Thursday, August 5, 2010

Our $250 Kitchen Makeover

It took almost two and a half weeks of painting and some moaning on my part about how endless it all seemed, but the kitchen is finally finished (well almost, more about that later).  I spent all morning cleaning, because if I'm going to show the world our kitchen it needed a little spit and polish, especially after all the disruption during the painting.  I'm pleased as punch - and glad it is finished - to introduce you to our made-over kitchen:


And just so you can compare - here is the before:

 Before

After

Before

You can read about the inspiration behind painting the lower cabinets gray and uppers white  here.   After much deliberation we chose burnished gold handles for the new cabinets.


I also wanted to introduce some gold accents in other places around the kitchen.  I figured yellow would work as well to visually tie things together.  Of course, this involved a trip to Anthropologie where I bought some lovely (and overpriced) soap and lotion dispensers.


I also bought some bowls in colours that would coordinate with the new kitchen.


You can also see the little gold-coloured pear that I bought at the thrift shop for $2 (it was 50% off day so I got myself a real deal, because otherwise I would have had to pay $4).  I dug through the china cabinet and found some things that would coordinate with the gold to put on the shelves.  The antique salt cellar is from my father's parents and has a cranberry glass liner.  I know it isn't polished, but to me that means it mixes better with the gold tones, although there are some (and they shall remain nameless) who would disagree. The plate standing up against the back is from the Limoge set that belonged to my grandparents on my mother's side.


There is also yellow in the vinegar and oil set that was given to us by the french exchange student who lived with us a few years ago.


I personally never tire of looking at some before-and-after photos, so here are a few more.

After

Before

After

Before

And finally a view of the kitchen from the dining room.


I put out my favourite thrift store vintage table cloth to welcome you.


As for the bottom line, here is the $250 breakdown:
$100 paint
$100 handles
$50 new baskets
 Not bad for $250 (and a lot of elbow grease. I'm just saying...)

We still  need to do a few things in the kitchen.  Here is the 3-year plan - in a nutshell (well a picture anyway).


And now we get to enjoy the kitchen - the best part!


Linked to:
Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest
Metamorphasis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Make it 4 Monday at Cottage Instincts
It's So Very Creative at It's So Very Cheri
White Wednesday at Faded Charm
Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design
Strut Your Stuff Thursday at Somewhat Simple
Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage
We Can do it Cheaper at The Virginia House
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Inspired by at The Inspired Home
Power of Paint Party at Domestically Speaking
The Colour Challenge Linkup at Funky Junk Interiors
Heart of the Home Party at Note Songs
Best of 2010 Before and After Party at House of Grace

71 comments:

  1. Great job at a great price, good work, Grace!

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  2. Well done Grace. this must be a lovely space to cook in!
    Sharon

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  3. I love the new look. The old wasn't bad either, but I really do love what you've done. The price was great too! The new look does something to me. It's elegant and sleek in a gentle way. It truly is amazing what paint and elbow grease can accomplish. Well worth your time and effort.

    FlowerLady

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  4. OOOOH la la! Looks fantastic! What a tremendous undertaking! Great colour choice(s)! You're hard work REALLY paid off!!!

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  5. Grace- your kitchen looks great! Thanks for sharing the pictures with us!

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  6. Awesome job Grace. The frustrations were surely worth it. I particularly like the different colours on bottom and top cupboards and the one with the door removed. You won't know yourself with a new fridge and stove!

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  7. I love it. I love the different colors on the cabinets. That darker blue is perfect. I wasn't sure about using different colors but it works perfectly. (I still love that kitchen light in the ceiling). I'm not sure I would paint the bulkhead. I like it the way it is and it ties it to the dining room so nicely making it all appear like a really large space...but it might look good to paint the kitchen ceiling the palest blue for some distinction (just something to think about). Great job on this kitchen!!!

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  8. Grace, you did a wonderful job! I love the color choices- perfect!!
    xoxo Pattie

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  9. Love the new look! I like the two colors together. Will you be painting the interior of the open cupboard with the base cabinet color?

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  10. Your cupboards look fantastic painted. You must be so happy for the change.

    OMG it must have been hot painting them...isnt it sweltering up there?

    Great job!
    cheers
    Susan

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  11. Gorgerous, perfect,stunning i love it Grace! You did a fantastic job and i am so glad you left the open selving!
    I love the french oil and vinegar set...it would look perfect in my red french kitchen lol !!!

    I cannot believe how a little bit of money did such a great transformation!
    Pamela xo

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  12. What a transformation! You've done a wonderful job, and the whole room looks so much bigger and brighter. Now you know how much I love a good makeover, so you can never have too many b & a pics for my liking! Sensational. K xx

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  13. Isn't it amazing what that white paint can doooooo! It looks wonderful

    Carol

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  14. That was certainly worth it. What a huge job to paint those cabinets. I will be doing a reveal on one of my projects in a week or so.

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  15. Grace, it looks amazing! I love that you used two colors. I know it was a lot of work, but WOW, does it ever look nice now! Come do mine? :)

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  16. It looks fantastic!! I love the two tone look! It's so fresh! I love the open cabinet with the dishes with the gold pear, along with the square baskets on top of the fridge and the new soap caddy by the sink...you must love your 'new' kitchen!! What a big project you took on...you must feel such a sense of accomplishment! Angie

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  17. You did a wonderful job. It looks so beautiful and great color choices. I loved looking at the before and after photo's!!

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  18. Gorgeous!

    Love it. Excellent work with the colors.

    Bright, clean and lovely.

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  19. Your kitchen looks amazing! All your hard work has paid off with great results!

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  20. I looove your reveal, it looks fabulous! Your hard work really shows! Thanks for sharing it with us! Debbie @ Cottage Hann~Me~Downs

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  21. Your new kitchen look is lovely, Grace!

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  22. I love the colors. What are their names? It was definitely worth all the hard work.

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  23. Hi Grace~I always say...paint can make such a difference! Your cabinets look great. I'm partial to white cabinets, I have them too. As a matter of fact, when I was looking to purchase this house back in February, if the house didn't have white cabinets I wouldn't go in! Crazy I know but it paid off and I got my white cabinets. Just installed new countertops this past week though!!
    Fondly,
    Ann
    @
    The Tattered Tassel

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  24. Now that's Incredible..... can't believe you did it for $250 ~ WOW!

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  25. Take a bow, and wait for the applause.

    Suzan

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  26. Looks wonderful and only $250. Way to Go! Happy WW

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  27. That is a beautiful transformation. And you did it for a great price too!!

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  28. LOVE IT! I painted my cabinets a creamy white in May and I so love it and I totally understand the sweat equity that goes into it!! Painting cabinets = NOT fun! BUT it is SO worth it!

    Yours is beautifu1!!

    Lou Cinda :)

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  29. That is one of the best $250. makeovers ever! Really beautiful job! Theresa

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  30. This is truly amazing-what a transformation! I love the colours you chose and all of your accessories and I especially love that gorgeous sideboard in your dining area. Great job!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha.

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  31. looks gorgeous! i love the color on the lowers. it truly looks fabulous and like it would be in my house... or what i would pick for my house anyhow!

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  32. Wow! What a makeover! I love the look of your kitchen. The paint made such a difference!! It just looks fantastic and I'm sure you're so proud of it!
    be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  33. Congratulations on a great job. Love the redo and what a fabulous price!

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  34. Wow. Beautiful and $250? Awesome! Great job!

    :)

    Roeshel

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  35. Stopping by from the Shabby Chic Cottage party! Love what you have done on those cabinets. Amazing what paint and "jewelry" can do for a place!

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  36. What a transformation! You should be very proud, it looks so great! Thanks so much for linking up to We Can Do It Cheaper

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  37. Lovely :-) I am hosting a jewelry giveaway on my blog. Would love for you to visit.

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  38. That is SO beautiful! Great job!

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  39. Your kitchen looks so much better. What a good job you did on the redo!!

