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Advice needed for Kitchen makeover on a tight budget

last year

I’ve grown tired of my plain kitchen. We can’t afford new countertops/cabinets/floors so we are looking at options to change the look (paint/stain cabinets, backsplash, walls, etc). What would you do? What color combinations do you see working with existing items? Side note I REALLY dislike the colors of my countertop , closeup in second picture, but again can’t afford new so here we are 🙃

Comments (5)

herbflavor
last year
last modified: last year
looks like the 4 in strip can be removed. I'd get a backsplash. maybe a very dark brown or near black ceramic tile. I'd get a good looking kitchen workcart for all that floorspace. I'd add metal rods/rings and get swooshy sheer curtains at least. I'd paint the lime green wall below the chair molding on the dinette side. fix the drawer that's missing and add black hardware to your cabs. Very sunny space / dark tile blacksplash could be a good bet . the room scene you show makes the counter look more gray/black whereas your close up has a brown appearance hard to tell which shade is really dominant in counter...... but here are some darks below......or maybe a folk pattern w simple light/dark . Older oak kitchens that are giving you storage /w lots of work counter and decent appliances for the time being can just be improved w details and keep you going for a time. Not sure of your overall plans. Could you afford a backsplash and a cart? seems that would be nice and provide detail.
Forever 3 in x 6 in Straight Edge Glass Subway Tile in Glossy Dark Cloud · More Info

