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How to tile new backsplash and change cabinets to shaker doors?

Hi,

first time poster though I read a lot of other people’s posts!

I want to give my kitchen (I live in an apartment) a bit of a glow up and to look less like a cookie cutter apartment kitchen.

it has handle-less cabinet doors and drawers. I really like shaker style doors. I’m considering just getting some MDF cut to size to glue over these doors (obviously sanding first etc), then painting over with a more matte white so it’s less glossy shiny, then adding brass handles.

also, I got some lovely tiles I want to put on the backsplash. I’ve read many posts about tiling directly over the glass which is what I’m thinking of doing. There are 2 plug points on either side of the backsplash currently and I use an extension board as well. Wondering if it’s worth having extra plug points put in before tiling? I suspect it would involve removing the backsplash to do so so might be expensive?

would love any advice from people who have done / know how to do any of this!

I’ve also asked for a quote from a kitchen remodel place just to check.

Photos of kitchen currently (from the real estate collection but that’s better than seeing my currently messy kitchen!)

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MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Divya22. It's terrific to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about refreshing a kitchen.

What you have in mind is certainly possible, and plenty of people have created shaker-style doors by adding MDF rails and stiles to their existing flat fronts. The main thing to be aware of is that your current doors have a factory-applied finish that is extremely durable, while any DIY painted finish will always be a little softer and more prone to wear. You can absolutely achieve the look, but it is a fairly involved project because every door and drawer front needs to be sanded, the MDF trimmed to size and bonded on, usually with both adhesive and small brad nails to keep everything flat, then the whole surface needs to be primed and painted. If you are happy to trade a bit of durability for a more personalised style, it can be a rewarding project. If not, it is worth getting a quote for new shaker-style doors, because swapping doors is far quicker and preserves that hard-wearing factory finish.

The brass handles you are considering would lift the space beautifully. Tiling over the glass splashback is also fine as long as you scuff the surface and apply a suitable primer first. As for adding more powerpoints, it is definitely worth speaking with an electrician before you start, because any new or existing points will need their depth adjusted to sit neatly on top of the new tile thickness. They can also tell you whether the glass needs to come off for cabling in your particular apartment, which can influence your decision. You have a very functional kitchen to start with, so there is no rush, but a few thoughtful upgrades could make it feel much more individual.

Let me tag some of our knowledgeable members, @diy_hausdesigns, @Renowayoflife and @sjloves, for their thoughts. You might like to check out our Top 10 most popular kitchen projects for inspiration.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

Divya22

Thank you so much Mitchell!

I’m going to speak to an electrician soon about the plug points.

I’m really keen to do the shaker doors so will update with how I progress with that!

I was wondering - with tiling over the glass splashback - should I remove the silicone sealant around the glass and then tile and then reapply? Or just leave this sealant alone and put another layer around the tile?

EricL

Hello @Divya22

I advise removing the old silicone seal so that when you apply a new bead it will be uniform and level, plus, it will not stand out too much.

Eric

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