Ooooooh, I have been excited to officially announce that we are going to be making over our kitchen! WOOOOOO HOOOOOOO! But this is not just going to be any kitchen makeover. This is going to be a budget kitchen makeover. It is going to be one of the thriftiest kitchen makeovers you have ever seen. We are on a budget folks. That is good news for you, because you are going to get loads of high style ideas that won't hurt your wallet. Buckle up. This is going to be exciting.
Before I share with you my very first mood board {which I probably didn't do right at all–don't judge me}, let's review what our kitchen looks like now.
Now, let me tell you what I love about our kitchen:
- I love the huge windows and the deck/backyard/garage access from the kitchen, which is most definitely the hub of our home.
- I love all the storage.
- I love how spacious the kitchen is.
Don't think I am ungrateful for the kitchen. I am very grateful to have a fully functional kitchen with modern appliances, etc., but it is NOT my style. NOT. AT. ALL. Let me be more specific and tell you what I don't like about the kitchen.
- The badly damaged bamboo wood floors. Even if they were not damaged, I do not love the look of bamboo, especially with such a light colored stain.
- The orangey colored oak cabinets.
- The door and drawers pulls. WHAT are they?!
- The lighting. I cannot even talk about the lighting. Let's just stick with saying the light fixtures are not my style.
- I may get a lot of flack for the next comment, but I do not care for the granite countertops. The black/green surface shows every smudge and bread crumb. Plus, if I were to have chosen granite for my kitchen, I would strongly prefer a honed surface. I am just not a shiny granite kind of girl.
- THE BACKSPLASH. You may not be able to tell from the photos, but there are prehistoric lion creatures on some of them. Ummmm…. The girls call them dinosaurs. Maybe it's just me, but I don't think lions/dinosaurs should be in a kitchen.
- The color of the trim and doors. The trim paint is not white. Not even close. It's like the color of a manilla folder. Or puke.
- I don't really dislike the color of the walls. It's a nice neutral color. But, you know me well enough to know that I am not really a neutral wall color kind of girl :)
- I can't stand that there is cabinetry in what SHOULD be the eat-in area by the windows. There is no table you can reasonably fit in that area with those darn cabinets there.
Now that I have that out of my system, let me tell you how G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S. this kitchen is going to be when I am done with it. I cannot wait. I am literally ITCHING to get it done. We have already started with the pantry makeover as well as some other projects, but you will have to patiently wait for this project to unfold post by post.
Do you wanna see the mood board for my budget kitchen makeover? Do you want to start to envision what my kitchen is going to look like?! Okay, okay. Calm down. Here you go!
Ahhhh, it makes me happy just looking at it. Now, let me share with you SOME of our plans for our budget kitchen makeover:
Of course there will be painting. Lots and lots of painting. And we will be moving some things around to allow us to properly use the eat-in area. My inspiration table is that stunning industrial table from One Kings Lane (affiliate link*). Don't you love it?! And those chairs from Wayfair are perfection.
And of course there will be accessorizing! How about that Trademark Fine Art US Cities Text Map VI by Michael Tompsett Canvas Wall Art, 22×32-Inch? (
affiliate link*) Ummm, coolest map ever. Then there are the Romantic Floral Stacking Mugs, Set of 6 (affiliate link*) and the Blue Flour Sack Kitchen Towels, Set of 3 (affiliate link*) from World Market. LOVE!!!!
What are you most curious about? What are you most looking forward to seeing us transform?
