Advice on how to transform kitchen fast/budget friendly

Mackenzie M

4 years ago

Hi everyone. Need some quick advice on how to transform this kitchen on a budget.

need to keep the counter tops and fooring ..

what colour our should I paint cabinets and walls? Thanks so much

Featured Answer

katinparadise

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Painting cabinets is not as easy as it sounds. I would start by giving them a good cleaning, removing the wallpaper border, changing out the hardware to some simple brushed nickel and finding a paint color that works well in your space, and changing out the light fixture for something more updated.

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Comments (30)

PRO
Filipe Custom Woodwork
4 years ago
It seems as though the cabinets are laminate??

I would paint a neutral greige wall with a fresh backsplash, and new hardware.

I would also change the ceiling light with something that will provide you with more light.

Stay in the 4000K as it will provide you with a natural white lighting as opposed to yellow or blue.
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Lots of ideas....couldn't resist adding my two cents. i copied your photos and did a little cut and paste- it's messy, but hopefully gets the main idea across. i'd put your sofa in front of the large book case, chair by the fireplace, tv on the stand on the wall opposite the fireplace - so you can either look at the fire or the tv. Someone suggested using frames of one color for your photos - an inexpensive way to do that would be to spray paint them all a dark color-black goes with everything. Since your shelves are a medium tone wood, display things that are dark or light so that they contrast against the wood. Limiting your display items pallette to a few values usually helps to unify things. (I think that's why so many people want to paint the shelves or put inserts in the back to help your nice things read more clearly...some get lost). If you want to "splurge" -you may consider having a carpenter make a few solid tall cabinet doors to provide a visual break in the shelving. I'm showing 3 doors - 1 on the right side of the fireplace and 2 on the left to leave two open vertical shelves for display on each side - with things arranged to frame the fireplace as the focal point. To add some height to your big vases, consider stacking some books beneath them. Enjoy experimenting untill you get something you're happy with - good luck!
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A15) @Dara Cooke: If you can't afford a quartz or granite worktop from day one then I would recommend using a laminate worktop as a temporary solution. If you don't put tiles up as a backsplash then replacing the worktops can be relatively easy in a couple of years.
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Buehl
4 years ago
No dishwasher?
partim
4 years ago
I would paint the walls the same color as the squares in the floor, just a lighter shade. Don't paint the cabinets, but replace the handles as suggested above by katinparadise.
User
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I think the last cabinet on the right might look better without a door, converted to some open shelves, and to continue with some open shelving above the sink. I agree with the suggestion to change the cabinet hardware, maybe something that compliments the diamonds in the floor.

Since you are keeping the flooring, I suggest making sure your color/tone choices for paint colors on the walls and cabinets don't inadvertently make the floor look dingy or dated. Without being in the room, hard to make suggestions, but something like this would be my taste:
PRO
Norwood Architects
4 years ago
I agree with ital mover - if you can change some of the upper cabinet doors to glass that should have a big impact.
User
4 years ago
Also, maybe take a look at this kind of shelf for over the kitchen sink, depending on what other choices you make for the upper cabinetry.

https://www.houzz.com/products/tignes-wall-shelf-rose-gold-prvw-vr~147127068
PRO
Aqua Kitchen and Bath Design Center
4 years ago
Painting cabinets is actually expensive. I would add a backsplash and change countertops with quartz. Change some upper cabinets doors to glass and add open shelving above the sink.
partim
4 years ago
Mackenzie M any thoughts on these suggestions?
Ig222
4 years ago
You may want to define budget-friendly (is it a few hundred, a few thousands, more ?) and why you want to update (sell, have a more pleasant kitchen, a special event ???)

I just repainted my kitchen and put a new vinyl on the floor for $400. While it was a pain, it was not that hard (I have about the number of cabinets you have). This said, it is an interim measure until I renovate the kitchen fully. I certainly would not paint the cabinet myself if it was for 10 years or something like that.

