Remodeling our kitchen.

[heather6773]

We are re-doing our kitchen this winter. It will be a small project because out kitchen is small:biglaugh: any ways...I'm trying to decide on cabinets. I love the look of dark cherry or walnut but my kitchen is dark already. We are re doing the walls with sheetrock and maybe doing the ceiling...if I can talk hubby into it. I need a new countertop and kitchen sink. We have a new dishwasher and need a new stove and fridge. I'd like a fridge with ice and water dispenser. My kids love water so it would make it easier. What kind of cabinets do you have in your home? I think I want just bottom cabinets because I can't reach the top. Hubby ssays no we need top ones for storage. Probably he is right but I have decluttered and don't want the space to " store " stuff I don't ever use. I usually have a theme of some sort but and kind of themed out. I think I'd rather have plain and clean looking.

[Turtleheadfred]

Hi Heather! Okay - devil's advocate here asking questions to help you think...

Are you going to STAY in your house... like NOT planning to move? The reason I ask is that if you're NOT planning on moving, ever, then the custom cabinets are a great idea...

BUT... if you think you might ever what to move and upgrade, you don't want to spend TOO much money on a small kitchen that you won't get your money back out of. Another way you can get your new look is to buy already made cabinets (still kind of expensive) or to paint what you have (or stain) to get the look you want.

I hate to agree with hubby here - but NEVER give up storage space. Store things you can't reach that you don't use very often and keep a small step stool that you can use to sit on or as a stool handy to reach if needed. You can also even add a cabinet or two if you need additional storage.

It just depends on your long term plans... so - there forever?

[heather6773]

Hey THF!! Good advice. I like all advice...We defiantly won't be here forever. We still have a few years to go though. The boys are in 2nd and 4th grade and I refuse to move while they are in school. I had to do that growing up and won't make my kids do it.
The problem is this....I have little to no cupboards now. I love in a older double wide. Basically the area with the sink is caving in so that is a must. It used to have cupboard doors with access for underneath but I took them down years ago and put up a curtain. It looks cute and country which is what I am. But now I just want functional. I defiantly love custom cabinets BUT I would put them in a home that I had planned staying in not leaving. If I were to stay here foreve and know I was going to stay that would be different. We've re done 4 of the rooms inthe house already/ We gut the walls,re-wire,re-insalate then sheetrock. The bathroom,living,my bedroom and Brenden bedroom are new. We still need to do the kitchen,Zach's room(not that bad actually) and maybe the hall. I hated the brown paneling everhwhere and now the only paneling is in the hall way,and kitchen area. Of course its painted now but still paneling is hiding underneath.

[Jester]

Carefully analyze how much you spend on the enjoyment/payback scenario.

Custom cabinetry is the most expensive item. I'm just going to throw some ideas out.

Maybe custom cabinets for the top, resurface the bottom and put in new guts on the bottom--ie organizers. This is something C and I are considering. We don't want to have a blow up budget because our house isn't worth say a 50k kitchen redo.

Top storage always sells well. Meaning when you move, people love to see top storage in a kitchen, regardless how much "real" use it gets. It always looks impressive when buying a house. Without, people notice and say, "hmm not enough storage." So definitely do that part for resale value. Appliances are definitely more for enjoyment value imo. They are great for resale too, but since its an expected thing nowadays, its better to get the appliances for yourself, because by the time you move out they might be 4-5 years old anyways.

[Turtleheadfred]

Heather - you might check at some of your local home centers and cabinet shops for sale items. Home Depot and Lowes will sometimes have ready-made cabinets on sale as will other cabinetry places. And sometimes, you can find where someone has ordered something that they changed their minds about - but it might work for you.

Also on appliances, I know here, there is an outlet place (I think ours is Sears) and it's for "scratch and dent" appliances. Most of the stuff is barely even scratched - it's all brand new - and for things like refrigerators if there's anything you can use - it's over 50% off so that's something else you could look for in your area.

Also, the ready-made counter tops aren't that bad either - you just need someone to install them for you. Also, you can do part ready-made and maybe just a couple of brand new cabinets (that maybe you could paint to match?) and that would help with storage too!

Just trying to throw out suggestions of what I've done in some homes I've helped decorate and remodel that you might be able to incorporate into your plans.

Hey and my sister had a lake house that was a double-wide trailer that nobody wanted up on Kentucky lake. She bought it for nothing - put on new siding - added a carport/garage - replacement windows - some new flooring - and I think she did some painting in the kitchen with new appliances as well as some landscaping outside - and she made a freakin' fortune when she sold the place!!! Personally, I thought she should have kept it because it was like a little piece of heaven on earth... right on the lake - and those are hard to find!!!

Good Luck Again! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you! :thumb2:

[CC21]

Good tip about the "scratch & dent" appliances. We have a Sears appliance outlet too. I think even in our little Maytag store, in the back they have the scratch & dent stuff.

[heather6773]

Thanks for the advice. I never thought about the scratch and dent section. I am defiantly going to do the ready made cabinets. I have them all picked out. I am going with the Oak cabinets. I am still thinking about colors for the walls. I want a warm and inviting kitchen.