Kitchen Phase 1: Small Changes That Make a Big Difference
We’ve finally opened that can of project worms and begun making changes in the kitchen. You might remember we removed the wallpaper a few weeks ago, but late last week we used that momentum to tackle a few more visible, practical updates that will help us enjoy the space while we plan a full renovation down the road.
We still plan to live in the house for a while and save for a larger kitchen overhaul, so these are intentional “Phase 1” improvements — relatively modest, useful changes that improve the room now and carry value into a later renovation. Removing the wallpaper exposed how brown and beige the space felt: appliances, counters, and walls blended into one washed-out palette, and the dark cabinets and trim made everything feel heavy. Our first concrete move — something Sherry wanted from day one — was to remove some upper cabinets and replace them with open shelving to lighten the room and reclaim a more open look.
Sherry emptied the cabinets first (luckily the cabinets beside the microwave were mostly unused, which gave us room for the displaced items), and then I began the demo. I carefully pried off the crown molding to reuse it, then tapped at the header above the window with a rubber mallet. The header came off easily — the cabinet itself, not so much.
These cabinets were nailed in rather than simply screwed, so removing them required a lot more prying and jostling than we expected. I took the doors off to keep them from banging around and set a paint can on the counter to prevent the cabinet from dropping directly onto the surface — and to save my foot. When it finally came out, the difference was immediate: freeing up the sightline to the window brightened the space and made it feel less closed-in.
We liked it enough that we removed the small upper cabinet on the opposite side of the window as well to keep the wall visually balanced. Our plan is to install floating shelves on either side of the window — we already own a pair of long white Ikea Lack shelves for the right side and a shorter version will work on the left. We’ll repurpose the removed cabinetry for the garage, so we aren’t losing useful storage.
Before adding the shelves we’ll prime and paint the walls. With that momentum underway, we turned to another awkward cabinet tucked behind the fridge. It was impossible to reach without a stool, so we decided to move it forward so it would be usable and look more like a built-in.
The cabinet was built into a slightly narrowing nook, which made removal tricky. After a few more pulls and a couple of minor drywall dents, it came out. Because the opening tapered toward the front, I trimmed about a quarter-inch from each face of the cabinet with a circular saw so it would fit flush when rehung. I used tape along the cut lines to reduce chipping and protect the finish.
To mount the cabinet forward, I built two U-shaped braces from 2x4s. The short side pieces of each brace screw into studs on the side walls, and the front boards provide a sturdy face to screw the cabinet into. I made one brace for the top and one for the bottom, carefully measuring so the cabinet would sit perfectly flush. After propping it into place and confirming it was level, I secured the back of the cabinet to the braces, making sure the screws penetrated the cabinet framing and not just the thin back panel.
Now the cabinet is both usable and attractive. The final step was reinstalling the crown molding; I matched the existing cuts and filled any gaps, planning to do final caulk touch-ups before painting to make the transitions seamless.
We also reinstalled the molding on the other side of the room so it runs continuously. The wall is still a work in progress, but with paint, new shelves, and a pendant over the sink it will look much more finished.
These early changes haven’t transformed the room completely yet, but they’ve already made 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 replace microwave with a countertop unit and add an inexpensive range hood
- Update or upgrade cabinet hinges and knobs
- Paint the cabinets
- Add a solid back to the peninsula (replace nonfunctional doors with beadboard or framed panels)
- Replace fluorescent lights (including over-sink fixture)
- Replace and center the light over the table
- Consider a rug for the eat-in area or peel-and-stick tile
- Install curtains for the windows
Most of these items also benefit a future full renovation — painting trim, doors, walls, and replacing lights are tasks that carry forward — so Phase 1 isn’t wasted effort. We’re treating it as a practical intermediate step that improves daily life and narrows the scope of decisions we’ll make when we tackle a major remodel later.
We also decided not to replace the appliances now. Although the off-white fridge and oven aren’t ideal for our final vision, holding off allows flexibility for future layout changes and appliance choices — such as a wall oven or a gas range. For this phase we’ll work with the existing off-white counters and choose paint colors that brighten the room while coordinating with the current surfaces.
Some readers have asked why we won’t keep these cabinets permanently. From up close they’re chipped, dented, and worn in ways that won’t look flawless even after putty and paint. We plan to repurpose them in the garage workshop, so they won’t go to waste. Painting them now will make them more pleasant to use in the kitchen until we’re ready for a full replacement, and later they’ll serve well in the garage.
We also considered painting the faux-brick vinyl floor, but it’s a single-sheet vinyl that flakes and scratches easily, so painting would likely be a short-lived solution. If it becomes intolerable, we’ll probably install affordable peel-and-stick tiles for Phase 1, which previously made a dramatic difference at low cost and minimal time.
Has anyone else started a small project that turned into a long list? Sherry is thrilled to be moving forward, and I’m bracing for the painting marathon ahead. Still, it feels good to be making progress and to enjoy the kitchen a little more each day. Bring it on, kitchen.