Well, that can of worms is officially open. We’ve begun making changes in the kitchen. This isn’t entirely new— we removed the wallpaper a few weeks ago— but late last week we used that momentum to start a series of more meaningful updates.
We still plan to live in this house for a long time and save up before tackling a full kitchen renovation. We’re changing our minds daily about layouts and countertop materials, so for now we’re focusing on Phase 1 improvements that are affordable, reversible, and noticeably transformative so we can enjoy the space in the meantime.
Removing the wallpaper didn’t fix everything—if anything, it emphasized how brown and beige the room feels. Appliances, counters, and walls blend together under the fluorescent light, while the dark cabinets and trim feel heavy and looming. Sherry has wanted to remove the long upper cabinet to the right of the window since we moved in so we could have open shelving like in our previous kitchen, and we finally made that move.
Sherry emptied the cabinets (luckily the uppers flanking the microwave had been barely used and offered storage for the displaced items), and I began demo. I pried off the crown molding carefully to reuse it, then tapped on the header across the window with a rubber mallet.
That part was easy. The cabinet itself, however, was nailed in place, not merely screwed, so removing it required a lot of prying and jostling. The unit was heavy, so I took the doors off and set a paint can on the counter to prevent it from crashing down. It also saved my foot from getting smashed.
Even with some paint missing behind it, removing the long upper was an instant improvement. From the table on the other side of the kitchen, the window is now much more visible. We liked it so much we removed the small upper on the other side of the window too to keep the wall balanced and let the window breathe.
Our plan is to install a pair of floating shelves on either side of the window. We already own long white Ikea Lack shelves for the right side, and a shorter version will work well on the left. We’ll reuse the removed cabinets in the garage, so we’re not giving up much storage in the kitchen.
Before installing shelves we’ll prime and paint the walls. With cabinet removal underway, we also addressed a problematic upper cabinet tucked behind the fridge. It was set so far back you needed a stool to reach it. We wanted to move it forward so it’s reachable and looks less like a built-in hole behind the fridge.
The cabinet was snug in the nook and didn’t want to budge. A few more pulls and some drywall dents later it came out; the dents were covered when the cabinet was rehung. Because the wall narrows slightly toward the front, I trimmed about a quarter inch from each side of the cabinet face with a circular saw so it would fit flush. I used tape on the edges to reduce chipping while cutting.
To mount the cabinet a few inches forward from the back wall I built two U-shaped 2×4 braces—one top and one bottom—anchored into studs on the side walls. Those braces provided a sturdy front board to screw the cabinet into. Careful measuring ensured the cabinet sat perfectly flush. I propped it, checked it for level, and screwed through the cabinet’s structural framing into the braces so the back panel wasn’t bearing the load.
Not only does the cabinet look much better, but it’s now functional. The final step was reinstalling the crown molding. I had to match existing cuts carefully because I only had the pieces I removed earlier, so precision mattered. It went well and the gaps were filled; we’ll do caulk touch-ups and paint later for a seamless finish.
I also reinstalled crown molding on the other side so it wraps the room again. The wall still looks raw now, but paint, shelves, and a pendant over the sink will make a big improvement.
We wouldn’t call the space fully transformed yet, but these early changes already make it feel more open and less heavy in person.
Below is our Phase 1 To-Do List as it stands:
Remove wallpaperMove fridge cabinet forwardRemove upper cabinets on window wall to prep for open shelvesReinstall crown molding- Paint pantry and garage doors
- Paint walls and ceiling
- Hang floating shelves on window wall
- Paint trim and paneling
- Possibly sell the existing microwave and get a countertop model and add a cheap range hood to lighten that wall
- Update or upgrade cabinet hinges and knobs
- Paint the cabinets
- Add a solid back to the peninsula so that side reads cleaner (beadboard or framed wood)
- Replace fluorescent lights, including the one over the sink
- Replace and center the light over the table
- Get a rug for the eat-in area or possibly install peel-and-stick tiles
- Install curtains for the windows
Many of these tasks will carry forward into Phase 2—painting walls, trim, and replacing lights will be useful later—so Phase 1 acts as a bridge toward a bigger renovation while improving daily life now.
We’re planning to keep our cream appliances and off-white counters for this phase so we don’t box ourselves into a layout we might change later. Sherry has sketched color ideas that will lighten the room while working with the existing finishes, and we’re resisting the default choice to paint the cabinets white just for the sake of it.
As for whether we’ll keep the existing cabinets permanently: they’re not in great shape up close. There are chips, dents, and other damage in both doors and frames that would be hard to hide even with putty and paint. We plan to repurpose them for the garage, so painting them now helps both the kitchen and the future garage workshop.
People have also asked about the faux brick vinyl floor and whether we’d paint it. Unlike grouted brick pavers, our floor is a single sheet of vinyl that scratches and flakes easily, so painting it would likely be a lost cause. The vinyl’s top layer is old and fragile—rolling the fridge or sliding a chair already causes surface flakes—so painting isn’t a reliable solution. The good news is the house was built after asbestos was phased out, so the flaking isn’t an asbestos concern—just an aesthetic one.
If we can’t live with the floors, we’ll likely install peel-and-stick tiles like we did during Phase 1 of our previous kitchen. That low-cost solution took about a day and $100 and made a big difference until we could afford a major renovation.
Has anyone else opened up a can of project worms lately? Sherry is thrilled, and I admit I was surprised a few removed cabinets would lead to a long to-do list. Still, I’m relieved to be actively improving the room instead of groaning whenever we walk in. Bring it on, kitchen!