My Kitchen...well it's crap:rolleyes: It the cheapest crap you have ever seen. The cabinets use to be fake wood grain, and then someone went crazy with white paint. They ar basicly plywood, with hollow fiberboard doors. the drawers are held together with staples. The wall cabinets don't even have a roof, it just 1" plywood sitting on top of the supports. the one side even has a a load chain going to the ceiling. I still don't know how they survived as well as they have all these years. The counter is just junk 12x12 tile with no grout lines:confused:

http://www.explorerforum.com/photopost/data/500/medium/Kit1.jpg


So sense I can't afford to rip it all out and start over right now, here is the plan.

Stage 1

1. New nickel hardware has been added already.
2. I have started removing the cabinet doors for paint.
3. Cabinets and doors will be sanded, primed, and painted gloss black.
4. Removed little fence on top of cabinets, need to find molding to replace, before paint.
5. back splash and upper wall above cabinets painted mocca color
6. eyeball lights will be replaced or painted black.
7 electric plugs and switched will be replaced with newer black ones
8. LED undercounter lighting.


Stage 2
1.Replace Counter with tile or granite laminate stuff.
2. replace sink and hardware (hardware may get done in stage 1)
3. New backspash, run electrical for exsaust fan.
4. Floor?

Did you check how much it would cost to have the cabinets refaced? Sears advertises that they do this.

Replace exhaust fan with microwave. Its amazing how much space this will give you. Replace fence with crown moulding, adding lights on the top of the cabinets pointed to the ceiling. Gives a feeling of space. Its cheaper and easier to get prefabbed laminate counter tops from lowes than it is to try to lay laminate, just remember to put a peice of masking tape on the line where you will cut them to avoid laminate splintering. One thing that we did for a backsplash that was cool was we bought some of the copper tile (they are actually plastic) that lowes has in their kitchen area and used it as a backsplash. I'll try to find pictures of it. It was cheap and very different from what everyone else has.

Before
http://www.explorerforum.com/photopost/data/500/2P1010429.JPG

After with the copper tile
http://www.explorerforum.com/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG00022.JPG

For gloss black I recommend the Rustoleum Oil Based, it comes only in white or black but we painted a piano with it and it levels beautifully with a high gloss and drys hard. You'll need ventilation though, it's stinky.

You might also consider using Hammerite black on the eyeball lights, switch and outlet covers.

Did you check how much it would cost to have the cabinets refaced? Sears advertises that they do this.

Stay away from the Sears refacing service. Its a lot more costly then its made out to sound. I am Kitchen Design Specialist for a major retailer. I have worked up many bids tearing out and completely replacing the entire kitchen that, with all new solid wood cabinets and stone counter tops, for what Sears wanted for the refacing service alone. If you desire replacing cabinets look in you local newspaper adds for the rebates promotions. You can save a lot going with the Big box retailer (I prefer the one in blue and red).

Personally, I'd not do all black in a kitchen.. Black will make it feel like a cave in my mind.

As for a microwave hood over the oven.. yuck. Usually, they don't pull air very well..


Ikea stocks counters too Steve.. I bet you could redo all the cabinets in your kitchen from Ikea for $1500 if you stick with the basics..

Alot of the problem is the kitchen has a really bad layout! the corner behind the sink is completly worthless waste of caninet space. the other is not much better. We have a modern look in our place, this is why we desided on the gloss black. We have already bought the paint, and it was not cheap. :( We will leave the celling white to try to keep it bright in there.

I figure I can tile the counter for about $150 bucks, and laminate (prefab) is about $400 or so.

This is the other problem with replacing the cabinets. The top shelf is the back of the kitchen cabinets:rolleyes: They are 24" in height. A odd size.

http://www.explorerforum.com/photopost/data/500/medium/LR4.jpg

Were still kinda lost what to do with this worthless shelf. We're thinking 3 doors with frosted glass and maybe lights inside.

Does that range hood actually vent outside, or does it just blow air back into the kitchen?

Oh, the solution to the shelf - 2x4's & drywall. :D

Rip out or cut down that wall (and the end wall) if possible.. make it one big area.

it goes all the way out to the roof...at least:rolleyes: However, it has a cord that runs down to the outlet behind the stove:thumbdwn: When I do the counter and backsplash I will probally put a electrical box in up there where it should be:rolleyes:

You can see the square vent here in the attic for it.

http://www.explorerforum.com/photopost/data/500/medium/Attic.jpg

I have a micro hood and it works OK, it's not vented to the outside, you have to replace a filter...

