Just countertops or Cabinets too?

11 years ago

Buying a modestly made 20yr old house (needs plenty of small fixes everywhere). Has bamboo flooring in the main room and an open kitchen with stick-on tiles.

What we are sure of: Replace tile with a shade of brown/sandstone/earthy colors. Paint walls a light color. Replace fridge/dishwasher with steel versions.

Replace countertops with light colored quartz (e.g. Silestone Lyra) and get the cabinets renewed using N-Hance. Get it done before moving in. Put up with the oak cabinets forever.

Wait 2 years. Redo the cabinets as well as countertops. Put up with the stress while living in the house and spend more too. But, we get rid of the oak cabinets.

Featured Answer

hayleydaniels

11 years ago

What's your budget to do all this? I can tell you from experience of both remodeling a kitchen and later renovating it after water damage to the floor that everything takes at least twice as long as you expect, costs at least twice as much and is at least twice as difficult as you expect.

There's nothing wrong with those cabinets other than people don't like oak. They look like quality cabinets that will cost $20K to replace. Don't replace something that's perfectly good unless you can genuinely afford to do it. Being house style rich with a gorgeous kitchen and cash poor gets very old very fast.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

PRO
Hal Braswell Consulting
11 years ago
Ask yourself if you like the layout, including a pantry? and the number of drawer base cabinets.

If you don't like the layout, then replacing the countertops and even the floor right now is throwing money away.

If you don't like the layout or if you hate oak cabinets as much as me, wait 2-3 years. Uninstall cabinets and sell or donate.

Instead of paying an arm and a leg for preassembled cabinets, you can get quality RTA cabinets as good or better than what you will find at Lowe's or Home Depot at half the price.

Our RTA cabinets included: 4 30" drawer bases, 2 34" pantries with 5 ROTs each, 1 15" full height base, 1 30" one drawer over two doors, 1 24" base with one drawer and roll out tray, a 39" sink base, a 40" refrigerator surround with integrated cabinet, 5 30" uppers, 1 15" upper, 1 24" upper, finish panels for both top and bottom of uppers, galley rail for top of all uppers, light rail and toe kick and quarter round...all for about $13,000. These are all plywood, maple doors, Blumotion drawer glides and Blum 6 way adjustable hinges.

Need to install a MW and a little trim on fridge wall but otherwise done except touch up painting.
Mark thanked Hal Braswell Consulting
Related Professionals
Southaven Design-Build Firms · Jamestown Design-Build Firms · Middletown Design-Build Firms · Youngstown Design-Build Firms · Montrose Design-Build Firms · Middlesboro General Contractors · Aiken General Contractors · Newark General Contractors · Lafayette Flooring Contractors · Lawrence Flooring Contractors · Kirksville Flooring Contractors · Tucson Flooring Contractors · Clearlake Flooring Contractors · San Diego Flooring Contractors · Spanish Fork Flooring Contractors
Val Gibbs
11 years ago
I'm with haleydaniels. I love our oak cabinets! They are solid wood. If you really don't like yours paint them and change the hardware.
Laurelle
11 years ago
When you refinish your oak cabinets they will be awesome. They are probably solid wood and to replace them is super pricey.
PRO
Construction Guaranteed
11 years ago
Good advise!
averagedecorator
11 years ago
We realize only a year after moving in what features we really like and miss. Would wait till you've settled in to figure out what you want to do
Momof5x
11 years ago
I like the look of the oak cabinets, but when you stated "put up with the oak cabinets forever" it sounds like you really don't like them. I have a feeling once you have done the few other changes though and added a little of your own touch, you you will grow to like them.
PRO
A Direct Cabinet Distributor Corp
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
They layout of the kitchen isn't bad. I would live with the kitchen as it, and see how well it functions for you (especially if this is your first house). And take notes! So when you do have the money to renovate, you know what changes you'll want to make to the kitchen so it becomes more functional for you & your needs. In the mean time, if your dishwasher or refrigerator stops working you can replace them for stainless, because a kitchen designer can always design around appliances later.

*However, if you think you want double ovens, or say a bigger fridge in your new kitchen- then stick it out with the white, this way your not buying appliances twice. Especially if they are working well.