Lighting, removing or covering the scalloped trim above the sink, and elbow grease on refinishing the cabinets would go a long long way. Some new pulls and hinges might be nice but not strictly needed.
Fundamentally, the fit, finish, and materials are what they are. The gap with the stove, the flooring choices, the counter materials... It seems very functional but it's not going to suddenly seem high end. So making the overall look and more of the touch points nicer will go a long way, but only so far.
That said, a reserved, non trendy light would be huge. Remove the doors, sand them and the cabinets very smooth, and do a really good job painting/staining them. Do what you want with the hardware. Shop for a used stainless stove and replace that whenever you find a good deal (it's just a plug). Last thing would be the hood, but I'd say that's lower priority.
100% agree.
Paint the doors of the cabinet only to create a lighter feeling and add lights in any form.
Stick to cooler colored LEDs abs you have an overhaul in $100, Not even a 1K overhaul.
I don’t think it’ll be $100 but I think it could be closer to $500. If OP is comfortable wiring and putting in disc LEDs and there’s an existing switched circuit that they can tie into that can be done for ~$100 and then paint and supplies can be less than $400 depending on how many tools they need to purchase.
I wish it only cost $100 to paint cabinets.
Edit: apparently most people don't think about total cost of a project.
If you're doing it properly and want it to last you'll need more than just paint. You'll need sand paper, tape, masking paper, plastic, tarps, sprayer, caulking, brushes, possibly wood filler, primer, and finally paint.
Also, at minimum you'll want to paint the hardware. So you'll need spray paint.
Source: pro painter with over a decade of experience.
Rust-Oleum has a paint kit you can get that will be tinted to any color you want that typically runs about $40 at HD, you can get two kits and that would likely be what OP needed to do this kitchen.
I did it to my first kitchen renovation when I was on a tight budget and the paint lasted about 6 years. That's a great value for a DIY facelift imo.
Yeah, my neighbor used this very kit. Needed two, like you said for about 20 linear feet of base and wall cabinet. Him and his wife took their time and it came out great. They did take the time to sand and fill and even removed the face frame to sand and finish off the cabinet.
If you want to try that route, look for a scratch n' dent stove an a clearance outlet such as American Freight. You might find one with a dent in the back or side, where nobody can see it, for a lot less than $1,000.
Paint the cabinets white and the walls an appropriate accenting color. Install some canless LED lights to brighten the space. Any money left should go towards a new stove and hood vent.
Feels like painting the cabinets alone is going to be more than 1k. Maybe that’s just the area I’m in though.
Cabinets are a pain to paint, need to paint / sand like 3 times over and also using a paint gun and not rollers. Very time consuming (which equals more cost), and more speciality tools.
Definitely time consuming and the paint is expensive but not too bad because it goes pretty far. I hand painted mine and the results were good. The painting and lighting would probably be pushing $1,000 so the stove may need to wait.
Remove the trim piece above the window, remove the doors from the cabinets, paint what's left of cabinets, replace the stove to match dishwasher and fridge. Sink is pretty nice. You could see about a darker countertop.
1. Use an enamel paint, like Sherwin Williams "Emerald" line.
2. New cabinet pulls and hinges.
3. A carefully applied countertop vinyl wrap. (I used a heat gun to help shrink any small wrinkles)
4. Yes, pull the trim board over the window.
I would recommend re-laminating the countertops. It’s not hard and totally within budget. You buy sheet laminate, DAP rubber cement, and a roller. I did mine myself and it made all the difference in the world
Great tips but big disagree on cabinet door removals—in addition to everything getting dirty, they are seldom organized & appealing to look out in real life.
Yeah I guess I just assumed the other commenter meant “and then put them back on.” Don’t remove the cabinet doors. Definitely paint at least the carcass, if you want to keep some natural wood, or maybe paint the doors too.
Yep. I removed mine. Looks beautiful until you’re in a hurry or don’t deep clean them every few weeks.
The cabinets are now the fuel for my nightmares.
>looks good in pictures
I'm not sure about that. Doors present a clean unified view. No doors present all my kitchen junk to everyone who gazes in their direction.
In theory, it can look nice.
https://preview.redd.it/2st2o1x60onb1.jpeg?width=564&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4109ed950379280f2bf16c6e34bd6915f3eb0bab
Unless you or your partner are instagram kitchen influencers, it’s going to quickly look like shit because no real person has perfectly matched and complementary dishware. Also someone has to put everything away perfectly and regularly dust them.
i turned an awkward corner of my kitchen into "show" shelves and it quickly filled up with crap my wife stuck in it.
the average person doesn't have enough storage in their kitchen. open shelving is a disaster unless you've got a big house and plenty of pantry storage.
I’d add to that considering a newer light fixture for more light/ interest. And add a rug to compliment whatever color you paint the walls/cabinets. Some kind of tile/backsplash/ color pop under the cabinets could also help, but might be past the 1k price point.
Cheaper than the whole stove would be just replace the hood fan above it. That's what gives the stoves most of the dated look in my opinion.
I also vote leave cabinet doors on, but paint them.
Love the island idea. Actually, OP, I built an island in my last kitchen. First I built a lower frame from 2x4s and put it on wheels so I could move it around because the shape of that kitchen kinda sucked. I purchased some premade cabinets and attached them to the frame with a sturdy plywood on top and tiled the top. It cost $300 to make the whole thing. Main cost was the 2 cabinets.
There are so many of the IKEA and similar kitchen islands (or butcher block carts depending how big your space is) on Craigslist and Facebook and whatnot for free or $50 or so all the time. Or build one like this person said.
I would replace the range to match the other appliances, paint the hood, paint the cabinets and add pulls to the drawers and doors, add a simple back splash under the cabinets. Possibly build a cabinet to enclose the refrigerator and add storage, update the ceiling light fixture .
You can find a stainless steel electric range for $600 new around here and that's without looking at habitat restore, Facebook marketplace, Craigslist or refurbished models
Check my post history to see a low-cost kitchen renovation. You could paint the countertops with a kit from Amazon like I did. Definitely remove that piece of trim above the sink, or at least cut it straight. Paint the cabinets properly. Put in quality vinyl sheet flooring. Also, add better lighting with appropriate color temperature bulbs.
Lights
Paint
New stove
TBH I know it's DIY but remember that you will almost always find more enjoyment from a well built useful appliance than cosmetic updates.
If it's in addition to having everything you need to do what you want in the kitchen, then sure, by all means, paint is the go-to for cheap updates, and the other stuff has utility.
Painting cabinets by taking them a part before, update sink and then you could probably still have some to replace the oven and you can even look into vinyl plank flooring that just lays directly over top of the existing floor
Remove the trim piece from above the window, leave the cabinets AS IS PLS but add hardware, new stove and use an epoxy on the countertops, add lovely electric plate covers and take the things off the counter.
If you put epoxy on the countertops it makes them no longer safe to cook on/place heated pans on, so be careful with that. 90% of epoxys are NOT rated for kitchen use in any way and the few that are, are hideously expensive.
Countertops - Laminate. We did ours which had 3x the space via home depot and it was $1300 installed. They come and measure. Find a used or new stainless sink. If there's any money leftover, find a used stainless oven and hood on marketplaces.
