kitchen remodel?

[ProgMatinee]

I live in a newish home, it was built in 2003, but basically had the cheapest cabinets the builder could find installed.

I want to upgrade the kitchen. I'm not going extravagant or anything, but its going to be more than a simple reface. I want all new cabinets.
Has anyone ever done a resonably affordable upgrade? Anyone go through a place like Home Depot to get it done? Are you happy with it? I can't afford to go all custom made, but I think I could afford some of the sets they sell at Home Depot. Looking to spend about $10k.

Any tips or things to watch out for?

 

[Darth Waller]

We remodeled our kitchen this year. Cabinets can be expensive. Our house was built in 1996, so luckily it had decent wooden cabinets. We paid someone to come in and strip them down and paint a faux finish on them. Looks much better than expected and allowed us to put the money into Silestone counters, new sink and faucet and a new dishwasher. We also had an electrician hardwire some under cabinet lighting and drop lights over the bar.

That probably doesn't help you, but having the cabinets painted may be an option if you like that look.

 

[ProgMatinee]

Yeah, my cubicle neighbor repainted her cabinets herself and they look great. I figure I can do that as a last ditch effort if things prove too pricey. Unfortunately, the peeps that originally bought the house choose to only do 1.5 walls worth of cabinets, instead of 2.5 or 3 walls worth...I don't even have a dang pantry. I store most of my food and stuff in the garage and had to buy a kitchen rack to hold all my cooking equipment. So the primary goal is to add space and a bonus would be to upgrade the look.

As I get older, I'm realizing that one of my passions and key sources of relaxation is to cook. I'm almost to a point where I prefer cooking to collecting toys. So with the amount of time I spend in the kitchen, I think its time I splurge and upgrade it.

Right now, I have a very open floor plan. Nothing seperating the kitchen from the dining area. In addition to the pantry, the biggest upgrade would be a breakfast bar/food prep counter that would seperate the dining from the kitchen.

 

[Darth Waller]

Sounds like new cabinets is the way to go then since you don't have much storage space.

 

[ProgMatinee]

Oh yeah, the other thing is I want to replace the linolium with hardwood (or the fake stuff) floor. Do you know if I need to put the floor down before the cabinets or vice versa?

 

[VASith]

Oh yeah, the other thing is I want to replace the linolium with hardwood (or the fake stuff) floor. Do you know if I need to put the floor down before the cabinets or vice versa?

Either way..both are easy for laminate flooring. We redid our kitchen in our townhome 10 years ago for about 10k. We upgraded cabinets, stove, and put in an icemaker with new fridge. Also put in new microwave above the stove. Also put in floor to ceiling pantry with sliding drawers..added a ton of storage space. Let me know if you have any other questions...

 

[VASith]

Also, since it sounds like you like to cook...splurge and get a huge double sink with disposal in one side. Try and get an undermounted flush sink so there is no gap for crap to get stuck on. Having a nice deep sink makes cleaning up so much easier. Have plenty of lights installed above and have more than plenty wall outlets installed. I'm a chef and I use all our wall outlets for the kitchenaid, yoghurt maker, vitamix blender, food processor, stick blender, thermal circulator, coffee maker, tea maker and any extra stuff. Extra outlets are always handy.

 

[cadaver202]

you usually want to start from the top down. that way you won't have cabinet guys walking all over your new floor.

my parents got theres done about 4 years ago. the guy just refinished all the frames of the existing cabinets and made new doors and also built a new cabinet section as well. that might also be a route you could take. i think is set them back $7000 Canadian. Don't remember exactly

Oh yeah, the other thing is I want to replace the linolium with hardwood (or the fake stuff) floor. Do you know if I need to put the floor down before the cabinets or vice versa?

 

[ProgMatinee]

thanks guys, keep it coming.

 

[Patient Zero]

Oh yeah, the other thing is I want to replace the linolium with hardwood (or the fake stuff) floor. Do you know if I need to put the floor down before the cabinets or vice versa?

You can install your cabinets, then install your flooring. But it makes it alot easier to install your flooring first, with all the old cabinets removed. This will also prevent any accidental damage to your new cabinets. It also eliminates the need for "trim", being quarter round or covebase around your cabinets. I would also stay away from Laminate, their are better products out there if you want a "faux" wood.

