@designbuildsolutions I used the Rustoleum Resurfacing kit. It is an adhesive you roll on the counter tops followed by the spreading of color chips. It is topped with a sealer. Very easy but VERY messy!

Was the counter the old Formica laminate type of materials? Before you painted it?

@designbuildsolutions Yes, it was old formica laminate counter. We did sand it down a bit before applying the adhesive.

Bravo! Well done!

It's amazing how new hardware and paint can completely transform a space! Enjoy your new kitchen!

It's so wow. I like it

Super pretty - nice job!

Wow! Great job. You did a great job choosing the color palette. You have proven that with a little elbow grease, making what was ok into great can save you $, and still give you a return on your investment.

Excellent, smart $ makeover! Love love love it.

Really nice update! The after doesn't show as much, though. Same ceiling fan and light fixture?

@th21. we replaced both the ceiling fan and light fixture. Will try to add pics...

hi again you mention sherwin williams paint but which color? thank you

@verabee. 6256 Serious Grey is the color we used on our upper cabinets.

This is the light we replaced the "pool table" lamp with!

This is the ceiling fan we got to replace the hideous one we had before!

Why live with an ugly, un-charming kitchen in your house when you can do what charmcombs did! Great job and I can feel your love for this room!!

How come the waste receptacle in the middle of the kitchen? Just curious

@schindlermark11...we were in the process of getting the kitchen ready for remodel when I took the picture.

If you deal with something cheap ....you end up "updated cheap" Drek is drek ....cimis is cimis

Wow, Raleigh Cabinets, that was pretty nasty. You may lose yourselves some potential customers with that remark. So, those that don't want to spend multi-thousands of dollars on a remodel should just live with what they have? I for one think it looks much nicer.

Wow, you took a 70's look and turned it into a totally up to date look. The tile and floor bring out the darker cabinets as well as the hardware you replaced. I don't what your budget allows but if you could get a stainless panel for the dishwasher it might give it a little pop as well as accent your hardware. None the less you did one fabulous job! Kudos!

makmartell you expressed the same feeling I had about that negative comment . Thanks..

Wow! Your "new" kitchen looks fantastic! It looks classy. I wouldn't be concerned with people's remarks about how dark it is. Paint is one of the easiest things to change if you get tired of the color. I've been thinking about the Rustoleum counter kit for my 40+ yr old formica countertops. You said it was easy. How easy? Did it turn out like you thought it would?

It's reality ...

I'll be remodeling my 1988 kitchen soon and have fair sized budget...Raleigh Cabinets & Remodeling...you don't sound like you'd be much fun to work with! charmcombs you've done a very nice job...congrats!

Fabulous job on black cabinets and hardware! Love the floor and back splash, and your bargain hunting skills are outstanding!
The only thing I'm personally not find if are grey upper cabinets. The issue with them is that the doors are not flush with cabinet frame, so to me they still look outdated (even though painted) cabinets. Sorry! I would either go for open shelving in dark wooden finish, to match the window frame. Or I would replace the doors with matte glass. If you love the grey, I would go for high gloss grey color, to make it contemporary, even maybe apply epoxy gloss finish from Home Depot, but still, I dont dig the upper cabinets.
I see how some people call this dark, but its a nice look, with added lighting it is a perfect combo of stylish and homey.
Congrats on job well done!

did you use regular paint on the laminate cabinet fronts?

Good business 101 by Raleigh Cabinets:

1. Insult someone very unlikely to ever be your client in a public way so that the type of people that might hire you will see it and notice what a jerk you are. (No need to compliment that person if you didn't feel it warranted. A well worded critique might have been fine if you REALLY felt it necessary, but a rude insulting comment is never professional)

2. Further insult someone else who IS likely to be the type of client you are looking for because they called you out on insult #1.

3. Do all of the above using terrible spelling and grammar.

Result? Big questions as to the professionalism of you and your business. It sure sends out big red flags for me!

Yes, Raleigh Cabinets, you would never get my business. You do not even know how to spell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! & what's with the .....found Red Neck...... Does that mean you will only work with a Red Neck or that you are a Red Neck? Either way, very professional. NOT

I flagged Raleigh Cabinets. I wonder if Houzz could take the "PRO" status away from them. Definitely NOT professional.

Wow how rude, nit to mention unprofessional of Raleigh Cabinets! Way to not promote your business. That last post sounded like it was typed by a drunken Russian.

