Renovating Our Friend’s Kitchen {Part One}

 

 

Last week, I tweeted that my husband and I are going to be renovating a kitchen of some sweet friends of ours.

My friend, Mandy, called me for some help in picking paint, tile, etc. for her kitchen renovation that she was going to contract out.  What I love about Mandy is she wants me to do whatever I want.  She does not like to decorate, so she has given me full reign.  That is a home blogger’s dream!

After finding out how much a contractor was going to charge her for the renovation, I suggested she let my hubby renovate it for way less.  She loved the idea!

Cy and I did too.

Honestly, if my husband and I could do this for a living, we would.  Cy would renovate and I would decorate…dreamy!  But for now, Cy remains a banker by day, and a DIY  man by night (and weekend).

 

Today, I want to share the before pictures of the kitchen with you, and tell you what we have in mind for the renovation.

 

Here is what you see when you walk up the stairs into the kitchen…

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The first thing we are going to do is install wood laminate flooring overtop the parquet flooring.

kitchen1

We are also going to take out the “pink” countertop and install a laminate countertop from Lowe’s.

To make the stove top match her black appliances, we are going to use appliance paint to paint it black.

kitchen2

 

The wall paper is going to go, and the walls will be painted a neutral color to coordinate with the adjoining rooms.

I am also going to get rid of the cabinet in the corner and create some wall shelves for her dishes.  I have a few ideas for a different table and chairs too, but we will see how that goes.

kitchen3

A few easy “detail” changes will be to (1) install new cabinet hardware, (2) add a beautiful new light fixture, and (3) create a new window treatment.

Those little things will make a BIG difference!

 

kitchen4

 

Don’t you think it’s going to look great?

Can you see the potential?

I can’t wait to share the process with you along the way!

Stayed tuned for Part 2!!

15 Comments

  1. What a great friend you are! I sure it will be such a blessing to your friend and her family. Have fun doing it!

  2. FUN!! I love to help friends with renovation projects. I think every member of my family has a bathroom or kitchen that I helped tile! Love your ideas, I bet it will look great.

  3. How exciting! I bet it is going to be beautiful. I know this is one of your favorite things to do and I can’t wait to see it all finished. I’ve been away from blogging for a little while. I have so much catching up to do. Hope you had a wonderful Mother’s day.

    Hugs,
    Lee Laurie

  4. Just recently found your blog, and I’m loving it! Excited about this project…this kitchen is the same era as mine — white cabinets, large gold hardware, and baby blue laminate countertops. Yuck! We have already replaced appliances and the flooring. Can’t wait to see what y’all are able to do! Hoping it will motivate me to do those small but significant updates.

  5. Am I the only one who liked the white cabinets? LOL! We’re renting now, so I can’t wait till we own our own home and can renovate to our heart’s content :)

  6. I can already see it in my head! :) I LOVE projects like that! Speaking of projects, I’m already into my next BIG one and I still haven’t completely finished with my laundry room! lol I love when projects flow together though..I do better when I have mutiple things going on at once.
    I can’t wait to see how Mandy’s kitchen turns out…..SO fun!
    Hugs
    Missy

  7. I like all of your ideas except covering the parquet floors. I think they are a neat detail and should be kept. I’m excited to see the final product.

  8. Ewww Traci, I know how much you’re gonna love doing this and it will be so much fun for us to get to follow. You’re friend’s gonna love it because everything you do is so gorgeous. I’m definitely not a fan of parquet floors and think changing them would make a wonderful difference. All the changes are going to be amazing.

    Hugs…Tracy :)

    P.S. I’m having a swimsuit gift card giveaway. I’d love you to enter.

  9. I know you will make her kitchen look fabulous!! Your talent & your hubby’s skill are a hard combo to beat!! Your friend is sooo lucky, I wonder if she knows that?? I’m looking forward to some updates!! Have fun and take care, VBg

  10. Sounds like a great plan for the kitchen. Have you thought about sanding down and staing the floors in a darker color? I went to an open house in my parents neighborhood this past weekend and they had the great room floors sanded and stained. The result was fantastic and only took a day. By staining the floor a darker color it took care of any previous stains or other marks. I hope you enjoy the planning and can’t wait to see the finished results.

  11. I think staining the parquet floors is a great idea spend the $ elsewhere I would pick parquet over laminate just a thought and a killer vintage chandelier :)

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