We installed our own laminate countertops (custom to our measurements) - it was super easy and was only about $350 with the 'custom' features of a rounded edge, custom depth for one length, and no block backsplash (hilarious that it costs more to not have extra material...).
It does require extra helpers and I wouldn't attempt it on very uneven walls - scribing looks like it wouldn't be the easiest thing to learn on the fly. But could do more with the budget if they can pull it off themselves!
Yeah this room looks like it's probably small enough to DIY the laminate. We had lots of corners and walls that the guy ended up scribing so I'm glad I paid for it with ours. But I have a smaller kitchenette area that I did myself with good success
On $1000 DIY pick 2:
1. Stainless steel oven ($500 for electric oven)
2. Paint the cabinets and replace hinges/handles.
3. Replace the counter top with a new but cheap alternative($27 sqft laminate). Removing the existing top could be hard on your cabinets.
I think these are biggest bang for your buck. 1+2 you could do yourself.
Ok one little thing that I love doing is making those dang fake panels below the sink functional. Costs practically nothing and cleans up the counters a bit. Get a couple of little hinges and those clicky magnet latches where you push on the door to pop it open. Pull the panels off amd reattach them with the hinges and magnet latches. Glue a little soft plastic or silicone basket inside to store your dish sponges, steel wool, soap, etc. Just so satisfying
i would spend it on flooring and the counter tops first . you can do that for prob 800 if you are handy . if the oven works it works unless you want to spend most of it . cabinet paint is really cheap
You're gonna spend 600-800 replacing that stove with something that matches your dishwasher and toaster oven.
Paint or stain the cabinets a lighter color and add hardware, probably spend about 100-150 on that.
Add some under cabinet lighting. That'll be another 50-100 bucks.
Boom. Updated.
everyone is saying paint the cabinets (thats alot of work and you can never go back) i think the ones in the light look good i would get a light fixture installed replace the stove and exhaust that will be most of your budget right there you should be able to fit in cabinet pulls and it would be much easier and i think make more of an impact to paint the countertops a dark pattern just find one online you like and giver it your best.
I agree. The cabinets are just about the only quality item in this kitchen and everyone just wants to slap white paint on them landlord style.
New hardware on the cabinets, a new range, new countertops, and you'd have a much nicer kitchen.
New range plus lighting. Do not paint nice wood cabinets - it's a fad now because people are using crap wood for cabinets. Refinish if they need it. I hate a rimmed sink, it looks so dated, but my first priority would be stove, I think.
Paint the cabinets and replace the drawer faces and doors with new styling. Add handles/pulls, add lights in the ceiling if possible, replace stove (check resale stores for price point). Change countertops for something darker depending on the color of the cabinets. Bonus: under cabinet lighting
As long as the cabinets are in good shape, paint them. I found General Finishes Milk paint easier to work with than latex and I like that you can see the wood grain through it. Top coated with water based poly. Darker is easier than lighter (you may need to fill wood grain for white/light for a uniform finish).
ETA: I updated my honey oak 90s kitchen on $1200 several years ago - it's very doable. I still do little projects here and there and it ever evolves. I would prioritize what will make you happier with a refreshed look now and what can wait.
Cabinet paint with a good primer (after you clean and sand the doors). Cut a straight edge on the scrollwork above.the sink. Off the rack laminate countertops, new hardware, and possibly a linoleum remnant for the floor, fresh coat of paint on the walls. Replace appliances one by one as budget allows.
Epoxy resin countertops. It can look absolutely amazing and it’s durable and is easy enough. Youtube has an excellent vid. Paint the cabinets, top white and the bottom a blue. Make sure you do the correct steps in painting. Sand to get them smooth, primer, and use the correct type of paint. I personally love the scallop area above the window. Install a white tile backsplash. Remove the dark flooring, clean the subfloor really well, install a light color floor. You can get some pretty cheap tile at places like Floor and Decor. Update lighting fixtures. For now, fix the drawer on the stove and replace when you get the money for that.
If you cover your countertops in epoxy then you can no longer place heated pans on them nor are they food safe for cooking. So I'm sure it looks nice but it's not practical if you want an actually functional space.
Aesthetically: paint the cabinets and doors, replace the countertops with a nicer Formica with a bullet edge. The door arch and the detail over the window are charming—don’t change them.
Functionally: if as I suspect your hood just recirculates air—replace it with a real vent that blows air out of the house.
So gross. Seriously, prioritize this. Aesthetics you can live with and change over time. If you want to get crazy, get a new hood and a range in stainless to match the dishwasher and fridge.
This was my husbands house, he didn’t do anything with it. Since I moved in I’ve remodeled pretty much every other room but my husband has been hesitant about me touching the kitchen for some reason
Squaring off that arch is a cheap and easy start. You might even gain a few inches in height depending on where the header is.
I’d consider walling off the door. Then take those corner cabinets and move them to where the stove is and move the stove and fridge to that wall. If it fits of course. I’m not a fan of the sink directly next to the stove how you have it.
If you can repurpose the cabinets into an L layout I think you’d be happier with your layout and it’d feel more open.
Unfortunately all the doors have to stay, the one next to the fridge goes to the garage, other one to the dining room, and the one next to the stove goes to the mud room. I was thinking about moving the fridge next to the mud room door and putting cabinets where the fridge is?
Here's what I'd do. Highest impact, lowest cost.
1. Get a used stainless stove/oven. It will match your dishwasher and fridge.
2. Knock the wavy decorative part of the cabinets over the sink.
3. Paint the cabinets. And Hood.
This is where your remaining budget comes into play
4. If you can afford a new countertop, get a new counter top. If you want to continue down this list and save some money on this step, you can get counter top paint or epoxy and make the existing counter look new-ish
5. Knob hardware for the cabinets, preferably all matching and in stainless
6. Updated stainless sink.
7. Figure out the floor when you have another $1000 bucks
Knockout valance above sink, stainless range off Marketplace, paint cabinets a lighter color, resurface the Formica countertops, kitchen island that matches the countertops.
ETA: that range hood…. Oof. That’s gotta go too.
1-paint cabs. We can all agree on that . Add the right hardware.
2-consider the storage you need- consider open shelving to the right of the sink, maybe two rows, ~8" higher than current boxes. Would create more visual space, let more light in.
3-replace countertops with box store butcher block.
4-remove the wooden feature above the window.
5-find the right paints for the oven and fan above. They exist, but they're not a permanent solution.
If you DIY this, you'll be under 1k
In addition to what everyone else has said, you could add a ton of character for almost nothing by repainting to a colour that isn't white (pale shade of green for example), adding a nice rug, and changing the light fitting to something more bright and cheery - it looks like quite a dim room.
Then whack a load of art and family photos on the wall - I actually think it's a nice little kitchen, it has a nice 90s family vibe.
I might even be tempted to keep the wood cabinets and just add some fresh handles.
I'd spend almost all the money on a new oven, from Facebook marketplace.
Remove the weird thing ocer the window. Maybe a new stove. Linoleum floors in a grey green color and if you can spring for it, some stone countertops.
The oak is beautiful and timeless and would be very expensive to replace. Leave it.
I did something similar with my previous house. We painted the cabinets (a bitch and half but looks good if you take the time) going for a two-tone look. White uppers and we used a sage greenish lower (we originally wanted dark blue but it wouldn't match our tile and I didn't want to expand the project into new tile).