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  40. looks so good....I love it!!! Thank you for sharing that with me. Julie

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  41. Absolutely stunning!!! What a great $250 investment. I'm putting your kitchen in the PoPP Spotlight on Saturday. Enjoy your beautiful space.

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  42. Visiting from the POPP party.
    I love the update.

    A fellow Ontarian :)

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  43. I love this look. I'm a huge fan of two tone cabinets. Were you able to paint the hood? It looks fresher and updated in the after pictures even though it's the same hood. And where, oh where, did you get the vintage table cloth. My mom has a whole set of those table cloths and I used to use them to decorate my bedroom as a kid. Now I want some of my own!

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  44. My favorite thing is that you removed the doors on the cabinets to make some display space. It's great! (and I think our grandparents had the same china pattern).

    Super job-

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  45. Wow, what a ton of work that must have been but look at that result! Lovely! I like your plan on doing it abit at a time too. Good for you!!

    Donna

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  46. I love that your kitchen is no bigger than my tiny space yet you've done so much with it. Gives me hope. Unfortunately I can not take down a wall on either side of my kitchen to open it up like yours, but you have given me some great inspirations. Thank you.

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  47. You've done a great job! I'm helping DD2 redo hers and I'm not looking forward to painting! I hope you'll drop by Atticmag to see our kitchens - it's a three for one!

    Allison
    Atticmag

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  48. Hi Grace,

    You are the winner of the title of Painting Queen! What a nice difference.

    Check out my book giveaways.

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  49. Absolutely gorgeous $250 makeover. A lovely change.

    Have a beautiful eve ~
    TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon

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  50. Beautiful and satisfying job! Elbow grease surely pays off, doesn't it??

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  51. I love the transformation. The two tone colors are so nice and classic. It is very calming and classic.
    Lacy

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  52. That was money well spent! You did a great job! :)

    ~Liz

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  53. Hi Grace! Oh, what a difference a little paint and lots elbow grease makes! I love the after of your kitchen - so pretty! I really like the different colors on the top and bottom of your cabinets! I know you're so proud of your makeover and you should be - it's so lovely!
    Thank you so much, Grace, for coming to my party!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  54. That's quite an impressive makeover for only $250! I'm sure you feel like you are in a totally different kitchen. Enjoy! :)

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  55. Very pretty kitchen, love the transformation, you did a fantastic job with the paint!!!

    Hugs
    Charo

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  56. Very pretty. The white really did open it up a lot. I think the work was worth it!
    Valerie

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  57. I love the way you did your kitchen. I know how much work went into it - I painted my cabinets white a couple of years ago. It's worth all the hard work, isn't it? Your inspiration picture and the way you applied it to your cabinets amazes me! I like that idea - wonder what will inspire me to finish the updates and upgrades in my kitchen? Thank you for sharing your lovely home with us.
    ~Adrienne~

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  58. I adore the two toned cabinets! What a gorgeous after - I'm saving these pics for inspiration for my future kitchen makeover!

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  59. Your kitchen is absolutely gorgeous, Grace! The grey bottom cabinets are stunning and of course, I love the beadboard backsplash! Your counter top treasures are wonderful too- the soap and lotion dispensers, the antique salt cellar, the plates.... all wonderful. I also really like the baskets on top of your fridge- I'm going to see if I have room for baskets. It really is amazing to see how paint can transform a space!

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  60. That sooo looks like my before! Sadly, I hauled the rest of the pile of old cabinets to the curb today! I still miss the old grey and white, but am super loving the open feel of everything!

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  61. This is awesome. I am following you now.

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  62. What an amazing transformation for such a little investment! I adore the two tone and that blue is the perfect color. The rest of your home is lovely also and you've just got yourself a new Follower :)

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  63. Oh my gosh -- we have the same kitchen cabinets as in your before shots! I loathe them. The cabinets themselves are well made, but the finish is awful. I would love to paint them white and brighten up the space. Also, I love your bead board backsplash -- that's another detail I'd like to add to our kitchen, on the back side of the lower cabinets. Thanks for sharing your budget redo -- very inspirational!

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