Kitchen Revitalization

[Elfa Wylde]

I'm getting ready to revitalize my Kitchen. It's actually a great kitchen, but it needs a LOT of help in the appearance.

It's a standard horseshoe shape with an Island in the centre. The previous owners of the house had a LOT of fights and troubles and it shows. Especially in the cupboard doors of the island where someone has kicked them in.

It also needs a LOT of reorganisation. I'll be taking some preliminary photos (in just a few days as soon as i can get extra batteries for the camera and the kitchen straightened up) and I've even started a Blog about this.

I have a LOT of ideas and I should be able to do the entire kitchen (plus what used to be the breakfast nook) for under $50!!

I'll keep everyone up to date on how it's going including photos and a link to the blog once I get the photos up.

I'm going to try to do this as CHEAP as I can and still get a good look.
Wish me luck!!

...........to be continued........

[Faeawyn]

Good luck!! I can't wait to see the photo's :)

[Cev'aq]

Best of luck! :thumbsup:

[Elfa Wylde]

I have the "before" photos. Does anyone know how to put them up on here? I can't seem to get photos to show up. I've tried attatching them here, but nothing shows up.
If anyone can give me a hand i'd appreciate it! :hailmol:
Hopefully they've turned out. Because of the general disorganization, the kitchen looks like HECK here. (pardon the mess) but i really wanted to show EXACTLY what it usually looked like. I can clean this kitchen, have it looking spotless then not do anything after supper and THIS is what happens.

Today, I'm planning on getting the plywood to fix the cubboard doors. (i haven't gotten a photo yet of them, but I will before i fix them.) and possibly some paint. I sold one of the goats yesterday so that'll come in handy. I'm trying to keep the cost as low as possible and still get a good overall look.

[Elfa Wylde]

Ok.. Still trying to figure out how to post the photos....
But here's the scoop: I went to this Store called Big Lots. anyone ever heard of it? They buy up a lot of stuff from stores who are going out of bis, have over ordered etc then sell it nice and cheap. Well.. I got all the paint i needed fome something close to $6 a gallon!!
So I also picked up a paint tray and roller a brush for the trim a drop cloth and a bandana (i hate paint in my hair.) Then i went over to Lowe's and got the plywood i needed to fix the cupboards. I needed 3/16 plywood and the guy said it didn't exist. so i went over to cabinetry and asked. Sure enough! and a reasonable price too!! So far I've spent about $37 on all this!

Time for me to get going... but i'll be back to share the schedule for the week... I should be done by friday!!

[Faeawyn]

Make sure your photo's are jpg's, and aren't too large to attach. Do you know how to attach a photo on MW?

[Elfa Wylde]

well... I THOUGHT I did.... but it never works... I"ve tried to make the photos smaller too... and i made sure they were jpeg. I'll try again... but if you don't see the photos... it didn't work:

[Elfa Wylde]

HOLY COW IT DID IT!! :abanana: :abanana: :abanana: Now.. I have to say, I had laready started to clean out the cupboards when i took the photos... that fact plus the fact that it was normally cluttered results in the MESS you see in the photos.

the next photos coming will be of the kitchen cleaned, the cupboard doors removed for painting and the "wall paper" removed. (Anyone who read my post on the thread where someone was looking for inexpensive ideas for decorating their townhouse: The "wallpaper" in the photos above, is actually Contact Paper!!)

Faeawyn, I think you "unjinxed" my photo uploading! thanks!!!

[Garnet]

I can't wait to see the photos! I have to re-do my kitchen...it drives me nuts. It's too small, whichever former owner had the cabinets installed chose really cheap ones, I hate the flooring....etc. etc. etc. Don't be surprised if I try to 'borrow' some of your ideas!

[Elfa Wylde]

Well folks... most of the kitchen has been painted... I have new blinds to put up on the "back porch"... photos coming soon!!


I was heartless with the storage... i got rid of a lot of crap.. and all the large appliances and anything I don't use more than once a week got put on a shelf in the garage.

Everything's been washed (scrubbed) Including the stove, frige, and dishwasher!

I have three major dilemmas so far... all of which i have managed to solve!

Dilemma: i can't move my washer and dryer to paint...
Solution: CONTACT PAPER! (I'll find something pretty and probably rather countryor maybe Ivy!) I'ts easy to apply and no more turquoise enamel glaring at me from the laundry area!

Dilemma: There are no doors covering the laundry area (there once was.. but the folks we bought the place from destroyed them... and i can't find relacements.
Solution: I got an inexpensive roll-up style blind wide enough to cover the opening where the washer and dryer sit.... roll it up: do the laundry. company coming? Drop dow the blind!

Dilemma: The guy in the lumber area of the local Lowe's says they don't make 3/16" plywood. How do i replace the panels in the two broken cupboard doors?
Solution: Don't believe him!! I went straight over to where they stock the laminates for countertops and sure enough: solid oak plywood in just the perfect size AND 3/16" thick... and VERY affordable!

How much have i spent?
* Paint at a discount store (i went to "biglots") 4.99 a gallon for the white base and primer
(Bought two gallons white base, one gallon primer.)
* one quart yellow paint (to add to the base) 2.99
*one quart almond paint 2.99 for the trim
*3/16" plywood panel for cupboard doors 8.95
*Already had the roll-up blind FREE (priced them just the same and found one at WalMart of about 10.00)
*four matching blinds for the back porch 1.79 each at Meijer
Total so far for materials: $38.85!! :ringaroun :fprtyman4

I expect to spend about 8.00 on contact paper... and another 6.00 on beer to bribe the hubby with to put up the blinds :rotfl:

[Faeawyn]

finished yet??? :D

[Elfa Wylde]

Ok... the photos so are coming once the laundry area is finished. It WAS supposed to be finished a while ago, the the stupid car decided i wasn't paying it enough attention and decided to break down but not give me any real clues as to it's ailment.



Probably won't be done until after the first of the year. sorry for the long wait!