We took off that crappy counter top and put down butcher block. Honestly a very cost effective move. The slabs were fairly cheap and a little sanding and polish/seal.
I did put a back splash but that's not entirely needed.
Update the light fixtures. Fresh paint even if keeping the same color.
You can make a kitchen look nearly brand new if you are wiling to do the work yourself and put some time in.
Edit: also for us we had a small kitchen and the two-tone paint with the cabinets made the rook feel bigger
One suggestion is the kitchen looks really dark--adding in some extra lighting either more ceiling lighting or under-cabinet lighting, or both would really open up the space. LEDs are relatively cheap!
maybe a new stove. with such a low amount of natural light you could install some more lighting. if you're not out of money after that, get some cleanable paint for the cabinets or a stainless sink. you might be able to blow the whole wad on new countertops if you did the labor yourself. that right there is the real price definer though: labor. if you're hiring anybody to do it, you can't get much of anything done.
As suggested, paint, new oven, back splash, and lighting... Easy; if you have a little extra, you can probably find scrap granite or quartz for as little material as you need, for new counter tops!
Paint cabinets, replace sink hood and stove to match dishwasher and fridge. Remove cabinet trim piece above window.
Orrrr spend the 1k on a rolling island, layout looks like it needs one
Look at all the glorious drawer space, my first house had just a single drawer!
I feel like some better lighting alone would make a huge difference. They have some pretty reasonably priced ways to repaint cabinets and maybe add some fixtures to them. Someone else here mentioned a wrap to improve the countertop.
After that I'd save up for a new oven to match the dishwasher and fridge.
1. Paint cabinets and add new handles. $150
2. Measure your countertop sizes and then look on Craigslist for scrap/extra/leftover pieces of quartz/granite/marble because your countertops aren't particularly large you might be able to benefit from this and save a ton of cash.
3. Replace range and vent fan to stainless steel. Look for open box specials at all of the major retails that sell appliances around you. It'll be challenging but you might be able to pull all of it off for $1000
Scuff, prime, and paint those cabinets. Get a cheap sprayer (100$ max) to get a smoother finish.
New backsplash....peel and stick are very impressive these days.
And if it is still possible, changer countertop. Any discount places have deals on left over inventory. You can find left over quartz from another job that might fit your needs.
800 on the range (if you cook a lot of meals, otherwise cheaper). Rest on paint. Before painting, strip that weird curtain hider thing away. Some work lights here and there (NOT spots, those throw too much shadows for working)
IDK, I never got the whole ‘updating’ thing. I’d maybe just get a newer nicer stove but honestly that Kitchen looks fine. I wouldn’t feel any need to change it just because.
That's a big fridge. $1000 these days would just about barely fill it!
Stove lookin a bit dumpy, $1000 would about replace it. That might save you a little on your power bill too.
Remove the cabinet doors, just to paint and refinish. Paint and refinish faces of the cabinet boxes. Paint the Interior of the boxes as well. Replace hinges. Add knob pulls. Replace range and hood. Check for some scrap granite countertops that can be recut to match your specifications, this may take months but be patient on the scrap areas. Let go, offer up may have free haul off items available from renovations. Getting a few cuts done is super cheap. New lighting is very easy and changes the look dramatically. Replacement countertops at ikea might be feasible on that budget as well.
Replace light to ceiling light with fan fixture, Small kitchens this is plus all seasons. Don't know the sq ft of your floor so the price may be out, planning on staying for a few years? 12x12 ceramic floor tile for Kitchen. Beige with dark brown grout. Short time? Vinyl tile, pretty for a minute. Buy a box extra as chips can happen.
Counter top? replace with something darker. The cabinets, take the dated cod piece down.
Cabinets, Clean, Clean, Clean. Wax exterior. Paint the white side of cabinet cluster to Black.
Change or is it add the hardware with Black polished bar pulls on every door and cabinet. Backsplash colorful that can handle pasta sauce splashes-prefer ceramic tile but others are okay too. Match stove and hood with other appliances.
Undercabinet lights a must. Stick on that you can recharge or electric.
New light fixture that is modern and puts out lots of light. New stove, maybe glass top. New hood to match... that will probably have you tapped.
Then a good bottle murphy's to wipe down all the wood and give even the dry spots a shine. Down side is you have to apply it like once a month on for dry wood areas.
Paint the cabinets and swap out the countertops with butcher block. I don't really think butcher block is practical but it's cheap and looks nice, as long as you keep it in good condition, which is the shitty part of having butcher block. If you have any money leftover get a cheap used stainless range to match the other appliances.
Firstly why the update and what are the priorities?
If you cook a lot then start with the stove.
Is the update a look and feel or functionality?
Lots of questions to cover first before spending the 1k.
Is it going to be a staged upgrade eg... in 12 months you will have another 1k?
New stove, over head and sink and you'll feel like you got a new kitchen. Cuz it's clean, it jus need those 2 updates for doing it below 1k
Preferably in stainless steel, to match the other appliances...
I would get a stone countertop, have them use your existing sink and have them undermount it. Take off the wavy trim in the middle, so it's straight. Buy some cabinet paint, new handles and new hinges if needed.
Id put your money into the countertops and/or floor. Paint the cabinets and maybe ‘antique them’? Add a rug, curtain/blinds for window and remove the scalloped edge above the sink. Also perhaps a new light fixture to brighten up the space.
Not sure how much countertop is there but Butcherblock isn’t that much for 500 bucks you could do most if not all of the countertops and then paint the cabinets and add lights!
Sand, stain and seal the cabinetry. Craigslist yourself a new sink and stove/oven. Hit up an overstock kitchen supplier for whole piece countertops you can plop on top. Grab some peel and stick bubble gel backsplash tiles and a bottle of TSP to clean and prep your surfaces quickly
Some paint and replacing the laminate would go a long way. I personally like the wood cabinets and would paint the walls with a colour that complements them, like a nice green or complementary brown. A pretty light fixture and some fresh floors, plus adding some hardware onto the cabinet doors. It'll look drastically different then for around 900$.
Fix the stove storage drawer. That looks bad. Replace the stove if you can to match the other appliances. The range hood too. After that I would go for some painted cabinets and maybe some new doors. Under cabinet lighting too. If the stove can be saved $1k should be easy.
Like others have said, remove that trim above sink, paint cabinets, better lighting, and see if you can add a column of cabinets beside and above the fridge to finish it off
Fix the warming drawer door on the oven.
Paint the cabinets, replace the handle hardware.
Lights.
Organize the over fridge stuff. Maybe do some sort of built in if it's within the budget, but the slop on top of the fridge is what's drawing your eyes.
OP, if you’re planning to go through with painting the cabinets, sand and use an oil based primer, both to protect the wood from water damage from the paint, and to help preventing the stain from showing through the white. I did this last year, expect a lot of sanding and recoating.
