apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Apart from painting, which is always effective, I suggest spotlights or under-the-cabinet lights. The central superbright lamp is just going to cast sharp shadows and make your room look smaller.

I'd decltter completely (the clutter really dates the room), change out your lights to something more mod, add a bold, large botanical black and white print cafe curtain, and try a fun wall color! That should be easy for $250. Please post when you're done!

I'd suggest painting the walls a bright color other than white, swapping out the cabinet hardware, taking down the blinds and replacing them with curtains or roman shades to add color, and either removing the upper cabinet doors or painting them white to contrast with your wall color. A rug and a new light fixture are nice easy fixes as well.

I think you're on the right track - paint the cabinets white, paint the walls whatever light color feels cheeriest to you, get the cutest new cabinet hardware you can find (shiny!) and if you can swing it, replace the wood blind with something lighter - a roman shade either in white with a bit of ribbon trim (don't ask why I know this, but Pottery Barn Teen has some pretty nice ones), or in a fun pattern that coordinates with your wall color.

I'd also suggest a little reduction in the number of accessories; I think it's feeling slightly "bitsy" - a lot of items of similar size.

You can totally do this. Your cabinets are a nice basic design and seem to be in good shape; your countertops and appliances are a nice, neutral black and white, which will ground your space. Once you've added some bright white and happy color, you'll be in great shape. Good luck! Send pictures when you're done!

Paint or use one of the many cost effective back splash treatments referred here such as mirror (tile mirror at ikea), flashing first. Some one has done this here. I love the reverse painted glass - but that's not gonna be in your budget, even DIY probably.

Add under counter lights. I rigged the one in my last kitchen to my sink light with a motion sensor. Used CFLs for the sink light and low watt daisy chainable under cabinet lights to keep the total power low enough to not over load the circuit. I walked in the kitchen lights and came on, cats walked in the kitchen - switch was above counter and didn't see them. - They are adjustable and available at lowes - Same as swapping to a dimmer switch.

Replace the wooden blinds with a pull up shade or window film to the height you need for privacy. If privacy is not a concern, just a valance. The blind gets me and I'm a cave dweller.

Go to northern tool or automotive parts store and get glossy black high heat spray pant. - make all your appliances match. (Lowes only has the flat high heat for grills.) I was just at Northern Tool and saw many colors of high heat paint and tried to think of what I might have that I could possibly use them on. Left sad. New house has all matching stuff.

Then paint the cabinets. I actually think this is the most time consuming of the tasks so I'd suggest doing it last, if you still need to.

Also, your knobs are a bit ho-hum, try a modern brushed metal pull like this:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50138750

For $250, you could easily repaint the cabinets a crisp white, paint the walls / backsplash with a neutral but soothing color (pale blue-gray or green?), replace the knobs with something brighter like nickel or glass...lose the dark accessories, you could get a modern IKEA faucet, or maybe even replace that light fixture.
Good Luck!

OK.. here is the deal. My kitchen was, simply, just nasty. Cheap cabinets. Nasty sponge painting (obviously done with a kitchen sponge, hunter green over bright white). Crooked wallpaper borders. Peel & stick dark green floor tiles. Just gross.

I can't afford my dream kitchen, yet... So I decided to do what I could with the space, for now, to make it liveable.

I am almost done with it, and did it on a shoestring budget.

My blog chronicles the effort... including a step by step picture DIY on painting your cabinets.

My budget was just:
paint for cabinets, trim, floor
beadboard for backsplashes
trim detailing (less than a buck a foot) to add to cabinets
fabric to reupholster chairs
spray paint for chairs and table bases

You can do a lot with paint. Really!

http://cottageofstone.blogspot.com/search/label/kitchen

--puck

you are actually pretty lucky! your kitchen has a nice layout (wish my sink had a window above it) and the cabinets have a nice, simple shape to them. I would definitely paint them white. If you live in a rental, try to spend the rest of your budget on things that you can take with you to your next place (like canisters, a rug or FLOR tiles, tea towels and pot holders, etc.). You could get new knobs for the cabinets too, but yours seem neutral enough. I agree with pantzini: that light is harsh. get some spotlights or replace the fixture with something nicer. you can always change it back if/when you move!

I wouldn't paint the cabinets - that job's sheer torture, and you have decent wood cabinets.

I'd paint the walls a bright color that you enjoy (Red? Coral? Yellow? Lime Green? Terracotta?) and change the light fixture to something more interesting and install a dimmer for it.

