Weekend decorator: Even on a budget, a kitchen upgrade can be in reach
- Jennifer wants to refresh her kitchen on a tight budget by replacing the fridge and stove, while considering future painting and updates; she dislikes the bulkhead above the cupboards, which likely hides HVAC ductwork and may be costly to remove.
- Virginie suggests three remodeling options: a cosmetic makeover leaving everything in place, a fancier cabinet update that hides the bulkhead, or a more dramatic reconfiguration moving appliances and the sink to improve layout and modernize the space.
- When purchasing appliances, Virginie advises careful measuring, choosing matching stove and fridge brands, avoiding expensive counter-depth fridges, and considering induction stoves for easy cleaning.
- Small changes like new counters, backsplash, cabinet handles, and paint can greatly refresh the kitchen without a huge cost, with Virginie recommending a classic bistro look of dark lower cabinets, creamy uppers, Carrera marble, and polished hardware for timeless style.
Dear Virginie,
This is my kitchen and I think it’s time for a refresh. However, my budget isn’t robust. I need to replace the fridge and stove with an eye to painting and changing more features down the road. I would love your opinion on the bulkhead above the cupboards. I hate it. It seems like such a waste of space.
Jennifer in Leslieville
Hi Jennifer,
You’re right to try to get a plan sorted out before you start buying new appliances. Kitchens are expensive to remodel, and given that your budget is tight, I see three possibilities.
The first is leaving everything where it is and undertaking a cosmetic makeover. That means refacing or replacing the cabinet fronts but not moving anything around. I know you said you hate the bulkhead over the cabinets, but there is a good chance it’s there for a reason; bulkheads usually hide HVAC ductwork that feeds the rooms above the kitchen. Demolishing that bulkhead could snowball into having to redo a lot more than the kitchen.
Instead, you could paint the cabinets and the bulkhead in a creamy hue that is close to the existing colour of the room, unless you’re craving a pop of colour. Dress up the bulkhead with a simple trim at the top to make it seem more intentional.
Another, fancier option is to have new cabinets made that are the same depth as the bulkhead but with doors that go up to a piece of molding at the ceiling, essentially hiding the bulkhead behind doors.
When buying the appliances, it’s important to have all your dimensions on hand to ensure a good fit. Stoves are usually standard sizes, but fridges come in all different heights, so measure carefully. Also be aware of the door swing and any plumbing needs a new fridge may have if it has water or ice-making features. Counter-depth fridges that line up with the front of your counter (24 to 26 inches deep) are lovely but considerably more expensive, especially when you’re looking for something integrated (that means with a panel that matches the cabinets), and also much smaller inside, since they are shallow. I’d stay away from these.
On the cooking front, gas is nice to have, but an induction stove is great because of how easy it is to clean. It’s really up to you here, but try to pick a stove and fridge by the same maker for a similar look.
You could also consider replacing the sink and counter. That small four-inch backsplash over the counter is making the kitchen feel builder-grade. If you have the budget for solid surfacing and an undermount sink, as well as a new backsplash, you can really start to change the look of the room. Replace the handles on the cabinets for a quick and easy update.
The second change you could make would be to move the dishwasher to the island, put the stove in its current spot, as long as you can vent it, and relocate the sink to where the stove is. That’s only an option if the basement is open and you can easily do a bit of plumbing. But it would certainly give you more cooking space.
It looks like your island is a freestanding table, but installing a dishwasher and a cabinet in it might buy you a bit more space. You could even look at moving the microwave to the island so that you can have a freestanding hood in place of the microwave hood, which makes the range feel closed in.
Finally, one more dramatic option would be to have a wall-mounted oven and fridge on the wall where the fridge is, change the stove to a cooktop located where the dishwasher is with a simple boxed-in range hood and open shelves on either side, and move the sink and dishwasher to the island. If you have room for this, it would make for a more modern-looking kitchen by breaking up that long row of upper cabinets that is quite dominant now. This is definitely not the budget option though.
No matter which route you choose, it’s important to measure everything and lay it out with the help of a designer to make sure all the clearances work. But, at the end of the day, if all you do is update the stove, fridge, sink and counter, paint the cabinets and change the hardware, it will feel like a whole new kitchen without the $100,000-plus price tag.
I would choose a classic bistro look, with dark lower cabinets, creamy white uppers, Carrera marble and polished chrome or nickel hardware. It’s a classic look that will last a long time.
Have a decorating or design dilemma? Send your questions to Virginie Martocq at askvirginie@thehonestinteriors.com for a chance to have them answered in her twice-monthly column.