Kitchen remodel advice (1 Viewer)

p5woody

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Looking for advice on a kitchen remodel.

We have 27 year old kitchen with medium oak wood cabinets. They were builder grade when the house was built and have not been touched. They are in good shape structurally and show minor wear. We will be getting all new floors, countertops, backsplash, sink, etc.

Question 1 - Cabinet refinishing/refacing good or bad? wood veneer vs painting? any experience? Thinking of using a company like Kitchen savers or Revelare kitchens. This is assuming we don't change the layout of our cabinets. If we go with new cabinets, we would change the layout of the kitchen.

Question 2 - Thoughts on under cabinet lighting, never had it. Is it worth it, do people use it?

Question 3 - Wife isn't sure about pendent lights hanging down over the island, good idea or not?

More info, any advice is welcome:

Current layout - dimensions are approximate
kitchen current.PNG


New layout if we get new cabinets, island is approximate placement. Probably will go a little wider between counter and island - 42 inches?.
Island will have 12 inch overhang for breakfast bar, stools represented on plan (those are not lights).

new.PNG
 
Following. Wife and I have talked about this, and ours is similar era.

I don’t exactly remember our research, if you sand and paint, the oak tannins sometimes bleed through, so you have to sand, seal, then paint? Or veneer, etc.

We were investigating an option of new cabinet doors and veneers on all exposed surfaces from Home Depot, but I think it was a pretty expensive quote.
 
Looking for advice on a kitchen remodel.

We have 27 year old kitchen with medium oak wood cabinets. They were builder grade when the house was built and have not been touched. They are in good shape structurally and show minor wear. We will be getting all new floors, countertops, backsplash, sink, etc.

Question 1 - Cabinet refinishing/refacing good or bad? wood veneer vs painting? any experience? Thinking of using a company like Kitchen savers or Revelare kitchens. This is assuming we don't change the layout of our cabinets. If we go with new cabinets, we would change the layout of the kitchen.

Question 2 - Thoughts on under cabinet lighting, never had it. Is it worth it, do people use it?

Question 3 - Wife isn't sure about pendent lights hanging down over the island, good idea or not?

More info, any advice is welcome:

Current layout - dimensions are approximate
View attachment 658975

New layout if we get new cabinets, island is approximate placement. Probably will go a little wider between counter and island - 42 inches?.
Island will have 12 inch overhang for breakfast bar, stools represented on plan (those are not lights).

View attachment 658976
1. If you like the style, I recommend having somebody paint them. In our last house, I refinished them myself and it was a HUGE job!! One of my neighbors paid a couple thousand dollars to have theirs painted white, and they looked fantastic!!

2. We had wire in under cabinet lighting in our old house, and went with these in our new. LOVE them!! We have to recharge them every 4 to 5 weeks, but no biggie.

3. Yes!! You will want to adjust them high enough that they will not block your field of vision. Also use a lower wattage bulb to keep the light from blinding you. I went with 40 watt led bulbs.

Edit: sorry, I forgot the link.

We went with something like these:

https://www.amazon.com/Lighting-Wir...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
 
We recently redid our kitchen. Was a full tear down and rebuild. Under cabinet lighting was just an after thought with everything that was going on. It is now one of my favorite things in the kitchen. Highly recommend it.

Another item I had no idea about was toe kick drawers. Cabinet guys suggested them and was another "Eh, whatever.". We use them all the time now. Would also highly recommend.

https://www.kraftmaid.com/toe-kick-drawer/
 
We have under cabinet lighting, and it was perfect when our son was born. Leave them on all night, if we need something from the kitchen in the middle of the night it was enough light to not have to turn on the main lights.

Also, give yourself a minimum of 42” between island and cabinets. You will appreciate the extra space.
 
1- if done right any option works well

2- If she might want then just put them in. If you like them, you have them. If you don’t, you won’t see them.

3- Go with whatever she wants. Lighting is easy enough to change.
 
Question 1 - Cabinet refinishing/refacing good or bad? wood veneer vs painting? any experience? Thinking of using a company like Kitchen savers or Revelare kitchens. This is assuming we don't change the layout of our cabinets. If we go with new cabinets, we would change the layout of the kitchen.

We redid our kitchen 5 years ago .... full gut job. Best thing we did was new cabinets

Question 2 - Thoughts on under cabinet lighting, never had it. Is it worth it, do people use it?

Nope, pass on it. We thought about it as well and our contractor said not to do it. No regrets

Question 3 - Wife isn't sure about pendent lights hanging down over the island, good idea or not?

Yes on this. We use those lights over the island more than all the new lighting in the kitchen. No matter how bright the kitchen is, having lights above the island is a good idea.