- Before and After Party (Thrifty Decor Chick), That DIY Party (DIY Showoff), Monday Funday (Uncommon Designs, C.R.A.F.T., Lines Across, That’s What Che Said, and Creatively Living), Inspiration Monday (twelve0eight, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Redhead Can Decorate, Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom), Craft-o-Maniac Monday (Craft-o-Maniac), Frugal Crafty Home Blog Hop (Carrie This Home, A Blossoming Life, Sneaky Spoons, The Casual Craftlete and LilyWhite.Designs), Sunday Best (The Girl Creative), Link it or Lump It (Delineate Your Dwelling, Dream a Little Bigger, Soho Sonnet, Two It Yourself)
- Project Inspire{d} (Cupcakes and Crinoline, Dukes and Duchesses, Setting for Four, Yesterday on Tuesday, and Jojo and Eloise), The Scoop (Confessions of a Plate Addict, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, Worthing Court, The Everyday Home, Stone Gable), Tuesdays Treasures (My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia), The DIYers (Home Coming), Tutorials and Tips (Home Stories A to Z),
- Wow Me Wednesday (Ginger Snap Crafts), Whimsy Wednesday (Smart School House, NY Melrose Family and Oh My! Creative), From Dream to Reality (The DIY Dreamer), The Inspiration Exchange (Clean and Scentsible, Yellow Bliss Road, Ella Claire, City Farmhouse), Brag About It (VMG 206), Hit Me With Your Best Shot (Just a Girl and Her Blog, One Krieger Chick, Made to be a Momma, Dolen Diaries), The Makers Link Party (Tiny Sidekick, Persia Lou and Upcycled Treasures), Do Tell Tuesday (View from the Fridge, Lil Mrs. Tori, Mabey She Made It, A Sweet Fragrance), Show Me What Ya Got (Not Just a Housewife), SITS Girls Tuesday Link Party (SITS Girls)
- Work It Wednesday (The Happy Housie, The Blissful Bee, The Turquoise Home and A Place of My Taste), Live Laugh Rowe Live Laugh Linky (Live Laugh Rowe)
- Inspire Me Please (Liz Marie Blog, Love of Family and Home, House of Rose and Blissfully Ever After), Fabulously Creative Friday (Jennifer Rizzo), Thursday Style (Life in Velvet, Addicted to DIY, Well-Groomed Home, and A Prudent Life), The Creative Connection (Making Home Base, Wait til Your Father Gets Home, Becoming Martha, Chase the Star and Create Caft Love), The Inspiration Gallery (Design, Dining and Diapers, The Golden Sycamore and Craftberry Bush), Made You Look (Made in a Day), Friday Favorites (I’m Not a Trophy Wife), Fridays Unfolded (Nancherrow), Craft Frenzy Friday (Craft Dictator,
- The Party Bunch (The 36th Avenue, The Idea Room, 30 Handmade Days, Whipperberry), Link Party Palooza (Tatertots and Jello, I Heart Naptime, Lil Luna, Today’s Creative Blog and Somewhat Simple), Catch as Catch Can (My Repurposed Life), Pinworthy Projects (Just Us For, My Favorite Finds, and Atkinson Drive), Frugal Friday (The Shabby Nest), Turning the Clock Back, and West Street Story), Wowza Weekend (My Love 2 Create and The Patriotic Pam), Strut Your Stuff Saturday (Six Sisters’ Stuff), Remodelaholics Anonymous Party (Remodelaholic)
- Spotlight Saturday (Classy Clutter), Get Schooled Saturday (Too Much Time On My Hands), Suburbs Mama, DIY Showcase Party (VMG206), Skip The Housework Saturday (Reasons to Skip the Housework)
Room Reveals
Angela (Life in Velvet) says
March 30, 2014 at 11:26 amI am DYING to see the final product! I know you are going to create a dream kitchen on a shoestring budget! Can’t wait to be inspired! Hope you guys are having a great weekend :)
Tasha @ Designer Trapped in a Lawyer's Body says
March 30, 2014 at 3:45 pmThanks, Angela! We are working on our backsplash “solution” right now. Just waiting around while something dries. Can’t give too much away :)
[email protected] says
March 29, 2014 at 2:59 pmThose cabinets in the kitchen area are weird! Are you going to reuse them in the garage? I don’t envy you all that painting (boy do you have a lot of cabinets!), but it’s going to be great afterwards. Can’t wait to watch the process.
[email protected] says
March 29, 2014 at 3:00 pm^^ edit : the eat-in kitchen area cabinets are weird. I read that back after I submitted and thought, hmm…that didn’t come out right! lol.
Tasha @ Designer Trapped in a Lawyer's Body says
March 29, 2014 at 5:34 pmLOL!
