Help for ugly kitchen cabinets?
by
Paula
+13
Just bought a condo in FL and the kitchen cabinets are ugly! They are off white laminate and all along the bottom of each door and drawer is a 4 inch border of oak. It has sort of a groove in it which is supposed to be helpful for putting your fingers in to open them up. Any ideas of what I can do to improve them? Not in the budget to replace them for awhile!
13 answers
-
PAINT!! If you dont like the oak piece can it be removed? Add some fun hardware or some other kind of wood trim......and then paint them. A different color alone sometimes make a world of difference! Or just jazz them up.....even put a wood frame along the inside edge of the door to create some dimension. Or leave the oak piece and still add some fun hardware on top of it. Lots of ways to spruce them up.........
Mary Dietz
on Dec 01, 2013
-
My sister in law has the same cabinets and every time I'm at her house I redecorate in my head! She has white walls in the kitchen and it drives me crazy lol. A quick fast fix would be to just paint the oak strip a complimentary color to match you kitchen. For example say your color pallet in the kitchen is white(the cabinets) and walls are a latte color, make the oak trim a deep red ,a deep sage or even a navy blue. Navy and tan/latte looks really nice together. Accessorize with items in shades of your colors and you won't believe the difference. That alone may make you kitchen easy to live with until you can do more. You never know you may really end up liking it.
Mary Insana
on Dec 01, 2013
- See 1 previous
-
Paint them a teal, maybe in enamel...with some yellow knobs and pulls. That would be bright and fresh specially with the back ground walls being off white.
Terra Gazelle
on Dec 01, 2013
-
I've followed this blog for awhile. She lists several ideas in one spot. Nothing specific but it gets some ideas in you head to think about all the options. http://mycolortopia.com/blog/kitchens/10-creative-ways-to-update-kitchen-cabinets
D Lawless Hardware
on Dec 02, 2013
-
Rustoleum makes a kit for a kitchen cupboard redo!!! Look at Home Depot or Lowes. Does not cost much. My friend who used this in her kitchen is in LOVE with this product. She is thrilled w/the results & it's easy to do for those not usually doing DIY projects.
HappyGrandmaGA
on Dec 03, 2013
-
@Happy Grandma GA. will check it out at Home Depot soon. Thanks so much!
Paula
on Dec 03, 2013
-
Those are perfect cabinets to cover with contact paper. I bought contact paper on Amazon in a crisp white but you could do almost any color since it isn't permanent. Then add inexpensive knobs.
Down to Earth Holly
on Dec 03, 2013
-
Paint....... paint, paint, but do thorough PREP FIRST..... I am still in love with the Kilz Original primer before painting. Color ...... oh heavens, don't do anything on your cabinets that you will hate shortly after. I highly suggest white.. cause walls are sure easier to paint than cabinets. I lucked out many years ago by asking a somewhat young woman working in the kitchen remodel area (design) of Home Depot and she gave me this advice and I will always stick with it.
Sheryll S
on Dec 08, 2013
-
I suggest Diane Henkler who has the blog, www.inmyownstyle.com She gives perfect details and how to's and I know she is good.
Sheryll S
on Dec 08, 2013
-
I agree with Sheryll, cabinets a bright white. I would add for the walls maybe a lighter shade of the teal in theliving room to accent both rooms. As for the cupboards, my son has them and here is what he did. He measured each one dootfront. Drew them up and then went to the hardware store (HD or Lowes) and purchased 1/2" by 2" pine but it could be done in whatever is the cheapest wood or MDF, primed and the boards. He them cut them to size to make a square (rectangle) around each cabinet door covering that lip. He then painted all the cupboards a bright white. He did not do 45 degree angle on the pieces as each door seemed to be a tad wonky due to age. By making them into a rectangle he could adjust to make them all look even. He did fully across top and bottom and then measured to cut the pieces to meet going down each side. I think it cost him less than $50 total for wood, quart of primer, and a good gal of paint with primer included to do the whole cupboard. They look amazing.
Connie
on Dec 08, 2013
-
My condolences, @Paula. I know exactly which cabinets you have! The Rustoleum kits are not free of elbow grease, but can make the cabinets look really great, and anything will probably look better than what they are now. I also refinished some cabinets with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. The paint and wax system is expensive but goes a long way. I would protect the painted cabinets with polyurethane, the marine-grade type if you cook a lot.
Dana Shuster
on Dec 09, 2013
-
I've seen these cabinets a million times. Popular in the 80's in Florida condos. Take the doors off, take the molding off, frame them out and find an insert for the middle. Bead board, faux tin ceiling, ect. Paint with Shabby Paint (a certain brand of chalk paint). Look on Pinterest, lots of beautiful DIY's for kitchen cabinets.
Barbara Joy
on Aug 02, 2015
-
Embrace the new pallet wood craze and make new doors and drawer fronts. Stain the wood with watered down emulsion paint and wax or matt varnish to seal.
Linda Y
on Feb 12, 2016
Sign Up to Answer
Related Discussions
Suggested Project Book
