One well known fact is that redoing a kitchen brings one of the the biggest bangs for the buck. I think I would have to totally agree with that. Most kitchen renovations I see on TV are done for $25,000 or more. Well, prepare to be amazed at what you can DIY for less than $3,000. My old kitchen in Georgia was built in 1985 and had all the original appliances, as well as the Euro-style cabinets that I just insisted on having when the house was originally built. The house building was overseen by my preacher dad, who also happened to know a thing or two about building. This was the first house (and only house) I lived in when I was a single girl in my late 20’s. It was an exciting time, to get my own house for the very first time and I lived in this house for 20 years, from single to married. But, back to those oh-so-trendy Euro cabinets. Why I fell in love with them, I’ll never know…but, I did…and the kitchen looked like this.
Aren’t they just the most stylish things you’ve ever seen? I had to have that wallpaper too, somewhere around 1994 or so. Wallpaper was still a desirable thing back then. I’ve about changed my mind on all things wallpaper these days, but I still like a pretty paper in a certain spot. So, I was married to someone else during that time and my ex and I decided to update this awful kitchen to something more up to date and exciting in 2002. Those painted and glazed cabinets were just coming into vogue in the showrooms and my first exposure was at the Home Depot Expo in Atlanta, a great place to get inspiration. Since I was keeping the almond appliances, I decided to paint them a close match to that and then do a glaze on top. My ex was also quite handy with the tools and built new doors from scratch, as well as added LOTS of wood moldings and extra bling to the space & this was done with his expertise. You won’t recognize it now…..
New beadboard doors, hardware, granite tile countertops, tumbled marble backsplash, sink & faucet and WOWIE, what a kitchen now. It was a dream kitchen to me and took a long 6 weeks of hard work to complete, working every day on it. You can see the island that was built for this space, which is now residing in my laundryroom. It was too pretty to leave behind.
Another view BEFORE
And AFTER
That 3 paned window you see was actually cut from the top of an old door and added in for a pretty new detail. Lots of molding and corbels made up this redo. That rectangular piece above the sink was a lightweight resin piece that I painted & glazed to match the cabinets and then just hung up on nails.
Same thing for those 2 pieces above the cubby, they are plaster pieces. The cubby used to have those two small doors on it and those were taken off to make this cute little display space. Those square pieces were free standing pieces mounted with liquid nails for security. You can see from the befores and afters that plywood boxes were added to take the cabinets up to the ceiling in 2 places with crown molding added. This really added some needed architectural interest in this otherwise bland kitchen. He was very handy with the tools and did an outstanding job. I have no doubt that this was one reason the house sold when it did. She fell in love with this kitchen!
Lots of beadboard and extra rope and other molding was added. Made a world of difference.
I used a Ben Moore color called Vellum as the base color, then added Ralph Lauren Teastain glaze to them, wiping most off with a wet rag. Glazing is really not hard, just takes a little time, but is a very forgiving process. Seeded (looks like old) glass was added to the doors.
I loved murals, but didn’t want to pay for one, so I took a cue from Donna at The Decorated House blog (she’s SO creative and gave us all many tips on faux painting over the years that I’ve known her online) and printed these fruits that I found online off on paper and decoupaged them directly to the tumbled stone. No one ever knew that they weren’t handpainted. 
This is granite tiles with an edging installed. I won’t even go into how hard this was to do, but I’ve heard there are improvements out there now on granite edgings. Using granite tiles really saves a LOT of money over slab. Of course, I’d love to have slab now, but would consider doing granite tiles again in my current house. This color was called Giallo Espirito and was a great color. Couldn’t even see crumbs when it was dirty. I’ve just heard about a new granite tile product with built-in bullnose edging that is as easy to install as regular tile. Go here to read about Benissimo granite tile systems. One of my online friends, Kat in Washington, just did this in her kitchen if you want to take a look at her DIY project. It really is beautiful.
I loved these fleur de lis knobs that I special ordered from HD Expo, as well as the bin pulls. I added these cute little feet from a bed post project that was laying around the house…they really aren’t feet, but I made them work. I might have to add some feet to my current cabinets too, since I’ve seen them out there lately in other kitchens and still love them.
Closeup of the glazing and knobs. Painting and glazing cabinets is really not a hard project, just takes some time and effort. I primed the base of the cabinets well for the first step, put on 2 coats of the creamy paint, then after all was dry, went back with the glaze and added that. Brush on the glaze with a paintbrush & keep a damp rag handy to wipe most of it off. The glaze helps keep it wet longer so you can work with it.
Sink was a Kohler sink and very nice in an off-white shade. I started a trend with this Price Pfister Marielle faucet at the time and lots of my decorating buddies went out and bought the same one. It now comes in oil-rubbed bronze and when I do a little redo in my current kitchen, I’ll probably get the same one in bronze. I loved that faucet!
