The following is a reprint of a previously published post. A few of you mentioned the “retro kitchen” in the last Thrifty Threads post, so I thought I would share my husband’s inspiring project with those of you who might not have been reading this blog two years ago. The painting on the wall is at this moment hanging in our local Coffee Shop, along with an even larger pop-art painting of Lincoln he completed this year.
It’s a mini remodel, not a mini kitchen. This photo shows off the brilliant “Lichtenstein style” painting my husband did of me.
These are all “after” photos. I know, I realize the main attraction of these transformation stories are the “before” and “after,” but neither my husband nor I had the forethought to take any “before” photos.
You’ll just have to use your imagination. This 60’s era kitchen had a dropped flourescent ceiling, hideous brown particleboard cabinets, and a white lineoleum floor that showed everything.
Here’s the view into the dining room/living room. We ended up having to use two different colors of paint on the cabinets because we liked the lighter color, but thought the kitchen would be too bright if we painted all the cabinets that color.
Juhli says
You did a fabulous job on the kitchen design and on the shopping! Given that the frig was half of what you spent it is really remarkable how little was spent. Once you sold everything you must have come down to very little. That kitchen would make me smile every morning.
Angela says
Juhli,
The kitchen does make me smile every morning, and that is truly remarkable because I used to absolutely hate it. It was so ugly and depressing.
In fact, just yesterday I called out “I love our kitchen!” and my husband laughed. It really does add to my happiness. I highly recommend bright colors and not busting the budget.
Thanks for commenting!
Terry says
I love it! You guys did a fabulous job. The red floor is too cool.
We really didn’t have much of a kitchen when we moved here. There were no cabinets, just a stainless restaurant shelving unit and an island pot rack combo.
My husband found cabinets on sale at McCoy’s and installed them himself. If I recall correctly, we spent about $1200.00 That was 8 years ago.
Our house used to be a hall type place. It’s one big open space with no interior walls except for the bathrooms, laundry room and one closet.
We’re still working on it and spending as little as possible.
Angela says
Thanks so much, Terry. We really are happy with the colors, in fact, they’re “happy colors.”
It’s great that you’re working on your kitchen while you can enjoy it. We knew so many people who had to upgrade their kitchen to sell their home and then wished they’d done it sooner so they could enjoy it themselves. It took us almost seven years, but I’m glad my husband made a move to get to the project. I think I always thought it would be too expensive, so it was great that we found ways to make it affordable. It was a case of not letting “perfect” be the enemy of much, much better. We love our kitchen!
Thanks for commenting!
nrhatch says
Wonderful space . . . I love the colors you chose and that stellar photo of you.
Thanks for sharing.
Angela says
Aw, thanks Nancy.
Michelle says
I love your kitchen!
Angela says
thanks Michelle! We love it too!