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Design Dilemma Kitchens Remodeling

Kitchen Remodel - Need Inspiration! Suggestions?!

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

We purchased this house two years ago. So far, we've tackled other rooms that were easier. I've hit an absolute rut when it comes to this kitchen! I'm overwhelmed to say the very least. Upgrades so far, new flooring, painted one side of the dining room area, removed a large cupboard over the counter and purchased all new appliances. Of course, we're on a budget otherwise I would be sitting next to an interior designer and not asking for any help at all you wonderful people would be willing to give!!!! Please take a peek at the photos and offer any inspiration. I did remove two sets of wallpaper behind the sink to find particleboard. Another aspect that I'm completely at a loss about. In a small test area behind one of the cupboard doors I sanded and applied a gel stain. It didn't take at all. Thank you all in advance!

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Comments (5)

tozmo1
3 years ago
You can paint the paneling and wood trim to freshen it up. For the particle board, you might try covering it with paintable wallpaper. That will preclude you from doing a tile back splash for a while but it would buy you some time to build up more budget. Here's a blog on a person who used it for covering paneling.

https://supernovaadventures.com/2017/02/using-paintable-wallpaper-to-cover-wood-paneling/

Paint the paneling, strip the walllpaper and cover the particle board with paintable wallpaper and paint. Or you could wallpaper over it with a waterproof wallpaper. Or you can apply some kind of backer board over the particle board if you want tile. Then assess what to do with the cabinets. They're delightfully retro, hope you like that look.
shirlpp
3 years ago
There are just some things that you're going to have to call someone in to take a look at. What is really behind those walls. I would NOT paint over wallpaper nor paint paneling until that question was answered.

What is going on with the ceiling? It looks low? Someone needs to take a look at that also.

Lovely floors BTW!
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What else would you like to change in your kitchen? The things in my original post are what really bother me. I really hate the current pantry space and refrigerator placement. I think those bother me the most. What doesn't work for you about the sink/DW, is it that you see it from the living room?Do you like having a breakfast bar in the Living room? Currently the island is two levels. The sink and DW cannot be seen from the living room. I don't know why I dislike their placement so much. They just seem awkward to me when I am working. When I remodel, I may make the island one level. If they are seen from the living room I won't be bothered. I don't mind the breakfast bar where it is. My living room is fairly large and is kind of an L shape. What's that "empty room", can you make it a pantry? Are there kids living here? The "empty room" is an empty room with electrical outlets and a window. I am thinking of making it into a pantry and office combo. One child. I wish I could put the refrigerator where the panty is now. I think it might be odd, because it would be at the at the end of a walkway and near a doorway.
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Aynb-- Exactly the same thing (major water damage to our kitchen) happened to me a year ago. I am so sorry you are having to deal with this. You are so lucky you found this site early in your process. I know your pain about living without a kitchen, but I just wanted to tell you that for us it was really, really worth dealing with the kitchen-in-the-garage situation so that we had enough time to make plans. Take some time to set up your temporary life with temporary kitchen (we used downstairs powder room for washing dishes, microwave meals, take out) so you can get your kitchen right! In the FAQ on this forum, there is a lot of really good advice about reconceiving your kitchen and planning well. The only things I regret about our remodel are things where I rushed or had decision fatigue from the fast pace of decisions. Good luck!
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You have a large amount of darkish wooden surface -- the individual bits are elegant but the sheer mass of it seems to make the space a bit claustrophobic. To modernize and brighten the kitchen without an enormous investment, I think you are quite right to start by painting your cabinets and the soffits as well. Unless you are really pleased with the window valence, you might also think about removing it for a more modern look. And I believe it is not a big deal to have a few of your upper cabinet doors glazed. Finally, in the realm of cost-efficient changes, you might think about tweaking your lighting scheme. Certainly look at installing undercabinet lighting if you do not already have it. In its kitchen displays, HD now has UCL that is not harsh, does not heat the cabinets too much, and is of all things GE flourescents. It is not dimmable, but the cost is reasonable and the effect is nice. And think about changing the receptacles in your ceiling cans from convex to something with baffles, so that the light is more in pools and less diffuse. If you like having the fan and do not feel the absence of a vent, I would leave the fan, perhaps either lowering it a bit or trying to find a light kit that gives you usable light at the cooktop. I would also leave the floor for now if you can. Cool tile is nice underfoot in a warm climate, and you would only have to worry about making sure that the colors of your cabinets and walls work with what looks to me to be pale gray. I would keep the granite you have now. After the painting and light tweaking is done, you can consider such alterations as having it honed or changing the backsplash if you think something more is needed. When you are ready to go the whole nine yards -- moving walls, changing the shapes of windows, and doing new cabinet layouts so as to create the handsome open spaces that so many people on this forum manage to create, then it will be worthwhile to look at new everything. Cheers and good luck. I'm sure you know that a few of us would give our eye teeth to be starting with your "before."
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From my understanding, not all cabinets need to be acclimated - I'd guess few are. If they're being assembled onsite, and if the temperature/humidity of where they've been stored is much different from the house they'll live in. Hardwood floors, which are 'made' onsite, are a much different situation than plywood/MDF cabinets which have already been assembled. And the cabinets will have to constantly adjust for the changing temperatures and humidity a kitchen experiences throughout a given day and time of year regardless.
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apple_pie_order
3 years ago
What items do you want to replace at this point? Do you have a budget range in mind?
herbflavor
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
You’d want to know if the stove w small hood is vented at all or properly . You’d want to know your options w the ceiling. Look over your layout. You have base drawers are they holding up w regards the construction handling wear and tear and glides ? The two areas of the drop in the counter height.... hmmmm . You’d be best looking over these core things of course the layout before working on surfaces like wall paper. The floor is done . I’d really want the decision about keeping cabs or not as drawers are present... maybe an editing in places (wall cabs) as in remove some ??? Each wall contains a different issue so detailed assessment and then an overall inspiration if no limits were placed and of course budget will limit you. A long range plan might work you could do in phases. It needs a fair number of things don’t get overwhelmed. Just get a notebook don’t start scraping and junk like that right now
PRO
ProSource Memphis
3 years ago
Start planning a full gut renovation in order to take care of the bad layout and other major issues. Start with a measured layout of the whole home. Then engage the services of a kitchen designer.

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