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Back In Black: Beth’s Beautiful Budget Kitchen Makeover

June 11, 2009 By Liz - It's Great To Be Home 14 Comments

The moral of this kitchen makeover is to make the most of what you’ve got. That’s definitely what Beth did when she took her blast from the past kitchen and updated it with a sophisticated color palette and modern touches – all without breaking the bank. Here’s what Beth had to say about her inspiring kitchen makeover:

Hey there! I LOVE your blog, and your transformation is absolutely amazing. I bought a 35 year old home and have really been busy with it, so I completely understand. I didn’t have the money to completely renovate our kitchen, so most of the changes had to be cosmetic. I attached the before and after of our 70s kitchen. I actually did this entire project in a week (after getting home from work at 5pm each night!). I worked really hard, but I was glad to knock it out in one week, and was pretty happy with the result. And all for under $3000! ~ Beth

Here’s the 70s kitchen that Beth started out with – functional but totally lacking in style:

After a week of late nights and tons of elbow grease, Beth had this stunner of a kitchen to show for all of her hard work:

Amazing, right? Here’s what Beth did and how she did it:

(1) Pick a tight color palette. Beth definitely planned ahead before she tackled her kitchen makeover, right down to the color of the accessories. Pops of fire engine red keep your eye moving around the kitchen and provide great contrast to the simple, black cabinetry and stainless steel accents.

(2) Bring the cabinets into the 21st century. Beth’s kitchen cabinets were a blast from the past, but they were in great condition. Instead of starting from scratch, she made the smart (and cost-effective) decision to paint the existing cabinetry (check out a tutorial here). After a few coats of tinted primer and black paint, Beth’s cabinets no longer screamed “70s”!! Switching out the old brass hardware with new chrome knobs was another easy fix that modernized this kitchen in a snap. (Tip: Use a tinted primer when going from light to dark – it will help you get to the desired color faster and let you get away with fewer coats of paint).

(3) Increase functionality. Beth’s kitchen had tons of unused space in the middle, so Beth made the perfect choice to add a kitchen island – talk about a feature that every homeowner wants!! Now she has extra counterspace, additional storage, and a place for two barstools in her spacious kitchen. And the best part? That stunner of an island was a steal at only $200 from World Market.

(4) Add some luxurious touches. There’s no doubt about it, stainless steel appliances are the “it” thing to have in your kitchen these days. Spending a little extra cash for these snazzy appliances will add a bit of luxury to your kitchen, and will also pay off in a big way when it comes time to sell your home. And in Beth’s case, she found jaw-dropping deals at Sears (where we also got our kitchen appliances, and where we’ll be getting appliances for our flip) and practically stole her new goodies for under $2,500 – I’m so impressed!! The icing on the cake is that Sears delivered Beth’s gleaming, new appliances in just 2 days.

(5) Let there be light. Beth replaced her outdated ceiling light with a simple modern fixture from Home Depot that perfectly compliments her shiny new cabinet knobs and gorgeous appliances.

(6) Stay grounded. What’s the use in sprucing up the rest of the place if the flooring is still blah? Beth was able to instantly update her old linoleum with some great new flooring from Home Depot in an earthy tone.

I still can’t get over the fact that Beth completed her entire makeover for under 3 grand, including the new appliances – way to go!!! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on Beth’s transformation – and be sure to stop by Beth’s blog to check out her other DIY projects!

P.S. When it rains, it pours!! Beth’s getting two back-to-back features this week, today here on IGTBH and yesterday on Young House Love. Lucky duck!

And thanks to Christy of A Lil’ Welsh Rarebit for giving me the cutest award ever – you rock!!

Want to see your own DIY project or makeover featured on IGTBH? Send it in to itsgreattobehome@yahoo.com, we can’t wait to see it!

We’ve Come A Long Way, Baby

May 20, 2009 By Liz - It's Great To Be Home 11 Comments

Remember that lovely (sense the sarcasm), fuzzy, gold wallpaper that used to be in my entryway and dining room?

Yeah, I couldn’t wait to rip that stuff off the walls. Well, we’ve come a long way from the funky wallpaper of yesterday. Now there’s a whole new breed of wallpaper that is pretty funky, too – but in a good way.

Several wallpaper companies have developed paintable wallpaper – it comes in just about any pattern or texture imaginable, and can give your room an awesome look in no time. Take this beadboard wallpaper from Home Depot, for example:

Wouldn’t this look great in a bathroom or dining room with a chair rail on top? It would be so much easier and quicker to install than the real thing – no nailing or measuring, and it’s completely prepasted so you just have to get it wet and slap it on the wall. And a roll of this nifty stuff covers 56 square feet for just under $22 – quite the bargain, if you ask me. Here’s what it could look like in your home:

And if beadboard’s not your thing, don’t fret. This paintable wallpaper comes in just about any pattern that you can think of, from linen to stucco and everything in between. Here are a few of the patterns available from Graham & Brown to get you thinking:

Don’t like white? Just paint it! That’s the beauty of this unique wallpaper. Take a look at how Sarah over at Thrifty Decor Chick used metallic paint to highlight the gorgeous pattern of her painted wallpaper panels:

Awesome, right? And Sarah’s creative idea shows how you can use paintable wall paper to create unique (and affordable) wall art in no time.

So what do you think about paintable wallpaper? Not your thing, or right up your alley? What’s your favorite pattern? I think mine is that amazing leaf pattern from Graham & Brown . . .

Click here for some other fun wallpaper ideas.

Images courtesy of Thrifty Decor Chick, Graham & Brown, Home Depot, Better Homes & Gardens, Lynn Morgan Design and My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia. Graham & Brown paintable wallpaper is also available at Design Public.

Maria’s Magnificent Bathroom Transformation

May 11, 2009 By Liz - It's Great To Be Home 11 Comments

After kitchens, bathrooms can be the trickiest (and most expensive) rooms to remodel – but as Maria proves here, renovating a bathroom can also be totally gratifying.

When Maria and her husband bought their home a few years back, they were greeted by this lovely bathroom – from a faux marbled countertop to baby blue tiled walls, their bathroom was just begging to be brought into the 21st century:

With their own two hands (and the help of some willing family members), Maria and her hubby wasted no time giving their outdated bath a total overhaul:

After some seriously hard work, the result is awesome – fresh, clean, and completely updated. And once a really snazzy window treatment is added, this fully renovated bathroom will be sure to knock anybody’s socks off:

Here’s what they did, and how they did it:

1. Out with the old. While the old bathroom functioned just fine, all of the finishings were a serious flashback to another era. With a hammer, chisel and a little elbow grease, those tiles came off the walls, the sink and cabinet were ripped out, and the tub bid farewell.

2. In with the new. Removing the tile from the walls left unsightly patches, so the walls were retextured and given a fresh coat of paint for an instant update. New rustic tiles from Home Depot replaced the outdated mosaic on the floor and provide a pretty contrast to the new toilet and fab pedestal sink. With a beveled mirror, new baseboards and an added electrical outlet for much-needed functionality, this bathroom now has classic features that will stand the test of time.

Great job, right?? I have a weakness for pedestal sinks, and I’m totally jealous of that huge window. For more details about Maria’s fabulous makeover, head on over to her blog, Ranch Dressings.

Want to see your own “before and after” transformation featured on It’s Great To Be Home? Go ahead and send it in to itsgreattobehome@yahoo.com – you know you want to!