Very nice, fresh and pretty. It's not hard to do a low cost makeover, but it's all in the details and choosing the appropriate style, which may or may not go with the rest of the house.

I like it. Nice to see a bit of color, especially in a kitchen. I dont really like the two missing cabinet doors, and if they were mine, I would like the tops and bottoms to be painted the same, but, it is very pretty. I am in the process of painting mine all from the walnut stain 1968 vintage, to gray, and I hope they turn out as well as the one above. So far, only have the cabinet next to the fireplace in the dining room done, but, I am very happy with it. Tomorrow, I am going to start the coffee station cabinet in the kitchen.

The first pic is closer in and the stove and microwave are out of range of the photograph but still in the same place.

That's really cute! I love the happy colors.

Love it!

She used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. Not sure how great this works in the kitchen, but it's, of course, a lot easier to slap on than a proper paint job with a lot of surface preparation, etc.

I think that rug is genius. Of course, again not sure how practical it is.

I think it looks great. Love the rug.

A look I like to hide the soffits is beadboard. This cottage kitchen would have been a good candidate.

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If you go to her blog, there are many more pics that show the configuration of the kitchen didn't change at all.

I think it's totally charming, but I have to wonder about this part:

When you use chalk paint, the doors can stay on the hinges, you don’t have to sand or prime, and the process goes much faster! Chalk Paint also requires a sealer wax to protect the paint. I used clear wax for a modern look, but you can use black or white wax for a rustic or distressed vibe. You apply the wax in 2-3 thin coats with a wax brush, and it dries clear and hard.

I can't think a wax finish will prove to have been a wise choice in a kitchen, but it sure is cute.

Yeah, not sure about Chalk Paint although some people claim it has held up beautifully in their kitchens.

Some people have used a poly top coat or even deck coating.

Still, I'd take the doors off the hinges for painting :)

Not a fan of this one. While the original stain on the cabinets was too dark, the painted versions aren't quite right, either. I'm thinking putting that pretty rug and stainless appliances in the original kitchen would have been a better improvement.

She wouldn't have been able to do that on a budget of $200, though, Errant.

True. But I think even just the rug would have helped to brighten the room and make the blue accents pop, without making it look like she was trying to cover dated cabinets with trendy paint.

I do think that the white that she used in not quite right. It's a little too cool and harsh. But all in all, the changes look great.

Wow. I love budget kitchen makeovers and this one looks great. I agree that I would never use chalk paint in a kitchen though. It is just not going to be able to handle the constant wiping and cleaning that kitchen cabinets need. IMO there are not shortcuts to painting cabinets. Clean, sand, prime, sand, paint, sand, paint. A lot of work? Yes of course. But I'd rather do the work so that I don't have to repaint 3 yrs from now.

I love colorful kitchens, but I would be wiping up stains on that rug every single day! (As I do on my kitchen tile!)

But Mayflowers, where would I put all my dust-collecting tchotchkes if I had beadboard over the soffits! :)

What a transformation. I think it's a lovely kitchen now, the rug is fantastic.

if that rug is a true hand knotted wool one-it's actually a very resistant rug

i like it

even though just a rug would make that space, no paint involved. it's a nice kitchen..the appliances were too stark i agree. on the other hand-i love color. if she loves it too-why not

I think it's a polypropylene rug.

aha..then i must say it's not that great of a choice for the kitchen..as wonderful as it seems

I thought someone recommended poly for stain resistance?

I use polypropylene rugs in my kitchen all the time. Patterns camouflage spills until I can spot clean. Or I run over them with a carpet cleaner when I am cleaning the wall to wall carpet. And a few times a year I drag the rug to the patio and hose it off. They are basically indestructible.

I really like the transformation! My question about polypropylene rugs in the kitchen is that polypropylene is oleophilic, a fancy word that means it attracts oils. The dirt then sticks to the oils on the rug fibers and the rug looks soiled.

I was thinking the same thing, Annie. While my poly rugs are very easy to clean, they also get dirty much faster than my wool rugs. I have a wool rug at one door that has never needed cleaning, while the poly at a lower traffic door has needed cleaning dozens of times (they were both purchased 3 years ago).

Love this transformation! Iove that they used a new kitchenaid mixmaster as the color inspiration. I think the white is spot on for the era (early 60s) that they are channeling, plus a creamier white would make the appliances stand out. Love this kitchen for $200.