Have you made any New Year’s resolutions? I don’t usually make many, but this year I’ve vowed to do more DIY projects and finally cross some bigger projects off my to-do list. The biggest one that’s been sitting on the back burner since we moved in over 2 years ago is our kitchen!
I’ve always been a bit intimidated about working on the kitchen because a.) I’m not very handy with power tools and b.) we can’t afford a complete gut and reno job. So for the past couple weeks I’ve really been thinking about what we can do to beautify our kitchen while staying on a budget. Just so you can get an idea of what we’re working with, here’s a couple photos of our kitchen (the only things that are different are the barstools and things on the counters as these photos are from the house listing):
Verrryyy…. orangey, no? Everything in this kitchen is sort of a mismash – not even all the kitchen cabinets are the same style! I’m also not a fan of the poorly grouted and uneven black tile countertops and backsplash, the scratched up black porcelain sink, the separate weird tile on part of the floor, and the pendant lights that hang wayyy too low. And holy bead board, amiright? Don’t get me wrong, it’s a very functional kitchen and the space is great, it’s only the finishes that don’t gel well with my design vision.
Since we are on a budget (read: try to spend as close to $0 as possible) we know that a full gut and renovation job won’t be possible. And considering the fact that this isn’t our forever home, we just want to make this kitchen pretty and good for resale value down the line without having to put too much into it.
So what’s the plan? I came up with a little mood board with my ideal look for this space:
I’m dreaming of gray cabinets, with fun rose gold accents like hardware, bar stools, and sink fixtures. By ripping out the black dingy counters and backsplash and replacing them with bright white subway tile and quartz counters, we hope to brighten up the space and create an inviting space to cook, congregate, and celebrate. And of course one of my fave colors of all time is aqua, so I couldn’t resist throwing a few blue things in there, especially since I already have my DIY repainted KitchenAid mixer ready to go!
So here’s the plan of what all we’ll need to do to make this Kitchen mood board come true!
- Repaint existing cabinets
- Add hardware to cabinets
- Find budget-friendly tile backsplash (possibly remains from a big box store for an extra discount?)
- Find budget-friendly countertops
- Switch out sink and fixtures
- Replace pendant lights
It doesn’t seem like a very long list, but it sure will take us a while to get it all done! I think the most challenging part will be finding budget-friendly countertops. Pretty quartz (or a similar material) ain’t cheap! If any of you have suggestions I’d be happy to hear them 🙂 I also added some nice warm wood floors to my mood board, although I know that won’t be happening anytime soon. Guess I’ll just have to suck it up and be okay with the half tile/half laminate for now!
> > > > Shop the Look < < < <
We’ve got a big to-do list ahead of us to whip this kitchen into shape, so all the well-wishes and luck are appreciated! I’ll keep you all posted as we walk this path to beautifying our lovely orange kitchen. Stay tuned! 🙂
What’s your favorite part of my kitchen mood board?
I LOVE your mood board for this room. I can’t wait to follow along as it comes together. You have a huge open space to work with so that’s great!!
Thanks so much, Leigh Anne! I really am excited to but this space together and also terrified about all the work it will be. I’m SO not handy! Hah. I just need to put my big girl panties on and get going! 🙂
Ohhh I’m excited for you!! You really do have such a great space and luckily most of the stuff that needs work is cosmetic! Your mood board is awesome. It’s gonna look fantastic!
Thanks so much, Bre! I’m definitely excited to complete the kitchen since it’s such a major focal point in our home and is basically visible from everywhere haha 🙂 Now I just need to find counters and tile that won’t break the bank!
You’ve got this!! My advice, don’t spend too much on your hardware. It’s so tempting and we did that once, but you’ll get more bang for your buck and be equally happy getting the less expensive items to complete the makeover! The gold and gray will be fantastic.
Thanks for the encouragement, Karisa! Goodness knows I need it hah. Luckily we got our hardware for free from Hickory Hardware, but I’m most nervous on finding quality yet budget-friendly countertops and backsplash. That and actually putting all the work in 😉 Eep!
Ooh, I love your plans! I’m all about gray and gold and can’t wait see what you do with this space!
Thanks so much, Katie! I’m so excited to finally be crossing this huge project off my list 🙂 Can’t wait for a pretty kitchen!
This is very pretty! I love the idea of gray and gold.I don’t think I have really thought of putting those together, but I love it. Can’t wait to see it all together!
Thanks so much, Brooke! They are definitely two of my fave colors and I was pleased that they seem to work well together 🙂
This is EXACTLY the colors and style that I’m doing in my kitchen. Needless to say, I love it! And it gave me some ideas about pieces I still needed to decide on. 🙂
So cool, Becky! Gray and gold is definitely a good color combo, in my personal opinion 😉 So glad you liked the mood board 🙂 I’d love to see your kitchen when it’s done!
Oh my goodness, what gorgeous inspiration! I am so excited to see everything come together.
Thanks so much, Sarah! I’m excited to finally have a pretty kitchen 🙂 Just need to keep myself motivated. Can’t wait to see YOUR kitchen!!