I’m thinking that my kitchen is old and ugly, and that it needs an updating or a complete remodel. I do not know how to do this.
My husband is talking about refinishing (sanding, staining) the cabinets, but I think it won’t look very good and think it will take a very long time. He is moderately to a little better than average handy. I am barely handy.
He was also given some product called “Watco Rejuvenating Oil” that is supposed make the cabinets have a better appearance, but that wont fix the color or the wear and tear.
Things I like: the general layout, the square footage, the window.
Things I don’t like: the tile floor (it’s rough and always dirty looking), the mismatched appliances, the counter top, the dark cabinets.
Things he likes: the floor, the general layout and the window.
Things he doesn’t like: the old countertops, both color and the raised sections, the blue tile.
What would you handy-type folks do to a kitchen like this? Are there smaller things we could do ourselves? Medium sized things DH could do? Should I just gut the whole thing? Also, if I hired a contractor for a full remodel, would an island work on that left side?
We cook a lot. I’d like a gas oven/stove. Perhaps one of those cook top/oven combos.
I did a total gut remodel (but saved the range and fridge) of a kitchen almost exactly like this in size and configuration. Total cost for new cabinets, full tile backsplash, tile floor, new dishwasher, sink, lighting, updated electrical was a hair under $10K. I used a contractor that had previously did a couple bathroom remodels for me.
If it were me, I’d put in a range oven, put in either a dishwasher or pull-out cabinet next to that, install a new counter, and refinish the cabinets (and leave the doors off the top cabinets).
You could have the cabinets professionally refaced, and get new counters and appliances, and get the floor retiled for probably less than gutting the kitchen and starting from scratch. But, as always with kitchens, the price depends on your appetite for expensive stuff. The counter, for example, could cost you either $1,000 or $5,000, depending on what material you choose. And so it goes for everything.
As to the gas oven, do you already have gas in the house? I notice you have an electric stove at the moment.
Lastly, where generally do you live? The reason I ask is that the job **mozchron **got for $10,000 would probably cost at least 50% more here in Massachusetts.
I’ve done a full kitchen remodel. You need a variety of skills to do that, and even if you are handy it will take you longer to do than someone with a lot of experience. It only takes a couple of things to go wrong to make your kitchen unusable for weeks. You may also have trouble finding a contractor willing to intermix his work with yours. You’d have to find things totally seperate to work on, for instance you could retile the floor yourself after the contractor has finished everything else. If you are doing more than a few cosmetic changes it’s usually worth gutting the kitchen.
An island might work there, but you’ll be taking away useful counter space just for the privilege of walking all the way around it. If you can expand the kitchen out into the room on the left, or into where ever you stood to take the pictures, an island might be worth it for you.
I think there are publications out there that present a lot of kitchen plans, you can probably find these at Lowes or Home Depot. Might be a good idea to start there and look for ideas that appeal to you.
Just a thought here. We just built a new house and were shocked to find that the cost of the kitchen was more than 45% of the total cost of the house! (More than $60,000.) All the plumbing, electric, lighting, systems, appliances, cabinets, counters, flooring, etc. really ran up the cost. Given that cooking isn’t what it was in decades past, we believe that much of the cost was unnecessary. Out most-used appliance is the microwave. (We’ve tested the oven once in six months.) We eat out a lot since it isn’t fair for my wife to work all day and then prepare meals and cleanup at night. Our refrigerator is much larger than we need. If we’d forgone the kitchen and invested the money, we could possibly eat out on the interest! The only downside I could think of is the difficulty of selling the house later on. We would have to find someone who agrees with our assessment. Anyone out there?!..
I think your galley kitchen has a nice layout. Are the cabinets solid wood? If so you could refinish them or paint them and use new pulls. Add glass door inserts to a few where you store pretty dishes. I think some open shelves would work too.
Islands are so overrated, where would you put one in such a small area? You could remove the cabs hanging over the “breakfast” counter to open it up more, but you would lose extra storage there. I try to keep all countertop appliances stored away to keep counters uncluttered.
I have a oven range combo, would prefer a cook top and separate oven, seems to give you more space and you get more options too. So i would keep but update those components.
So, refinish the cabs if in good shape, shop for countertops ( i have granite but am partial to a mix of wood and stainless) and flooring for the entire room not just the galley area. Under cabinet lighting is inexpensive and so handy for providing direct light on work areas.
Right now splurge on those kitchen remodeling magazines for inspiration. it is worth it to take your time to decide what you like. good luck. My remodeled kitchen is now due for a new floor, the laminate wood is puckering up like a mofo, and at the time we installed it to the walls so my cabinets and hundreds of pounds of granite are sitting on top. sounded like a good idea at the time…