Finally I'd declutter (Why is there a mat at the refrigerator?), open the wooden blinds to let in the light and put up some cheery curtains at the kitchen window over the blinds.

Thos cabinets seem fine, I would concentrate on painting the walls and undercabinet lighting. Maybe a good floor covering of some sort, and it'll look great.

I agree with a lot of the suggestions:

1. Declutter

2. Replace knobs with something from Ikea.

3. Replace blinds with something similar in white.

4. Nice bright, fresh paint.

5. New faucet

Oh... and I almost forgot, a box of used pull and knobs, and a can of spray paint, for less than $20.

You didn't specify if you are renting or own the home. That makes a difference.

Anyway, you can also put a run of rope lights above the cabinets and run power to them from the same plug used by the fridge... There is likely a gap in the cabinets that you can drop the power cord down. If not, then small holes could be drilled in cabinet above fridge.

And look for a plug in adapter for a touch light. The "touch sensor" is usually a long wire and can be hidden around and shoved under the hinge just to the left of the fridge. That would make it possible to turn them off easily but no obvious switch. Then sparkly things can be placed up top.

Cute kitchen! I think the cabinets would look great painted. I painted my pickled-oak cabinets (they were big in the 80s) in Benjamin Moore's Cloud White, and I loooove them.

Warning: they don't hide bits of dirt and food splashes as well as wood does!

What about removing some cupboard doors and painting the inside of the cabinet a great colour?
Don't lower your wooden blinds. Keep them open and hang light curtains that you can keep open. Let in the light!

Install undercabinet lighting. They even have battery operated lights that can be stuck on that do a pretty good job if you're on a super tight budget.

Paint! Painting the walls a nice bright colour to refresh the space will really help. I recently painted my kitchen yellow to cover up the brown accent wall my landlord had thought was a good idea. It's so bright and fresh!

Accessorize with bright primary colours. You have so much black with the countertop that you need to add some pops!!

This is a do it yourself project!! Flooring(wood)in dark walnut, found at discount store for pennies on the dollar,
$100.Paint appliances Black using special appliance paint $10 a can= 7 cans 70$,re-stain Cabinets in cherry $30 a gallon,paint for walls= light mint green or taupe $20,tile factory seconds very cheap 12x12 @ $2ea about 15 tiles=$30 for the back splash.TOTAL = $250..Of course this is work but cost effective and worth every penny and effort! Ive done this very thing with fantastic results. friend was extremely happy and before I knew it was on to my next!! try it youll like it,No youll Love it!

1) Declutter (completely!). If you can live without them, I'd advise removing the paper towel holder and towel ring. (Those always look so "granny" -- and not in a good way.)

2) Replace the blind with a custom roller shade, something sleek (and colorful, if that is your preference). Try Smith Noble. (PLEASE... no valance!)

3) Replace all of your existing accessories with a FEW well chosen items.

4) Add FLOR rug tiles (suggest 'housepet' or something for high traffic)

5) Replace your light fixture

6) If you have any money left, replace your cabinet hardware (ONLY IF it is necessary... the photos don't really show them well)

The above suggestions will consume your whole budget. Don't paint. The cabinets look fine. And don't paint your appliances.

You could paint the walls... but it looks like this space adjoins a larger area, and that might mean painting multiple rooms. More money. If you want color, introduce it via your accessories, shade, and rug.

Your mantra: Keep it simple and clean!

And send an 'after' photo, please.

Methinks the culprit is the the number of contrasting color values of this kitchen. White and black appliances. Black counters, white walls, pale wood cabinets.

I think the right wall color that ties the black and the wood together would make ALL the difference (and you wouldn't have to paint your cabinets). Maybe something like MOZART BLUE from BenjMoore?

Then definitely add undercounter lights and replace your overhead light with a ceiling/spotlight fixture.

i agree that a fresh coat of paint (on the walls and/or the cabinets) will do wonders.

anyone have any experience/insight into painting cabinets that are not wood (i.e. formica / melamine). is it possible, or just a disaster waiting to happen? i'd imagine the surface would need to be lightly sanded or something to create texture for the paint to stick to, but im nervous to try...

Many of your accents are black, that's making the whole room feel darker. Consider spray painting those trivets and the "Live Laugh Love" piece a brighter color, like apple green, or a color that contrasts with whatever wall color you choose. Having them black is drawing attention to the black counters, that you can't change.

