Budget kitchen update
jennifer de jong
5 years ago
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gracie01 zone5 SW of Chicago
5 years agoDLM2000-GW
5 years agoRelated Discussions
surge protector for house?
Comments (2)There was a previous thread here late last year about this topic -- see the link below. As I recall, it may be wise especially if you live in an area where there are relatively frequent power outages. Power surges from wind storms or lightening can damage electronics in newer appliances, and these aren't cheap to repair. Here is a link that might be useful: previous thread about whole house surge protectors...See MoreNeed help for small kitchen redo on a budget
Comments (16)I would work on the lighting and the microwave over the range. Change the large fluorescent fixture and install under cabinet lighting - that may take most of your budget for now. One of my friends is refreshing a similar kitchen and so far she has added new lighting - it already looks so much prettier - even with her older counters. The microwave might not bother you but i am short and don't like reaching up over the range and I also prefer an open cooking area. A microwave/vent also does not vent well compared to a dedicated vent. Your layout is good and this is really a very nice kitchen. I would also add a pretty window treatment. I have a similar kitchen and did not paint as I prefer wood and was concerned with the durability of a DIY paint job - I've seen some a year later and they don't always hold up great - then one has to invest in new cabinets. Do really good paint prep. Your cabinets might be maple which means they will paint up better than oak. It could just be the pic but I am not seeing the wood grain I would expect with oak. My oak kitchen is in a vintage / cottage style: https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~110720042 https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~109854029...See MoreHelp! New home updating Kitchen. Small budget
Comments (24)The photos are really blurry so it's difficult to see what's going on exactly with the cabinets and countertops. It looks like a very spacious kitchen with interesting floors and lots of light. So that's great! I think your ideas to change out light fixtures is excellent. You can really add some of your personality that way without a huge expense or effort. If you have things to display on shelves in the eating area, some wood shelves could be nice. Otherwise you might consider some art to bring in color and personality. I would highly recommend just buying new hardware and not trying to paint "bronze" over the existing hardware. Hardware is not that expensive and is very easy to change (as long as you get the same size). A real metal finish will look so much better than paint. However, the idea in general to replace hardware to add more of your style is great. Usually with a farmhouse sink you need a base cabinet that's ready to accommodate that style of sink. So I'm not sure how successful you will be at cutting into an existing cabinet and quartz countertop to retrofit a farmhouse sink. Maybe someone else here has experience doing that, but it seems like you risk ruining your nice countertops if it's not done properly. Bringing in some more warmth and rustic with a wood farmhouse table sounds great too. I would be a bit hesitant to paint white cabinets just another shade of white unless you strongly dislike the one that is in there and can't work with it. Right now the white cabinets seem to work well with the countertops and doing a proper job of painting cabinets takes a lot of sanding and prep so I don't expect it to be an inexpensive endeavor. I personally would stick to painting the walls for now....See MoreKitchen from early '00s, time for an update. What's the budget?
Comments (21)I did a gut remodel relatively recently of my condo which included a kitchen. You are in a high cost of living area so prices will be high for quality workers. That is the true variable since the cost of the actual materials are going to be the same for the most part in Podunkville versus your area. You should start taking the time to visit as many kitchen and bath stores as possible - a few hours every weekend so that you get a real sense of what the actual cabinets look like and an approximate cost. When I was first researching my remodel I had a very preliminary sketch and I was able to get pricing from various lines. It might not have been the most accurate but I think it enabled me to get some sense of the comparable price of each line The advantage of a relatively small space (like mine was) is that the cost of materials is not going to be the significant factor - the cost of labor is and for better or worse there is not that much difference in remodeling a small kitchen versus a medium size kitchen. This is even more true for bathrooms. Do not even think of doing this without a good kitchen designer and a really good GC. When you do your rounds of kitchen stores, you will also be talking with actual designers and can get a sense of who might be a good fit - both in terms of the lines they sell and your compatibility - compatability is important because the best kitchens are a true collaboration between the designer, the GC and the homeowner And ignore anyone who advises you to save money by not hiring the best GC you can. Whatever you think you will save you will lose on wasted money; wasted time; less than optimum results and horrible aggravation. When things go wrong - which they inevitably well - your GC and your designer will solve them instead of your having to deal with multple finger pointing and attempts to pass the buck. And if you are reasonable with your GC, they will go the extra mile and do stuff above and beyond what they are "legally" required to do. People will advise you to hire an independent kitchen designer. My experience is that this is almost impossible because for the most part the job is too small to make it worth their while to do. However there are very good designers at kitchen stores - much more likely than at HD or Loewes because a good kitchen designer with experience is going to leave HD for greener pastures. Because of the scope of my project, remodel plus redecorating I was able to hire an independent designer. My personal experience with a relatively small space is that IKEA wouldn't work because I wanted to get exactly what I wanted. I went with a local cabinet maker so everything was exactly as I wanted with no compromises or fillers. And of course the style of doors and cabinet finish was fully custom. The cost was actually less than a good quality semi-custom would have been when all of the "upgrades" would have been added....See Moregrapefruit1_ar
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