Manufactured Home Kitchen Makeover

Lydia S.
by Lydia S.
$100
2 Weeks
Medium
We bought this home and it had "good bones" but it was sadly outdated. I wanted my kitchen to be bright and airy and welcoming. There was awful flowery wallpaper and the "wood" cabinets weren't actually real wood except for the door frames. I decided on bright white for the cabinets and those Formica counter tops had to go, so I painted everything. The cooktop was also quite old so it had to go, too. I had a very small budget and no help so I did what all good DIYers do, jumped in with both feet.
Photo from before move in day
I started with the counter tops and walls. After sanding and cleaning, I painted a base of dark grey on the counter tops and a very light grey on the walls. Just the difference of that was stunning. And yes, I painted right over the top of the wallpaper, which is laminated to the walls in that factory and very hard to remove. There is a bit of texture to the wallpaper which shows beneath the paint and adds a nice contrast. I then replaced the old cooktop with a newer style ceramic cook top. I also painted the dishwasher and exhaust hood black.
Next, I began to tackle the cabinets. I wanted to see how one would look so I I just stated on the end. I removed the doors (remembering to write in pencil on the inside so I knew where they all came from), did some sanding and cleaning, used some deglosser and started painting.
When I was sure it was what I wanted, the doors started coming off. Slowly over the next 2 weeks I painted and replaced doors, drawers and hardware.
Soon my dream kitchen began to take shape.
It was now time to finish the counter tops. I wanted a granite look without the big price tag. I chose the colors I wanted and, using sea sponges and some trial and error, began to transform them.
I even added some "veins" here and there to give it a more natural stone look.
Here and there I also added tiny bits of glitter. Not too much and only scattered about, but it gave it the same glint in certain light and at certain angles that you see in stone counter tops.
If I had to do it over again I would certainly do this before I changed out the cooktop, but live and learn. Since I had to add more coats to the walls, I wasn't too concerned about the bits of paint I got on the walls.
I taped around the sink instead of removing it and it worked fine. I also decided to leave the breakfast nook countertop the solid grey color. I liked the definition and contrast it created. It made it feel more like the breakfast nook was it's own area.
It came out better that I had ever hoped. When I was please with it, I ended by adding a few coats of polyurethane for strength and protection.
There was no built in microwave, so I removed the shelving about the oven and found a built-in convection microwave that fit perfectly. Now my kitchen was complete and just what I wanted it to be.
I am thrilled with how it turned out. I finally have the kitchen I have always wanted and can proudly say I did it myself.
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  • Joann Joann on Jun 09, 2018

    Are your cabinets wood or pressboard? My cabinets are pressboard not sure if can paint over

  • Ammadahl Ammadahl on Jun 18, 2018

    What kind of paint did you use on the countertops?

  • Jessie OShea Jessie OShea on Jul 18, 2018

    How much did it end up costing? Did you put new hinges on? Did you have to fill holes where the other ones were?Thanks

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  • Sally Alter Sally Alter on Feb 23, 2019

    Three months later and I am no longer thrilled with my paint job. I used milk paint and really regret it. I didn't want such a flat look but used it because it took no sanding and priming. But I wish I had taken more time and used proper, shiny (white) paint - I am also not keen on the color light dove gray.


    Now I see that, when it catches the light, the paint is flatter in some areas than others, and because I have cabinet doors with moulding, I can see where the foam brushes left marks in the grooves.


    Also, I decided to spray paint the old rusty hinges that had been on there for 30 or so years. Oh no, they became so chocked up with paint that the doors wouldn't close. So it was off with the old and on with the new, but because the cabinets are so old, I couldn't find hinges that fit. I now have a dreadful jump, click when I try to shut some of the doors, which don't all shut.


    Oh, well, live and learn. I haven't got the strength or motivation to go back over it all.

  • Sally Alter Sally Alter on Feb 23, 2019

    I forgot to mention that I really do love how my counter tops turned out. I sponged on paint and the granite look is great. I also painted in some fine white lines. I am so pleased with them that it kinda makes up for the bodged cabinet job.


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