Hey Everyone.... Hope all is well in your Universe!! I came across this great Kitchen. Visually it is so fun and modern, yet it has a bit of a Vintage vibe to it. For those of thinking of doing an inexpensive reno like this one I just wanted to point out a few things to help you out.
For those of you on a tight budget doing something like this is such a great choice.
1. Open shelves is such a great way to not only save money on cabinetry but it is a great way to display your wares. But I have to caution you it is NOT for everyone. There is a little more up keep with this look for a couple of reasons.
If your home tends to be a little more dustier than others then this may not be for you. You may have to be wiping down those shelves quite a bit. In addition if you are fastidious or are slightly OCD on organizing then this one may work for you as you can organize and pretty up those shelves to your hearts content. If you aren't, then that great display you first put out is now a hot mess because you don't stack neatly. Just a thought.
2. If your cabinets are in descent shape you can rip out the uppers, tile the wall and add those shelves. Keep the lowers and paint them yourselves or have them professional painted. Way cheaper than buying new cabinets. Great shelves like these can be purchased at Ikea for very little money.
3. If your cabinets are not in great shape or you do not like the style, then buying used cabinetry may be your next way to go. The Habitat for Humanity Store is such a great place to find such cabinetry. And who cares what type of finish they are- you are going to paint them anyways.
4. Don't be afraid to think out of the box when it comes to lighting. Go to the Industrial Section, use outdoor lighting, or use a colour. The great lights they have used over the stove are fantastic. You can also get a similar look at The Barn Electric Company.
A similar pendant as the one shown in the pic
4. I know I mentioned tile above but I wanted to stress that doing this in a kitchen does not have to break the bank; Even with tiling a large area. White Subway tiles are a classic. You do not have to buy the luxury, high end ones to achieve this look. I have seen them in Home Depot for $.45 each. But I have also seen them in closeout sales at tiles stores in the clearance department or at Habitat for Humanity for even less. Do a little leg work it so worth it.
. 5. And this is the reason I am mentioning this particular picture..... please, please,PLEASE have the proper fan/ventilation. The above pic is so NOT the way to ventilate when cooking. It may have been OK back in the day. However, we have come a long way since then. Not only is it not to code but really it does nothing to get the smoke,steam or little fat droplets up and out. These lovely people have gone to a great time and some expense to update their kitchen but without the proper ventilation all that steam, smoke and fatty droplets are going to end up on their amazing shelves and great lighting way more than if they had put in proper ventilation. I cannot stress this enough. I just hate to come upon an amazing reno only to be disappointed to see improper ventilation. It is such an important part of a kitchen.
6. You do NOT have to have granite/stone/marble in your kitchen. Do NOT fall into the trap. You know the trap I am speaking of.... There are other options. There are some amazing laminates out there. Don't just dismiss them out of habit. They can be awesome too, at a fraction of the cost.
Don't be afraid to use butcher block. You can sand, stain/or not and seal them. They look amazing in a kitchen- even when used around water. If you take care of them they will last for years. Wooden counters have been used FOREVA!!! You can purchase inexpensive ones from Ikea.
So there you have it. A kitchen can be eclectic and functional even on a budget.
Have a great day everyone.
Megan
There's a chance you are eligible to get a $350 Ikea Gift Card.
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