This is one of my all-time favorite blog posts, originally published in July, 2014, and totally updated.
I adore kitchens with few or no upper cabinets as seen below.
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Uppers never existed 100 years ago.
However, this post is about something that comes up all the time. And it came up a dozen years ago during an interior design consultation. A family of four living in an affluent Westchester County area, but in a relatively modest 2,500 sq. ft. home, was debating whether to completely renovate their kitchen.
It’s an individual choice, but as anyone who’s gone through it knows, it’s mighty uncomfortable, and VERY expensive.
The homeowners were given an estimate of 200k to redo a not-very-big kitchen.
In the end, I advised them to do what I call a kitchen botox and facelift.
Why? Their kids are 12 and 15. There is a lot to do in the home. It’s a very charming older home, but it needs some attention. And, they only plan on being there maybe for 10 more years. Plus, the cabinets just needed some TLC,(paint) and there was no clear advantage to renovating. In addition, they bought the home 10 years ago, when prices were near their peak.
Other considerations are:
- What did you pay for the home?
- Did you buy at the top of the market?
- Are other homes in your area upgrading as well, or is it just you who wants to?
- Can you afford it?
Over the years, many of my clients went the refurbishing route.
If the cabinets are fairly decent, and the layout is manageable or just fine the way it is, then, I highly recommend going the botox route.
However, there are various options within the botox category.
I find that the cosmetic surgery analogy fits in very nicely with these levels of pain. lol
Now, there’s the “kitchen botox.” A kitchen botox is painting the cabinets. If you were really strapped for cash, you could do it yourself, butttt… it’s a LOT of work to do the job right.
Changing the backsplash would be a botox + “eye job.”
The entire face would include counters, appliances and lighting.
A tummy tuck would be redoing the floors. However, if keeping the cabinets, the floors cannot be ripped out if the floor is underneath the cabinets.
Lipo in strategic spots would be the hardware, faucets, shelves, and decor.
In short, a kitchen botox with a full facelift, etc. is everything but the cabinets.
The cabinets are what cost so much and the more custom, the more expensive–of course.
A total gut reno is like a three-month stint in rehab with a facelift and all the rest. Ya come out all shiny and new, but penniless.
A lot of my clients even IF they have the money, just don’t want to put all of that into an entirely new kitchen and I have to say that I have seen amazing transformations without changing the cabinets. There is also the possibility of refacing as an alternative. That’s the full-body over-haul, minus the stint in rehab. ;]
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WHAT CAN YOU DOÂ IN THE WAY OF KITCHEN RENOVATION FOR $15,000 OR SO?
Well… it depends on the size of the kitchen. But for a small kitchen, if you do the work, you could paint, get new counters, (good quality formica) and backsplash, hardware, and a new sink. You can do appliances for well under $10,000.
What if my cabinets are laminate? Can I still paint those?
YES!!!
I had this done. We had these kinds of cabinets.
Melamine 80’s what-on-earth-were-they-NOT-thinking-hideousness.
We lived in a townhouse and didn’t have the funds to redo the entire kitchen. However, we did a bunch of other stuff when I started my biz in ’96. We did a big botox with some tiny tucks that made a HUGE DIFFERENCE! I had the contractor nail on picture frame moulding and then he did a real number on the cabinets and spray-painted them a creamy white. I was in absolute heaven. They looked great.
OMG! I found a photo of my old kitchen from the original real estate listing in 2013.
The image isn’t very big, but it’ll give you an idea of what I’m talking about and what’s possible.
These were the exact same fugly cabinets you see above this one.
Oh, one thing. This is NOT the original paint job.
After 16 years, the paint had chipped here and there. I should’ve added knobs, but I didn’t. So, they were repainted and they made them a bit too white and too shiny. I had already moved out, so I was unable to supervise this, an nobody asked. We also put in the black and white checkerboard floor in 1996. I have always liked that look, and it suited our home, but it’s a bitch to maintain.
That is anaglypta wall paper is on the ceiling. Anaglypta in case you don’t know is embossed wallpaper that can be painted to mimic an old-fashioned tin ceiling. My kids always thought it looked like paper towels. :]
Here it is!
I had it painted high gloss WHITE, and it looked amazing. Normally, I don’t do high gloss, but I wanted to make the design stand out as much as possible.
Below are some more ideas for a kitchen renovation on a shoestring budget.
Rosie Little Things
Above is a sophisticated cottage/country kitchen with a retro vibe. I bet those cabinets are from the 50’s. They could’ve added moulding to those doors too, but in this case, a fresh coat of paint, new hardware, accessories and faucet, give the kitchen an updated look.
Once Upon a Time Creation Blog (The website no longer exists in 2026)
Above is the standard oak blah cabinet,like I used to have here in Boston! Although mine were painted.
Look at the fabulous makeover the homeowners did to refresh this kitchen! I love the warmth of the wooden counters, as well. However, soapstone would like great, too.
When painting cabinets that are already not a very light color, it is sometimes best to choose a color that is darker than white. Popular colors are gray, khaki and sage green.
Below are three of my favorite kitchen cabinet color posts.
The rest of the makeovers below will feature open shelves*, and in most cases, that simply means taking off the doors. The kitchen above is very interesting. I have seen tile like that in a home built in the 60’s, so it might be old. Here, a new limestone counter, fabulous faucet, under-mount farmhouse sink, and stylish accessories keep it looking fresh.
*I know some of you aren’t fond of open shelves, but it is an option for inexpensive updating.
Better Homes and Gardens
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These very well could’ve been oak, originally. Painting the back of the cabinet and shelves a deeper color when the doors are off is a great idea.
Murphy Co. Design
Alright, this isn’t a refurbished kitchen. However, if you have a floor-to-ceiling cabinet, as we had in Goldens Bridge, you could take the doors off for a similar effect. Another great upgrade would be to add the moulding and furniture base toe-kick, like mine below.
Above and below from my lovely renovated Boston kitchen.
The Renovation Building is Complete + Kitchen Details & A Miracle!
Above is a lot of open cabinetry. Yes, there might be more maintenance. ;]
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same here
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New hardware makes a huge difference and is not a huge expense.
Here’s what I love about this charmer. The stove is hardly a wolf, but it looks vintage-y in this context. The cabinets are oak painted a sage green. The counters are granite, but this is one that looks perfect! The fridge is covered in chalkboard. How clever is that?
My fave element is the wonderful vintage light fixture.
My Upstairs Residential Lighting – Everything I Used (Parts 1 & 2)
The open shelves are stylish and I adore the white on white china and accessories. The stools are most likely from Crate and Barrel or Pottery Barn. The island? Not sure, but it could even be from Ikea. Lauren is a great talent!
Creating a fresh new look for your kitchen does not have to cost an arm and a leg.
Maybe just an arm, or a leg :]
xo,
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