Shoestring Budget: Kitchen Renovations


I live in a 700 square foot house that was built in the 1940s. Although the house has undergone a few small renovations, the kitchen in particular was starting to show its age and was in need of a makeover. The goal was to update the kitchen and give it a fresh new look while staying on a tight budget (~$300)

I will show you some before and after pictures, and walk you through the renovation process. A list of the total costs involved is included at the end. Enjoy!

Before Renovations

After Renovations

The use of two different colours for the cabinets was intended to (1) balance out the weight of dark colours contributed by the appliances, and (2) give the kitchen a unique touch with a fresh, modern, and overall eclectic feel.

Steps:

1. Remove existing tile backsplash, make sure to wear gloves, mask, and goggles. If you are in an older house, make sure to check for asbestos. Asbestos used to be included in materials such as plaster, and can be carcinogenic when disturbed or airborne. Apply filler compound to any holes or blemishes, create a smooth surface. 
2. Remove existing sink and faucet. Keep in a safe spot.
3. Measure exisiting sink hole. This is important because you will need to use that            measurement for cutting the sink hole in your new countertop. 
4. Remove old countertop. 
5. My lovely father built my new countertop using plywood, contact cement, and laminate. 
6. Use the measurements from Step 3 and cut the sink hole in the new countertop. 
7. Install new countertop. 
8. Reinstall original sink and faucet. The sink hole measurements must be exact or your sink will not fit properly. 
9. Secure countertop to lower cabinetry. 
10. Remove cabinet doors. 
11. Clean cabinet doors. Make sure the cabinets are free of all grease and grime. Let Dry. 
12. Sand the cabinets. Use a piece of 150 grit sandpaper and lightly sand all surfaces. This will allow the paint to bind to the cabinet surface. 
13. Prime and Paint. 
14. Drying time. It is very important to allow adequate drying time. I would suggest 5 days before reinstalling your cabinet doors. If you reinstall too early the paint will chip easily (e.g. rubbing against other doors) and will create more issues down the road. 
15. Install cabinets and hardware. 
16. Determine your tile layout. Mark the visual focal point for where your backsplash will be when complete; this will be your starting point for laying the tile. 
17. Starting at the center of the focal point, start applying your thin set mortar to a small section of the wall using a trowel. Press and wiggle the tile into its appropriate location. Use a temporary 1/8" spacer to create a uniform grout line. 
18. Complete tiling backsplash. 
19. Let tiles settle overnight. Once dry remove spacers.
20. Mix sandless grout and apply over the tile backsplash. Make sure to push grout into the gaps between the tiles. Remove any excess grout. 
21. Allow the grout to set for an hour and clean the surface with a wet sponge. 
22. Apply a bead of tile caulking along the bottom seam where the tile meets the backsplash. 
23. Reinstall outlet covers. 
24. Sit back and enjoy your new beautiful kitchen. 

Renovation Cost:

Subway Tiles: Olympia Tile = $30

Grout & Plaster= $30

Laminate: Formica= $65.00

Plywood: $55

Paint & Paint Supplies: $70

Contact Cement: $30.00

Misc Supplies: $30.00

Labor (my amazing Dad) : $15 in Tim Hortons Coffee…

Total cost of renovations:  $295

Let me know what you think! :)

Design Notes...

I find there are a few basic design principles when transforming any room. Mark McCauley from HGTV offers 10 helpful tips for adding colour to any space. I'd like to share with you the five that I find the most helpful when designing in my own life. 


1. Work around the largest pattern in your house. It may be your furniture, upholstery, or area rug. Pull individual colours from the patterns to use throughout the space; it's less expensive to change a wall colour then to buy new furniture.
2. Use the 60-30-10 Rule. When designing a space, divide the colour into percentages:
60%- Dominant Colour (Typically your wall colours)
30%- Secondary Colour  (Upholstery or Furniture)
10%- Accent Colour (Throw pillows, Floral Arrangement, Candles or small decorations) 
3. Typically a successful design entails going from dark to light vertically. Usually, the darkest colour will be found on the floor and the lightest on the ceiling. Dark flooring is ideal because it hides stains and blemishes, while having a light fresh colour on the ceiling makes any space feel large and open. 
4. Add Black! When you add black as an accent in any space it enhances the colours around it. Try it!
5. Flow. When designing a space you should try to create a cohesive effect. When entering from one space to another you should incorporate similar colours in different ways. For example, if you have a red couch in the living room you should not use a large amount of red in a nearby kitchen. Instead, opt for red accents that carry the colour from the living room into the kitchen. 


Enjoy & Have Fun!


Reference: Mark McCauley, ASID "Top 10 Tips for Adding Color to Your Space", www.HGTV.com

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