. And it has enough gray and green in it that it works for me. The Wedgewood Gray that we did in the mudroom (no pictures) is too blue for me; we'll be changing that when we have time. At least it is still better than the dingy white it was before!...See MoreBuilder grade kitchen needs help!
Comments (33)For the record, I really like what you’ve done so far with your house. I think it’s hard for posters of a certain age to understand that trends, particularly among the younger generations, is much more fluid and can’t be contained to one genre. We are far less rigid, and for us, decorating is a process, not an event, resulting in a house that is uniquely OURS. (I’m posting this from my room with a leather sectional, rustic bench, scandi-inspired wet bar, and mcm bookcase.) I agree with previous posters that hardware will make a world of difference in your cabinetry. I lean toward matte black (might be too dark, it’s hard to tell from photos) or an unlaquered brass or brushed gold, if you have that anywhere else. Switching the faucet out to something less generic of a style/finish would also help. I would look for some rugs (I tend to like a flat-weave) with a subtle pattern/texture and maybe some patterned throw pillows for the couch. A cool backsplash would help, but I think you’ll want to replace your counter (and maybe sink?) when you do it, so I would hold off for now until you decide for sure what you want. There are some decent laminates out there, even prefab ones that don’t have the built-in 4” backsplash, which would go a long way toward making your kitchen look custom....See MoreBuilder grade natural wood or white cabinets? (before painting later)
Comments (8)The original factory finish does not need to be sanded off. 🙄 Scuff sanding is sufficient if it’s bonded well. A smooth, tight-grained wood like maple is a good choice for a paint substrate. But, the paint grade that lasts the longest is going to be MDF, and you can’t get that stained. Aftermarket painting is not cheap. 7-9K, to add to your budget. A solid wood door will have normal expansion and contraction that will show a lot more with a paint coating. Be sure you understand what that means. And be sure that you understand the processes that a true cabinet refinishers will use. The products will not be homeowner grade paint. Join the Kitchen Cabinet Painting Experts group on Facebook to learn the right way....See More
PROMega Builders
5 years ago
michelle41
5 years ago
My3dogs ME zone 5A
5 years ago
K R
5 years agocooper8828
5 years agodan1888
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoRenoGirl
5 years agolast modified: 5 years ago
bpath
5 years agofunctionthenlook
5 years agochrysalids
5 years agolast modified: 5 years ago
cat_mom
5 years ago
PROMPT Enterprises, Inc.
5 years ago
just_janni
5 years agoTracey Kooros
5 years agoSuki Mom
5 years agogmp3
5 years ago
malabacat