Kitchen Remodel - Tips & Tricks On A Budget

Contributed by Barb Cook, Interior Designer & The Hive Overland Park Member

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Last fall I embarked on a small kitchen remodel. I love the work of Jen Todryk of HGTV No Demo Reno, designer from Dallas. She frequently completes her projects without knocking down walls and major structural changes. My kitchen would fall into that category. I wanted it to be budget friendly and something I could manage myself, after all, I had helped many clients navigate new build projects: picking finishes for each room in their home and working with subcontractors. It was time to bring this 90’s era kitchen to today’s modern aesthetic.

Before

Here are some tricks that can help you achieve the look you want while staying in budget and taking the fear out of starting a small project! My number one rule of design is: at each stage of a project the room looks finished, just as it is.

The first thing was to get rid of the 90’s Golden Oak cabinet doors! I painted the cabinet carcass white and had new doors made in a modern shaker look.  Since I was changing the door style, I had the cabinet maker take out the wooden stiles that separated the opening between the cabinet doors, allowing the doors to meet in the middle and added hidden hinges. Now, when the doors are opened, the wider space can accommodate large roll out shelves that make it easy to store larger pans or small appliances. For a modern trend, remove a couple of upper cabinets and add open shelving or replace them with curio cabinets with glass doors.  

The next phase was to ditch the tumbled marble Tuscan-style backsplash and countertops. We demoed the backsplash, removed tile and drywall, exposing pipes, wires and studs. Then, I had an electrician rewire my kitchen for under cabinet lighting. I used Blaze LED tape which comes in daylight to warm white. What I love about this LED lighting is that you avoid seeing those little dots of light on the counter. I also had them move the outlets and switches under the upper cabinets and installed rope lighting at the top of the cabinets. Now my backsplash is free from the mix of switches and outlets.

I replaced the dark granite with a white quartz counter top. I opted for Cambria Inverness Frost. It is a new line with a debossed pattern, where a large vein runs through the top with a texture that you can feel as you run your hand over it. Instead of something embossed (sticking up) this was debossed (carved out). Quartz counters are not stone (granite, marble, quartzite and limestone) and do not need sealing. They are easier to maintain, but you cannot put a hot pan on them.  A general rule of thumb is to select your counter first since the options are limited compared to paint and tile that have many more options. In my case, I already had painted cabinets and I wasn’t going to repaint them so, my options were narrowed a bit. Before I placed the order to reserve the quartz slabs, I took a sample to the tile showrooms so I knew I could find just what I was looking for. Once I had my selections, I was ready to order.

We installed white 2 x 8 subway tile in a horizontal stacked pattern. Wow that’s a lot of white! So, to add warmth, I had a two-inch piece of walnut added to the bottom of a boxed window where tile had been installed previously. I went with a large rectangular sink made out of Neoroc granite composite that matched the vein in the countertop, it also added another layer of warmth. Now there is space for the largest of pans or anything else you can imagine.

I kept my original hardware in bronze, I liked it and it saved money, but I added some decorative bulbs to an existing chandelier that featured warm brass for a change.

I also removed my existing electric cooktop and upgraded to gas. When you have an existing cook top on an island or built in to the countertop, it’s a good idea to purchase a new cooktop. The cut out is almost always different. Since the basement under the island was unfinished, it was easy to access and install a gas line. If you change to gas, you will need a Plumber to make those connections.

After

Here are a few take-aways:

• Keep the original footprint- in other words, keep windows, plumbing, electrical and HVAC where they are if you want to make your budget go farther.

• Rethink your backsplash if doing a kitchen or bath. Many fabricators install a standard 4” piece of granite, quartz or marble as a short backsplash.  There are so many beautiful patterns of tile available that this is where you can choose something that reflects your unique design aesthetic.

• Hardware can really elevate your kitchen or bath. Don’t be afraid to mix metals. A new faucet can also be a unique design element.

• Add some warmth, especially if your kitchen has a lot of white elements

• Don’t forget lighting. Again, it can be an easy way to create some drama.

• Your counter is the perfect place to stage some accessories that are functional and decorative.  

If your project is more complex, you will want to enlist the help of a kitchen designer with a NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association) certification. They can guide you in creating the kitchen or bath of your dreams. Happy kitchen remodeling!