I'm in the midst of a kitchen remodel by Explorerforum's very own TBars4.

I have lived in my place since I was 23, purchased it when I was 25, now 4 years later I have done several improvements, some haven't been as good as others.

One thing I'm glad I never touched yet was the kitchen except some destruction. Trim pieces continue to break off some past billy-bob add-ons from the past owners.

It was school bus yellow when I moved in there and I had some generic 12"x12" white tile but that changed a few years ago. I put a "pergo" fake wood floor throughout the house that does the trick but it leaves a little to be desired.

Originally the house had additional walls and a different style kitchen. One of the past owners had taken out some walls and cabinets opening up the view but limiting the storage. Also there was this strange gap that I threw a couple of trash cans in to cover it up, but it never made much sense. The island that was in place didn't match the other cabinets but being a young bachelor I didn't really care.

I had some issues with underground plumbing and broken drain lines so last year I had a nice big hole jackhammered in the floor right in front of my dishwasher and I also have had new copper pipes throughout the house to get rid of the old galvinized pipes.

The kitchen was always on the list for a "gut out" and start over remodel but I just don't want to make that kind of investment. I sent Ted some pics and he had a few ideas in mind.

Here is where it started, school bus yellow was not good in person even though the pics make it look all DIYnetwork cute.

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q122/DJL337/house/az67-1.jpg
and phase one began
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q122/DJL337/house/P1010083.jpg

Here's some of the issues that I had

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q122/DJL337/house/underthehood024-1.jpg
here is the view when you walk in my front door
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q122/DJL337/house/underthehood023.jpg

As much as I would have loved a complete tear down, Ted is pumping life into this thing, stay tuned for the "after."

Rip it out! Rip it out!

:D

Two words: Bad Economy


What I'm making in a year I used to make in 3 months...

Your center table is talking and your dishwasher is thinking about beating up something :)

(in thanks for the chance)

I'll take the sink and it's harware:D Looks better then My POS!!:p:

One of the past owners had taken out some walls and cabinets opening up the view but limiting the storage.

I see Empty Cabbinets:p:


..and where is the live web cam??? We demand Harley Cam!!! :D

IZ did you start drinking?




Just for that I'll give you a LOL pic of the dog.

^-- AHAHAHAH!!!

I dont see a dog in that pic at all, just an old wet brown towel someone threw on the bed.

..The repairs have been made...It also got some updating, but it tied into the existing cabs styling...;)

...The before...:scratch:
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/3605/counter001sl6.jpg

...Note: the fridge got moved...
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/9228/counter003cd7.jpg

i remember that kitchen when me and heath were there :D

LOL, that's right, you and Heath picked up the Infinity down the street and road tripped it.

So here's the final product

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q122/DJL337/house/kitchen001.jpg

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q122/DJL337/house/kitchen002.jpg

Very nice:thumbsup: Is that just the countertop stuff you get from the hardware store? I need to redo my counters, and not sure if I want to retile or something like this..:rolleyes:

Looks very nice. Good Work.

The center island is granite, the rest is a formica that matches nicely but isn't an exact match.

I knew from the get-go that the island was going to be a challenge but I wasn't planning on totally replacing it. After coming up short on ideas of a breakfast bar and realizing that I would need a custom built countertop, I was getting antsy and needed something that would "drop in"

I got a great deal on this piece at a liquidation store here in town and the countertops came from Lowe's. I originally emailed Ted a pic and showed him these tops and he said we should look at something different. Well, we brought every sample home, one we liked was discontinued and low and behold the final choice was the one I picked at the very start.

I'm not going to lie, things got torn apart and I stressed more than I thought but it's worth it, much cheaper that totally gutting out the whole kitchen, much nicer than what I had and I think with home values sitting like they are this will add value vs. selling as a fixer upper or pricing it out of my neighborhood.

I've got good kitchens and baths in my place now, just need to do all the little stuff (carpets, floors, baseboards, paint) and the interior will be ready to go. Also I've had all the plumbing converted from galvinized to copper, installed soft water with a loop, replaced the covered patio, roof, finished my laundry room, rewired and replaced the pool pump and got rid of the popcorn ceilings and retexured my hose so it's got plenty to do, but the big projects are out of the way.

Wow what a difference, looks tons better:thumbsup:

...Woohoo, I just got home..:D

..I would like to add a couple things...Danny and Diva were left with little gifts on the counter along with the keys..;)..Thanks Danny for the hospitality and great cooking...Now harley only wants your lemon rubbed chicken..:rolleyes:

...For those of you wanting to run out and do this on your own, be prepared with difficulties, such as finding the materials and colors you want and then the trim...

...This kitchen was a labor intensive repair and added 3 new cabinets...The repair was all the base cabinets on the sink wall and the base on the other side of the stove...There was actually one cabinet built , left side of dishwasher, even though it is not a usable cabinet..

...All end panels and toe kick were made and hand rubbed, custom color stained, along with the scribe molding and outside corners...The idea was to make the new cabinets and trim to look like they have been there the whole time, but to also update this area and make it more warm, inviting, but still useful and practical...

...I think we succeeded...:biggthump

Wow-
that does look way different now. Good Job!!

thats way better! super work

Nice job! How long did the entire thing take? Where did you order the cabinets, and counter tops from?

...:scratch:...Hey BB, Dannyboy answered all those questions for you already...;)

Danny, I think you need to paint now...It's to flat in their. Needs color;)