A few fleur de lis tiles were added along the black/cream border for a lot of detail.
Sigh….I did love that kitchen, but it was time to move on to Birmingham and we are very happy in our current home, me and hubby. My current kitchen is pretty with white cabinets and a tumbled tile countertop and backsplash, but I would love to do a little update in there too. I may end up adding some rope molding along the top of my crown molding & painting to match the cabinets. And, I’d love to do a dark granite countertop one day, along with a Silgranite sink (granite composite) and that beautiful oil-rubbed bronze faucet. I don’t want to do a total renovation, just a couple of things.
I know many of us are looking to update kitchens, old and new, so hopefully you got some inspiration from this oldie but goodie of mine. I did love that kitchen!
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OH MY GOSH….you have a FABULOUS kitchen…it is stunning!! I might like to cook if I had a kitchen like that!! lol
I want so badly to re-do ours and I will definitely take some inspiration from yours. LOVELY!!
Oh, I posted my daughter’s room re-do today on my blog….come on over and take a peek. Tell me what you think.
Hi…What a transformation! I’ll bet it brought you a bunch of extra dollars when you sold…in fact, it probably made your house sell… 😉 Bo
You did THAT kitchen for under $3000???? I’m going to need to see some reciepts because I just don’t beleive it. (ha ha ha) It’s a gorgeous kitchen. I love that you mentioned the feet you used on the cabinets…I am doing that in my kitchen but all the “feet” I found are too big. What you used is smaller than I was planning but I really like it! Thanks for the inspiration!
That is a gorgeous redo!
What a stunning transformation!! I love the beadboard cabinets and hardware and the extra trim added. It really looks expensive. I would love to know what lights you used ABOVE your cabinets near the ceiling. That added alot of depth to the kitchen that would otherwise be forgotten.
Kelly
The details in this kitchen make it spectacular. You both did a really amazing job. I’m sure the new home owner felt like she’d hit the Jackpot!
Gorgeous kitchen reno. Seeded glass is my favourite!
oh Rhoda! I think that transformation is fantastic! What vision you have! I am in awe! Jen R
Amazing transformation!
What a transformation! I like my kitchen, but it’s missing a lot of the details that you included in yours. My husband is going to be so sorry I read your blog today!
Rhoda…you’re SO good. I’m totally inspired to do something kitchen related now. Ooh! Wait! I’ve got an awesome surprise to show everyone first…and it involves my Dining Room! Gotta work on that first!
🙂
Layla
The Lettered Cottage
I love what you did with that kitchen. I redid my kitchen a few years ago. It was done in layers over about 3 years. I did granite tile as well. The color you have is what I wanted and could not find it anywhere. DH said ‘do it’ and I wanted to get it done before he changed his mind. LOL! So I did. And withing budget. What I chose has not been forgiving to stains and keep it sealed, polished etc. But I do have extra tiles in the basement. 😉 And the grout.
I could never mention this on my blog b/c DH reads it daily, but my kitchen was designed in 1985 by a 30 yo bachelor who was still living at home with his mom and dad. Refused to let his mom help him. All he knew how to cook was popcorn in a microwave. And he redrew the plans of the kitchen and most of the house…. I one day, plan to totally redesign this kitchen.
What you did is stunning!
Always loved this kitchen transformation! It must have been hard to leave it, but I know you have such a great home in AL! Thanks for posting these pics – it was fun to see them.
sigh, I would love to update our kitchen but we are working on other things first and it will probably be years before we can afford to do the kitchen. Right now our wood floor project seems to be taking forever. We have a big decision to make on our stairs. Somethings the flooring company didn’t tell us upfront until they got our deposit. Turns out the wood under the carpet on the stairs is pine and they say it will look awful stained. So we have to consider our options… We are not so handy to do the kitchen ourselves. Plus I want to rearrange some of the appliances.
That room has inspired so many kitchen updates. Mine included! It had to be so hard to leave it behind.
What a wonderful kitchen redo. You paid so much attention to detail and it shows. Love it all and I would have taken the island to my new home too. It looks like it was made for your laundry room. Beautiful!
I cant believe those are the same cabinets! So inspiring, it definetely looks like you spend a lot of money. Im coming back to this post if I ever need a kitchen redo.
The kitchen redo was spectacular, Rhoda. Certainly wonderful inspiration for so many on GI and beyond.
Oh, Rho, I remember when you guys were working on that kitchen way back when. It came out SO great. I think the think that really impressed me the most were those granite tile countertops. (I chickened out and went with IKEA countertops, but I’m happy.) Thanks for posting those pictures…it was fun to see it again.
That is a stunning redo. I’m so impressed. Thank you for sharing it! (I might have to steal the idea of adding feet under the cabinets…gives it such a custom look)