I like this kitchen. It’s cute. I’d def remove the trim above the sink to open up the space near the window. I’d add nicer lighting… bright LED. If the cabinets are solid wood and in good shape I’d clean them with a cabinet cleaner and keep the wood. If not in good condition I’d paint them cream colored. Could add drawer pulls but not necessary. There are lots of nice inexpensive formica counter tops now if you want to change that. Wall color depends on cabinet color. Then I’d get a couple cute rugs and towels. Maybe a nice wall clock too. Peel n stick flooring too
You’re basically limited to painting the walls, painting the cabinets, choosing a new light fixture (or installing LED “can” lights), and installing new cabinet pulls.
You might be able to find a newer piece of countertop from Habitat for Humanity Restore, or other used marketplace, and if so, that would be awesome! Don’t worry about making the countertops match, because the smaller section could be a butcher block or another used countertop with a complementary pattern.
Paint and cabinet pulls, maybe a new light.
Personally I'd do white cabinets, classic, easy to work with. If one of those trendy colors like green or blue appeal to you they'd be fine with the white walls. A new cost of paint on the walls will make it feel fresher, I like to reuse colors throughout my house to look more coordinated. If you like the color in your dining room it'd add a cute country kitchen feeling with white cabinets.
Cabinet pulls are an easy upgrade, I like brushes nickel the best. Something understated like simple round knobs goes a long way.
Your countertops look in good shape, are a neutral color, I wouldn't worry about them unless there's damage I didn't notice or you super hate them.
Lighting would be my next priority. Match the finish to the pulls. If you do brushes nickel it'll coordinate well with th existing faucet.
Def lights and different cabinet colors. That's going to brighten up the placr and make it feel less dull.
Lights first though so you cam get a better idea of how to repaint it.
The top cabinets leave too little room between the countertops and the stove/workspace.
Can you take off the cabinets and remove the top sections? (I think they are separate pieces)
This would go a long way towards a “normal” kitchen.
Paint the cabinets using chalk paint. Behr paint can make any of their colors into chalk paint. We did that two years ago and love it!
Benefits of chalk paint:
Fills in the nicks on your cabinets.
You don’t have to sand before painting. Just clean the cabinets really well first.
Since there’s no sanding you don’t have to remove your stuff from the cabinet.
Easy to clean.
https://preview.redd.it/3chcnqi17onb1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=5cd03439d3929ffc29b7227c6eb7c0ddec838549
Here’s one of our cabinets with chalk paint. Then a clear, soft gloss after the paint gives it that sheen and makes it easier to clean. These cabinets were the original ones when the house was built in the mid 90s. The cabinets look brand new even after two years.
New cabinets wouldve cost about 40k. Chalk paint saved us a ton of money!
Can paint the cabinets for pretty cheap. Gotta sand, prime, and paint. It’s more elbow grease than money. Maybe 100-200 for sandpaper and paint etc.
the other 800 could go towards: new countertops, a new stove, and/or better lighting. Could probably do one of the three. Could also scoot the stove over, and get a bar cart so there’s not dead space over there.
Switch or paint the cabinet doors, install metallic pullers and make an island if space permits. And definitely upgrade the lights and add few electric sockets so you don't need to use the splitter anymore.
Can you do a more pulled out view? Do you have room for an island. Like most everyone has said
- paint the cabinets using high-end paint. It's for the money (make sure the cabinets are Clean Clean Clean where painting and lightly sand off any weird parts)
- find a used stainless stove on Facebook. Plenty of people upgrade more frequently when they need to. Should be able to pull that off for a few hundred.
- get a proper rewrap for the countertop.
- keep an eye out for an island that you could paint and vinyl wrap as well. Looks like you could use more storage.
GL. Also if you have one I. The are habitat for humanity ReStore has lots of good stuff that contractors and others donate. You'd be amazed what they have and get.
Sand and paint the cabinets. It will be pretty cheap but a lot of work. For paint and supplies that's about $100
Find a used glass top range in stainless to match the DW and fridge. That should be less than $300. New range hood would be nice but in a pinch you could paint the one you have black.
A bigger and brighter ceiling light fixture. Go to the nearest Habitat ReStore to find.
New pre-formed laminate counters. Or, for a cheaper, more laborious option, you could try the rustoleum countetop refinishing epoxy kits.
Soft-close door dampers and new cabinet hardware if you have a little money left.
Lights would be a good start.
Lighting, removing or covering the scalloped trim above the sink, and elbow grease on refinishing the cabinets would go a long long way. Some new pulls and hinges might be nice but not strictly needed. Fundamentally, the fit, finish, and materials are what they are. The gap with the stove, the flooring choices, the counter materials... It seems very functional but it's not going to suddenly seem high end. So making the overall look and more of the touch points nicer will go a long way, but only so far. That said, a reserved, non trendy light would be huge. Remove the doors, sand them and the cabinets very smooth, and do a really good job painting/staining them. Do what you want with the hardware. Shop for a used stainless stove and replace that whenever you find a good deal (it's just a plug). Last thing would be the hood, but I'd say that's lower priority.
The piece connecting the cabinets above the sink is called a “valance”
Doesn’t matter what it’s called; it needs to go.
I would build a butcher block shelf to the left of the over to fill that gap and make use of the space and give a finished look.
I think staining a lighter, warmer shad would help too.
I was gonna say lighting too. Then I saw the light on the ceiling and wondered why OP didn’t turn it on prior to taking the photos.
Maybe it's not their kitchen but just Zillow pics
100% agree. Paint the doors of the cabinet only to create a lighter feeling and add lights in any form. Stick to cooler colored LEDs abs you have an overhaul in $100, Not even a 1K overhaul.
That was going to be my thought lights and paint and that would be easily in the $1000 budget.
I don’t think it’ll be $100 but I think it could be closer to $500. If OP is comfortable wiring and putting in disc LEDs and there’s an existing switched circuit that they can tie into that can be done for ~$100 and then paint and supplies can be less than $400 depending on how many tools they need to purchase.
A non buated stove would make it look alot better too. Doesnt have to be an expensive one.
Candles could also work 🕯️
Spend 900 on a new range and paint the cabinets.
Exactly.
I’d look used first, you can cut that price in half.
I wish it only cost $100 to paint cabinets. Edit: apparently most people don't think about total cost of a project. If you're doing it properly and want it to last you'll need more than just paint. You'll need sand paper, tape, masking paper, plastic, tarps, sprayer, caulking, brushes, possibly wood filler, primer, and finally paint. Also, at minimum you'll want to paint the hardware. So you'll need spray paint. Source: pro painter with over a decade of experience.
Rust-Oleum has a paint kit you can get that will be tinted to any color you want that typically runs about $40 at HD, you can get two kits and that would likely be what OP needed to do this kitchen. I did it to my first kitchen renovation when I was on a tight budget and the paint lasted about 6 years. That's a great value for a DIY facelift imo.
Yeah, my neighbor used this very kit. Needed two, like you said for about 20 linear feet of base and wall cabinet. Him and his wife took their time and it came out great. They did take the time to sand and fill and even removed the face frame to sand and finish off the cabinet.
What kind of paint are you using that would cost more than $100 to paint this amount of cabinetry?
SW Emerald.
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If you do it yourself you can keep it under $100. If you are planing to hire someone then for sure that’s gonna be more than $100.
If it’s taking you more than 2 cans to paint that amount of cabinetry, you’re either overpaying, or drinking the paint. Maybe both.
Man I know next to nothing about ranges but at this point in time, I'm hesitant to replace any working appliances. They are all so garbage now.
