In this low cost kitchen renovation, I removed six cabinet doors and designed contemporary doors constructed of one sheet of plywood which I then primed and hand painted. This project was in my own home, so I felt I could be brave and bold.

The original formica top on this island needed to go, but I couldn't afford a fancy solid surface top, nor did that suite my eclectic taste. I used scrap book papers in metallic, irridescent, and prints and hand painted card stock to create the tiles. First I primed the counter top and painted it...