Extending counter and cabinets

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

In an effort to make our kitchen less cramped, we moved our fridge. Now we have a fridge-sized space where we've been using a cart, but we would like to extend the countertop and add lower cabinetry. We also plan to add upper cabinets or shelves. Does anyone have recommendations on what to do? What is the best way to extend the countertop? Do we attempt to find a similar granite? Switch to a different material? How do we create a cohesive look?

Regarding cabinetry, how do we best match the doors? I've done some searching online but have not found the specific edge used on the ones we have (probably original to the 1989 home).

Our overall goal is to improve the functionality of the kitchen in a budget-friendly and resale-friendly manner since we are unsure how long we'll stay in this house. I'm open to suggestions. Thanks in advance!

This last picture shows the view from the dining/living room. On the right is the fridge and then a sideboard, which has a window above it. There's a pantry next to the garage door, which you can't see.

And for the record, the adjacent living/dining area is a light tan, not pink as the last picture appears.

Featured Answer

luscious111

7 years ago

If resale is a consideration, and you don’t want to redo the kitchen, leave it as is. When you’re ready to sell, push the fridge back in its opening. New buyers will want a new kitchen anyway.

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Comments (10)

User
7 years ago
The entire 1960 kitchen is ready for a complete gut and redo. Do nothing until you can do it all. Including removing the soffits.
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tqtqtbw
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
You can have a carpenter make matching doors. However, I would recommend you continue using your temporary set up if you are going to sell. Having the refrigerator in the other room without changing the whole space is not good for resale. I’m sure the two rooms could be combined into a larger kitchen but it wouldn’t be budget friendly.
DAN
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
@tqtqtbw It was difficult to photograph, but everything is in the same room. In the last photo, the stove/sink/etc is all to the left.

I'm not sure how likely a future buyer is to redo the entire kitchen either, as it is in a townhouse and I'm uncertain the resale value would increase sufficiently.
tqtqtbw
7 years ago
It looks like the fridge is in the breakfast area. can you add a photo from the sink toward the area where the fridge is now?
User
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Lay it out in the IKEA planner and just factor on keeping the soffits if resale is soon. Pick a cheap white door. You'll get a more usable space and better resale if you can DIY this.
User
7 years ago
I second that, until you are ready to improve your kitchen and make cohesive keep how it is unless you have the budget to open it up?
User
7 years ago
Would open shelving be an option? Even if they were temporary until doing a full remodel they would give you more storage.
User
7 years ago
I think I would rather have the fridge back where it was, and the cart over where the fridge is now.

Is a microwave/hood combo an option?
Pam A
7 years ago
The cart you have now fits the space well. I think it would be difficult to match the granite well enough to look really good, what about a complimentary type of counter like butcherblock? Ikea is one source of inexpensive butcherblock counters.

I can see why moving the fridge made so much sense when I see how much counter space you freed up (microwave and toaster oven). It is a small kitchen so if either of those appliances die, consider a combo unit that is both microwave AND mini-convection-oven.

I would stay with the mobile/movable set up you have versus building a permanent solution. If you ever sell, you can easily stage the kitchen without the countertop appliances and it will look more spacious that way.