A $400 Kitchen Spruce Up

 Sometimes,

I just can't have my way....
Wah Wah.

So I have to let go, and
 just do my very best under the circumstances...

I was brought in on a consult last week for this kitchen.

The owner had to put the house on the market.

QUICK!

I'm sure you've seen these cabinets a zillion times.

Almond melamine,

no hardware,

and woodtone strips.

You find them in a lot of rental units.

The laminate countertops had some edging issues.

 And there was a lot of water damage 
to the drawer fronts under the sink...

The melamine had chipped off,

and the MDF had swollen from

the moisture.

The ktchen walls were a dingy yellow.

Here were my recommendations:

I would paint all the cabinets.

White uppers, and a mid blue-grey tone

for the base cabinets 

to tie in the stainless appliances for a streamlined look.

To add some dimension, 

I would add panels of beadboard wallpaper to the doors

surrounded by thin moulding.
Sort of like this...

And I would add some satin bar pulls.

I would paint the walls a soft light grey,

and add this backsplash:

An awesome self-adhesive stainless steel tile I found

at Home Depot.

BUT...

I then found out the work could not exceed $400.
Eek.

The owner really wanted black or metallic doors
for an industrial vibe. 

And she wanted to keep the woodtone cabinets and trim.

And that was all she wanted to invest....

I was very concerned that black cabinets 

would just create a "black hole."

So I did up some paint samples on one of the cabinet doors:
Two metallics and a deep charcoal.

My recommendation was the top:

A stainless steel appliance epoxy
which had to be shipped. 

The house had to go on the market in a week.

So we went with the middle option: 

A flat antique nickel.

And so....

All the doors were removed and numbered.

All the doors and drawer fronts were spray painted two coats,

and replaced after they dried.

I wish we could have at least changed the wall color. (Pout.)

But the walls were left as is.

I filled the countertop hole with wood putty.

I added a mirror for some extra light over the sink.

To fix the sink cabinet drawer fronts,

I cut to size and painted a long strip of hardiplank.

Then used a power adhesive to attach.

Then I wiped down all the wood 

with Howard's Restor-a-finish in Dark Oak.

Added the chopping block,

a few props,

and it's ready for market.

It's not perfect...

 But it's definitely BETTER.

Have a kitchen that needs some cosmetic lifting?

I can help!!!!!

SheShe, The Home Magician

Sheila Fox

sheilafox@aol.com

804-402-4370