An Under-$1,000 Kitchen Makeover Has DIY Upgrades for Almost Every Surface
Credit: Tarah Trammell Credit: Tarah Trammell
Credit: Tarah Trammell Credit: Tarah Trammell
ABOUT THIS BEFORE & AFTER
HOME TYPE: House
PROJECT TYPE: Kitchen
STYLE: Contemporary, Mid-Century Modern, Rustic
RENTAL FRIENDLY: No
Home renovations done during the height of the pandemic — and there were a lot of them! — added a couple of extra obstacles that still trickle into 2024. First, it was tough to go out and shop for new finishes and furnishings in person, and second, online orders were often backed up or out of stock. These two things made Tarah Trammel (@tarah.tr) and Cody Baker’s kitchen makeover an extra challenge, in addition to budgeting, plumbing, electrical, and cabinet Tetris issues that already often come with kitchen renovations.
“We were stuck at home in a house we just purchased with limited access to supplies,” Tarah says. “So this required a lot of repurposing and creativity.” Almost every surface in the “very standard ‘90s” (as Tarah puts it) kitchen was upgraded instead of replaced.
The cabinets got a black coat of paint.
“Absolutely everything in here was budget-friendly,” Tarah says. And she says the cabinet upgrade, in particular, saved her and her husband a lot of money. “Cleaning, skim coating to get rid of the wood grain, then painting and priming was a huge undertaking,” Tarah says. She and Cody went with Behr’s Cracked Pepper for their matte black of choice.
They also opted to remove the upper cabinets and install open shelving instead for a less-clunky, airier look that’s more modern. And if you turn your attention to the floors and counters, you’ll notice the wood tones didn’t completely go away. (Read more on those below.)
The appliances were vinyl wrapped in black to match.
Tarah and Cody moved the placement of their refrigerator in the kitchen refresh, and after painting the cabinets, Tarah and Cody wanted their appliances to better match the space. “I would’ve preferred black appliances, but in 2020, any type of appliance was difficult to come by,” Tarah says. “So getting creative, we decided to wrap them in black vinyl so they could blend in … if I could do it over, I would have probably just waited and swapped the appliances.”
A new matte black tile backsplash also adds some dark drama to match the cabinets and appliances. “The installation process couldn’t have been easier!” Tarah says. “Would definitely encourage anyone on the fence to give it a try. “
Butcher block counters were budget-friendly.
Two other major difference-makers in the kitchen were the butcher block countertops that Tarah and Cody installed (they’re also budget-friendly, Tarah says) and the spruced-up flooring. “Refinishing pine hardwood floors is not for the faint of heart,” Tarah says, but ultimately, she’s proud of all the DIYing she and her husband did in the kitchen.
Three other DIY projects to note? Tarah made the new cabinetry out of plywood, she made the new copper hood, and she made the new light fixture. “I knew I wanted something woven, but I couldn’t find the correct proportions,” she says of the latter project. “So I took a very basic flush mount light and a basket I liked the size of and pieced them together. I removed the handles and cut a hole in the base. Super simple.”
She’s really proud of all of the sweat equity put into the kitchen. “Renovating a kitchen is a huge project!” Tarah says. “It’s a lot, but it has the potential to completely change your home. It’s so easy to go over with this kind of project, so setting a budget and deciding where you’re willing to compromise and where you aren’t can be incredibly helpful.”
Because she and Cody transformed so many existing features, their project total came to about $950. Not bad for a completely stylish new kitchen!
Inspired? Submit your own project here.
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