Kitchen makeover help!

JoJo Adelphia
by JoJo Adelphia
We have just bought our first house. ( a year ago) I wasn't a fan of the kitchen, and after a year nothing has changed. Need some budget friendly ideas to maximize space, update the look, and overall be more functional.
The door is the only thing I like, as it keeps the dogs and cats out while I'm cooking.



View from dinning room
Standing in front of the pantry
Pantry
We cannot use the floor space in pantry as it is the only access to the basement ( house was built in 1900)
  6 answers
  • Lagree Wyndham Lagree Wyndham on Apr 26, 2017

    First off I like, it has a lot of charm. First thing I would do if you have somewhere else to eat, is remove the table and get an Island, that will give yo more work space. Also I would get an over the stove mounted microwave to free up the counter. After that depending on cash flow I would replace flooring and countertops. I admittly like the vintage charm of the kitchen so I personally would not do anything to drastic

  • CK CK on Apr 26, 2017

    Well I think it's cute. :-) Here's the thing...you say your home was built in 1900. Sure the kitchen could be updated and upgraded to suit more of how we live in our homes and kitchens today. But sometimes it takes a lot of money ;-) So...what to do? Embrace this cute little kitchen that has the charm of yesteryear.


    The flooring is clearly something from the 1970's. If it's in good shape (i.e. no cuts, tears or rips) clean it very very well, then use porch and floor paint to paint it. You can do all one color (I did that in our former home) or paint on designs of your choice. Easy to clean and that alone will give you an entirely new look.


    Is it possible to remove that shelf between the kitchen and dining room? It's a bit hard to tell how it's installed on the photo...But if it's not too difficult to remove (it might just be fastened at the sides?) if it was removed, it would give you a bigger view between the two rooms, hence the appearance of a larger room.


    In 1900's homes often the ceilings are higher than the standard 8 feet. You could install open shelves above the doors for items that are rarely used. My brother and sister in law installed shelves all around the perimeter of their room to hold all manner of things. ;-) Let's face it: some kitchens are just small. We have to figure out how to live with less sometimes. But in your kitchen if you can utilize vertical space (because your floor space is small) you might be able to eek out some more storage.


    Paint is a very small budget friendly device. The cabinets look nice in white (unless you don't like them) so I'd keep them as is. Maybe the walls could be more to your likely with a different color (?) I found that in our former home I really liked the yellow from the previous owner but it was a bit too saturated for me. I went with a much lighter yellow and all was well :-)


    The countertops too can be painted if they're in good shape. There are several paint-style kits out there (eg. Gianni or Rustoleum) but actually painting with regular latex and sealing with water based polyurethane could work temporarily too. Rustoleum has a special countertop paint (about $30/quart) that comes in a variety of colors. They say it stinks to high heaven though some people say it's not too bad. It is a sort of epoxy, hence the smell. Open windows when working will help.


    OK...it may sound weird but I've actually used plain old removeable Contact paper on my countertops too and it worked well. Permanent fix? Nope...but again, if the budget's small it'll work for quite some time. As with any countertop that's not stone of some kind, don't put hot stuff on it or any painted fix.  There is a more durable contact-like product too. You may want to check this out.

    https://ezfauxdecor.com/


    Another rather inexpensive fix is changing out the cabinet pulls/handles. Make sure you measure the distance between the screws to get pulls/handles that fit without having to make new holes. Handles can be pricey too if your budget is small and you have lots of them to replace. We found some used one that fit and we liked the style but not the color. We used spray primer (in a can) then spray painted them in the color of our choice. We used oil rubbed bronze but you could actually use any color that comes in a can. :-)


    I see you have blinds on your windows. As a former decorator, I'd suggest taking off the valances and cafe curtain, if you're feeling a bit cramped. If you do want a valance (nice way to add pretty fabric) then mount the rod above the window so the fabric doesn't cover up any of the window. Most people automatically think the rods have to positioned right at the window frame but you lose a lot of light installing them that way.  Opening up the windows for more light will give the illusion of more space too. :-)


    Maybe, depending on the look you're going for, the table and chairs could be painted or stained a new color. Just a thought......


    Ask yourself as you embark on your budget-friendly redo, "What style do I want for my kitchen?" Then look on HT or other websites to find inspiration for your look. Nothing will come out looking exactly like your inspiration room(s) but you'll get the essence of it and you'll be happy. Once you find "your look" you can add in accessories, color, etc. to make it you.


    Unless you have a larger budget, like I say, embrace the quirkiness/smallness of your lovely little kitchen as part of a home built in the last century, and work with it rather than against it. Your home and kitchen will love you for it.


    I'd love to see photos of your other rooms too since I'm an old-house lover. :-)

  • JoJo Adelphia JoJo Adelphia on Apr 26, 2017

    CK thank you!!!!

  • JoJo Adelphia JoJo Adelphia on Apr 26, 2017

    Thank you all for your suggestions!

  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Apr 26, 2017

    What great suggestions! Paint is my first go to when I want a different look. Buy samples of what you like and try it on a wall. I mention this first, because I don't care for such a bright yellow. If you like yellow, but, this shade doesn't work for you, there are hundreds of shades to go with. I would go for contrast with the cabinets, myself because a gray or other shade could change the whole tone of the room.The suggestion about painting the floor was a great one (I have to look into that!). The table seems out of proportion (too small) to the kitchen, so maybe an island you could eat on? There's some great projects on this site for do-it-yourself islands. Or even a slightly larger table if you don't want an island. I like the cabinets, but, some simple, inexpensive moldings could give them more interest, if you don't like them painting them and changing the handles/hardware will give you a totally different look! I used to cover my windows with curtains, but, discovered cellular shades and use only them on the kitchen windows. For privacy, I recently added a patterned, clear privacy film on the lower part of the window and my kitchen now has a wonderful added feature! Color is the best change no matter what you do!

  • Cro22356086 Cro22356086 on Apr 26, 2017

    l would have someone build you an island with storage and seating to replace the table. If you want to keep the chairs you can have the height on one side of the island lower . You could change the knobs on the cabinets, but that can get pricy or you could just remove the ones you have and refinish them. I would hang my brooms etc on wall to basement and change that closet to the pantry. Good luck