I would paint the lower cabinets in a darker color to blend better with the countertop and black in appliances (lightly sand, prime, and paint with small foam roller), paint the walls a value that brings everything together, new hardware and fixture, and add something flowy and airy for a window treatment.

One of the quickest updates is putting color and/or texture on your backsplash and adding under-cabinet lighting. (You can find deeply discounted odd lots of tiles at many tile shops or scrap dealers. I used to find them at Home Depot Expo. People cancel orders, refuse deliveries, or just have too much left over after a job, and even luxury tile gets deeply discounted, usually in lots smaller than maybe 40 square feet.)

Get rid of all your doo-dads (Live Laugh Love, for instance). Also the rug in front of the fridge.

Change your cabinet hardware to a combination of bars and knobs, to break up the look of "dots".

Your cabinets are saved from being too dated by having square corners. Instead of painting the cabinets (I dislike painted kitchen cabinets with a passion), how about removing some of the panels from a couple of upper cabinets and replacing them with laminated glass (it looks milky, and diffuses the image of the cabinet contents). It's easy to do, and a glass shop will cut the glass to specs. You could even put a downlight in the cabinets with the glass doors, replacing the shelves with glass so the light can shine through.

And get a dimmer for your overhead light fixture. Switch out the fixture for something more modern when you can afford it.

And definately get a goosenecked faucet.

I have a similar kitchen and I did:
leave cabinets alone replace hardware as:
Lansa handles mounted vertically, long ones for tall cabinet
shorter ones for smaller cabinets
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60138759
replace panels on dishwasher with stainless and can do with fridge too, use stainless, and paint side of fridge high heat spary paint black
see Frigo designs, they also sell on ebay
http://www.frigodesign.com/php/appliance/dishwasher.php

fridge
http://www.frigodesign.com/php/appliance/stainless_copper.php

metal style subway tiles at Frigo or elsewhere
http://www.frigodesign.com/php/tiles/subway.php

light I did this one
http://www.menardsonlinecollections.com/LightingFans/FluorescentLights/PRD_3001129FD432-51HCEB-prod/2X4 432W Fluorescent in Natural Maple Finish.jsp

picture:
http://www.menardsonlinecollections.com/media/men001/images/vendor/Thomas/products/rg/FD432_51HCEB_Large_medium_v1_m56577569830697626.jpg

or this
http://www.menardsonlinecollections.com/LightingFans/FluorescentLights/PRD_3001129FC417-EB-prod/15X2 Fluorescent Cloud.jsp

replace faucet with a really good inexpensive Ikea, I have 2 and love them, has pull out spout copy of a really expensive model
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30085776

good luck
Stephanie

-Paint walls a warm neutral
-Sand cabinet faces and doors, Paint white
-New hardware (Ikea- recommend black knobs)
-Declutter
-New Faucet - Something simple and modern
-Tension rod and pocket valance - sew a hem and pocket on vertical striped fabric coordinating with wall color, hang over sink between cabinets
-New set of dish rags and towels to match
--------------
If you've got more to spend, I'd go for a new countertop. Ikea has a ton of inexpensive ones including wood. Just to brighten it up.

Good luck.

I'd change out the blinds for something that matches the wall colour.

If enough people are saying the same thing...about the clutter...in the spirit of practicality perhaps you can leave the things you use absolutely every day. As much as "Live.Laugh.Love.' might be a daily mantra, the way it's executed does not inspired one to do so in any modern/contemporary way.

A reason why stainless fridges look great is that they are not magnetic. Toss everything from the front of that side-by-side. Leave the top clear too.

Hope this helps.

your kitchen is really not so bad! your cabinets are pretty contemporary and i like the door style. i do have a preference for white cabinets, so if you want white i say go for it. that will make a HUGE difference.

some modern drawer pulls like ikeas lansa pulls (that parrishnut linked) would be nice.

i think a pale green would look pretty. i recently saw a budget makeover where they painted the cabinets white, painted the walls a light iceburg lettuce-green (which looked great) and used stainless and wood accents- i loved it! a pale blue would also be nice.

a pretty roman shade in a light fabric would be nice too-

i would also declutter a bit and some fresh flowers or a bowl of lemons/limes always help liven up a room!

what color are your countertops? i cant tell if they're brown or black?