Why not take all of the part I outlined in red, then on the bottom make the cabinets to compensate for the storage space you loose by taking off the upper ones...

Stay away from the Sears refacing service. Its a lot more costly then its made out to sound. I am Kitchen Design Specialist for a major retailer. I have worked up many bids tearing out and completely replacing the entire kitchen that, with all new solid wood cabinets and stone counter tops, for what Sears wanted for the refacing service alone. If you desire replacing cabinets look in you local newspaper adds for the rebates promotions. You can save a lot going with the Big box retailer (I prefer the one in blue and red).

..:scratch:..a 20/20 man huh???...:D

...I second the no on Sears...We actually do Kraftmaid cabinets for cheaper than their quote on refacing..:rolleyes:

...Stic-o, have you thought about measuring your kitchen and having it designed for free???

I want free design!!! where how?!? I'm moving to my house (finally after 2 years lol) and this month I'm looking at designs and companies to do my kitchen

Ikea has a free design program - warning, it only does Ikea kitchen cabinets, and it's Windows only..

http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/IHP08/IKEA_Home_Planner.exe

Those walls appear to be non-structural.. which means you could get rid of them outright!

jad2411 , since you don't have a location next to your avatar, where are you located???

...Some big box stores and cabinet design centers will give you a free design if you bring in the measurements...They also have the forms and instructions on "How To" ....Otherwise if they measure, it would cost $100 up and would be credited to your cabinet purchase...;)

Oh ok!, like the kitchen design center in home depot, I'd try that, but I fear that the sales people are going to try to sell me stuff hehehe

I'll update my location in my profile (El Paso, Tx)

...Other cabinet places in your area will do the same so be sure to ask when you are calling around...After your initial design is when they will hit you up...

I don't think it is strutural, but I have electrical lines running in the wall. The sub-pannel for the house is behind the stove in the hall. the switchs there go to the kitchen and dining room lights. The vent is a dummy vent.;)

Yeah I'm asking other people I know where they got theirs and for refferals, I'll also be visiting them to see the work they got and get an estimate for my budget based on that.

Watching HGTV and DIY Network is helping hehehe
Bad thing about this, my 97 sport is going bye bye :(

...The first thing to consider would be how much you can afford for everything...Then, do you want looks, storage, or both with total functionality, or just cheap???...

This why I'm just starting with paint;) I have plenty of storage, the cabinets are good shape overall. Just made crappy. So I nice coat of paint, some hardware. should go along way;)

For me it's a brand new house, so I want it all! haha that's why the 97 has to go, I already have a micro hood, a fridge, so I'll just need the cabinets and the stove, my GF saw a stove for ~1K SS, so that's all I'll be spending in appliances, the rest of the $ go to the cabinets, lightning will have to wait

So all of the door are off the cabinets now. With out all the light reflecting off the white doors it really changed the lighting in there:eek: Black cabinets will surely darken the room. So I need to install the same LED lights over the cabinets, or maybe fluorescent. Something to bounce the light of the white celling.

For me it's a brand new house, so I want it all! haha that's why the 97 has to go, I already have a micro hood, a fridge, so I'll just need the cabinets and the stove, my GF saw a stove for ~1K SS, so that's all I'll be spending in appliances, the rest of the $ go to the cabinets, lightning will have to wait

...If you are doing new countertops, people often forget the price of the sink, faucets, plumbing supply lines, etc...;)

Oh no, my gf already choose the fawcett (with the telescopic spray thing), and we're looking at a granite shop, since our counter tops will be small, we might get lucky and find enough in the scrap pieces, money is thight, so we're getting everything budgetted :D

Thanks for the tips, I appreciate it keep them coming! hehe
I'll open a new thread when I start with my kitchen work, might help others

...Sounds like you are ready for your own thread...:D

...Post a link to it here so we can find it...;)

I'll create it once I start doing the work, which will be Nov-Dec right now I'd just show an empty space hahaha
I used my lunch hour to talk to a plumbing suplies store salesgirl about a tankless water heater, it will be a NG unit, but she asked for water pressure averages in my home, how can I meassure it? she told me it was a good idea to meassure it at different days/times so I could get a good average, the water company will just get an appoinment and meassure it that day/time so she doesn't think it will be an accurate reading

...This is a perfect example of why you should have your own thread, so we can answer your questions there, and Stic-o's questions here...2 different kitchens with 2 different approaches and questions...;)

Right! haha I forgot I was trespassing!