Tasha @ Designer Trapped in a Lawyer's Body says
March 29, 2014 at 5:35 pmHi Ashley! We are not going to reuse the upper cabinets, but we have already reused the lower cabinets. I can’t wait to show you how, but you’ll have to wait a bit longer :)
Kelly Goldman says
March 27, 2014 at 12:42 pmWe literally just finished our kitchen makeover (on a major budget, as well)! And we selected nearly the same colors for the cabinets. So great! I love your inspiration!
Tasha @ Designer Trapped in a Lawyer's Body says
March 27, 2014 at 8:39 pmHi Kelly! Thank you! I love your cabinet color, but I love the tile you chose for your kitchen even more. PERFECT!
Katie @ Upcycled Treasures says
March 25, 2014 at 9:00 amOooooooooh! I can’t wait to see the transformation, especially after seeing the mood board you put together! I’d love it if you shared this over at The Makers link party going on at my blog, hope to see you there!
-Katie @ Upcycled Treasures
Tasha @ Designer Trapped in a Lawyer's Body says
March 25, 2014 at 12:46 pmThanks so much, Katie! I will definitely be linking up. Love your party!
Angela, blue i style says
March 25, 2014 at 2:15 amI love it! It’s going to be perfect! I can’t wait to see how you use the reclaimed wood. We recently created a reclaimed wood background for a license plate map for my son’s room…so you had me at the map and the wood! :) In fact, I just posted all about my obsession with maps last week, and this map is now added to the list maps that I’m drooling over.
Tasha @ Designer Trapped in a Lawyer's Body says
March 25, 2014 at 12:48 pmHi Angela! So glad you like the mood board. We are working on the reclaimed wood project now and I am in L.O.V.E. with how it is turning out. You won’t believe it! I love your license plate map (in fact, I loved it so much that I shared it on social media)! Isn’t this map, cool, too?! I am super excited about it!
Carmody says
March 24, 2014 at 5:16 amLove the mood board. I am excited to see how everything progresses. We have a kitchen that was remolded by the previous owners probably 8 years ago. I would love to add some industrial chic to the kitchen.
Tasha @ Designer Trapped in a Lawyer's Body says
March 24, 2014 at 11:39 amThanks so much, Carmody! I can’t wait to get it all finished!
Ronda Batchelor says
March 22, 2014 at 3:43 pmI too am a very budget minded make over girl. We think a lot the same. Come over and see sometime at BatchelorsWay.com. I’m excited to watch your make over.
Tasha @ Designer Trapped in a Lawyer's Body says
March 22, 2014 at 8:56 pmHi Ronda! Just got back from checking out your blog! Wow! CRAZY about Krylon, but I am glad to here you were able to work things out. Your laundry room cabinet doors look fabulous! I love grey cabinets.
Nancy says
March 22, 2014 at 12:23 pmLove your ideas. Can’t wait to see the counters and cabinets and backsplash… okay all of it!
Tasha @ Designer Trapped in a Lawyer's Body says
March 22, 2014 at 8:57 pmThanks, Nancy! We were able to get some things done today while our girls were napping. Slow and steady wins the race! I should have an update post up some time this week :)
Katie @ Assicted 2 DIY says
March 22, 2014 at 12:38 amSooooo excited to see what you guys do! I’m loving your mood board! I agree with the dark granite. Ours shows EVERYTHING! You’ve got an amazing layout for your kitchen though. The style you are going for will be perfect in there!
Tasha @ Designer Trapped in a Lawyer's Body says
March 22, 2014 at 9:00 pmThank you, Katie! I do love our layout. Now I just can’t wait for it to be PRETTY! Have a fabulous weekend!
Mimi says
March 21, 2014 at 6:57 amAlready LOVE your new kitchen…and it’s just a mood board❤️ Colors, wood the map!!! Looking forward to updates.
Tasha @ Designer Trapped in a Lawyer's Body says
March 21, 2014 at 9:54 amAwww, thank you, Mimi!!! Have a happy Friday and a fabulous weekend!