Facelift on the Cheap: Part 1b

When trying to figure out how to title this little mini-series, I wasn't sure if each post should be a new part or subsections of a part! Since this is more of a mini-update the first post, I'll just title it section b. Confused? Yeah, me too.

I went hunting for some inspirational images to get the imagination going on how to update the rental kitchen. It's not in the budget to do a big overhaul, so I've got to pick and choose what get's an update and what's livable for a while longer. Here's what I found:

via DecorPad

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via The Painted Cottage

via The Painted Cottage

via DecorPad

via Kitchen Source

via Country Living

via Home Hinges

Anyhoo, I've been racking the old brain with ways to update those cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms. The homeowners agreed to get a whole new one piece counter top/sink for the MB in timeless finishes: white and polished chrome. We went with those since the light fixture they just installed over the vanity was polished chrome and white, plus those are two colors that are not likely to ever be dated.

Glacier Bay 61" vanity top with integrated sink
via Home Depot

Glacier Bay Teapot Faucet
via Home Depot

I am also going to be stripping of the chipping paint from the vanity, then applying a fresh coat of dark stain to offset the new white top.

Next, I started playing around with inexpensive and fairly simple updates to the cabinetry mainly in the kitchen. The issue is lack of time, but in the business world, is there ever enough time? Not that I've ever experienced!

How do you take a fairly simple cabinet door that is REALLY dated, but still in good shape, and make it modern without completely replacing it?

Here's a couple of ideas:

If you like white, buy inexpensive 4'x8' sheets of MDF beadboard and cut to size to fit the entire front of the door. Cut lattice stripping (probably 2") and apply it along the edges over the beadboard with construction adhesive and finishing brads. Caulk where the two meet and put a coat of paint on them. Simply screw onto door fronts and caulk where the two meet on the sides to make it look like one piece. Apply new hardware and reattach doors! You could even possibly leave the old stain/paint color on the cabinet frames with the doors going white as I've shown in the renderings I did for the homeowner to look at below.

To scale renderings with white bead board refacing and white subway tile applied over the laminate back splash created in Adobe Illustrator.

Then there was the option of stain instead of white. The problem with this would be the need for real beadboard vs. 1/8" MDF wallboard. All of the real deal stainable is way too thick to overlay. Now, if you were to build totally new ones, it would work as an insert.

After sending the renderings to the homeowners, we decided to stick with stained wood and do something a little more permanent. So, I went back to the drawing board and changed out the white for "stained" veneer overlays that would be glued on along with 2" lattice trim. The veneers would be stained and the cabinet frames re-stained in a more current tone like MinWax Dark Walnut.

There's your update for today. The next step is to go in and strip down a vanity and restain it. Then the trim. I'm thinking I should hit the hay so I can do some work on Monday! Have a good night and if time permits, I'll post updates this weekend. I'm taking lots of pictures!

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