DIY Kitchen Makeover on a Budget

The Kitchen in our new house was definitely lacking pizzaz and after living with it for a year I had had enough.   Its one of those U shaped kitchens where only one person can fit in at a time.  The cabinets right above the breakfast bar so you either have to crouch down to talk to people or stand and talk to the cabinets without seeing there face.

Before

One day while my husband was away on business trip and raining outside so what else is a girl to do but demo away!!!

First step was to take out the upper cabinets (better already)

Then the bottom cabinets, stove and really, really heavy microwave.  Then I opened up the bulkhead to see what exactly I was dealing with.  Boy oh boy what a mess insulation falling everywhere.  This is where I called for reinforcements- thank heavens for dads!

After some major cleaning its starting to come together (ignore the big hole in the ceiling)

I got the island in- its an old desk that I have up-cycled into a kitchen island.  Stripped the veneer off, sanded and stained it and also added taller legs.  

The desk works perfect for storing silver wear, spices, cooking utensils and don't forget pots and pans.

After

All my hard work has now paid off!!!

The top cabinets are painted in stonewashed by Behr and the bottom in Hilltop

Counter top I ordered from Ikea ($169)I stained them to match the island using red chestnut with a layer of mahogany on top.  I then used a product called Waterlox the marine sealer is food safe and its one and done.  I didn't want to have to oil the butcherblock every month or so.

I wanted to switch the sink and the dishwasher but very expensive plumbing issues did not allow that.  So I decided putting a removable cutting board over the left side sink would have to work so I could have a work space next to the stove.  

I used painted beadboard to camouflage the dishwasher

I also used beadboard as the back-spalsh and painted it contemplation by Behr same color as the plate rack wall.  

I still have some finishing touches to do but all in all -done and I did it super cheaply by using what I already had, moving it around and adding some paint.

Look What I Made

Ok I couldn't find a plate rack that fit my Fiesta ware while also being the right size to go under an existing cabinet so I had to make my own.  It was easier said than done!  I had bought a short cabinet with glass doors last summer at a yard sale and never found the right thing to put it on.  I decided to keep it for my dishes and build a plate rack to fit underneath.  There was a lot of math and measuring involved (not my strong suite) in getting all the dowels to line up like a puzzle.  It actually all turned out and hasn't fallen off the wall!  I also added bead-board to the side and fancy corbels to the bottom.

 More Fiesta Ware displayed just because I love it!!!

Distinguished Desk

An old estate sale desk (or could be used as small sideboard) redone in shabby blue with a hint of teal underneath. 

Before

After

Linking to:

Potting Bench

Nasty old bench that I have had sitting outside for a long time has found a new life as a lovely potting bench.
All it needed was a good scrubbing then I stained it, painted the top white and poof pretty up-cycled table.

Before

 Nasty

After

Wedding Dresser

This note was found in the drawer of an old dresser, It's sweet and rare to know the actual history of a piece of furniture or that something actually lasted this long.  I tried to restore it best I could while still bringing it up to date.  I wanted to keep it timeless yet still accentuate all of the beautiful detail of the wood and curves.  If only this dresser could talk !

Before

After

Grandma chair

Ugly grandma chair redone

Before

After 

Now this is a rocker i'd have in my house.

Stonewashed

I bought this table with out really looking at it thinking it would replace our dining room table because the lady said it had three leaves!  Well as we were loading it it became clear that this was not going into my house the leaves were only 5" wide (what it the point of that)  nonetheless it makes the table a foot shorter than the table I have now.  so I painted it to sale in stonewashed by Behr then dry brushed with a chateau color.   The legs and detail are beautiful too  bad it is too small.

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Beige on white bird end table.