But we still have some great DIY kitchen ideas, thanks to our beloved first home! The kitchen was about as basic as "builder basic" gets: laminate counters, oak panel cabinets, cheap appliances... and since we were poor, first time home owners there was no justifying a new kitchen.
For about $400 we took the old kitchen from "yeow!" to "WOW"
The befores (click any image to enlarge):
We did several things to spice it up:
-paint the cabinets
-change the hardware
-add crown molding
-subway tile backsplash
-hide the ugly hood vent over the stove
We did the transformation over a 1 month period, working on something every weekend, and before we knew it we were cooking in a kitchen that we loved. The key to a successful kitchen update is to go for a custom look. The molding is the cheapest and fastest way to acheive that, and if you are up for a bit more of a challenge, the hood vent is a very cheap way to look like you are cooking in a kitchen out of a magazine! Good luck with any updates you have planned and please share any of your transformations!!!
LOVE that kitchen!! What an easy re-model!
ReplyDeleteit looks great...we had our home built so i understand the basics...i love my kitchen...i am looking to redo the counters and appliances myself and the tile we now i want GONE...we actually have moulding already and i so agree that it adds to the beauty of the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteLove the cheap fix! I absolutely love the part that opens up to the next room!
ReplyDeletei love it!! you HAVE to share if it was a pain to paint the cabinets?? ours are basic builder grade and our house is only two years old...so I have a huge fear of ruining them! i want white...all white! please tell how you did that!
ReplyDeletePlease tell me how you covered your vent hood. We are updating our kitchen and I was just going to buy a new stainless one but I LOVE that look so much better. I think my husband could do it if we have some sort of idea as to where to start and what to get. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI would also love to know how you covered your vent hood. I hate how mine looks! Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteI love the new kitchen design. It's a great modern update. The wood crown molding adds an extra pop of character and I love the crisp white cabinets.
ReplyDeleteGreat job.
TJ
Gorgeous! The amazing power of paint and your awesome decorating skills! Can't believe how little you spent!
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ReplyDeleteI have builder basic too and would love to DIY paint cabinets white, hardware and crown molding, please share more details!! I am clueless :)
ReplyDeleteI just absolutely love all your white!
ReplyDeleteThe molding really does make a huge difference. thanks for pointing out everything that you did- I am not good at picking it all out, and it is nice to know exactly what you did to create such an awesome kitchen!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous redo! I don't suppose you'd like to do a hood tutorial? I'd love to do something like that in our kitchen.
ReplyDeleteI adore white cabinets ! But my hubby likes the 'natural' look !
ReplyDeleteWaaaaa!
It looks great!
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly what I want to do to my kitchen! Love it! Please- I am begging here- do a hood cover tutorial!!! Mine is heinous!
ReplyDeleteLove, love, love! I want to paint our cabinets so bad, but the process just seems endless and overwhelming to me!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful job, Holly! I featured you in my blog: http://jenuinelyinspired.blogspot.com/2009/03/kitchen-re-do-magic.html
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! The amazing ability of acrylic and your alarming decorating skills! Can't accept how little you spent! The copse acme abstraction adds an added pop of appearance and I adulation the brittle white cabinets.
ReplyDeleteKitchen
We are updating our kitchen, I was about to buy new and clean, but I like that look a lot better. I think my husband can do this, if we have some idea as to where to start and how to get.The the key to success is to update the kitchen a custom look.
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