We converted a 4th bedroom that was downstairs into an open concept dining room (ignore the hand me down tile kitchen table in the pic at the bottom .... we didn't get the new one in at the time as it was backordered LOL Also the four island stools were not delivered either

1616163480881.png
1616163552248.png
 
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We have had under cabinet lighting in our last two houses- never used them. If we need a low light, we flip on the cabinet-mounted microwave’s nightlight.

My wife picked up some LED candles with a timer- we threw one on the window above the sink and one on the island to serve as night-lights. They work really well for us.
 
Question 1 - Cabinet refinishing/refacing good or bad? wood veneer vs painting? any experience? Thinking of using a company like Kitchen savers or Revelare kitchens. This is assuming we don't change the layout of our cabinets. If we go with new cabinets, we would change the layout of the kitchen.

Question 2 - Thoughts on under cabinet lighting, never had it. Is it worth it, do people use it?

Question 3 - Wife isn't sure about pendent lights hanging down over the island, good idea or not?

Just redid my 20 year old kitchen 2 years ago...

1. Opted for repainting the cabinets. They were maple and we had them painted distressed black. Came out great. Luckily we have a neighbor who does interior decor and did the cabinets for us at a great price.

2. If you can do under cabinet lighting, I say do it. I looked into doing it with our remodel but opted not to because it was going to be a PITA for me to install ( I did a lot of the work myself). I regret it now. the range light and ceiling lights are adequate, but I would have liked the under counter light as well.

3. We have a pot rack above out island so no room for pendant lights, but if no pot rack, then that would have been the option. As it is, I replaced the single light above the table with 3 handing lights and its great.


Cabinets painted w/o doors replaced and old Corian counter tops.

IMG_20180525_074535.jpg


Best pic I could find with the whole kitchen done. New lights, new countertops, wood veneer island. ( Hole still in ceiling where old light was )

IMG_20180811_180504_01.jpg
 
The importance of under cabinet lighting is also dependent on the placement of your main lighting, when standing at your counters, are any shadows cast in front of you?
When I redid our kitchen, my wife questioned why we need it, and after the install, she was hooked. I couldn’t live without them. Put on a separate dimmable switch if at all possible.
 
Years ago I put in a new tile backsplash in our kitchen and added under cabinet lighting and hid the wires as best I could. We use it constantly. Our kitchen shape is long and narrow though, with no island. We do all the prep work on the counters, and you're usually standing with the overhead light above and behind you, so it helps so much to have that light under the cabinets to illuminate the work surface.
 
Kitchen before and after for about $3500.
Just to make you think about it money-wise lol.

1-we did the painting ourselves and are satisfied. Although we did not need to sand. Around here ppl charge about $2000 to sand/paint wood cabinets. Still worth the savings imo. Some ppl told me they tried sanding and if you only have an hour here, an hour there, it'll take forever.

2-we didn't feel the hassle was worth it. Don't regret it. But, we have enough lighting. One in the left corner, and one hidden to the right. Counters get light from 2 sources. Like others have said, maybe you wouldn't have enough light though, depends on your other lights placement.

3-my wife LOVES the pendant lights. Very happy we added them.

Everything we did:
-added moulding to flat cabinet doors
-repainted all
-reused old island but reconfigured layout and added butcher block top ($500)
-added corbels under island top
-added pull out garbage/recycling cabinet
-added wine cabinet
-added pantry ($1200 all 3 cabinets)
-travertine tile backsplash
-new countertops
-Pendant lights over island
-new Blanco sink & faucet ($1k+)

While I'm sure most of you have nicer kitchens, we're very happy with results. The money we saved went elsewhere.

Before / after
(Omg I just noticed the difference in natural light we got from putting in a bigger sliding door to the patio with more glass and smaller frame.)


kitchen before n after.jpg
 
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Years ago I put in a new tile backsplash in our kitchen and added under cabinet lighting and hid the wires as best I could. We use it constantly. Our kitchen shape is long and narrow though, with no island. We do all the prep work on the counters, and you're usually standing with the overhead light above and behind you, so it helps so much to have that light under the cabinets to illuminate the work surface.
+1000
 
We redid our house not to long ago. Spend the extra money get what you want. In a year you won't regret the extra costs.

FWIW - I am a fan of the under cabinet lights.
 
Following. Wife and I in the same boat with kitchen and our 3rd floor that I want to convert into a master suite.
 
#1 - no opinions
#2- absolutely. Love our under cabinet lighting. We keep it on all night so any random night walker can find the snacks. Also lights the counters better for food prep. We have florescent fixtures installed under each cabinet and I swapped out for LED bulbs a few years ago.
#3- we have three overhead can lights above the island and that's enough light for us. Decided against pendant lighting for continuity across the open kitchen, dining, living room area. But you can't go wrong with them.
 
