The Design
This Minor Kitchen Remodel, in a North Portland bungalow, was done to address years of wear and tear and unfortunate material choices. The original cabinets had been replaced long ago with “modern” plywood frames and plywood slab drawers and doors. The design was out-of-place with the original style of the home, but the kitchen layout was a functional triangle, with a small island that floated in the middle. The flooring was extremely worn, to our good fortune, because that allowed us to see the impression of the original fir floors telegraphing through.
The Plan
We wanted to honor the original design of this great old home in an economical manner so we decided to reface the existing cabinets with paint grade shaker style doors and matching plain panel drawer fronts for a better period match. We used an overlay door style which provides the finish carpenter with more forgiveness and better adjustment with less time. The island, more of an obstacle to traffic flow than a functional workspace, would be removed. The resilient flooring would be removed to evaluate the condition of the underlying floors. The laminate counters would be replaced with a neutral laminate and a wood self edge, and a tile backsplash would be added. Retrofit windows would be installed in the existing window frames.
The Results
We chose to paint the cabinet frames and doors with a more current color that added a splash of fun to the old dreary space. We also added some colorful tile from Pratt & Larson for the backsplash. The tile has a handmade, old pottery quality. The largest effort was given to the original fir floors. Once exposed the floors had to be patched in a couple of places by lacing in new wood, and then it was all sanded and refinished. The floor more than any other aspect really respects the era of the home. It also blends seamlessly with the connected hallway and dining room. Finally, white higher-end, used appliances helped keep things looking bright and clean while staying in budget. The finished product was well worth the effort and why I think we had Major Results!
Typical Characteristics of Minor Kitchen Remodel.
- Replacement Cabinet Doors and Drawer Fronts
- New Cabinet Hardware
- Pull & Replace Laminate Counters
- Pull and Replace Resilient Floors
- New Appliances
- New Paint for Wall Surfaces.
- Price Range of $18,000-$20,000
This remodel went above and beyond a typical minor remodel with the floor, the tile backsplash, and replacement window sashes but made up for that expense by using higher end, used appliances.