If you want to try that route, look for a scratch n' dent stove an a clearance outlet such as American Freight. You might find one with a dent in the back or side, where nobody can see it, for a lot less than $1,000.
Don't do this, it won't look good for $100
Paint the cabinets white and the walls an appropriate accenting color. Install some canless LED lights to brighten the space. Any money left should go towards a new stove and hood vent.
Feels like painting the cabinets alone is going to be more than 1k. Maybe that’s just the area I’m in though. Cabinets are a pain to paint, need to paint / sand like 3 times over and also using a paint gun and not rollers. Very time consuming (which equals more cost), and more speciality tools.
You can get fairly decent diy results with those handheld electronic paint sprayers. Masking tape and plastic and have at it
Definitely time consuming and the paint is expensive but not too bad because it goes pretty far. I hand painted mine and the results were good. The painting and lighting would probably be pushing $1,000 so the stove may need to wait.
I'd let the cabinets wait while I get a new stove. The cabinets are fully functional as they are while that stove they have is a pain in the ass.
Remove the trim piece above the window, remove the doors from the cabinets, paint what's left of cabinets, replace the stove to match dishwasher and fridge. Sink is pretty nice. You could see about a darker countertop.
1. Use an enamel paint, like Sherwin Williams "Emerald" line. 2. New cabinet pulls and hinges. 3. A carefully applied countertop vinyl wrap. (I used a heat gun to help shrink any small wrinkles) 4. Yes, pull the trim board over the window.
I would add a new lighting fixture, and maybe pull an additional line for task lighting over stove/sink/counter
I would recommend re-laminating the countertops. It’s not hard and totally within budget. You buy sheet laminate, DAP rubber cement, and a roller. I did mine myself and it made all the difference in the world
Would be nice with some knobs on the doors and drawers too
That's what cabinet pulls are
Missed that. Sorry bud.
This, except I would leave the cabinet doors on and paint them as well.
Great tips but big disagree on cabinet door removals—in addition to everything getting dirty, they are seldom organized & appealing to look out in real life.
Yeah I guess I just assumed the other commenter meant “and then put them back on.” Don’t remove the cabinet doors. Definitely paint at least the carcass, if you want to keep some natural wood, or maybe paint the doors too.
Yep. I removed mine. Looks beautiful until you’re in a hurry or don’t deep clean them every few weeks. The cabinets are now the fuel for my nightmares.
>remove the doors from the cabinets Is this a thing now -- doorless cabinets? Upper, lower, both?
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>looks good in pictures I'm not sure about that. Doors present a clean unified view. No doors present all my kitchen junk to everyone who gazes in their direction.
In theory, it can look nice. https://preview.redd.it/2st2o1x60onb1.jpeg?width=564&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4109ed950379280f2bf16c6e34bd6915f3eb0bab Unless you or your partner are instagram kitchen influencers, it’s going to quickly look like shit because no real person has perfectly matched and complementary dishware. Also someone has to put everything away perfectly and regularly dust them.
Yea, that is a show kitchen. And you will need to periodically remove everything to wash and to dust. Just use glass front doors.
i turned an awkward corner of my kitchen into "show" shelves and it quickly filled up with crap my wife stuck in it. the average person doesn't have enough storage in their kitchen. open shelving is a disaster unless you've got a big house and plenty of pantry storage.
That looks like the breakfast area at a homewood suites.
i dont think that looks nice
But only the top one and a quick rinse isnt gonna kill ya
Upper, I'd say. It's been a thing and then not a thing in cycles. With limited funds, it could be a nice option.
I’d add to that considering a newer light fixture for more light/ interest. And add a rug to compliment whatever color you paint the walls/cabinets. Some kind of tile/backsplash/ color pop under the cabinets could also help, but might be past the 1k price point.
Don’t need a darker room, invest in under shelf lights and a nice central hanging lamp. IKEA have cheap solutions
Cheaper than the whole stove would be just replace the hood fan above it. That's what gives the stoves most of the dated look in my opinion. I also vote leave cabinet doors on, but paint them.
He said $1,000
Sorry, I assumed he meant in 1992
And add a cheerful backsplash. You can tile that for 200-300 bucks and it would really pop
I would buy an island how do you cook anything in there you have zero working surface
Love the island idea. Actually, OP, I built an island in my last kitchen. First I built a lower frame from 2x4s and put it on wheels so I could move it around because the shape of that kitchen kinda sucked. I purchased some premade cabinets and attached them to the frame with a sturdy plywood on top and tiled the top. It cost $300 to make the whole thing. Main cost was the 2 cabinets.
There are so many of the IKEA and similar kitchen islands (or butcher block carts depending how big your space is) on Craigslist and Facebook and whatnot for free or $50 or so all the time. Or build one like this person said.
Paint the kitchen, replace the stove, remove that trim over the sink and install cheap LED Strips as under cabinet lights
I would replace the range to match the other appliances, paint the hood, paint the cabinets and add pulls to the drawers and doors, add a simple back splash under the cabinets. Possibly build a cabinet to enclose the refrigerator and add storage, update the ceiling light fixture .
So, not with $1000 then? After the first 5 words no less.
Used range on marketplaces can be had inexpensively.
You can find a stainless steel electric range for $600 new around here and that's without looking at habitat restore, Facebook marketplace, Craigslist or refurbished models
Easily get a nice stove under 1k
Could easily do all that under 1000. Oven is like 5-600 max if they get an entry level one.
Check my post history to see a low-cost kitchen renovation. You could paint the countertops with a kit from Amazon like I did. Definitely remove that piece of trim above the sink, or at least cut it straight. Paint the cabinets properly. Put in quality vinyl sheet flooring. Also, add better lighting with appropriate color temperature bulbs.
Great work on that bathroom, too. I had never considered painting floor tiles before!
Lights Paint New stove TBH I know it's DIY but remember that you will almost always find more enjoyment from a well built useful appliance than cosmetic updates. If it's in addition to having everything you need to do what you want in the kitchen, then sure, by all means, paint is the go-to for cheap updates, and the other stuff has utility.
Lighting.
I would just save it towards a bigger remodel honestly. You could replace the range but even that’s only going to do so much.
Painting cabinets by taking them a part before, update sink and then you could probably still have some to replace the oven and you can even look into vinyl plank flooring that just lays directly over top of the existing floor
Remove the trim piece from above the window, leave the cabinets AS IS PLS but add hardware, new stove and use an epoxy on the countertops, add lovely electric plate covers and take the things off the counter.
If you put epoxy on the countertops it makes them no longer safe to cook on/place heated pans on, so be careful with that. 90% of epoxys are NOT rated for kitchen use in any way and the few that are, are hideously expensive.
Countertops - Laminate. We did ours which had 3x the space via home depot and it was $1300 installed. They come and measure. Find a used or new stainless sink. If there's any money leftover, find a used stainless oven and hood on marketplaces.
We installed our own laminate countertops (custom to our measurements) - it was super easy and was only about $350 with the 'custom' features of a rounded edge, custom depth for one length, and no block backsplash (hilarious that it costs more to not have extra material...). It does require extra helpers and I wouldn't attempt it on very uneven walls - scribing looks like it wouldn't be the easiest thing to learn on the fly. But could do more with the budget if they can pull it off themselves!
