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Sense of Style Simple switches and smart solutions modernize a dated kitchen without busting the budget BY JOETTA MOULDEN • PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANET LENZEN
When Kristina and Cregg called me, their basic builder kitchen was large, but dated. They were stuck and did not know how to proceed. Mismatched appliances and metals, non-existent cabinet hardware or under cabinet lighting, busy wallpaper, clutter, laminate countertops and a traffic-blocking overhang at the end of the island were spoiling this kitchen’s potential. The protruding book bags were limiting the door from fully opening. TIP: When a table and chairs are inches away from barstools, it makes sense to increase traffic flow by eliminating an island overhang.
They removed the wallpaper with a www.HomeDepot.com Dif gel spray kit that contained scoring tools. They saved money by buying cut-to-order stock 2” blinds from Lowe’s. Most other materials came from big box stores. “We liked the idea of a ‘drop zone’ for the kids and to limit the repeated drywall damage from book bags, dog leashes, umbrellas and jackets, but the
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house was just not built with that in mind,” Cregg explained. He additionally disliked the white, easily stained laminate countertops and Kristina hated the light cabinet stain and the dated wallpaper and how they clashed with the look of the adjoining living room. New hardware, paint and counters solved Kristina’s problem with the cabinet door. In just one meeting and a few emails back and forth, I came up with a plan for them. Since the couple did almost all the work themselves (with the exception of installing the granite counters from Home Depot), they saved thousands of dollars. They admit they were a bit worried that I might suggest replacing the tile floor. But since they are great readers of Houston House & Home they knew that I try to work with what the client has. “Your visit exceeded our expectations as you viewed the other rooms in the house and worked to get an overall view of our design preferences and work within our modest budget,” Kristina explained. The hardest thing for the couple was visualizing the overall color scheme
house& home | F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 2 | h o u s e a n d h o m e o n l i n e . com
BEFORE BEFORE (above): A dated light fixture and mini-blinds, busy wallpaper, old cooktop and laminate dated this kitchen. AFTER (left): A new pendant fixture from Overstock.com, new 2” blinds, cooktop and granite updated this kitchen. Save now on choice leather seating!
BEFORE (right): The book bags had damaged the wall below the hooks and narrowed the walkway into the room.
10784 Kempwood Dr. at Beltway 8
713.690.9400
AFTER (below): Removing the wallpaper, recessing the book bags and wrapping the niche with practical bead board both cleaned up and enlarged the walkway.
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before
& after
since they did not want to replace the cabinets or the floor, both of which contained a lot of red and brown. They chose textured Ralph Lauren River Rock paint in Chalk (RR53) purchased from Texas Paint Supply. They applied three coats to get the desired coverage. TIP: One way to cool down a too-red/orange tile floor and cabinets is with green walls and neutral countertops, which softens the intensity of the red tones.
AFTER: The couple removed the wallpaper themselves and painted walls, bought a new cook top and fridge, reused cabinets and floor tile, added hardware, granite countertops and removed the island overhang. BEFORE: Busy wallpaper, clutter, mismatched appliances and metals and laminate countertops with traffic-blocking island overhang were spoiling this kitchen’s potential.
BEFORE
Since they tend to over-research and ponder decisions, when I said, “just commit” to black appliances and brushed nickel hardware, they were suddenly unstuck from their dilemma. I suggested keeping the existing beige backsplash tile to avoid competing with the busy natural granite. “You provided us with a trusted baseline of comparison which helped us move forward instead of getting stuck with endless research,” Cregg explained. The couple then discovered how poorly the original backsplash tile was installed, so they tore out the old tile and replaced it with a similar tile from DalTile, but also installed a band of decorative rope trim tile to separate the additional running bond (brick) pattern below it to add interest to the desk area. TIP: When you update your kitchen, little things can suddenly look tired.
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before
& after
The couple repaired flaws in the wood stain, repainted A/C vents, installed new brushed nickel doorstops and a new thumb-turn bolt on the dining room door to keep the dog out of their formal living room.
TRADE SECRETS • Think green—recycling existing flooring and cabinets repurposes them, keeps them out of the landfill and saves thousands, too.
TIP: Remove, clean and spray-paint air conditioning vents to freshen them.
• To dress up existing builder-installed countertops, add granite, a new sink, and matching hardware to the existing cabinets.
After lowering the sink drain, they were inspired to repair the plumbing beneath the new deeper Kohler under-counter white sink, installing a separate trap for the new InSinkErator 3/4 horsepower garbage disposal. They also installed a Whirlpool reverse osmosis under-sink water filtration system from Lowe’s. All of these little changes add up to a much more functional and beautiful kitchen and the couple made no costly mistakes. “The painted walls and neutral granite are warm and inviting and are the perfect counterpoint to the DalTile Almond tile backsplash from Home Depot. The granite is a contrast to everything else, both browner and more substantial, which makes the whole kitchen feel sturdier and of better quality,” Kristina explained. “We just love our kitchen,” she added.
• Remove dated mini-blinds and add under cabinet lighting to totally change your kitchen. • Sometimes the most effective strategy is not to gut your kitchen, but to first rethink the items that are already paid for.
Joetta Moulden offers home makeovers using your own home furnishings. See more makeovers on her Web site at www.shelterstyle.com, e-mail her at joetta@shelterstyle.com or call 713.461.2063. Appointments or referrals booked by February 29, 2012 will receive a 15-percent first meeting discount. Shelterstyle.com holds a "Pages of Happiness" rating and, for the fifth consecutive year, a “Super Service Award” presented to 5 percent of companies that achieve and maintain a superior rating on www.angieslist.com.
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