I think what this space needs more than anything is better lighting. Apart from a new fixture (if your budget can accommodate one), you should find some decent budget lighting to go both above and below the cabinets. Ikea is a great resource for this, or rope lights are always an option.

I also agree with what other people have said about painting all the appliances black to match and changing out the hardware on the cabinets but not painting the cabinets themselves. They're a nice light color already, so they're not what's dragging down the brightness.

If you have your heart set on painting the walls, choose a color that will reflect the light and bring sunny days to mind, such as a springtime green, an ocean blue, or a sunny buttercream.

Your kitchen needs a devoted focal point - I suggest the window area. You can jazz it up with trim (sides and top), a bamboo roller shade and/or a fun cafe curtain. None of that will cost much. I also suggest you work on the lighting. You may not be able to go with under cabinets lights because it doesn't look like you would be able to conceal the fixtures. but consider putting rope lights above the cabinets if you can find a secret way to plug them in. That will give the room an ambient glow and raise the eye. I do not suggest painting the cabinets, however a fresh coat of paint on the walls would help - maybe even just a softer white or a light beige that works with the cabinets? Hard to say without seeing the rest of your decor. You could also add painted beadboard above the backsplash to the bottom of the cabinets for texture...
Also - ditch the clutter, put a jute mat on the floor in front of the sink, keep a bowl of fresh fruit out somewhere for a punch of color and stick to just a few really great photos on the fridge (use magnet frames and stick them up gallery-style).

I agree with a lot of what Forestdweller said. I really don't like painted cabinets either, and the color\style of yours is actually fairly decent. I like the idea of replacing some of the upper panels inserts.. probably all of the full height upper cabinets (not the ones over the microwave & fridge). another way to make them more interesting might be to sand the "frames" of the doors and stain them a different color. maybe a slightly more honey-ish tone than the rest, if you don't want them too dark.

other things:
1) wall paint. Without knowing what else is going on around the kitchen, I'd paint the wall the sink is on in a color that works with both the kitchen and whatever is to the left (it looks like it's open) as an accent wall and possibly leave the others as they are (or something light and neutral).

2) You could give the backsplash behind the stove a stainless steel look easily by getting a roll of aluminum flashing and adhering it to the wall..

3) A roman shade for the window would help get rid of some of the woodiness that probably makes the kitchen feel heavy and dark. (perhaps even something semi-transparent to let some light in)

4) I'd probably put in a new light fixture for the ceiling.. maybe a track setup (like http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=25560-24969-800RALHDW150N&lpage=none) formed in a square around the kitchen.. If i could find the lights i used in my kitchen, they'd probably be pefect.. they had 1 arm fixed to the 'box' and 2 arms that you could move into any position you wanted.. I formed them into a rectangle (for my galley-type kitchen, your's would probably be more square).. they 6 lights on each so they gave a lot of aimable light, and were only about 50$ each at lowes. (if you could combine the light units on this http://www.lampsplus.com/Products/Pro-Track-150-Watt-Three-Light-Spiral-Ceiling-Light-Fixture__30720.html with http://www.lampsplus.com/Products/Pro-Track-200-Watt-4-Light-Swing-Arm-Fixture__67543.html this, but straight arms instead of squiggles, that would be it)

5) new cabinet hardware and then undercabinet lights would be cool, too, but i'd tackle the cabinet panel inserts and a good ceiling light setup first. these things can always be done in parts as money allows.

For starters, swap the wooden blinds for curtains in a modern graphic print (maybe a Marimekko fabric), and add a black-and-white rug (instead of the mat by the fridge). That might be enough to tie the room together without resorting to a big paint job.

DON'T paint the cabinets! NO matter how good a painter you are, paint in kitchens doesn't stand up well over time. We regret it every day. Keep the wood and warm up the kitchen with lighting and a cheery paint color on the walls. As others have said, paint the fridge black (stove too if you can), change the knobs on the cabinets to something more modern, add under cabinet lighting and put a nice rug on the floor.

Then add some rope lighting ABOVE the cabinets so the it glows up there whenever the light through the window is dim. Your Live LoveLaugh would be stunning up above the stove when lit from behind with a beatiful pitcher or bowl on either side.
Goood luck!

(oh, and a new faucet would be good, too!)

No-one suggested changing the countertops?

I don't mind your kitchen. It just needs to be dressed.

I think you just need a few things:

Paint the walls a bold color.
What color do you like? The right shade of paint in BM Matte will transform the room.
We can all help you pick out the right shade of paint.

