Hide the fly swatters and add some under counter lighting ... some projects are easy! ;-)

Seriously, what is your end goal? is this your project, a flip, a paying customer? Got a floor plan of kitchen and house? Budget?

I thought this was your inspiration picture!

Yikes!

The only things in that kitchen that doesn't look like it's not been used in years are the food and dry goods. Most the food seems full/unopened. Hmmm.

it definitely needs some tlc

Do I want to know about the ceiling?

I’m betting this is a really awkward attempt at SPAM.

I am too, but I'm weirdly fascinated if this is an actual project.

Sorry for the delay folks! Yes it is an actual project for a paying client. Roof, kitchen flip, guest bath flip, and master bath flip. With some fascia work and two exterior doors install. Budget is 12k believe it or not! Yes I have some ideas but I'm rather reluctant to voice... Rather just go with it and then get the constructive critismn afterwards. Wish me luck!!!

Hadn't noticed the unopened food in cabinet. But at the risk of sounding facetious... My cabinet stored food is unopened also. :)

All that for $12K? wow

I just paid $25K, for labor only, to gut/remodel a secondary bathroom in the Los Angeles area.

Although the price listed is very much too low for tasks at hand, your amount spent still seems very high for labor only!! Do u have a picture of the project before and after? Below is the last kitchen we finished

No, just no.

I hate flippers and flip mentality. Gawdawful cheap work as the only criteria. Bad to worse design every time. Being cheap is all that is important. 12 K won’t begin to touch what this house needs Right now, Id say it needs a match rather than some bumbling spray paint over everything on the cheap.

Thankfully, the use of the word “rustic” to describe just poorly skilled work as a design feature is rapidly trending downward. Sleek, streamlined, and modern has no moldings or ill conceived Disney theme park kitsch to conceal sloppy work.

I hate flippers and flip mentality. I do too, Sophie Wheeler, but take a hard look at this house (ceiling to floor, how it appears to have been un-lived in or barely lived in for a long period of time). The owners want to sell (I'm assuming Underdogs Roofing & Remodeling knows 'flip' means repair cheap and sell) and I'll assume by the condition of the house the owners don't have much $$ to put into a real renovation.

I've seen these houses, they continue to have problems after a fast flip and sell, which can be devastating to the new owners. It's a shame. Whether or not a full reno is something that should be done often depends on the age, style, and location of the house - some just don't warrant a full renovation. But they do warrant re-wiring, new plumbing, foundation work, etc. I've a feeling this house needs the works - not just inexpensive cosmetic patches. I could be wrong...

Sophie, I understand your thoughts and feelings towards the "flip" but this hard working family of 7, with an annual combined income of 53k want a better living condition for their family. And even though you yourself, with affiliations and experience stacked deeper than the dirt I this picture, would argue what this house really needs... I personally do not feel that it is our place to deny or even judge them for wanting the best but only affording the required. With your mentality you are claiming that anyone with a lower salary should just not put any money into their home for modifications or improvements unless it is exactly what the "pro" feels is necessary. No this project is not a re-sell, and after posting for the first time in Houzz I would venture to say that I am not fond of feedback. Of course that's on me and only me. So good day to you folks and congrats with all your achievements.

And as for the "poorly skilled work performed"...... It is a BEFORE PICTURE

What really angers me here is that you have no compassion for the "home owner" with your cut throat insulting comments, I can now never invite these customers to Houzz can I?!

Good to see this being rehabbed! You have to make extremely careful choices with such a low budget. No room for "it's only $xxx more" decisions.

Which is too bad because I was going to request some suggestions and offer client to shop through site for ideas.

Underdogs, I would not shop here on a budget. You can almost always find good quality stuff for less than on Houzz. The community here predates Houzz by nearly 20 years. They bought the community from GardenWeb and rolled it into Houzz.

So what's the budget for the kitchen portion?

As a tip for a more upscale look for no more $$$ on future jobs, skip the 4" backsplash on the laminate and just do the backsplash tile down to the laminate level. Cabinet doors should be painted the same color as the cabinet boxes, but the lowers can be painted a different color from the uppers.