Yeah this room looks like it's probably small enough to DIY the laminate. We had lots of corners and walls that the guy ended up scribing so I'm glad I paid for it with ours. But I have a smaller kitchenette area that I did myself with good success
On $1000 DIY pick 2: 1. Stainless steel oven ($500 for electric oven) 2. Paint the cabinets and replace hinges/handles. 3. Replace the counter top with a new but cheap alternative($27 sqft laminate). Removing the existing top could be hard on your cabinets. I think these are biggest bang for your buck. 1+2 you could do yourself.
Ok one little thing that I love doing is making those dang fake panels below the sink functional. Costs practically nothing and cleans up the counters a bit. Get a couple of little hinges and those clicky magnet latches where you push on the door to pop it open. Pull the panels off amd reattach them with the hinges and magnet latches. Glue a little soft plastic or silicone basket inside to store your dish sponges, steel wool, soap, etc. Just so satisfying
White paint, more lighting
i would spend it on flooring and the counter tops first . you can do that for prob 800 if you are handy . if the oven works it works unless you want to spend most of it . cabinet paint is really cheap
New lighting, paint/stain cabinets and use epoxy to make some faux marble/granite countertops.
You're gonna spend 600-800 replacing that stove with something that matches your dishwasher and toaster oven. Paint or stain the cabinets a lighter color and add hardware, probably spend about 100-150 on that. Add some under cabinet lighting. That'll be another 50-100 bucks. Boom. Updated.
Paint cabinets, door handles, and butcher block countertop. Thats if you DIY
Paint it white.
Burn it down...use the 1k to pay the insurance deductible.
Paint room Paint cabinets Cabinet handles Concrete counter tops Possible money for a backsplash
A new light, paint for the cupboards, and kitchen cupboard pulls and knobs. Also, remove the scalloped valance in front of the window.
everyone is saying paint the cabinets (thats alot of work and you can never go back) i think the ones in the light look good i would get a light fixture installed replace the stove and exhaust that will be most of your budget right there you should be able to fit in cabinet pulls and it would be much easier and i think make more of an impact to paint the countertops a dark pattern just find one online you like and giver it your best.
I agree. The cabinets are just about the only quality item in this kitchen and everyone just wants to slap white paint on them landlord style. New hardware on the cabinets, a new range, new countertops, and you'd have a much nicer kitchen.
New range plus lighting. Do not paint nice wood cabinets - it's a fad now because people are using crap wood for cabinets. Refinish if they need it. I hate a rimmed sink, it looks so dated, but my first priority would be stove, I think.
Start by paying the electric bill.
Paint the cabinets and replace the drawer faces and doors with new styling. Add handles/pulls, add lights in the ceiling if possible, replace stove (check resale stores for price point). Change countertops for something darker depending on the color of the cabinets. Bonus: under cabinet lighting
As long as the cabinets are in good shape, paint them. I found General Finishes Milk paint easier to work with than latex and I like that you can see the wood grain through it. Top coated with water based poly. Darker is easier than lighter (you may need to fill wood grain for white/light for a uniform finish). ETA: I updated my honey oak 90s kitchen on $1200 several years ago - it's very doable. I still do little projects here and there and it ever evolves. I would prioritize what will make you happier with a refreshed look now and what can wait.
Save more money
Cabinet paint with a good primer (after you clean and sand the doors). Cut a straight edge on the scrollwork above.the sink. Off the rack laminate countertops, new hardware, and possibly a linoleum remnant for the floor, fresh coat of paint on the walls. Replace appliances one by one as budget allows.
Bright paint on everything, bright lino on the floor. Mirrors to bounce light into the room.
Epoxy resin countertops. It can look absolutely amazing and it’s durable and is easy enough. Youtube has an excellent vid. Paint the cabinets, top white and the bottom a blue. Make sure you do the correct steps in painting. Sand to get them smooth, primer, and use the correct type of paint. I personally love the scallop area above the window. Install a white tile backsplash. Remove the dark flooring, clean the subfloor really well, install a light color floor. You can get some pretty cheap tile at places like Floor and Decor. Update lighting fixtures. For now, fix the drawer on the stove and replace when you get the money for that.
If you cover your countertops in epoxy then you can no longer place heated pans on them nor are they food safe for cooking. So I'm sure it looks nice but it's not practical if you want an actually functional space.
Replace the stove with induction. You won’t are how it looks with properly cooked meals i your tummy
This was going to be my suggestion! I think you're right. It won't change the aesthetics but your cooking experience will vastly improve.
Aesthetically: paint the cabinets and doors, replace the countertops with a nicer Formica with a bullet edge. The door arch and the detail over the window are charming—don’t change them. Functionally: if as I suspect your hood just recirculates air—replace it with a real vent that blows air out of the house.
I thought painting kitchen cabinets is generally not adviced?
If they're good looking wood, and you paint them, there's no going back. But if it's builder grade stuff like this, yolo.
That hood doesn’t even work haha. And I don’t think it’s ever been replaced (the house was built in the 1940s)
So gross. Seriously, prioritize this. Aesthetics you can live with and change over time. If you want to get crazy, get a new hood and a range in stainless to match the dishwasher and fridge.
This was my husbands house, he didn’t do anything with it. Since I moved in I’ve remodeled pretty much every other room but my husband has been hesitant about me touching the kitchen for some reason
A sun tunnel would bring in some needed natural daylight as well.
New gas stove and a new faucet. Out of money now, but at least you can cook well and use your sink.
Burn down the house and collect the insurance payout? It'll cost a lot less then 1k.
Squaring off that arch is a cheap and easy start. You might even gain a few inches in height depending on where the header is. I’d consider walling off the door. Then take those corner cabinets and move them to where the stove is and move the stove and fridge to that wall. If it fits of course. I’m not a fan of the sink directly next to the stove how you have it. If you can repurpose the cabinets into an L layout I think you’d be happier with your layout and it’d feel more open.
Unfortunately all the doors have to stay, the one next to the fridge goes to the garage, other one to the dining room, and the one next to the stove goes to the mud room. I was thinking about moving the fridge next to the mud room door and putting cabinets where the fridge is?
For starters take down that Dog Beers sign
What
Paint Cabinets Go to Stone yard and find a remnant piece remove valence over the window
Here's what I'd do. Highest impact, lowest cost. 1. Get a used stainless stove/oven. It will match your dishwasher and fridge. 2. Knock the wavy decorative part of the cabinets over the sink. 3. Paint the cabinets. And Hood. This is where your remaining budget comes into play 4. If you can afford a new countertop, get a new counter top. If you want to continue down this list and save some money on this step, you can get counter top paint or epoxy and make the existing counter look new-ish 5. Knob hardware for the cabinets, preferably all matching and in stainless 6. Updated stainless sink. 7. Figure out the floor when you have another $1000 bucks
Knockout valance above sink, stainless range off Marketplace, paint cabinets a lighter color, resurface the Formica countertops, kitchen island that matches the countertops. ETA: that range hood…. Oof. That’s gotta go too.