I don't drink....! Who want to talk about Houses ???? Houses in NC Junk . If you have any questions you can give me a call I can explain . R value and U value very bad ....a lot of problems with expansion and contraction materials and I am in business more than 28 years who are you give me the label ? If you think I am NOT a Professional Try me ? Ask a Pro questions ? How about that ?

What a big change $500 and hard work can make! Enjoy your new kitchen!

Raleigh cabinets, I will ask a pro questions. That does not seem to be you.

Firstly, I would like to give Raleigh Cabinets a piece of advice - If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything. The rudeness of the original comment plus the atrocious grammar leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth at this point.

Secondly, bravo on your highly cost effective update! We moved from a large, beautiful model home to a smaller, older, poorly maintained home in a great neighborhood in another state. We have spent over 3x the amount originally estimated on mechanicals alone so the room reno budget is NIL. After seeing this I am definitely going to tackle painting the kitchen cabinets and resurfacing the gross, yellowed laminate counters. Even though the appliances are not good (newish but very low quality) they stay until I can really do the kitchen. I feel better already thinking about a facelift to tide us over. Thanks for the inspiration!

Great work !

Great job.... Doesn't it feel good to upgrade your own house. Do more, try new stuff and have fun. I hope you left the Cinderella at the end of the cabinet......

wow, it is gorgeous!!! never heard of Rustoleum countertop refinisher. what type of paint did you use on the cabinets - they are beautiful, and are they original wood? what color is that? it looks like it has some very dark grey and very dark bluish tint - it looks fabulous!

@decorgirly. We did use regular paint but I believe it was semi gloss.

@vivid50 ...6256 Serious Grey is the color we used on our upper cabinets

thanks so much -- i love paint, and don't hesitate to grab spray paint or a paint brush and go to town! am doing some major cleaning and am SO tempted to repaint the cabinets, they really need it, plus i messed them up over the years using too strong a cleaner. but have a habit of just slapping paint on and not doing the real prep work, so for now, am thoroughly enjoying your beautiful work!!!!!

How did you paint the cabinets- roller, brush, spray?

You did a great job! I just wanted to second the person who said you can change the panel on your dishwasher. I once bought a second hand May Tag for $40 because the original owner updated her kitchen and the colour did not go with her new style. The colour didn't go with mine either, BUT it did after I took the panel off and turned it around and there on the other side was white! Before you do so, perhaps look up the model number and see if that's the case with yours.

In case anyone out there is thinking of vinyl floor covering...I love the shiny ones best. There's no "drag" on the mop and you know when the darn thing is clean. I think a vinyl floor is easier to clean than tile that has a thick grout line but the curling up and gouging that can occur can also be problematic... Still, there are those on really tight budgets and if you're looking at a piece of vinyl, I vote for shiny.

Just my two cents worth.

personally, (admittedly, it's been maybe 20 years ago) i tried vinyl in the kitchen since the existing floor was the original from 1943 and a mess). got rid of it because heels gouged the floor, regular shoes or sneakers if they had a small stone on the bottom; so did the refrigerator. ended up with quarry tile which i really love!

sorry, I don't like this at all, way too dark and the cabinets look industrial

I certainly love the effect of the dark lower cabinets and the gray upper ones. I live in a house with dark brown wood 70's cabinets - never changed them in my 18 years here - and I'm closing next month on another house with same. I hate white / blond / golden oak cabinets. There are other ways to light up the kitchen. Bravo!

Ca claque !!! très joli

I didn't read the whole thread, but I hope you don't really leave out wet towels like that in your kitchen on a regular basis. They will eventually ruin the finish/wood/etc. Wood doesn't like moisture in general. Just sayin'.

I don't know from your post if you want other's opinions or are just stating you did a good job.
For what it's worth,I find the color palette very dark with not enough contrast between the uppers and lowers. It would have been better to make the upper cabinets a few shades lighter and maybe a prettier contrasting color. The grey on black is very harsh and cold. You could add some pretty colorful accessories to spice things up for now.

To add a bit of contrast you can have 2 of the upper cabinets routed out and use glass inserts. It would probably run about $ 50.00 per door but add a perfect bit of interest. Contact a local mill house or carpenter.

Also there is a appliance stainless steel contact type reface that you can use to alter the white appliances if you should choose. The material is just as strong as most "stainless" appliances being sold currently.

Otherwise - Great job.