Love the shutters vs blinds or curtains.
I may steal this idea.

Nice job with the kitchen.
The shutters in the kitchen are real wood. They are 19 years old. We have shutters upstairs made of some kind of composite, same age. They held up a lot better. No fading, no warping, trim is nicer and the rods don’t fall off. In my opinion better product. Just FYI.
 
1. I think this comes down to personal preference. I like wood cabinets/veneer etc., but depending on kitchen style painted cabinets could be fine. Not a definitive suggestion I guess other than that as above it comes down to what look you like.

2. I love my under cabinet lighting, great to have one or two on during the night to see plus is a nice ambiance.

3. This is what I have over the island more or less and I agree with a previous poster about the wattage, just try different wattage bulbs to see what works best for ya'll. I use 60 watts soft lights in mine.

Come to think of it this is the ONLY photo I have of my kitchen! A little hdr I did about 9 years ago.
IMG_0081.JPG
 
i started down this road recently too, though my cabinets are not salvageable. anyway, my kitchen remodel is quickly turning into a 3-story addition.
 
Consider your island location. There are four critical pathways:
  • fridge to work surface
  • work surface to sink
  • work surface to cooker
  • cooker to sink (this you have no control over)
The location of your work surface makes things a lot easier, particularly the work surface to cooker gap. You chop/prep your food on the work surface and then transfer to the pan, sometimes bit by bit. So you don’t want it too far away - 40inches is pretty good.
 
i started down this road recently too, though my cabinets are not salvageable. anyway, my kitchen remodel is quickly turning into a 3-story addition.
My neighbor bought a new espresso machine that needed a water line plumbed. It turned into a $100k remodel :ROFL: :ROFLMAO:

Project creep is a real thing
 
Your kitchen is the biggest investment of your home, go as high as you can afford, it will payoff (home value-wise). Plus you will fall in love with your home all over again.
 
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We did under cabinet light, looks great and really helpful when doing prep work... but, if you are sitting at the table they are really bright in your eyes. YMMV.

Also, consider replacing the cabinet drawers. Mine were falling apart and the rails were pretty crap. I replaced 'the box' and just moved the front from the old to the new. We went through an online company, give them exact measurements and they have a local company make them. Really very easy.
 
Also, if you’re redoing the whole kitchen...two words:
Heated
Floor

With all the cabinets I put in my kitchen, we had to remove some baseboard heating. We ended up putting in a kick space heater in the void under a cabinet. I put in ceramic tile over cement board and wish, WISH that I had put in the heated flooring system instead.
 
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Just a suggestion concerning the island, in case you hadn't thought about it. Even if the base of the island is made of cabinets fastened together atop a base, the base does not need to be fastened in any way to the floor. The island thus becomes easily movable, even without casters, if you decide to change your kitchen layout.

And a granite or marble island top with up to 12" of overhang does not need to be glued or otherwise fastened to the cabinets. Its weight alone is plenty to prevent it sliding around on the rough top edges of the cabinets, but it's easily repositioned by two people to give you more flexibility for the future.

The biggest problem I see in your kitchen layout is the lack of counter space on both sides of your cooktop. If you can't or don't want to find a way to relocate the refrigerator to give a more optimal work triangle and yield more counter space to the left of the cooktop, a solution to this problem might be to position the island diagonally (rotated about 45 degrees counter-clockwise) so that one long side faces into the work area between the cooktop and the sink.

Enjoy yourself! Kitchen remodeling is fun!
 
Had one house with vinyl wrapped cabinets. Made cleanup real easy. House we live in now the previous owners painted and everything sticks to it.

We remodeled our kitchen. Had a number of issues.

1. No counter spaces. We had an L and the fridge was in the corner. Made opening the door fully a problem.
2. We had a window facing south on the side wall of the kitchen which made the space always hot and we never opened the blind

Solution: We removed the window and move the fridge there. Wrapped counters all the way around and removed the folding door pantry. We bookend the wraparound cabinets with full height floor to ceiling cabinets with rollout shelves. Made storage easy for panty items.

Once we did that we had to replace the floors, so we did the whole first floor. We also had to repaint all the walls and ceiling. So we did the whole first floor. Glad I had a buddy that was a home builder/re-modeler do the work and gave use the family discount. Painter friend did the whole first floor in and ceiling in a 48 hour marathon. We lucked out who we used.

Also when we looked at countertops we ended up with granite to avoid stains and it is nice to drop hot pans on without risk of burning the top.
 

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