 

[jonny88]

kitchens are one of the most expensive places to remodel in your home. look for the best bargains and good quality. don't go crazy and go first class on everything because you will be broke quick. go to at least a dozen different stores with note pad and paper and do your research on items that will fit your budget. when you start start from the floor up. always work up it's easier. if your painting remove everything from the kitchen, paint, then floors, then the cabinets, then what ever else you are doing.

 

[BadMoon]

Kitchen is my favorite room in any home. Before and after pics please! Good luck!

 

[user 1190]

Let me know I may be looking at that once I get my house.

I was looking around a little already and found this place. Seemed like a good place to get an idea of cost.

https://www.cabinetliquidators.com/

 

[The Chaver]

you usually want to start from the top down. that way you won't have cabinet guys walking all over your new floor.

Not nessessarily.. Although that may be true for top cabinets, the lower cabinets should be to be installed AFTER the floor is installed. It is common knowledge in the field of carpentry that the lower cabinets sit on top of the new floor. Unless your a hack carpenter..? And the cabinet guys are usually the last to go in. I mean if your worried about the new floor, that's what drop cloths and tarps are for.

 

[user 1190]

Not nessessarily.. Although that may be true for top cabinets, the lower cabinets should be to be installed AFTER the floor is installed. It is common knowledge in the field of carpentry that the lower cabinets sit on top of the new floor. Unless your a hack carpenter..? And the cabinet guys are usually the last to go in. I mean if your worried about the new floor, that's what drop cloths and tarps are for.

Would that depend on the type floor? Do you install cabinets on top of carpet?

 

[The Chaver]

Would that depend on the type floor? Do you install cabinets on top of carpet?

Why would you put carpet in your kitchen? But I guess if your talking about the dining area ( and this the closest carpet should be to the kitchen) or a bar area? Then yeah, I could definitely see carpet there, and yeah the cabinets should be installed first if there is going to be carpet on both sides of the lower cabinets.

Now, if your gonna have hard flooring on the one side, then I'll say it again, the cabinets need to sit on top of the hard flooring. The reason being is because when you go to remodel again later on, chances are your new layout is not going to be the same. And what if your flooring is still good? Especially hardwood flooring.. That stuff can last a very long time. Chances are you want to save it to save some money? In that case, the person who originally installed it should have taken this in consideration and to make it easier for you or your next installer and put the cabinets after the flooring.

The only way I would put hard flooring in say a kitchen, was if I was laying ceramic tile and there where already pre-existing cabinets that the customer did not want changed which had vinyl tile underneath. In that case you just butt your tile right up against the cabinets and then place some shoe or some silicone caulking around the edges to cover the seem.

 

[user 1190]

Why would you put carpet in your kitchen? But I guess if your talking about the dining area ( and this the closest carpet should be to the kitchen) or a bar area? Then yeah, I could definitely see carpet there, and yeah the cabinets should be installed first if there is going to be carpet on both sides of the lower cabinets.

Now, if your gonna have hard flooring on the one side, then I'll say it again, the cabinets need to sit on top of the hard flooring. The reason being is because when you go to remodel again later on, chances are your new layout is not going to be the same. And what if your flooring is still good? Especially hardwood flooring.. That stuff can last a very long time. Chances are you want to save it to save some money? In that case, the person who originally installed it should have taken this in consideration and to make it easier for you or your next installer and put the cabinets after the flooring.

The only way I would put hard flooring in say a kitchen, was if I was laying ceramic tile and there where already pre-existing cabinets that the customer did not want changed which had vinyl tile underneath. In that case you just butt your tile right up against the cabinets and then place some shoe or some silicone caulking around the edges to cover the seem.

Why because I may want to. My parents place was that way , and well its kinda nice. Its more comfortable to stand on then tile or hardwood, its not cold like tile or hardwood. Plus it can and will save breakable items that may get dropped unlike tile and hardwood. The only reason i can see you wouldn't want that is if your a messy cook.

 

[The Chaver]

Why because I may want to. My parents place was that way , and well its kinda nice. Its more comfortable to stand on then tile or hardwood, its not cold like tile or hardwood. Plus it can and will save breakable items that may get dropped unlike tile and hardwood. The only reason i can see you wouldn't want that is if your a messy cook.

Most of us are messy cooks. LoL! That is the reason most people prefer to not have carpet in there kitchen area. The carpet would get quite disgusting and would not last very long.. Hard flooring is much easier on cleanup.

But if you can maintain the carpet and that's what you want, then by all means do it the way you want.