Vanessa shared her kitchen makeover with us — a transformation that cost just over one hundred dollars — and we couldn’t help smiling. Here’s her story in her own words:
After 11 years of marriage and seven different cities (sometimes multiple moves within a single city), my husband and I have learned how to make each place feel like home. Painting kitchen cabinets has always intimidated me, but in our seventh house I finally decided to tackle it myself. When we moved in, the kitchen looked like this:
I primed and applied several coats of paint, then rehung the cabinet doors and sanded the edges to create a worn, vintage look. I used distressing oil around the corners where I’d sanded; after letting it sit for a minute I wiped it off. The photo on the left shows the oil sitting on the door, and the photo on the right shows the result after wiping it away.
I love how the oil highlighted small scratches in the wood and acted like a sealer. Once all the cabinets were distressed, I replaced the hardware with knobs I found for a steal. I chose antique pewter to contrast with the cream paint and to tie into our stainless appliances.
One element I’d always disliked was the apron piece connecting the two cabinets beside the sink. My husband removed that piece and the cabinet molding, then recut the molding to fit around the cabinets. That small change made a noticeable difference — it let in more light and opened up the space.
Along with refinishing the cabinets, I made new window treatments using a pelmet-board tutorial I found online. They were simple to build and finished the look nicely.
Cost breakdown:
- Paint: Valspar “cream” (oops paint) — $5; Danish oil for distressing — $11
- Primer: Zinsser oil-based — $14
- Cabinet hardware: resale shop — $10.50 (21 knobs at $0.50 each)
- Valances: fabric from Old Time Pottery — $20; other supplies — $11 (used an online tutorial to make them)
- Accessories: yellow step stool (Hobby Lobby) — $12; small yellow pitcher (Goodwill) — $1; three glass jars (Target) — $6 each
- Total: $102.50
As a bonus, the kitchen chairs were Goodwill finds that I refreshed for under $100. The table, originally black from Target, was something I already owned — I stripped and re-stained it for less than $20. Other accessories were items I already had. Counting those earlier projects, the total makeover cost comes to around $300, which I think is a great price for a full kitchen refresh. – Vanessa
Great job, Vanessa — the transformation is impressive. The kitchen now feels brighter and more inviting, and the existing backsplash and countertops complement the new cabinet finish. If you’d like more pictures or details, Vanessa has a blog with an extended reveal. For us, favorite details include the window valances and the cheerful yellow step stool, while the distressing oil technique is a new trick we’re excited to try.