Help with tired kitchen

7 years ago

THis is the kitchen in a small rental unit I own. I would like to do a quick refresh to modernise before the next tenant. I am stuck with the layout and the horrible floor but am thinking of painting the kitchen cupboards (what colour? Dark on the bottom, light on the top, or all white?). I would like to remove the wierd little triangle and create a flatter surface for better storage, and add an additional cupbord/shelving above the washing machine. I hate the splashback, but don't know if it is worth removing now, or just painting it and waiting till I have the budget to rip it all out and start again. Thanks everyone, I would love to hear your advice.

Featured Answer

Beth H. :

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

I think painting would brighten up the place. if you're going to do that, then spend the money and make some of these boxes to fit on top, and paint the same white.

you could also have doors made for them.

these aren't that difficult to make. call in a local carpenter and have him build these if you have no DIY skills. save money and sand, prime and paint them yourself.

https://www.evolutionofstyleblog.com/how-to-paint-your-kitchen-cabinets-like

or, do some open shelving, but the boxes are nicer. (see if you can find any pre made that might fit)

you could do a nice two tone, or all white. get a new ceiling light, and a new window shade. I think once the cabs are white, the backsplash will look fine. But if you ever want to change it, you can do that yourself. carefully pry off the tiles and redo with something else.

any room for any open shelving? you don't have to do a light light this, but something with a few more bulbs would be better than what is there. find some gold hardware (buy in contractors pack to save money) and install them on the cabs. it will protect the new paint job too.

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Comments (12)

PRO
Sativa McGee Designs
7 years ago
These look like laminate faced cabinets. You will have to put a lot of time and effort into making them a smooth painted surface.

it would probably be easier and more cost effective to start over. Cabinets/Laminate counter tops wouldn't be more than 3K for this little space if you install yourself.

I would just frame in the soffit completely to remove the weird triangle. Removing the soffit and adding storage can get costly if anything is inside it.

The backsplash isn't bad, if these cabinets are white I think the band of color adds some interest.
Cathy Roy thanked Sativa McGee Designs
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PRO
JudyG Designs
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
For a rental, things look pretty good to me…nice and clean. What if you paint the walls the turquoise in the tile, take cab doors off and just paint the boxes/shelves white?

Bottom cabinets paint all white to work with the appliances.

I don’t know how handy you are, but this idea is interesting: using contact paper.

https://kellyleighcreates.com/update-cabinets-with-contact-paper/
Cathy Roy thanked JudyG Designs
Cathy Roy
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks everyone for your comments. I really appreciate the effort you have made - its lovely to have a second opinion, and some options I never thought about (that turquoise paint colour is gorgeous, and It never occured to me that I could prise out the offending tiles in the back splash - good thinking). New lights are absolutely on the agenda. I will replace the lot at some point, but this time around, I'm redoing the bathroom so the kitchen will need to wait for a couple of years. I have a handyman booked for next week, so will discuss the possibilities of improved storage above the oven.... can't wait to get started!
aok27502
7 years ago
We have rental properties, and I think that white painted cabinets would really be terribly beat up after one or two tenants. I don't really have any suggestions , but I wouldn't go to the effort of painting them white
Cathy Roy thanked aok27502
Cathy Roy
Original Author
7 years ago
Good point about the tenants wrecking with painted cabinets. Thanks for mentioning it.
Beth H. :
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
what kind of tenants are you renting? circus animals? I have a rental and the tenants are very nice. Painting them white won't matter if they're going to rip them apart anyway. (also why I said to put on handles. keeps the dirty hands off the wood). Vet your renters properly and you shouldn't have an issue. Prep the cabinets properly and use a glossy enamel paint and they will wipe clean. chipping and peeling occurs when the prep work wasn't done.
Cathy Roy thanked Beth H. :
nosoccermom
7 years ago
What material are those cabinets?
Cathy Roy thanked nosoccermom
Deb Zilch
7 years ago
I like the bright white and turquoise teal accent. it's a common accessory color in stores. if not changing uppers, is possible to place good LED strip...add light.
Cathy Roy thanked Deb Zilch
Cathy Roy
Original Author
7 years ago

Thought I would post an 'after' photo.

Looked at lots of options for this kitchen. I wanted to start afresh but had a tight timeframe between tenants. Built in 1970, very solid concrete walls, so lots of options for changing the layout discounted due to the difficulty of getting power where it was needed. So I kept the layout and considered new flat pack cabinetry. So many issues with the measurements, I ended up just painting the walls, existing laminate cupboards and refurbishing the existing knob handles. I added extra Ikea boxes above the existing cabinets and to the right of the window. I changed out all the black powerpoints and switches for white ones, and doubled them so a more practical space. Replaced the ugly spotlight with a round oyster light and painted out the aqua tiles with a soft grey. I was happy with the result for under $1000.

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions.
salonva
7 years ago
wow just wow. looks great!
Cathy Roy thanked salonva
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
7 years ago
Thanks for coming back to show us! It does look great!

BethH. that was such a good suggestion to add the boxes above--and Cathy Roy, glad you could use the Ikea boxes to make it work!
Cathy Roy thanked raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio