“Minor” and “Kitchen Renovation” are two phrases that typically don’t go together. The average cost of a kitchen renovation, according to several websites I checked, is between $25,000- $45,000.
For many reasons, there’s no way we’re spending $45,000 on a kitchen renovation– especially since our current house value is way below what we paid. I know many of you are in the same boat and can relate… right? Or is it worse in Pennsylvania? We’ve invested quite a bit of money turning this house into a home and it’s disheartening to see no return on that money.
With that being said, I want to live in a home that reflects our lifestyle and needs. Our kitchen is functional, just not pretty. It’s getting pretty beat up, and the appliances are on their last legs. In this post from a few years ago I explain what bothers me most in 10 Things I Hate About You (“You” being my kitchen, dears. You know I love YOU.)
When our contractor from our living remodel came in with a quote for the kitchen that was not only affordable but actually half as much as our previous living room renovation we started thinking– could we do this? Should we do this?
The jury (ie, my husband) is still out. So I’m going to do some dreaming and show you a few inspiration photos. If you’ve had a kitchen renovated, I’d love to hear your advice/ must-haves/ don’ts, etc. Leave links, if you have them, so I can add them to my Dream Kitchen board on Pinterest!
First on my wish list, white cabinets. I know I’m nuts, but I want to paint them white for a clean, crisp feel. Ahhhh… sink into the warm light of white cabinets! Since our cabinets have deep grooves, we’d need to have them caulked so you don’t see white vertical lines. But paint is an affordable way to change the entire room since our cabinets are functional… just not pretty.
And how about replacing a set of doors with glass inserts? Especially with a pop of color or pattern on the back. Again, very little money for a huge impact.
Next is a “must”: granite countertops. I WANT THEM. I don’t care if they are going out of style or need to be sealed once a year, I’ve lusted after everyone’s granite long enough and now it’s my time to feel their cool surface under my head as I rest it on top, cheek to counter, adoringly. I’m thinking about black, perhaps “Absolute Black” like our granite slab on the fireplace hearth.
Sink. Undermount so it doesn’t catch crumbs. Plus one of those fancy faucets with a pull down spigot and perhaps– dare I say it?– a touch-on hands free feature for situations when I’m cooking chicken and don’t want to turn the faucet with my hand.
The last biggie is the floor– sleek dark hardwood, please. One positive thing about our kitchen is the size. Most people would stick an island in there but that’s our dancing/ painting/ spinning/ running space and I’m not sacrificing it! For our floors (the bulk of the budget, actually) I’ve been coveting dark hardwood for awhile. And yes, these photos both have islands but picture them with an expansive dark floor instead.
As for the finishing touches– curtains, shelves, lighting, backsplash– those are things I’ll make on my own. Here’s a few inspiring photos:
I’d say go for it! Which is very easy as it’s not my money, but so many people seem to live in a home which is either functional not pretty or are thinking about the next person to buy the house. I always think, if you are paying to live there, you may as well enjoy it!
Painting the cabinets white is a great idea, as is the exchanging some doors for those with glass panels, relatively cheap, but will have a huge impact.
The flooring you like is positively dreamey, I would huge those floors!
Can’t wait to see what you decide to do!
Your kitchen is looking very beautiful…
i say do it, too! we plan to do ours at some point- hopefully next spring!
Ahh I love this post!! Our kitchen is functional as well but I long for a new one!! But we are in the same situation….it isn’t something that we can afford! So I think someday we will make some small changes and one day maybe more!!!!
P.S. Can you make me some curtains too :).
Oh, Carrie! My heart aches looking at these inspiration photos. I, too, have an old outdated kitchen, and it’s my biggest wish to renovate. Unfortunately it’s not in the cards for us this year (or probably next). I say go for it…and I’ll live vicariously through you!
BTW, I copied some of your Easter ideas…http://www.theycallmedomesticate.com/2012/04/touches-of-easter.html Thanks for inspiring!
Carrie- I’ve been saving similar photos! I’d love to have a white or off-white kitchen with dark granite countertops, SS appliances, and hardwood floor. We are getting ready to put our house on the market and are JUST NOW upgrading to granite to make it more appealing to sell, all for the next owners to enjoy… I’m wishing we had done it years ago so I could have enjoyed it!
-Kristen
oh, go for it!
if you do small upgrades like you’re talking (painting cabinets, granite, glass doors, and new flooring) you can do it no problem. we re-did our entire kitchen (floor, ceiling + everything in between!) in our last house and because it did it ALL ourselves (well, my husband did) it probably cost about $12k and that was with new everything – cabinets (ikea), floor (ikea ‘wood’ floor), appliances + granite. just look for deals + do it slowly – you can do it and you will LOVE it!
now we moved across the country + are renting this year…and i’m just itching to have another kitchen i can actually fix up (hate my rental one!).
good luck! love the inspiration photos!
We gutted and redid our kitchen a couple years ago and I’ve had a “lessons learned from a kitchen remodel” blog post floating around in my head for a while – maybe it’s time to get that bad boy posted! I love all your inspiration pics. It’ll be gorgeous!
I swear we live the same life – get out of my head! lol. I would kill a squirrel to have an under-mounted sink. I also want to paint my cabinets. I love all of your ideas. Hopefully you will be able to come up with a plan so you can get your dream kitchen.
And you are not alone in the housing situation. We bought our “starter” home 5 years ago with the hopes that right about now we would have enough equity to trade up. Ooops! *banging head on keyboard* gnngffhthrghgh <---- my head did that
I love it and I love white cabinets too. I did not think of the caulk for the lines though. Great Job!
You peeps sure know how to design and execute a first class Kitchen will use it for inspiration on my next refurbishment!
I honestly love white in a kitchen. There’s something about having a bright, clean space to start cooking that feels right. And you are absolutely right that a coat of paint can change the entire look and feel of a kitchen.
Great post guys. Love the look and cabinets also! thanks!
Thanks for share, your kitchen looks very beautiful