You could paint the wall, change the light and handles for less that $1000 if you do it yourself.
Mackenzie M
Original Author
4 years ago
Love all the ideas, thankyou. i can change the flooring technically. Basically i‘ll be renting this out to my friend and I wanted to make it look as nice as possible for her but under $1000-$2000 max.. what top things can I do within 2 weeks that’ll really update the look of this under that price range. I am willing to change flooring if needed.
Yesica Jure
4 years ago
I had oak cabinets and I painted them using Reustoleum kitchen cabinet paint from Home Depot. It has been 2 years. I have not had a single issue. I have also used the same paint for 4 bathrooms. In your kitchen I would paint the walls a nice light color to open it up, maybe use subway tile as backsplash, leave the countertop if it is in good shape and get updated appliances. You could also get inexpensive lighting for the top of your cabinets. I did that with lights from amazon, with a special plug and a remote. It is super inexpensive and gives it a nice look.
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
The fast and cheap way is to paint. First paint the walls, remove decor from walls, then cabinets. Then if you have budget left you can look for flooring or appliances, shelving , etc.
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
4 years ago
Or leave cabinets as they are and paint only walls and get a new floor.
katinparadise
4 years ago
How much room is to the left of the refrigerator? You might consider moving it down a few feet (even 18 inches would help) and moving the cabinet that's over the top of it. Then you could add something like this between the stove and refrigerator for her to set a microwave on and to keep trash hidden. https://www.amazon.com/Tilt-Wooden-Trash-Cabinet-Solid/dp/B07175SJXC. Then as I said, give the cabinets a good cleaning, change the hardware and light fixture, remove the wallpaper border and paint a nice, neutral color. I would also add something like this from IKEA over the sink for additional storage.

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/kungsfors-rails-w-hooks-tblt-stand-container-stainless-steel-s39308254/
partim
4 years ago
We can't tell from the photo whether the floor and counters are in good condition. If they are, just paint the walls a neutral color that goes with the darker color in the floor.
shirlpp
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
In 2 weeks - replace the floor, paint over the blue walls and remove the border.

Then....

Let her live in it for a week or two to see if she wants shelves above the sink.......Good Luck!
PRO
Scott Hall Remodeling
4 years ago
Remove wall paper border, paint a neutral color, replace cabinetry hardware, opening up the last cabinet as suggested above and bringing the shelving all the way over the sink is a good idea!
jbtanyderi
4 years ago
First and foremost, select a wall colour that complements the wood colour: variations on green, orange, yellow should be your first look. Eliminate the border. Look to improving lighting - especially with good under-cabinet lighting.
PRO
Century Hardware
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Hey Mackenzie M,

remove the wall paper boarder and repaint the walls, Change the lighting to Natural White lighting, and change out your hardware. I would suggest adding cabinet hardware that's either a Satin Nickel or Stainless finish so as not to contrast from your sink and light fixture. Changing to a new hardware would also help to brighten up and refresh the space. You should check out Century Hardware! we have plenty of options in those finishes! Best wishes!
Stainless · More Info

Belvedere 1-3/8" Knob - Matte Satin Nickel · More Info
User
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Use your time to develop a good long term master design plan. Not for changes where you wish you had saved the money instead of spent it.
partim
4 years ago
Removing the border and repainting is good, fast and cheap.
Thomas Wadden
4 years ago
I would brighten it by painting the walls and cabinets. You might be able to find a refurbishment store in your area that has cabinets, hardware, or even appliances; $2,000 can go a very long way. Going bright will make it look bigger, kind of like this.
partim
4 years ago
I love the diagram posted by @live_wire_oak . Painting the cabinets can be good and cheap if you do it yourself slowly. But I don't think you have the time. Painting the cabinets will be pricey if you get someone else to do it quickly. That's why I don't recommend painting them. Replacing them with used cabinets, e.g. from ReStore, has exactly the same payback profile as painting. You don't have the time to do it yourself, and if someone else does it then it's pricey. Leave the floor unless it's in poor condition. Just paint the walls.
hollybar
4 years ago
Paint the walls, change the hardware, and the lighting. Let friend be part of each decision. If there is room, add dishwasher.
njmomma
4 years ago
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Mackenzie M
Original Author
4 years ago
Thankyou everyone. I think I’ll leave the cabinets as is, they are in good condition the counters are great too. I’ll put steel handles on them like this: what do you guys think about greige paint for the walls? And what kind of modern light would look good? Thanks
partim
4 years ago
Edgecomb Gray by Benjamin Moore is a gray/beige that looks good with a lot of different colors. It's a popular color for new builds where the whole house is painted the same color.
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I like Edgecomb Gray , but be sure with luck of light it looks greenish, that is actually not bad for your kitchen cabinets.
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
4 years ago
If this is a rental I would simply paint the walls, leave the cabinets. No renter is going to be careful not to chip the paint.

Advice on how to transform kitchen fast/budget friendly

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