How to revamp kitchen on a budget?

nikita.shaw

So for abit of context, we just bought a house with an ugly 150 year old kitchen (it’s not that old but it is very dated probably early 2000’s) and I am wanting to modernize it on a budget. The previous owner was fairly short so the above counter cupboards are really low in comparison to normal kitchens which is taking away from some bench space. It also hasn’t maximised the space as the kitchen is really small in general. I am hoping to rearrange some of the cupboards and use a lot of what is already there by either laminate sheeting the existing cupboards (or replace cupboard faces entirely) and replace the stove, sink, splash back and counters. Where I am struggling is not only in sourcing laminate sheeting but the cupboard doors are not generic sizes for me to just go out and replace them. I believe they were a very old kaboodle style and the cupboards are weird size either just shorter or just bigger than most generic cupboard sizes. Is it worth covering what’s there or trying to get new cupboard doors made? And where do I start with that. Also, the cupboards look like each block has been individually installed but you can see it! There are gaps between each piece currently being joined by that iron on stripping which has discolored something chronic which is a easy fix but I am wondering if there is a way to make that look more seamless?

Any help or advice would be appreciated. Absolute worst case we just gut it and start again but there is nothing wrong with the current cupboards so I just don’t want to waste them. Hoping to repurpose and save them with a facelift.

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @nikita.shaw. It's splendid to have you join us and many thanks for your question on revamping a kitchen.

If the cabinet carcasses and doors are still in good condition, I’d be cautious about going too far down the path of custom-made replacement doors. Because your cabinet sizes aren’t standard, having doors made to suit can get surprisingly expensive, and by the time you price them all up you can end up most of the way towards the cost of a completely new kitchen.

A much more budget-friendly approach would be to work with what you already have. If the doors are structurally sound, you could simply raise the overhead cabinets to a more comfortable height to give yourself some extra bench space, then paint the entire kitchen, cabinet frames and doors included. With the right prep and a good cabinet paint like Dulux Renovation Range, this can make a dramatic difference and completely modernise an older kitchen.

You could then finish the update by replacing the handles with a more modern style, which is a relatively small cost but has a big visual impact.

The small gaps you’re seeing between cabinets are fairly common with kitchens that were installed as individual units. Refreshing or replacing the old edge banding/cover strips can help tidy those joins up and make everything look a bit cleaner. The painting process will also cover them up nicely and make them less obvious.

Pairing painted cabinetry with new handles, a new benchtop, sink and splashback can give the kitchen a really fresh look while still reusing the existing cabinets and keeping the budget under control.

I'd suggest taking a look out our 20 Kitchens transformed with paint for inspiration and reading through the step-by-step guide on How to paint kitchen cabinetry.

Let me tag @daniknight4, @dorabulldog, @raceytrace and @diy_hausdesigns, to see if they have any thoughts.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell