Kitchen redesign help

[ctenidae]

Since you did the labor yourself..that means you likely added more than $25k to the value of the condo right???

God I hope so. current estimates are at about $100K over what we paid/put into it.
Assuming we can find someone to buy it.

 

[hammer]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10739106@N02/sets/72157604359121964/

It was worth it.
The appliances were more (and more painful- $1500 for a microwave hurt. A lot.)

The countertop is black now, and the red bump out on the ceiling is gone (and the ceiling is smooth plaster, and the recessed lights have been moved, but those pics are on another computer). The cabinets before were the Landlord-grade white melamine coated jobbies, with a black formica countertop. Pretty brutal.

Still, cooks better than an Outback kitchen, I think.

Edit: Found some: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10739106@N02/sets/72157601622976115

Couldn't resist bumping this one...in the process of a kitchen remodel right now. We did have a "kitchen designer" work with us on the cabinet purchase but there were a few hiccups - a few cabinets were the wrong depth (didn't catch until we got them so we are living with it) and the designer messed up on a wall dimension (caught that one in time and changed the order). Not sure what level of design help we could/should have pursued but it's not like you see on the HGTV-type shows - we ended up making a lot of design decisions ourselves and the designer kinda went along for the ride. Only thing that was DIY was a little of the demo, the painting, and I removed and installed a trim piece behind the refrigerator since I had it pulled out to paint. Still working out the costs (and hopefully today we will get a sink back after close to 4 weeks without) but we did end up spending much more than what I initially hoped for. Sure hope we get back at least some of it when we eventually sell the house.

Would like to know what the brand/type of cabinets that cten had installed, ours look similar.

 

[Geoff]

My renovation from 4 years ago:

 

[darent]

I have installed Ikea kitchens, junk particle board construction, go better grade with plywood panels and Good Hardware and you will be happy. let TC pick them out, the ladies always find the {expensive} Good Stuff !!

 

[Bene288]

Couldn't resist bumping this one...in the process of a kitchen remodel right now. We did have a "kitchen designer" work with us on the cabinet purchase but there were a few hiccups - a few cabinets were the wrong depth (didn't catch until we got them so we are living with it) and the designer messed up on a wall dimension (caught that one in time and changed the order). Not sure what level of design help we could/should have pursued but it's not like you see on the HGTV-type shows - we ended up making a lot of design decisions ourselves and the designer kinda went along for the ride. Only thing that was DIY was a little of the demo, the painting, and I removed and installed a trim piece behind the refrigerator since I had it pulled out to paint. Still working out the costs (and hopefully today we will get a sink back after close to 4 weeks without) but we did end up spending much more than what I initially hoped for. Sure hope we get back at least some of it when we eventually sell the house.

Would like to know what the brand/type of cabinets that cten had installed, ours look similar.

If in the budget, always work with a contractor that builds and installs the kitchen. Kitchen designers, from my experience, have no clue on the installation process. They'll throw together a pretty picture, order up the cabinets without regard for obstructions, squareness, etc. I've installed Kraftmaid, Omega, Shrock cabinets. I've had issues with all of them. Some being off 3/16ths of an inch, which in cabinetry might as well be 2 miles. If done correctly, you'll always get your equity back.