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a cart that would look great once you get black hardware on cabs....not the cheapest of carts but provides some style and use.
ffpalms
last year
You may want to experiment removing the doors from one of your cabinets to display some pretty dishes to break up the long expanse of wood. Think about an accent color that complements the adjoining space, and put in a rug that ties it all together. If you like the look of the open cabinet, you may want to prettty up the interior with beadboard or wallpaper.
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I might consider finding an old similar cabinet for free or $10 on CL to practice. I found the following thread on updating laminate cabinet, if you scroll waaaay down there is one picture where the owner attached lattice molding on the faces and painted them white. It looks amazing. I would consider that, new pulls, vinyl planks or squares and and laminate counters. Here is a link that might be useful: [Thread on updates[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/80s-laminate-cabinet-kitchen-update-advice-dsvw-vd~303456)
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Thank you, everyone! You've all given me some ideas to think about. After reading these posts and talking with my BFF, I am going to retract my statement that countertops MUST be first and go instead with flooring first -- for several reasons: 1.) It will require the biggest outlay of money. 2.) It's the one area I feel most decisive about -- i.e., though lovely -- not wood -- nor bamboo, nor cork, nor vinyl, nor granite nor marble (though thank you for thinking about my aching joints!) 3.) Past experience has taught me in order to do such projects-- time, money, and energy all have to come together at once. Right now we have all three and my husband and son are raring to go just as soon as I make the call -- that may not be the case six months from now. (Sigh. Such is the life of a carpenter's wife.) : / 4.) I think it better to lay flooring now before the cold weather sets in -- probably not a good idea to lay slate in the middle of winter. 5.) Once I see how the slate looks, then I can make a decision on the countertops. Yes! You've all helped me realize I am about 98% certain we'll go with slate. I actually have a slate floor in my current kitchen (will post pics later when I figure out photo bucket) and after 13 years I still love it. People thought I was crazy when I chose slate and that was when all sorts of lovely tile was the rage, but my thinking then was similar as now: I want timeless, durable, non-slippery, low-maintenance, practical for our purposes and to still looks nice no matter what the men drag in on their boots. ; ) Hmmm....I never even thought about painting the cabinets -- but I do like the idea, especially milk paint! I really do like the look of milk paint! And I like the fact that the painting could be done "later" -- maybe next summer. Thank you, too, for pointing out there might be too much wood going on if I go with wood countertops. That is definitely something to consider. Have already looked at a number of custom-metal countertop sites (copper, zinc, etc.) but I just can't envision the entire countertops being all one sheet of any kind of metal. Plus while I do like the aged patina look I don't like acid spill spots and scratches and all the dings and dents that come with soft metals. Hubby has actually done some lovely copper work (lamps and planters) and I know he'd do a great job, but you see he's from the Southwest and I'm afraid he'd go a little nuts and get too south-western adobe-ish if I just let him have at it. ; ) Maybe a natural (no stain) sealed cherry countertop with stamped or hammered or beveled copper edges might be a compromise. Then, too, if I go with wood countertops we could always tile over them 10 or 15 years down the road... But enough about countertops for now. I really feel the floor throughout the entire area should be slate. I agree, in part, with the notion of living in a house awhile to see what you want to do. But I thought slate flooring when I first walked into the house and every time I've looked at it online and every time I've been there since. (God willing, the cherry flooring will come later with the living room and bedrooms.) But first things first...I still have to finish packing! :o
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Help! Tight Budget! Need to Update My Kitchen!
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Comments (13)
If it's considered an entry level condo - that is a starter home - I wouldn't change anything major. Just paint the walls a neutral color, clean and edit the items on the counter. Remove the multiple towels and dated canisters. If you have a Home Goods or Crate and Barrel nearby check out new stylish towels. Keep the counters totally clutter free. Clean out the cabs and de-clutter. Allow the next buyer to do the upgrades and updates to their taste. The previous posters are right that some upgrades will actually turn buyers off. In my area of middle suburbia, it is granite on old cabinets that have seen better days, especially if the layout isn't great. If your cooktop is older, around 8 - 10 years or going out - this may be an item to consider updating along with matching hood since you already have the SS oven. The newer appliances are a great selling point on an older home. I've bought a couple of houses where the old 1980's stoves were downright scary. Check out clearance, closeouts, craigslist or sears outlet for a good deals. As the others posted, new lighting can help brighten up the space. You don't have a picture of the sink, but if the faucet is old and dated, that could also be a great upgrade for not a lot of money. My personal favorite, the one I currently own is this Moen Brantford: http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-25ecodZ5yc1v/R-202998687/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=moen+kitchen+faucet&storeId=10051#.UJvZF6UTBvc I don't know what your lighting and flooring is like, but a neutral color I love is called Autumn Haze. The color is by Glidden. I've staged and sold 3 houses since 2003. The following pictures are the kitchens from the two most recent. Both of these have oak cabinets. The most recent (1st) had 20 year old laminate counters. The wall paint was Behr Sand Pearl. The 2nd one actually had tile counters. It was newer with the original builder paint, except for the blue/green color. I had 2 toddlers and a baby and didn't have time to repaint and neutralize.
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Need ideas for kitchen remodel on a tight budget
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Comments (9)
Paint the toe kick the same color as base cabinets so it disappears. If you change out the hardware, choose it before you paint. You may need to fill existing fastener holes and drill new ones. Always prepare new hardware locations prior to sanding and painting. There's also a few inexpensive under cabinet lights that will improve the work area. Look for plug & play extendable lighting. Look on Amazon.
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happyleg
last year
There is a paint called Beyond for cabinets but there's prep work to be done it's on YouTube one other channels and you don't have to sand but there's like I said prep work and you can't skip that I painted cabinets once let me tell you it's no easy job but mine did look fantastic when I got done but that was the other house and some rug that has black in it or or charcoal would look nice by the sink your backsplash could be charcoal or black that would be a nice update there and you could pick the paint color Al basseter for the walls it's like a light shade of beige kind of like a linen color there is a linen color paint and if you take off a door off your cabinet put it like at the dishwasher or to the right of the dishwasher somewhere don't put it by the stove where grease is going to jump into the cupboard and get everything greasy and dirty or odors there
HU-918119203
last year
I probably would not spend the time and money on painting or refinishing cabinets since I don't think you can get a good result on the type of budget you're describing. Unfortunately, you need to work with existing pallette which is very warm and orange-y. I'd try to tilt that scheme to reds and creams and blacks, which won't clash with what you have but may deemphasize them a bit.
- Paint walls a warm white/cream (agree to get rid of mint green in dining room)
- Rug - maybe an antique oriental (they can be surprisingly affordable) if not too busy, or an indoor/outdoor synthetic version of a natural fiber
- Iron/metal island/cart
- Dark bronze/iron cabinet hardware
- Cream tile backsplash - maybe a zellig tile or something with dimension/sheen/variability, but solid
Are those counters laminate? I'm not an expert, but there may be coatings you can use on them that will hold up decently.
roarah
last year
Start with adding a prep table, cabinet hardware, fun lighting , a fun window treatmeant and rug and she if it helps update the space enough.

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