Miley, I believe you are right. It is very satisfying in my profession to give a client who would normally not be able to afford, (hence the budget herein) the chance to gain some pride in the largest investment they will ever make, their home! I just wonder how some of the pros commenting would revise the interior remodels after spending 10k on the roof alone. But maybe they would pitch in the remaining required to bring it to required state obviously, because of the head-strong Flip mentality.

So what's the layout of the room? The challenging ones are more fun, anyway.

Well she has very simplistic taste because I tried to offer quite a bit but she mainly just wants floor tiled and new wall finish. Also to take out the old stove top and oven, and install new range with hanging microwave. Although if you will notice the cabinet at the end... I am going to have to custom shave that cabinet to match the others now that the old oven will be removed.

No this project is not a re-sell. Thank you for clarifying. …because of the head-strong Flip mentality. Understand, the word ‘flip’ tends to mean cosmetic improvements, minimal work, and sell fast. This drives home prices artificially high which hurts people of lower income, and no, it is not something people here on GW like to see, thus some of the comments when you wrote ‘flip’.

…posting for the first time in Houzz I would venture to say that I am not fond of feedback. You’ll find GW/Houzz kitchen forum to be like any other website, there will be people who contribute ideas, people who give opinions, snide remarks, insults, the odd comment here and there, criticism, etc. You need to toughen your skin, ignore those who make derisive comments. With patience, explanations of the project, you may find some very excellent suggestions. Also understand some here have specific design aesthetics, and you’ll have to ignore that too if it doesn’t meet with the budget or the style of the home-owners.

Rather just go with it and then get the constructive critismn afterwards. People here look for ‘help’ prior to a project, not after work is completed… unless it is a finished kitchen ‘reveal’ only (and in most cases they’ve long since asked for help here prior) or the work is shoddy and they ask for help in dealing with that.

The Caloric Ultra Ray oven suggests the house is at least 50 years old. The ceilings in the kitchen suggest you’ve started some work there and intend improvements. Also, at that age, what about wiring? Most houses of that age don’t have grounded outlets – how about installing GFCI receptacles that have the ground in the boxes? What about plumbing? Is the foundation still good/level? You mentioned the roof, but no other items that aren’t cosmetic unless you intend to inspect/improve the plumbing and wiring while working on the kitchen and baths.

I agree with Milly Rey, the cabinets should be all one color – that’s a small kitchen, it shouldn’t be broken up. I personally would not do a 2-tone cabinet in a small kitchen. Ask the homeowner, but a lighter color cabinet, light, and simple colored tile flooring should open the kitchen, make it a bit less claustrophobic/dark. Not sure I’d go with white on the cabinets if they have a large family/kids. Shop around, new hardware on the cabinets can make a huge difference.

You said wall ‘finish’ so may I assume this means painting or staining the existing paneling? I’ve had a tiny bit of experience (eons ago) with the thinner old paneling... but it can be lightened using a stain, however if it’s easily scratched, I’d suggest paint instead. And as Milly Rey suggested, tile from the countertops – will make the back walls feel taller, less broken up.

My first instinct is to remove the scroll work above the sink as it reads dated, but if the upper cabinets are to be left open, the scroll work (painted) might add some interest and charm in this older home.

Good luck!

Are we to assume that you are certified and followed all RRP protocols on this? What about the asbestos? On that 12K budget??? Legally permitted and inspected? With all updated wiring and plumbing? You know, the actually important parts. Rather than the fluff of painting old crapery and calling it a “remodel”.

There's a low budget job locally that I’m volunteering my time with as a consultant. No charge. All new wiring. New plumbing for about half of the house. New roof, facia, porch, and safe stairs with an actual handrail. Some structural repair due to roof leaks. (Should really be a tear down,) Just the re-wiring quote was 15K. New service drop needed to upgrade a 70 amp fuse panel. New tankless water heater donated, just gotta pay labor for the venting upgrade. An much older lady than me lives there, and has for 60 years. The one kid is going to need to live there forever due to some issues. It’s their forever home, modest though it be.