Get a New faucet.

New ceiling light fixture.

Large kitchen Rug (overstock.com)

Why should she change counter tops when they are perfectly nice looking.
She has a budget of $250.

All she needs is some Dressing in this room.

A lot of great suggestions here and I agree with a lot of them.

Some things I'd do, get rid of the black accessories, they are only pulling in the black that is already there. Take the wall behind the sink and paint it an accent color, say red or yellow and get accessories to match that wall, or if red on the wall, go with yellow for canisters etc. Keep nic nacs to a minimum, get rid of the rug in front of the fridge and use a small area rug in the center of the space, if you go with a rug at all.

Take down the towel holder and hang your hand and dish towels on the oven door which will then break up the black there.

If you have a trim kit on your dishwasher, see if you don't have a white panel inside and flip it around to make it mostly white. Replace the hardware with handles instead of pulls wherever you can, that'll break up the monotony I see there.

And finally, I have a hunch the overhead fixture is flourescent, if so, leave it but add under cabinet lighting, get the inexpensive halogen low wattage puck lights and mount them under all of the cabinets to help even out the lighting on your prep areas.

And get rid of the blind for it's the same tone as the cabinets and may be bringing in to much of a neutral tone to the space, and too much of a neutral/tan/beige color can suck life out of any room it's in. If you need to keep it, keep it raised, at least during the day at night if you have to lower them, leave the pucks on and turn off the overhead when not cooking etc and also it's OK to leave the light on over the stove too, I do at my kitchen all the time, a long with the light over the sink after dinner until time for bed and it helps a lot to keep the kitchen a black hole when not in use.

Good luck!

All of this is easily doable for $250.

Corrections.

I leave the light over the sink and stove on to keep the kitchen from being a black hole during the evenings (no window in there).

Paint your backsplash (a mid-tone between your cabinets and your countertops).
Replace your overhead light.
Change your cabinet knobs and drawer pulls.
Put up a TAILORED fabric valance (or Roman shade).

Paint your cabinets if you have the money and energy left to do it.

Or save up what you didn't spend and buy a new stove and fridge.

this is simple, keep it simple and lighten the cabinets up/white ... put in new hardway long and slim, brushed silver if possible. if u have any money after that, back splash of copper or silver that u can get at lowes or home depot... it comes in sheets... personally i love silver. cant wait to see what u do, send me pics in case i dont catch it on here.. artbybabz@aol.com

ok u cant do demo but if i could i would take out the top cabinets and put in shelving. ultra modern and replace cabinet faces below to black almost see through... and cork flooring.

You can replace the cabinet doors around the windows and by the breakfast bar with ikea wood doors with frosted glass panels. and add lights inside them put glass wear and dishes inside it will refect alot of light back into the room and they will glow.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50101407
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30060182

Get curtains that shade makes the window look like another cabinet. Paint definitely. If you want to do an inexpensive backsplash tin tiles, or glass. You dont have alot of wall space to cover.

I think I'd like to see a fairly light grey on the walls, white on the upper cabinets, and possibly a dark grey or black on the lower cabinets. I also think that the very tailored window treatment that patrick mentioned might be in some kind of black-and-white pattern. Possibly an awning stripe.

heh... curtis just described the painting i just did in my kitchen. did you peek at my blog i posted up there, curtis? teehee.

don't paint the cabinets..that's crazy..won't look as professional..def. get fun polished nickle pulls..modern..put away the soap bottles, the live, laugh thing..(maybe on a shelf somewhere) take down the great though boring blinds and put up the suggested fun curtains or roller shades with the colors white or cream/black and the color you chose to paint the walls. think young and 'live, laugh, life'..!!.. a grey toned blue would look so pretty with the black and cab. colors..but def. blue..i'ts a very nice kitchen, just needs happy coloring!

I agree, paint the walls, but leave the cabinets alone. Put some plants or treasured items on top of the cabinets.

Hi everyone! Thank you so so much for all of the great suggestions! I had no clue until just now that my kitchen question had been posted. I can't wait to re-vamp with some of these ideas, and I will definitely share once we are done with it! Thanks again!!!

Becca

I also wanted to add that we do own this home - it's just that we have a very small budget to work with!

WOW-
people are pumped up....
Faucet- def update
blinds- white or fun cafe curtains with light colored bamboo blinds.
Paint- Fern green- Daffodil yellow
This should be around $250.00
Have fun
Post photo after finished