D.I.Y. kitchen remodel

[Ashley]

I'd like to re-do my parents' kitchen. I am an avid HGTV watcher and I love architecture and houses, especially kitchens. This is what I'd like to do to it:

- Install ceramic tile flooring and backsplash

- Paint and stain the cabinets

- Put hardware on the cabinets, preferably in a brushed nickel or bronze finish

- Build and install a faux crown molding to go around the kitchen (see them do it on HGTV all the time and it takes them less than a day to make and put up)

The oven hood was a creamy, off-white color and very dated looking so Andy and I spray painted it black to match the stove, so that's been crossed of the list of improvements.

Using Microsoft Paint and Photoshop, I've created what I'd like the kitchen to look like:

The cabinets aren't exactly the color I want them to look in real life. I'd like the paint to be a little lighter colored and to look more Oak stained, and the tile backsplash to be a little more textured. (I know in the picture the cabinets look a little weird because I was trying to create a wood finish, but that didn't work out as well as I'd hope.)

Anyway, I'm wondering if any of you have re-done your kitchens yourselves? If so, I have a few questions.

1. The cabinets are laminate and this has to be a lower budget kitchen re-model, so there isn't room to get all new cabinetry. I know by painting cabinets, you can update them nicely. Can you stain a laminate cabinet after it's been sanded and painted? I'd like to stain them in a light Oak finish, like I said above.

2. Has anyone installed tile backsplash themselves? I've watched them do it on TV, but I really don't want to screw up if I decide to do it myself and I'd like some tips/advice if anyone has done it, same with the flooring.

3. Where did you get your supplies from? This re-model has to last a long time and I want paint, stain, and ceramic tiles that can hold up and last many years.

I'm really excited to get started.

[92xj]

If you have never done tile before and are on a budget, do not have your first project be a back splash.

I would do everything else you are wanting to do first and then the tile last. It's a lot more time consuming and difficult (for the first timer) than it appears on TV. There are a lot of tools you are going to have to rent and/or buy to lay tile. Paint the wall for now.

[muggs]

1. Can you stain a laminate cabinet after it's been sanded and painted? I'd like to stain them in a light Oak finish, like I said above.

No, once you start sanding you'll eventually expose the partial board it's made of. You could stain it, but it will look like stained partical board. Other than painting it, if you have to keep the existing cabinets due to your budget, you could look into adding a new wood veneer.

They shell 4x8 sheets of wood veneer at good woodworking shops, you have to cut it to size, and glue it down with contact cement. Then you stain it to your preference and finish it. It will probalby cost a few hundred dollars, and it's tedious work. It's a nice option though.

2. Has anyone installed tile backsplash themselves? I've watched them do it on TV, but I really don't want to screw up if I decide to do it myself and I'd like some tips/advice if anyone has done it, same with the flooring.

For the flooring, just make sure you rip up the old stuff and have a solid base. I recommend screwing down concrete backerboard, and use a ton of screws.

When you grout, sponge it up as you go, every few minutes and really rinse the sponge. It will save you a lot of work later.

For the blacksplash- I like the diagonal lay, do the same thing with the floor and it will look sharp. Same goes for the prep work there, make sure your wall is a solid foundation. Since it looks like there is just wall paper there now, that's good. Just strip that off, and then use products that remove the glue as much as you can. You don't have to worry about what the wall looks like where it will eventually be tiled. You could even sand the glue away, making it a little rough, which will help the tile to bind.

Spend the most time laying out your pattern and see how your tranistions will end up.

3. Where did you get your supplies from? This re-model has to last a long time and I want paint, stain, and ceramic tiles that can hold up and last many years.

Home Depot has everything you need. Don't go too cheap on the tile. Cheap tile is all inconsistent when it comes to size. Sure, they'll all be roughly 12" x 12" or whatever, but each one is a little off, like an 1/8" or so...and eventually all your grout lines will be off.

Edited March 3, 2010 by muggs

[Tominator]

I refinished my old oak cabinets in the old house. They were solid oak with recessed panels though, not like you have.

I'd never do it again, lots-O-work. I was happy with the result, but too much work for the trouble.

Your cabinets look different. Kind of hard to tell from the picture, but from the looks of it, I'd say a stain after sanding wouldn't look too good. Best option there would be to paint them another color.

[dbHunterNY]

I got my mom all the materials to redo her kitchen for christmas. They do make plastic tiles that look just like the punched tin and cost much less the ceramic tiles. All the bigger stores like Lowe's and HomeDepot have them. Just throwing that out there.

[mike]

I wouldn't recommend painting or staining laminate cabinets at all. You will not be happy with the outcome at all. Unless you use an oil base paint or some sort of enamel the finish won't last and won't clean easily. If a nice change is what you want look into ordering new doors and drawer fronts and leaving the old cabinets.

Tile can be easy if you are a handy person, like muggs said with the floor tear it down to the sub floor and install a cement board underlay. I tile saw can be rented from a rental place and is very simle to use, but as with all power tools can be dangerous if you don't know what you are doing.

Backsplashes arent too hard either but the require smaller pieces and cuts which means your hands that much closer to the tile saw blade!! lol. It applys easily with a mastic and v-notch trowel right over the drywall.

If you have any questions I would help ya out as much as I can just pm me.

[stevebeilgard]

muggs gave you good advice. i'll add to wash eveything in the kitchen a few times, each with clean rinse. everything in a kitchen has a coating of grease on it, from years of boiling, deep fat frying, etc. use tsp (tri sodium phospate) at least 3 times. then paint, ceramic tile, or whatever. good luck.

[Ashley]

Wow, thanks for all the advice, guys!

The kitchen flooring that is currently in place is ugly linoleum that came with the house so that will be getting ripped out and shouldn't be too difficult to tile. We decided to hire someone to do the flooring and we're going to be heading over to a few places where he did their flooring so we know he's credible and does nice work.

I also really like the idea of the wood veneer on the cabinets. That's something I'm going to look in to.

We're thinking Home Depot and Menards for a lot of our supplies. There's a big Home Depot about an hour away that we're going to go take a look at.

I washed all the cabinets really well with a de-greaser and a few other products so they should be good to go and when we spray painted the stove hood, I cleaned that beforehand and let me tell you, it was pretty gross how dirty it was. You wouldn't think by looking at things how greasy they can get, but once you start cleaning, it's amazing what you find.

[buckee]

Painting laminate cabinets

http://www.home-improvement-and-financing.com/painting-melamine-cabinet.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_2325302_paint-laminate-cabinets.html

You will need:

- a good "2-1/2" Sash brush"

- a WOOSTER MINI ROLLER http://www.thepaintstore.com/PhotoGallery.asp?ProductCode=R128

- * Screwdriver

* Sandpaper (100 grit)

* Lint free cloth

* good Primer

You cannot re-stain the wood trim lighter than what it is. Even if you stripped it all down (which you would have to do to re-stain) and bleached it using a wood bleach, you still, could not stain it lighter.

The only other option for the stained wood trim would be to sand,prime, and paint the desired colour.