How can I revamp a vintage kitchen countertop and cupboards ??

Patti C.
by Patti C.

The cupboard are very old in fact ugly. I have tried to clean them but to no avail. Not sure what to do. The counter top and back splash is the same. Yellow flecks on a yellow background I think its from the late 60s. Any ideas on how to improve my kitchens appearance?


Patti C.

palchallis@gmail.com

  10 answers
  • Danielle Danielle on Jul 26, 2018

    Hi Patti!


    You sure do have some challenges going on there. The good news it that those look like solid wood cabinets (YAY!) even though the finish is not to your taste so painting should be a breeze. So I would recommend painting the cabinets, and changing out the knobs depending on your taste.


    On the subject of the back-splash, the good news is that if that laminate is still up there nice and tight you can install new material right over the top of it. Any solid tile will work great but I would stay away from glass tile since the old color can show through.


    I prefer to stay away from tile on countertops, I consider it less than sanitary even when the grout is well sealed, but a great option to cover ugly laminate without spending a mint of money is using an epoxy resin to cover it. There are almost limitless options for color and you can either DIY it or have it professionally done.


    Looks like you may also be missing a vent hood for the stove, which personally I consider an absolute essential. If your stove is on an outside wall I would recommend a ducted vent hood so you can suck the grease, cooking smells and humidity out of the house completely. If it's not on an outside wall you can still install a ventless hood that will filter the grease and smells through a charcoal filter and then exhaust it back into the room, it just won't handle the extra humidity and you will have to change or clean the filters a couple of times a year. Still well worth it IMHO.


    Best of luck with your project. Can't wait to see how it turns out!

  • Patti C. Patti C. on Jul 26, 2018

    I appreciate your suggestions. Still now sure what to do with the counter

  • Loretta Cogar Loretta Cogar on Jul 27, 2018

    Not sure about the counter but what I did on my old cabinets, since the wood was good was: strip the cabinets back to the bare wood, mine were 100 year old pine, so the natural wood was 2-3 different shades, sanded where needed. Then put 1 or 2 coats should do it, new hardware making sure the holes match up. It looked gorgeous when done. We even had a Cabinet refinisher come in who wanted to give us an estimate on redoing our cabs. He took 1 look and said we must have just had it done because they looked great. Just that simple update changed the entire kitchen.

    • See 1 previous
    • Loretta Cogar Loretta Cogar on Aug 29, 2018

      Sorry it was in our old house and done about 5 years before the whole house was torn down. the backsplash was waterproof wallpaper. We will be doing the cabs. in our current home (built in the 70s) and will be sure to take before & after pics.

  • Loretta Cogar Loretta Cogar on Jul 27, 2018

    Sorry 1-2 coats of Clear Varnish

  • Patti C. Patti C. on Jul 27, 2018

    thanks loretta, love the suggestion

  • TaKenya Hampton TaKenya Hampton on Aug 23, 2018

    I think paint and new hardware would make this space all kinds of dreamy!

  • 17335038 17335038 on Aug 23, 2018

    The old countertop (yep, that design definitely dates back to the late 60's) is worn out and has so many scratches, that I would think at this point it would be hard to keep sanitized. Even tiny fissures in such materials are enough to absorb water harbour food particles and bacteria growing under the surface.


    My suggestion for the the fastest, and easiest long-lasting improvement to the kitchen is to replace the countertop with new laminate.

  • William William on Aug 23, 2018

    Paint the cabinets.


    Make sure they are clean and dry. Remove the doors and hardware. Mark the doors and cabinets with tape where they go. Lightly sand the doors and cabinets to remove any gloss and roughen the surface for paint with 220 grit sandpaper or a green Scotch Brite pad.. Use a tack cloth or damp rag to remove dust after sanding. Prime with a stain blocking primer like Zinsser 123, KILZ,or BIN and have it tinted to the color of the top coat. This will prevent dark or stained surfaces from showing through the top coat. Acrylic, or water base paints are low-fume and clean up easily with water. Alkyd, or oil-base, paints require good ventilation because the paint contains solvents that can irritate your lungs and make you feel sick. Alkyd options require mineral spirits for cleanup, but they provide a hard, durable paint finish. Whichever you use, buy the best-quality paint you can afford for a lasting kitchen cabinet finish. Seal with at least three coats with a water based polyurethane. Use a small foam roller and foam brush for a smooth finish.


    Rustoleum, Daich, or Giani countetop paint kits for the countertop.

  • Kristin Gambaccini Kristin Gambaccini on Aug 23, 2018

    Chalk paint and wax with new hardware will go a long way here!

  • Patti C. Patti C. on Sep 14, 2018

    how easy is chalk paint and was to use? I have never chalk painted before. thank you