Sorry Stic-o!

Thanks for posting in my thread:D:thumbsup: :rolleyes:

Yup, I use 20/20 every day at work. Have to say its a life saver. It is a great program, I been using it for years and still find cool new tricks in it from time to time. I sell more Kraftmaid then any other cabinet manufacturer. Kraftmaid Kitchens install 99% of the time with out issues.

..:scratch:..a 20/20 man huh???...:D

...I second the no on Sears...We actually do Kraftmaid cabinets for cheaper than their quote on refacing..:rolleyes:

...Stic-o, have you thought about measuring your kitchen and having it designed for free???

Who makes this 20/20 program. I have heard alot about it but havn't found much about it online.

I really don't know who makes the program. Its used by all Lowes, Home Depot, and many independent companies. It is also used to process a sale on the retail level. So, I doubt you could purchase it with out owning a business. I heard of pirated copies out there but the catalogs for the cabinet companies are out of date.

Sorry to bring back my own thread guys...:rolleyes:


Installed new molding on top of the cabinets, put in LED over cabinet lights, sanded and filled. And just added primer coat;) Also painted eyball lights.

http://www.explorerforum.com/photopost/data/500/medium/Kitchen2.jpg

http://www.explorerforum.com/photopost/data/500/medium/Kitchen1.jpg

Missed a spot:p: People just love to use that line when I' painting:rolleyes:
Looking good Steve.

...Looking a lot better...:D

For all thouse who douted my black paint... I will now take your praise:D

http://www.explorerforum.com/photopost/data/500/medium/Kitchen5.jpg

http://www.explorerforum.com/photopost/data/500/medium/Kitchen4.jpg

http://www.explorerforum.com/photopost/data/500/medium/Kitchen3.jpg


I will start working on the doors through the week;)

lookin good!

I think it would look sick with some frosted plexiglass-type doors.

Yeah we were talking about how good it would look with some frosted glass doors, but it's not in the budget right now. Maybe at a later time;)

hmmmmmm...:D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHp_6FdYHzA

...I couldn't find any better pics but this is the vanity you posted...The second pic shows that the plumbing is all hidden...

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/4631/cash014rx3.jpg

http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/9906/cash016hx1.jpg

Yeap that's it. Some costco's still have them for $600 bucks:eek: Talk about a deal!:thumbsup:

That chick is an alcoholic! :)

That chick is an alcoholic! :)

So let's give her some? She looks like a good time to me! :p:

hell yeah we are doing our kitchen too, errrrrr well whole house, one room at a time.

We have re-done almost all the wood in our house a nice flat black... SO MUCH better then the white crap we had before, looks sharp!
I am re-finishing our cabinets also, they are oak so we're good there... sanding each panel and face down to wood then stain with "ebony" color (black)

granite top is coming, still need a stainless dishwasher to match everything else.
Installing a reverse osmosis water system under sink, already did the new laminate floor and all new trim...

Having a wife is awesome! She is a huge do it yourselfer so we will get alot of return on our investments since we do all the work. Slow process but oh so worth it!

We have done our man cave (theater/game room) and bathroom so far, all travertine around thehouse, all new floor and all new trim.....its like a different house from my old bachelor pad!

good luck! your plan is solid. You can find amazing deals at auction warehouses around town, places that specialize in fix and flip, also craigslist has materials on the cheap

...What chick??? I don't see any chick's...


..Edit: in the video...I found her now...:D

I like the idea I posted about installing glass inside, but I'm going to wait. My cabinet doors are not solid, they are hollow on the inside. So I want to wait till I tare one of the bathrooms apart, sense they have the same style doors. then I can play with one of them, and If I like it, I can go back and do that part in the kitchen....If I havn't desided to rip it all out first!:p:

Bottom almost done;)


http://www.explorerforum.com/photopost/data/500/medium/Kitchen7.jpg

http://www.explorerforum.com/photopost/data/500/medium/Kitchen6.jpg