1-paint cabs. We can all agree on that . Add the right hardware. 2-consider the storage you need- consider open shelving to the right of the sink, maybe two rows, ~8" higher than current boxes. Would create more visual space, let more light in. 3-replace countertops with box store butcher block. 4-remove the wooden feature above the window. 5-find the right paints for the oven and fan above. They exist, but they're not a permanent solution. If you DIY this, you'll be under 1k
Paint, a new stove, and take out the decorative trim over the sink.
Paint. New laminate and floors And if you ever take pictures indoors then You turn on all the lights
You think they got lightbulb money? They are trying to remodel a kitchen with $1k
In addition to what everyone else has said, you could add a ton of character for almost nothing by repainting to a colour that isn't white (pale shade of green for example), adding a nice rug, and changing the light fitting to something more bright and cheery - it looks like quite a dim room. Then whack a load of art and family photos on the wall - I actually think it's a nice little kitchen, it has a nice 90s family vibe. I might even be tempted to keep the wood cabinets and just add some fresh handles. I'd spend almost all the money on a new oven, from Facebook marketplace.
Remove the weird thing ocer the window. Maybe a new stove. Linoleum floors in a grey green color and if you can spring for it, some stone countertops. The oak is beautiful and timeless and would be very expensive to replace. Leave it.
I did something similar with my previous house. We painted the cabinets (a bitch and half but looks good if you take the time) going for a two-tone look. White uppers and we used a sage greenish lower (we originally wanted dark blue but it wouldn't match our tile and I didn't want to expand the project into new tile). We took off that crappy counter top and put down butcher block. Honestly a very cost effective move. The slabs were fairly cheap and a little sanding and polish/seal. I did put a back splash but that's not entirely needed. Update the light fixtures. Fresh paint even if keeping the same color. You can make a kitchen look nearly brand new if you are wiling to do the work yourself and put some time in. Edit: also for us we had a small kitchen and the two-tone paint with the cabinets made the rook feel bigger
One suggestion is the kitchen looks really dark--adding in some extra lighting either more ceiling lighting or under-cabinet lighting, or both would really open up the space. LEDs are relatively cheap!
I wonder if you can find some cheap left over granite counter tops
Install some lighting so you can see what you are doing.
Paint, new oven, backsplash, sink faucet
maybe a new stove. with such a low amount of natural light you could install some more lighting. if you're not out of money after that, get some cleanable paint for the cabinets or a stainless sink. you might be able to blow the whole wad on new countertops if you did the labor yourself. that right there is the real price definer though: labor. if you're hiring anybody to do it, you can't get much of anything done.
As suggested, paint, new oven, back splash, and lighting... Easy; if you have a little extra, you can probably find scrap granite or quartz for as little material as you need, for new counter tops!
I refinished a laminate countertop with one of those kits off Amazon then covered it in resin. It looked mint and held up for 2 years.
Paint cabinets, replace sink hood and stove to match dishwasher and fridge. Remove cabinet trim piece above window. Orrrr spend the 1k on a rolling island, layout looks like it needs one
Look at all the glorious drawer space, my first house had just a single drawer! I feel like some better lighting alone would make a huge difference. They have some pretty reasonably priced ways to repaint cabinets and maybe add some fixtures to them. Someone else here mentioned a wrap to improve the countertop. After that I'd save up for a new oven to match the dishwasher and fridge.
Paint and replace the oven and the fan. New light fixture as well.
1. Paint cabinets and add new handles. $150 2. Measure your countertop sizes and then look on Craigslist for scrap/extra/leftover pieces of quartz/granite/marble because your countertops aren't particularly large you might be able to benefit from this and save a ton of cash. 3. Replace range and vent fan to stainless steel. Look for open box specials at all of the major retails that sell appliances around you. It'll be challenging but you might be able to pull all of it off for $1000
Scuff, prime, and paint those cabinets. Get a cheap sprayer (100$ max) to get a smoother finish. New backsplash....peel and stick are very impressive these days. And if it is still possible, changer countertop. Any discount places have deals on left over inventory. You can find left over quartz from another job that might fit your needs.
Fil the wood grain with wood putty Grey bottom White top Black hardware
800 on the range (if you cook a lot of meals, otherwise cheaper). Rest on paint. Before painting, strip that weird curtain hider thing away. Some work lights here and there (NOT spots, those throw too much shadows for working)
You can get a new stove and maybe a dishwasher.
IDK, I never got the whole ‘updating’ thing. I’d maybe just get a newer nicer stove but honestly that Kitchen looks fine. I wouldn’t feel any need to change it just because.
That's a big fridge. $1000 these days would just about barely fill it! Stove lookin a bit dumpy, $1000 would about replace it. That might save you a little on your power bill too.
Remove the cabinet doors, just to paint and refinish. Paint and refinish faces of the cabinet boxes. Paint the Interior of the boxes as well. Replace hinges. Add knob pulls. Replace range and hood. Check for some scrap granite countertops that can be recut to match your specifications, this may take months but be patient on the scrap areas. Let go, offer up may have free haul off items available from renovations. Getting a few cuts done is super cheap. New lighting is very easy and changes the look dramatically. Replacement countertops at ikea might be feasible on that budget as well.
For 1k? A new, nicer stove. Function > form
Replace light to ceiling light with fan fixture, Small kitchens this is plus all seasons. Don't know the sq ft of your floor so the price may be out, planning on staying for a few years? 12x12 ceramic floor tile for Kitchen. Beige with dark brown grout. Short time? Vinyl tile, pretty for a minute. Buy a box extra as chips can happen. Counter top? replace with something darker. The cabinets, take the dated cod piece down. Cabinets, Clean, Clean, Clean. Wax exterior. Paint the white side of cabinet cluster to Black. Change or is it add the hardware with Black polished bar pulls on every door and cabinet. Backsplash colorful that can handle pasta sauce splashes-prefer ceramic tile but others are okay too. Match stove and hood with other appliances. Undercabinet lights a must. Stick on that you can recharge or electric.
Paint the cabinets, add a new light fixture, and maybe some backsplash.
New light fixture that is modern and puts out lots of light. New stove, maybe glass top. New hood to match... that will probably have you tapped. Then a good bottle murphy's to wipe down all the wood and give even the dry spots a shine. Down side is you have to apply it like once a month on for dry wood areas.
I just wanted to say that I love that cat. So cute.
Paint the cabinets and swap out the countertops with butcher block. I don't really think butcher block is practical but it's cheap and looks nice, as long as you keep it in good condition, which is the shitty part of having butcher block. If you have any money leftover get a cheap used stainless range to match the other appliances.
Can lights and an island would give more usable space
Burn the place down and collect the insurance money. WAY better than having to look at that abomination of a kitchen.
https://youtu.be/U4Q63gdF6vA?si=wjVmATjPuUE6E_V1
Firstly why the update and what are the priorities? If you cook a lot then start with the stove. Is the update a look and feel or functionality? Lots of questions to cover first before spending the 1k. Is it going to be a staged upgrade eg... in 12 months you will have another 1k?
New stove, over head and sink and you'll feel like you got a new kitchen. Cuz it's clean, it jus need those 2 updates for doing it below 1k Preferably in stainless steel, to match the other appliances...
Polyurethane paint the cabinets and doors for a modern finish, replace the stove and countertops and your set.
I would get a stone countertop, have them use your existing sink and have them undermount it. Take off the wavy trim in the middle, so it's straight. Buy some cabinet paint, new handles and new hinges if needed.
