in Renovator's NotesIn it, homeowners open up about the details of their renovations: how long it really took, how much it really cost, what went horribly wrong, and what wonderfully, coincidentally, made it all worth it in the end. Follow along for more tips to help you succeed on your next project. Reno.
When designer and DIY enthusiast Ajay Guillot first drove down her street, she was struck by the number of Tudor-style homes that lined it, a rare sight in Los Angeles: rows of tiny cottages. “As soon as we saw the house, it reminded us of a trip we took to the Cotswolds for Christmas a few years ago. It was love at first sight for us,” she says. But the same couldn't be said for the kitchen.
While the cooking area was certainly larger than the kitchen she and her husband previously shared in Atlanta, Gayot was disappointed to have to cook in such a narrow space again. Her goal in renovating this kitchen was simple: “To love this kitchen,” she says. Luckily, this time she was determined not to spend as much as she did on her first remodel (in Georgia, she spent $25,000 on upgrades like porcelain floors and pendant lighting). This time, Gayot revamped the space for less than $6,500. Below, the experienced renovator shares how she did it, in her own words.
receipt
Here are some of the expenses Guyot spent on his kitchen:
- Stainless steel shelves: $65
- Outlet cover: $26
- Range hood: $400
- Faucet: $392
- Refrigerator: $700
- Additional lower cabinet: $400
- Quartzite countertops: $1,800
Save money: Recycle packaging
We used packing paper, tape and tarps from our move to prep the kitchen for painting and sanding.
Save: Painting cabinets (with doors)
In my case, painting the cabinets without removing the doors worked better for me because I didn't have a lot of room to work and it was easier to sand, prime, and paint the inside of the doors with the doors still attached (I could move the doors back and forth using the old knobs). Plus, I found I preferred the look of the cabinets painted with a brush instead of a roller. I painted them with a custom color derived from Old White by Farrow & Ball. I like the base of this color, but wanted it to be a little more yellow and a little darker.
Save: Installing a lower cabinet addition yourself
After years of being a mom and raising kids, and loving to cook, I knew I needed more storage, so this time I kept all the upper cabinets and added lower cabinets. I chose unfinished cabinets from Home Depot, which I've used before and love. It felt really good to add the lower cabinet units myself, especially when the countertop installers came and complimented my work (they couldn't believe their eyes when I told them it was their first time!). I keep my trash can in the cabinet closest to the patio, and plates, cups, pans, and utensils in the other cabinets.
Storage: Floor model refrigerator
We ended up replacing our previous fridge because the water pipes were so damaged, and the fridge was also getting hard to close (it never sat completely flat), so we saw a discount on a floor standing model at Home Depot and bought it – no dents (thank goodness).
Luxury: Silver Bridge Faucet
I had a fair bit of money left over on Etsy gift cards so I thought “now or never!”
Save: Report of moldy sink
During a home inspection, two inspectors noted mold. [around the sink] My sink broke. That was the first thing I told my insurance company a month after I got the keys to my house. They sent someone to inspect it and gave me permission to remove and replace the sink for a $75 deductible. It wasn't a difficult process; you just have to wait and be patient while dealing with the insurance company. As for the sink itself, I recommend checking out your local Countertop Warehouse as you can find great deals there. I bought mine at one of their stores and it was around $120.
Save: Acting as your assistant
I asked one of the contractors to create a new arched entryway to the kitchen (I offered to help for a lower price). I love this job because it gives me an opportunity to learn. We used wood and drywall to create the arch. The wood acts as a stud to hold the drywall in place. The contractor plastered it and I sanded and painted it.
When I hired the countertop installer, I asked if there was anything I could do to save time and money since I'm doing my own kitchen. He said he could install the plywood while he was outside cutting the counters. I ended up kind of acting as his assistant, and it all worked out.
Luxury item: ZLINE stove
I knew I would love my kitchen if I gifted myself a stove. I ended up selling my old stove and microwave (because they were newer) and putting the money towards my current stove and range hood, so it didn't end up costing me that much.
Save: A touch of texture
I love the beadboard look and I used a cordless jigsaw to cut out each piece. [panel]I put a bit of adhesive on the back of each board and attached them to the wall with a nail gun.
The textures I made for the kitchen walls and ceiling are do not have Limewash: I used a masonry brush, two different colors of paint (one slightly lighter than the other), water, and a regular paintbrush (see the process here). I painted one color (two coats) onto the wall using a regular paintbrush, and before it dried completely, I painted strokes onto the wall with the lighter color (using a masonry brush), making sure to dilute each stroke with water.
Save money: Charge your charging station
After raising the backsplash, I needed to upgrade all of the screws on the outlets to longer ones, so I decided to upgrade the covers while I was at it, too, which were a great deal (about $25 for a pack of 20).
Get the look
VEVOR Stainless Steel Wall Shelf, Amazon ($66)
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Silverbridge Kitchen Faucet, Etsy ($392)
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ZLINE Convertible Vent Wall Mount Range Hood in Stainless Steel, Home Depot ($400)
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CML Decorator Metal Wall Plates 20-Pack, Amazon ($26)
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