Remodeling a 1980s Kitchen on a Budget

We decided it was time to bring our builder's grade oak cabinetry, laminate countertop, wallpaper backsplash (and walls) 1986 kitchen into the new millennium; but we had to do it on a shoestring budget. That budget would include new cabinets top to bottom, new stove & microwave ventahood, granite counters, tile backsplash, flooring, the works.
I shopped for cabinets first. WOW. I just couldn't believe that cabinets for my tiny kitchen could cost so much! I explored the RTA (ready-to-assemble) cabinet. I found a company who helped with our design and the cabinets were very reasonably priced. My husband decided the prospect of assembling the cabinets was too daunting so I took a chance and called our salesperson back and told her we'd have to pass. To my amazement, the came back and said they'd ship the cabinets totally assembled for the SAME PRICE. I jumped on it. We chose a gorgeous cream maple cabinet with a nice glaze to create a pretty French country feel.
We gutted the existing kitchen, including the weird soffit shelf thing that was above one wall of upper cabinets. We stripped tons of wallpaper and prepped the walls for paint and a NEW wallpaper. We went with a textured paintable wallpaper instead of texturing the walls after stripping the wallpaper. This stuff is beautiful but be CERTAIN to use a high quality paste. We added a gorgeous toile print wallpaper - so French country.
Textured paintable wallpaper
Then it came time to install the cabinets. We determined the height the cabinets needed to be hung (I believe we gave 19" clearance from the countertop to the bottom of the upper cabinets). We laid all of the upper cabinets out on the floor on their backs and then fastened them together before putting them on the wall. This may seem awkward (and you need a few people to make this work), but unless your wall is perfectly flat and square, mounting them one at a time and getting them even is nearly impossible. We screwed a 2x4 ledger board into the studs of the wall to be our guide for where the bottoms of the upper cabinets should hit and be level and proceeded to secure them to the wall with cabinet screws. We then set the bottom cabinets and screwed them into the wall studs as well.
The BEST decision we made was to take the bar behind the sink, down to counter height. This opened the kitchen up into the family room, and created a nice breakfast bar as well.


We installed peel and stick vinyl plank wood-look flooring. I think the planks are 6"x48." I LOVE this floor. And seriously, people cannot believe it's not true hardwood.
We added recessed lighting, a new chandelier that also made the kitchen so much more inviting. The only thing we hired out was the granite counters (we went with Santa Cecelia) and the travertine backsplash. We purchased a cream cast iron sink at Lowe's along with an oil rubbed bronze faucet. I added ORB hardware for the cabinets that I bought through Amazon to complete the kitchen.
Before- with the high bar behind sink
Before- laminate and wallpaper
After with glass inserts and spice cabinet
We added under cabinet lighting as well. The cabinets came with soft close drawers- which are wonderful! I changed most of the bottom cabinets to add a mix of more 3 drawer cabinets instead of mostly one draw/door combos. Check out www.underatexassky.com for more!
Under a Texas Sky
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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3 of 16 questions
  • Carroll5347 Carroll5347 on Jun 26, 2016
    Where did you get your cabinets from?
  • Wendy Vittone Draves Wendy Vittone Draves on Jun 21, 2017

    I was going to ask the same question regarding if you put the flooring right over the other tile. We have laminate in our kitchen which is starting to wear, but the subfloor would need to be replaced if we took it up. Was considering putting the peel and sticks right over the laminate. Thoughts?


  • Wendy Vittone Draves Wendy Vittone Draves on Jun 21, 2017

    It looks beautiful! Just curious, why did you decide not to paint your existing cabinets?


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  • KAREN P KAREN P on Jun 27, 2016
    Absolutely gorgeous. Very Italian looking,loving the rich colors.
    • Under a Texas Sky Under a Texas Sky on Jun 27, 2016
      Thanks so much! We moved just a few months after this remodel. My new house is beautiful but I really miss this kitchen!
  • Joni Kinsey Joni Kinsey on Jun 28, 2016
    Beautiful job!! I plan to redo my kitchen a some point I have 1928 cabinets that look like they'd hold a lot...Not! It looks like you have a lot of storage in your kitchen..
    • Under a Texas Sky Under a Texas Sky on Jun 29, 2016
      Thanks so much! For a small kitchen- this is the best! I adore the look and functionality of the new cabinets. I sadly sold this house about 6 months after the remodel, and my new house with it's custom cabinets is not nearly as pretty. Good luck on your remodel! Just remember it can be stressful- just keep looking forward to your finished product and you'll make it! :)
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