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Blogger Ouray, CO on Jun 10, 2012

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Remodeling a dark, dingy kitchen on a low budget

Our kitchen is facing north and has one small window, hence there was not much light. The knotty pine look was getting on my nerves and so did the ugly, red Formica counter top, including a 70th look linoleum brick floor all worn and the wood work being a very dark brown didn't help to make this kitchen into a cheery place to work in. I love light! Especially during Colorado's long winter month. I remodeled this entire kitchen from top to bottom for less than $900.00

91 Comments Displaying 25 of 91 comments | See Previous

Carla K Ouray, CO

That was the view out of the kitchen window until I shoveled it clear. Pretty though

on Jul 15, 2012 · Like 0
Leslie F Hesperia, CA

I have wood grain counter tops,and hate them as the person we bought our home from didn't take care of the countertop,where do you get only paint?

on Jul 15, 2012 · Like 0
Leslie F Hesperia, CA

oops,granite only paint.

on Jul 15, 2012 · Like 0
Carla K Ouray, CO

I think home depot has those rustoleum paints that come in different textures that look like stone in spray can. I have not used them but I have 2 of them sitting around here. I want to try them out and see how they are going to do on an old, black file cabinet. I know t hat one can covers about 3 square feet of surface and that paint is expensive. It's 12 dollars a can if I remember right.
My counter tops are done with faux wall paper that looks like stone and you rip pieces of it ...»
and glue them on. That's why its easy because you don't have to worry about large pieces and creating bubbles or wrinkles. Then I coated that wallpaper with a 5 coats of polyurethane. That was a year ago and it still looks like new. No problems at all.

on Jul 15, 2012 · Like 0
Leslie F Hesperia, CA

awesome,thank you.

on Jul 15, 2012 · Like 0
Becky Blair, NE

You're welcome Carla.
That's a whole lot of snow!

on Jul 15, 2012 · Like 0
Carla K Ouray, CO

Yeah, I know, we had snow knee deep to a tall Indian 2 and 3 years ago but we are also in the San Juan Mountains and about 7800 feet high.

on Jul 15, 2012 · Like 0
Jean M Valdosta, GA

I hope to do the same to my kitchen; I just removed the wall paper off most of the walls, except behind the fridge. I hope to make the wall a very light cream color, and the surrounding door frames and the upper cabinets a very light yellow. I'd like to cut out the door and replace with a clear glass or pretty cut glass :)...you did a wonderful job and I really do envy you :)

on Jul 15, 2012 · Like 0
Carla K Ouray, CO

Hello Jane, good idea and I know what pain it is to remove old wallpaper. Are you replacing a kitchen door with glass or cabinet doors. I used to work for a glass company and did custom glass etching .. that means I sandblasted my designs into glass. Same with shower doors and bathroom mirrors etc. Love to work with glass ... sure hope you are going to post some photos when done. Perhaps some with before and after photos?

on Jul 15, 2012 · Like 1
Becky Blair, NE

I imagine you get more snow being that high in the mountains. What a wonderful place to live though!

on Jul 16, 2012 · Like 0
Carla K Ouray, CO

yes, it is wonderful and even the winters are if only they were not so long. We hardly have a regular spring, it's seems to jump right into summer. Then mid August is feel like fall already. Well, one can't have everything and I love where I live.

on Jul 16, 2012 · Like 0
Becky Blair, NE

That is true about not having everything, but loving where you live is always a good thing.

on Jul 16, 2012 · Like 0
Jean M Valdosta, GA

thank you Carla, such wonderful new ideas :)....I'd like to replace the upper cabinets with the same doors where glass has replaced the inner portion. I do have two doors in the kitchen, actually, one is a swinging door and the other is a wooden door with open slots(I can't think of the name for this kind of door)...and maybe I'd like to replace the doors with a clear glass door since my kitchen doesn't have a lot of natural light in the room.

on Jul 17, 2012 · Like 0
Leslie F Hesperia, CA

Fabric softener like downey mixed with hot water is great for removing wallpaper.

on Jul 19, 2012 · Like 0
Carla K Ouray, CO

wow, thanks for sharing this Leslie. Appreciate it,

on Jul 19, 2012 · Like 0
Becky H Tampa, FL

Leslie F. where did you learn this? I've removed a houseful of wallpaper (the hard way) and not one person ever suggested this. This is a revelation!!

on Jul 19, 2012 · Like 0
Terri J York, PA

Carla, everytime I look at this, I keep thinking "I could do something like that w/ my kitchen." Can't thank you enough for posting it and telling us how to do it!

on Jul 19, 2012 · Like 0
Carla K Ouray, CO

You are welcome Terri, as I said, the counter top still looks new ... just forgot to mention that I used polyurethane FLOOR FINISH ... the latex based one ... it's the tough floor finish that lets me get away with it ..

on Jul 19, 2012 · Like 1
Terri J York, PA

Thanks for sharing that part - If I work up the courage to do this, that is very important to know -lol

on Jul 19, 2012 · Like 0
Carla K Ouray, CO

I know about courage to start a new project, I get the jitters too but I wait till the thought is ready in my head. I do this with art work too or working in the garden. But if you decide to start this and you have any questions at all, let me know. I am there to help. After all I taught an international class of egg carvers online. Should be easy for me by now.

on Jul 19, 2012 · Like 0
Leslie F Hesperia, CA

You are very welcome,but I can't take credit for that wallpaper removal tip,I learned that on disigned to sell on HGTV.

on Jul 20, 2012 · Like 0
Carla K Ouray, CO

Thanks Susan I love it too .. lol

on Jul 20, 2012 · Like 0
Terri J York, PA

@ Carla - egg carvers? Please explain that a little better - did you make eggs? or design them? etc. Sounds interesting.

on Jul 21, 2012 · Like 0
Carla K Ouray, CO

Hi Terri, I carve eggshells from ostrich, emu, rhea and geese. I use a high powered air tool like it's used in a dental lab. I did give lessons online to people from all over the world. I have a website and still am selling tutorials. On my website i have movies but the first ones are about my faux finishes so if you are interested, click through the first few movies concerning that and you'll come to the egg carvings. ...»

My website is: http://www.eggsquisit.com
Wishing you a great weekend.

on Jul 21, 2012 · Like 0
TaniaC Fairfield, IL

Absolutely gorgeous.:) Well done I love everything that you have done and I've picked up a few new tricks that I may have to try out ...LOVE it♥

on Aug 06, 2012 · Like 0