Updating a Tired Kitchen

anastasiaC · #1 01-02-2010, 11:35 AM

so our kitchen is about 15yrs old - its a solid timber kitchen with laminate counter tops and is currently looking very tired....
Id love to scratch it and get a completely new kitchen but we plan to move soon so dont want to spend too much and buy a dream kitchen
but Id still like an update?

any tips/Ideas?

you can see a snippet of it here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anastasiac/2146578635/
so open plan room

ablancspace · #2 01-02-2010, 07:34 PM

A quick splash of paint and change the handles will freshen it up for low $$. My parents are serial renovators and they just did there kitchen and it looks fantastic, all white fresh and modern-ready for a resell.
HHHmmm still thinking what to do with counter tops ;-)
Cheers
Justine

Julie-Ann · #3 01-02-2010, 07:50 PM

Don't show this to your DH but I thought your kitchen looked great.

What type of wood is that? Is the wood in good condition? Do you dislike the wood or just want to freshen up the kitchen?

Sorry for the 3rd degree

. It all helps.

anastasiaC · #4 02-02-2010, 05:07 AM

oh the kitchen is still in pretty good nic - the area near the stove top is a little tired...but overall its not too bad. I guess im over the colour and look haha but thats still a good reason to update right??

hugs
Anastasia

Julie-Ann · #5 02-02-2010, 10:39 AM

Definitely

The cheapest way to update is to leave the wood alone. If you can live with it. To change the wood would involve painting or limewashing it. You probably couldn't even just change the doors because all your frames & fixed panels are still wood. Plus usually doors from places like Ikea are not the same sizes as a custom built kitchen

. The wood might just benefit from something like Marveer to spruce it up.
Changing the handles is inexpensive and makes a big difference. Most handles are only $10-15 each. I would suggest you keep to the style of your kitchen so don't put ultra modern handles on country kitchen doors.
The next step would be to change the benchtop. This can really make a difference. Have a look at homes selling in your area to decide if you would benefit financially from putting on a stone benchtop. If you decide on stone let me know because there are issues to consider with doing that.
You could buy new appliances. Do buyers in your suburb expect European appliances? A nice stainless steel hotplate & oven adds wow factor. And a more contemporary sink perhaps.
What do you think? Would this spruce it up enough or should we talk about changing the wood as well?

geemash · #6 03-02-2010, 06:18 PM

I tarted up a dated kitchen very cheaply by painting it and changing the handles.
White Knight laminate paint is fantastic.
You can use a gloss roller but I got a great result with a paint brush, which is recommended.
You can't do the benchtops however.
They make great tile paint too, I did a whole bathroom with it (except the floors)
If you can't afford/justify stone benchtops you can get a type of laminate called Square form which is twice as much as normal laminate but a third of the price of stone.
White doors, updated handles in something contempary but not too edgy, and square form tops would look great, but not over capitalise. In my opinion...
If you were to sell tomorrow you may not get the extra money, but it would make the house present more currently, and can aid in a faster, and full price sale.

Julie-Ann · #7 04-02-2010, 08:58 AM

Hi geemash

I used the special paint to paint over laminate once. The kitchen was a bright salmon pink

. So I used it on the frames & bought new doors.
We never lived in the house and sold it straight after renovating it. So I was never sure how it lasted. How well did you find it stood up to wear & tear?
I agree it had a very smooth finish - I was impressed with how it looked. But I also only did small bits with it. Did you go over any large panels or doors with it?
Thanks

anastasiaC · #8 04-02-2010, 01:08 PM

was chatting with DH the other night and he thinks although its a solid kitchen maybe we should just get a new (cheaper) kitchen installed...so guess he's tired of our current kitchen as well
I will arrange to get some quotes for a basic and neat kitchen.
We do plan to sell our home soon so we dont want to spend too much. Im not a fan of glossy laminate doors or modern kitchens - i like country style/shaker style
so will probably stick to a matt finish in light colours to open and freshen it up?!
anyway we'll see - i had a small car accident yesterday and with only 3rd party insurance looks like Im going to have to fix my own car out of pocket! sigh...never ending!
here are some of my dream kitchens
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=kitc...10445041%40N00
http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=faves&q=kitchen

Julie-Ann · #9 05-02-2010, 05:34 PM

I hope the car repairs don't cost too much

.

I loved the kitchen pictures.
A friend posted me this blog about painting a kitchen, in case you go back to Plan A.
If you choose the cheaper kitchen be aware that the flooring might need to be altered as cheaper kitchens only come in standard sizes.
Keep us up to date with what you decide

anastasiaC · #10 08-02-2010, 08:00 AM

looks like we're going full ahead with a brand new kitchen - frames and all!
do u think you can get away with spending approx $10K for a new one??