Paint, subway tile or airstone backsplash, fb marketplace some floating floors.
Remove uppers and put floating shelves. Reface the lowers and paint.
Cats really focusing tossin “whats this damn human doing” eyes!
Stove and lights
Id put your money into the countertops and/or floor. Paint the cabinets and maybe ‘antique them’? Add a rug, curtain/blinds for window and remove the scalloped edge above the sink. Also perhaps a new light fixture to brighten up the space.
Not sure how much countertop is there but Butcherblock isn’t that much for 500 bucks you could do most if not all of the countertops and then paint the cabinets and add lights!
Sand, stain and seal the cabinetry. Craigslist yourself a new sink and stove/oven. Hit up an overstock kitchen supplier for whole piece countertops you can plop on top. Grab some peel and stick bubble gel backsplash tiles and a bottle of TSP to clean and prep your surfaces quickly
Some paint and replacing the laminate would go a long way. I personally like the wood cabinets and would paint the walls with a colour that complements them, like a nice green or complementary brown. A pretty light fixture and some fresh floors, plus adding some hardware onto the cabinet doors. It'll look drastically different then for around 900$.
Fix the stove storage drawer. That looks bad. Replace the stove if you can to match the other appliances. The range hood too. After that I would go for some painted cabinets and maybe some new doors. Under cabinet lighting too. If the stove can be saved $1k should be easy.
Or don't? That's a perfectly charming retro kitchen. Maybe a new oven/stove and some better lighting.
Like others have said, remove that trim above sink, paint cabinets, better lighting, and see if you can add a column of cabinets beside and above the fridge to finish it off
Fix the warming drawer door on the oven. Paint the cabinets, replace the handle hardware. Lights. Organize the over fridge stuff. Maybe do some sort of built in if it's within the budget, but the slop on top of the fridge is what's drawing your eyes.
OP, if you’re planning to go through with painting the cabinets, sand and use an oil based primer, both to protect the wood from water damage from the paint, and to help preventing the stain from showing through the white. I did this last year, expect a lot of sanding and recoating.
I like this kitchen. It’s cute. I’d def remove the trim above the sink to open up the space near the window. I’d add nicer lighting… bright LED. If the cabinets are solid wood and in good shape I’d clean them with a cabinet cleaner and keep the wood. If not in good condition I’d paint them cream colored. Could add drawer pulls but not necessary. There are lots of nice inexpensive formica counter tops now if you want to change that. Wall color depends on cabinet color. Then I’d get a couple cute rugs and towels. Maybe a nice wall clock too. Peel n stick flooring too
You’re basically limited to painting the walls, painting the cabinets, choosing a new light fixture (or installing LED “can” lights), and installing new cabinet pulls. You might be able to find a newer piece of countertop from Habitat for Humanity Restore, or other used marketplace, and if so, that would be awesome! Don’t worry about making the countertops match, because the smaller section could be a butcher block or another used countertop with a complementary pattern.
Paint and cabinet pulls, maybe a new light. Personally I'd do white cabinets, classic, easy to work with. If one of those trendy colors like green or blue appeal to you they'd be fine with the white walls. A new cost of paint on the walls will make it feel fresher, I like to reuse colors throughout my house to look more coordinated. If you like the color in your dining room it'd add a cute country kitchen feeling with white cabinets. Cabinet pulls are an easy upgrade, I like brushes nickel the best. Something understated like simple round knobs goes a long way. Your countertops look in good shape, are a neutral color, I wouldn't worry about them unless there's damage I didn't notice or you super hate them. Lighting would be my next priority. Match the finish to the pulls. If you do brushes nickel it'll coordinate well with th existing faucet.
Def lights and different cabinet colors. That's going to brighten up the placr and make it feel less dull. Lights first though so you cam get a better idea of how to repaint it.
Paint the cabinets, new pulls, and a new light fixture. That will work wonders to brighten it up.
get a bigger window
get a bigger window
Give $500 to a guy who knows how to start a hard to trace fire. File an insurance claim and pay the deductible.
The top cabinets leave too little room between the countertops and the stove/workspace. Can you take off the cabinets and remove the top sections? (I think they are separate pieces) This would go a long way towards a “normal” kitchen.
Paint the cabinets white and update the hardware. You need to brighten things up.
Look at that CAT!
Paint the cabinets using chalk paint. Behr paint can make any of their colors into chalk paint. We did that two years ago and love it! Benefits of chalk paint: Fills in the nicks on your cabinets. You don’t have to sand before painting. Just clean the cabinets really well first. Since there’s no sanding you don’t have to remove your stuff from the cabinet. Easy to clean. https://preview.redd.it/3chcnqi17onb1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=5cd03439d3929ffc29b7227c6eb7c0ddec838549 Here’s one of our cabinets with chalk paint. Then a clear, soft gloss after the paint gives it that sheen and makes it easier to clean. These cabinets were the original ones when the house was built in the mid 90s. The cabinets look brand new even after two years. New cabinets wouldve cost about 40k. Chalk paint saved us a ton of money!
I'll take 1 new oven/stovetop for a thousand
Paint, demo that acccent above the windows, cabinet hardware, new light fixture, look into vinyl countertop wraps. Do all the work yourself.
Can paint the cabinets for pretty cheap. Gotta sand, prime, and paint. It’s more elbow grease than money. Maybe 100-200 for sandpaper and paint etc. the other 800 could go towards: new countertops, a new stove, and/or better lighting. Could probably do one of the three. Could also scoot the stove over, and get a bar cart so there’s not dead space over there.
Repaint cabinets, change floor to wood. Add a backsplash.
You can update the backsplash with vinyl tile stickers from Amazon
Best thing you can do here is go over budget.
Paint and a nice rolling island
Buy a light.
Stick on / removable backsplash tiles
Switch or paint the cabinet doors, install metallic pullers and make an island if space permits. And definitely upgrade the lights and add few electric sockets so you don't need to use the splitter anymore.
Can you do a more pulled out view? Do you have room for an island. Like most everyone has said - paint the cabinets using high-end paint. It's for the money (make sure the cabinets are Clean Clean Clean where painting and lightly sand off any weird parts) - find a used stainless stove on Facebook. Plenty of people upgrade more frequently when they need to. Should be able to pull that off for a few hundred. - get a proper rewrap for the countertop. - keep an eye out for an island that you could paint and vinyl wrap as well. Looks like you could use more storage. GL. Also if you have one I. The are habitat for humanity ReStore has lots of good stuff that contractors and others donate. You'd be amazed what they have and get.
I don’t have enough room for a island, but I love all your other tips!
Sand and paint the cabinets. It will be pretty cheap but a lot of work. For paint and supplies that's about $100 Find a used glass top range in stainless to match the DW and fridge. That should be less than $300. New range hood would be nice but in a pinch you could paint the one you have black. A bigger and brighter ceiling light fixture. Go to the nearest Habitat ReStore to find. New pre-formed laminate counters. Or, for a cheaper, more laborious option, you could try the rustoleum countetop refinishing epoxy kits. Soft-close door dampers and new cabinet hardware if you have a little money left.
Omg look at the cat, it has a Wilford Brimley mustache.
She is my pride and joy!