The overall budget is going to end up around 40K. Which is my cashing in contacts and favors, doing base costs as virtual volunteers, like me. Their guys need to get paid though. This is for a 45K house, in a not great neighborhood. But it’s paid for. That house will not be worth one single penny more when the project is done. But it will be safe to occupy for the next 30 years plus. She is trying to provide for her child’s future alone there as best as she can without her to be around as the responsible adult.

And it will be ready for the cosmetic improvements that do need to occur, but are much less of a priority than the actual functional guts of the house. I’m working with them on that for a new kitchen as well. We planned all of the electrical and plumbing around the new layout, and the homeowner’s caretaker is making multiple trips to the ReStore for bargains.

Transforming a home on a budget can happen if attention is paid to the infrastructure first. Prioritizing pretty paint colors for a wall full of knob and tube is irresponsible and wasteful of limited funds that could go to dealing with the very real functional issues that an older home has.

Sophie Wheeler, again, I have to agree, which is why I commented/questioned the wiring, plumbing, roof (which they did mention), and foundation, and why I wrote " You mentioned the roof, but no other items that aren’t cosmetic unless... "

Clearly you too are very familiar with older houses, the many issues that one faces in renovating them, and the high cost of making them safe. Safe and livable should always come first, but is often not an issue here on GW where most, not all, of the homes/kitchens are newer.

However, because the OP has not mentioned the above, does not necessarily mean they aren't taking care of those issues, or they haven't been taken care of already.

OP? Would you care to comment on the above?

DH acquired an older home (50+ years) that needed to be renovated, ceiling to foundation, before selling, and after investigating all aspects, we realized it was not a task we wanted. After we hauled away more trailer loads of 'junk' than I care to think about, after I cleaned it sufficiently to sell as a 'major fixer upper', it was sold with full disclosure 'for a song' to a GC friend (or we thought him a friend) who said he intended to take care of all the structural, safety, and code issues, and then planned to update it moderately before re-selling. Instead he gave it a quick cosmetic once-over, sold it for a hugely inflated price to an unsuspecting couple (who should have had it inspected but didn't), and who later discovered the real problems. They were duped. We felt duped, but weren't. The couple is retired, have too much $$ in the house, and cannot now afford to take care of the real problems.

I hate what people do to others sometimes. Hate it. All for a quick buck. I've dealt with flippers before, and I know what they do, what they often don't do. Thus my feelings toward most flippers tends to be harsh. Surely there are those out there who 'do it right'... ?

Sophie, I don't understand how electric is so absurdly expensive in your area. New panel with upgraded service is $2500 standard job here. I could rewire the whole house for $15k.

EDIT: I think you're saying they have to pay for the line from the pole to the house? Electrical company has to pay for that here.

Anyway, they're ditching the double ovens and cooktop for a range. That gets a 240 volt double circuit back. One 20 amp circuit goes to the microhood. One goes to your small appliances circuit with GFCI. Don't touch the fridge. Bob's your uncle.

EVEN IF it doesn't have every single circuit modern codes demand, it will be safe. And it will be better. When you demand that everything meet a standard that didn't exist before and that might make things "better" in a ideal happy world but in the real world mean the difference between and improvement--in EVERY WAY--and no change, them I'm going with the improvement. Period.

You think those old double ovens are an appearance issue? Tell that to the scorch marks behind mine.

Underdog, I really admire that you’re working with this budget to make this home comfortable and liveable for this family. Clearly these people have worked hard to get to this point and they are lucky to have found someone willing to work with them to create someplace comfortable and clean and beautiful to live. Many of us live in HCOL areas, so it’s hard for us to understand doing any renovation for 12G!

Anyway, while I am disappointed in the tone of the comments, I agree that budget should definitely go toward updating plumbing/electrical and getting new appliances. If the infrastructure is fixed now, then the family can continue to make cosmetic improvements over time.

Once the house is safe, you can paint the existing cabinetry to freshen everything up. I wouldn’t waste money changing the layout or anything like that. Does the homeowner like casual country styling? There is a lot you can do with paint and fabric to make a house a home.

Good luck!!!!!

