Those old white cupboards

[loreyna]

I'm sure you know what I am talking about. My house is about 100 years old and the kitchen is lovely but it is full of those old white solid wood cupboards. I want to either rip them all out or do something with them. there is nothing wrong with them other then they are ugly. the counter top is terrible. of course it's in perfect shep so I can't justify ripping it all out. I was thinkg about tiling over it.. it's square on the edges so I think that would work. but I would love to fix up the cupboards. any Ideas or websites that are dedicated to those old white ones. I have seen them everywere and I hate them more and more. my kitchen is 19x16 so it's very large and has tons of potential. I jsut want to use what's in there for now and replace it all later but I want to make it a little nice.

thanks in advance

[bop_pa]

A little stripping+ elbow grease+paint=your done. Personally though, if your going to do anything ...do it once. Spend $5000.(which is modest for a kitchen remodel) and redo the whole thing. Imagination is the biggest part of it. Most people think a kitchen remodel is some huge deal. It isn't. Well as long as your just replacing and not moving things like pipe,electric, etc. But if you are just updating with new and a little more flair, it can be easily done. I have done several kitchens on low budgets ($5000-$7000) and gotten tremendous results. Most people would think I spent $20000-$30000 on the kitchen but I didn't. They truely are show places. Good decoration also helps. First thing to do is to find out how little a full blown remodel would cost compared to one that was really fancy. Then find out what you really want vs need and what your budget would allow. You can find many ways to get the look without the price. :)

[majakdragon]

I had the "white" kitchen. It was large, as is yours, and I like the country kitchen look. I painted my cupboards with a light blue paint. Used accents for the style I wanted. Tiling the counters is a great idea. Just make sure the tile is appropriate for what you use the counters for. Not everyone has $5000 to remodel with. I sure didn't. Find what YOUR STYLE is and try to create it in the existing area. Magazines, books, TV, many ideas out there. Sure you will find one that suits you. Good luck.

[Annette]

just go to the cabinet manufacturers' websites & look at those cabinets, and then think of ways to make your look like those. it might just take adding some mouldings or switching out hardware or painting/antiqueing/distressing. tiling over or replacing your counters will make a world of difference. i'm more put off by ugly or outdated counters than i am plain jane white cabinets. with great tiled countertops, you'll be shifting the focus to them, and off the cabinets. ditto with a new floor or window treatments or wall paint, etc.

[loreyna]

You have all given great advice. I have a huge space to fix up and I hope to do it as economicaly as possible but I don't mind spending a little I can't immagine that I could do it for 5000 let alone less than that. I want to do everything including the floor!! It's the first thing that people see when they enter my home other then the TERRIBLE mud room!! So I want it to be smashing plus that's were I spend most of my time as does my hubby. Thanks again. I am going to look again at those old cupboards and see what I can condur up. Maybe I could add some glass in them. that may be nice..

[Sawdustguy]

If they truly are Solid Wood, it would be crazy to just junk them.

Either strip and re-finish them or call a local cabinetmaker and ask them if they'll offer you a few bucks to take it off of your hands. If you're going to throw them out, why not make a few dollars doing it.

[majakdragon]

You can also check out building material outlet centers. They offer discontinued but still perfectly good tiles for a little of nothing. They also may have other flooring options. If you choose this route, make sure you get extra in the event you need to replace a piece or 2. You can check home centers for special orders that were either declined or not picked up. They often sell these for much less than original price. This includes counter tops. Check building material salvage centers they are a great place to get items at a lower price.
Good luck in your project.

[Joe.Carrick]

One of the options that you might look at is removing the existing doors and drawer fronts. Purchase new doors, strip and stain or paint the cabinets and the new fronts ( nothing wrong with painted cabinets and stained doors and drawer fronts - or you can finish them with the same thing ). Get new hardware and for sure replace the counter tops.

Solid surface materials such as granite, corian, avonite, etc are pretty expensive but you can get granite tiles and all sorts of ceramic tiles at pretty reasonable prices.

You can use hardwood flooring but my preference would be either tile or a "quality laminate".

For "wow" factor make sure you use rich darker colors. Pastels and whites inevitably look bland :blah: in a kitchen unless there is some really good contrast.
You can get away with lighter colors on the cabinets if the floor and countertops are stronger. Walls and backsplashes also need definition.

Like others have said - get some books/magazines - watch some programs on HGTV - go "look" at home center displays, particularly high end kitchen design centers. The ideas are what you want, not the "bank breaker" prices. :)

[loreyna]

Thanks you very much!!! I don't have television but I love to read. I will get some books on remodeling. I love the colour chocolate and I think that might be nice for cupboards... I love this forum..