Hello friends!
I’m stopping by to tell you the very exciting news that thanks to a quick poll on Facebook, I’ll be giving our kitchen a LONG overdue makeover for this edition of the One Room Challenge!!
Check out this beauty when we moved here…
…and after I painted the cabinets BM White Dove – that made a huge difference and we’ve lived with it like this for 8.5 years.
We are grateful to have this house and this functional kitchen. It’s not horrible, but all the old appliances are slowly dying, and if you’ve been around here long enough you already know how I feel about those baloney colored countertops!!!
I used the kitchen table space for this little seating area that we love and use all the time, so that will stay put.
The rest of the kitchen will get some much needed TLC.
This is NOT the major makeover we had planned when we bought this house, the vision I have talked about endlessly on this blog, and the dream TWO kitchen designers have drawn up plans for. NOPE!! Instead we are going the route of a DIY-TO-DREAMY kitchen makeover!!
DIY countertops
DIY cabinet modification
DIY range hood
DIY backsplash
NEW appliances
and
A SASSY NEW ATTITUDE!
I’ve got a lot of ideas, a two-kids-in-college-budget, and questionable sanity, so this should be mighty fun!!
THE ONE BIG WILD CARD…
Our flooring, which will affect not only the kitchen but our whole first floor. Our kitchen currently sports faux-wood vinyl sheet flooring that is on top of a plywood underlayment that is on top of an 80s vinyl sheet flooring that is on top of a subfloor. Did you follow that?? TWO sets of vinyl flooring and underlayment that all needs to be cut out with a circular saw. Our adjoining foyer boasts some sweet 80s tile, and the surrounding family room, living room and dining room all have worn out hardwoods.
So far I’ve been shot down by TWO flooring pros who would rather poke their eyeballs out than remove our kitchen and foyer floors, install new hardwoods, sand the other rooms and stain and finish them all into the glorious floors of my dreams. Two professionals who don’t want that job because it is SO BAD! So what’s a sister to do? I hate to say it but the answer to that might be DIY – say a prayer for me that I’ll be able to con some angel floorer into that part of this One Room Challenge!!
I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited about a room makeover in all my years and cannot wait to show you the plan next week, and some progress of what DIYs I’ve put into motion this week!
Farewell baloney countertops!! ??????
Check out all the guest participants’ projects for this round of the One Room Challenge, created and hosted by Linda Weinstein and media partner Better Homes & Gardens!
Best wishes to my comrades for this lightning fast six week challenge, and thanks to you for following along on this DIY kitchen makeover!
erin says
Lisa, this is so exciting! Can’t wait to follow along. Good luck with the floors!
Lisa says
There are lots of starts and stops but hopefully the ORC will at least get the ball rolling at long last! Hope your kitchen reno is coming along Erin! I love what you’re doing in there!
Denise says
Yay!! I’m so excited you decided to take the plunge and do your kitchen!! I know that you will make it beautiful with all your mad DIY skills!! I will definitely be praying for the flooring situation. From someone who just tore out tile, I can’t imagine having to deal with all those layers! Excited to see it come together!
Lisa says
Denise YES after ripping out flooring ourselves, the thought of paying someone else to do it becomes a little more palatable doesn’t it? The little bit of vinyl flooring I already removed from my bathroom was almost the end of me! 🙂
Emy says
Bye bye baloney countertops!! Can’t wait to see your finished kitchen!
Lisa says
Thanks for your gorgeous inspiration Emy!
cassie bustamante says
can’t wait to see your space come together, but oh those floors sound horrendous. i wish you serenity through this makeover!
Lisa says
Yes it’s pretty funny when literally no flooring professional wants the job! Thank you for your serenity vibes….I’ll be needing them!
Sheryll $ Critters. says
I’m saying a prayer that you find good floor people. I used to have a number of a couple or two, but lost them and those were here in Florida. Have you tried “Angles List”? I’ll ask Steve later when I can. He found a different electrician from some online site. I really like your all white kitchen and baloney color is not my color either, it’s not awful. Now good flooring is my dream/wish……
Lisa says
Sheryll I do know some guys that could demo the floors….the whole project is such a headache it’s no wonder we put it off so long! Hope you get your flooring wish too!
Debbie - MountainMama says
I cannot wait to see what you come up with, Lisa!!! When you are done can you come do something with my 90’s white tile countertops and backsplash?? Oh, reminder, I have ZERO budget to do anything thanks to my daughter’s student loans aka PARENT PLUS loans so you will have to be super creative!! 🙂
Lisa says
Debbie I do have a great, affordable countertop solution that I am excited about! I am familiar with the parent plus loans and the zero budget, my friend! 🙂
Jaclyn says
Ooooo…I can’t wait to see what you do with the kitchen!
Lisa says
Thanks Jaclyn…it’s kind of a mystery to even me! HA. Thanks for coming by to check it out!
Nicki Parrish says
I am redoing my kitchen for the ORC too, so it will be really fun to follow along with you. Good luck on that flooring!
Lisa says
Can’t wait to see what you do Nicki! I’m not sure I’ll be able to get everything done within the ORC but at least the ball is rolling!
Susan Coope says
How do you know if any of the layered floors contain asbestos? I have flooring in my house(1960’s) that resembles pic’s of flooring that has asbestos. Can’t afford removal costs. Heard of best way to seal it?
Enjoyed seeing what you are doing!
Susan
Lisa says
Hi Susan, I don’t have any experience with sealing asbestos but before removing a bathroom floor of vinyl I did a lot of research online to make sure it was safe to take up. If your floor is original to your house I would definitely call a flooring pro to consult them on how best to seal it! Good luck and thanks for coming by!
Libbie says
Lisa,
Excited to see what happens with those floors! Good luck!
Lisa says
Libbie me too! It’s all still up in the air but one way or another it’s time for those suckers to go! 🙂
Kristy Mastrandonas says
Oh my goodness, you had me cracking up over the baloney countertops! Sending good vibes on your flooring situation!
Lisa says
Thank you Kristy! I need all the good vibes I can get seeing as it’s week 2 of the ORC and I still don’t have a resolution to the flooring issue. I’m just glad the ball is rolling with finally doing something to our kitchen 🙂
Nicole @ The Inspired Hive says
Sounds like you’ve got your work ahead of you with those floors but I can’t wait to see waht you do!!! Following along! 🙂
Lisa says
Nicole most things I can tackle myself but this one is a pretty hefty DIY. It’s kind of hilarious I can’t even PAY someone to do it! But it will get resolved…thanks so much for coming by!
Susie says
Oh Lisa! I know exactly what you mean about the flooring pros. I had the same kind of resistance when trying to book renovation pros for my small and awkward bathroom. But here’s the thing…one way or the other…you will figure this out. I’m sure of it! And your flooring and kitchen dreams will finally come true. I’m saying a little prayer right now for that angel floorer. ~~ Susie from The Chelsea Project
Lisa says
Susie you are the sweetest – thanks for your kind message! You are right – one way or another it will get done, maybe not within the timeline of the ORC but it will get done! Hope your bathroom is going well!
Amie says
You are so funny!! Farewell to baloney!!! Can’t wait Lisa.
Lisa says
Those poor countertops have taken some serious verbal abuse over the years Amie! 🙂