Not sure what you are saying Milly Rey? Or perhaps I don't know who the comment is aimed toward? When you demand that everything meet a standard that didn't exist before and that might make things "better" in a ideal happy world but in the real world mean the difference between and improvement--in EVERY WAY--and no change, them I'm going with the improvement. Period. Are you saying that to bring an older house to safe standards (i.e., code) and livability (repair leaky ceilings, leaking roofs, bad foundations which can mean rotted subfloor) which in turn might be so costly to a homeowner that no interior cosmetic improvements were then affordable, you'd choose improvements only? Perhaps I'm too tired right now to understand your comments?

One can purchase used ranges on Craigslist for very little, but wiring that is a possible fire hazard is priceless to anyone, including a family of 7. ... Or, are you saying bring it up to only a certain amount of safety standards, make it 'more' livable, then go with bigger cosmetic improvements? I (personally) would not consider the old Caloric oven to be purely a 'cosmetic' change - it's clearly quite old, and I suspect it no longer works as I don't see a door on the lower half.

It's hard to specify exactly how far one should or shouldn't go with 'meeting standards that didn't exist before" - where does one stop? I'm not arguing with you, I just think it's difficult to judge what might constitute a happy medium : - )

15K for All new wiring through the whole house. Abandoning knob and tube and just running new everything as well as the new service drop and a real sized panel instead of the current 60 amp. Pre 1900 house with rock hard SYP framing. Plaster everything, walls and ceiling. Musty damp crawlspace and low slope attic.

With some hack’s 1989 “remodel” of just putting drywall over all that and switching from a fuse box to breakers without touching any of the wires that needed to be touched. That hack made it 15 minute pretty, it didn’t do anything to the infrastructure to speak of other than getting rid of the floor furnaces for central heat. With the filter for the unit located at a giant hole in the hallway at the top of a 9’ ceiling. For an already old lady even then in 1989. Climbing on a ladder to get to a filter 9’ in the air.

She got taken badly on that 1989 redo, and hasn’t been able to trust contractors again. Which is why the house is in such poor condition now.

This is the kind of volunteer work that I do in retirement. I just don’t talk about it. I hate to see people taken advantage of when they can least afford it. Most people that cry poor about remodels with their mile long luxury wish list have no real idea of what a luxury just having HOT water can be to someone who hasn’t had a functional hot water tank in 4 years. Boo freaking hoo that your 8K quartzite counter has a rough spot on it where the crystals change texture.

sorry that i forgot to get back on here upon completion. but from all the attention this post recieved....i believe its worthy of a follow up pic or two. here is the finiahed kitchen and one of the finished bathrooms

Yes permits and code were followed, the plumbing had previously been totally redone by a local licensed plumber before my arrival. the foundation was actually in very good shape for a block and beam of this age and had no visible faults or weakpoints. the appliances were replaced with home depot grade...(is that a bad word to you city folk in here?) i mean home depot is still appropriate i hope. Anywho, yea roof had 1 layer of 12 year old shingles due to a nice hail storm at that time, insurance paid for that. but it was time to replace. Just to ease a couple people's mind in here, I actually DID check the structure and sheathing to ensure integrity. Yup even us lil ole country layover flip and stickers care about their clients as well! But to finally put this one to bed, clients were very happy, as well as inspectors, house is actually STILL standing at the amazement of so many here! and yes her cabinets have closed and open perishable food in them. lets see, whats else.....to answer the question, electrical still, in my opinion, needed to be completley redone. The clients also agree and I have since put them in touch with my local Lisenced Electrician. He is a good God fearing man and I am confident that he too, will work something out to get it done and allow finance. So the ugly duckling that most of you were so ready to bulldoze away, will test to raise another 50 years of happy- safe-family memories ......and now beauty!
But as a new comer to houzz back then, I do want to thank those of you that did not simply unload wrath so that they could afterwards re read how very smart and great you are at your job- but instead gave me encouraging ideas, its nice to know there is still a forum where one can still go as a stranger and squeek out a timid proposal for input from peers without reading a
book" of insults!

Here are some photos I finally found of the project

Here is the other bathroom in that job