Sherry’s junk drawer switcheroo was only the kickoff to our kitchen refresh—specifically the start of a multi-step Phase 1 makeover.
With the six-month “live-with-it” trial period almost up, we finally began acting on plans last week. We like to live in a space for a while before making big changes so we can be sure we’re demo-ing and redesigning the right things. The idea is to complete a Phase 1 update that keeps as much of the existing kitchen as possible—cabinets, countertops, vinyl floor, paneling, beams—then tackle a more invasive Phase 2 renovation later once we’ve saved up, refined the plan, and decided which elements are truly worth keeping.
Here’s a recent photo of the kitchen for reference.
And here’s an older shot from the opposite direction (yes, that’s stockings and a tree), since we don’t have many pictures taken from that angle:
Phase 1 includes a fair number of tasks, so it won’t be an overnight project. We’ll work on it in stages as time, energy, and funds allow. High-level goals include:
- Remove the woodstove insert from the fireplace — completed
- Prime and paint the fireplace — completed
- Remove the desk area to the right of the oven to make room for a wide doorway into the dining room
- Prime and paint the dark paneling
- Create a double-wide doorway between kitchen and dining room (aligned with the dining room window for balance; will require a pro and permit)
- Replace the over-the-cooktop microwave with a proper hood to vent steam correctly
- Swap the wall oven for a wall oven/microwave combo
- Prime and paint the cabinets
- Redo the backsplash
- Update the lighting (goodbye fluorescent fixtures)
- Add a storage-rich island with seating where the current kitchen table sits
Sherry’s drawer reorganization was actually part of preparing to remove the desk area and the cabinet above it—our future mega-doorway will cut right through that section.
We taped the proposed opening with green painter’s tape months ago and lived with it to make sure the location felt right. After more than 60 days of consideration, we’re confident this is the perfect spot: it opens the kitchen to the dining room and mirrors the width of the dining room’s front window for visual balance. Losing the small upper cabinet and desk is worth gaining an open kitchen, a larger island, and more functional flow for gatherings.
That desk had mostly been a junk magnet, so it wasn’t hard to clear it out. We had plenty of cabinet space elsewhere and even moved items from the glass-fronted upper cabinet into a lazy Susan cabinet below, leaving room to spare.
With the area cleared and the island planned to add even more storage, we were ready to remove the upper cabinet and desk. Removing the glass-fronted upper cabinet was straightforward: we took the doors off first to avoid glass breakage, then unscrewed the cabinet from the wall and its neighbor, and it came down in one light piece.
The lower desk area required more work. Sherry cut through silicone caulk around the granite backsplash, pried it loose, and removed the backsplash with a screwdriver and hammer used chisel-style. Then she sliced the clear caulk attaching the counter to the wall, expecting the counter to lift right off.
After lots of prying and repeated caulk cuts, one strong tug tipped the granite and drawer onto the floor—the granite was extremely heavy. Note: wear shoes during demo. Barefoot was a bad idea and not recommended.
Removal left some minor damage—missing trim and glue residue on the adjacent cabinet—which are straightforward fixes: scrape off glue, fill holes with wood putty, sand and stain to match, and replace the trim. Since we plan to paint the cabinets, some of the sanding and staining may be unnecessary, though we’ll replace the trim.
The most notable issue was a hole in the vinyl floor where the desk leg once sat. I removed the damaged tile and—surprise—found original hardwood beneath a thick layer of plywood and vinyl. Restoring those hardwoods is an appealing idea, but that’s a Phase 2 job since it would require removing the lower cabinets and appliances.
For now I trimmed a spare vinyl tile to size with a razor and slid it into place using the leftover glue on the plywood. It’s not a peel-and-stick tile, so I relied on existing adhesive, then let Clara’s carseat sit on it while the bond strengthened. The tile now sits securely and looks good from a distance.
We reused a piece of quarter round that had been nailed to the desk to cover a gap in the molding and Sherry spackled cracks and holes in the paneling. Since this section of baseboard will be removed when we open the new doorway, a temporary fix was sufficient for now.
With the cabinet and desk gone and caulk residue cleared, we’re moving on to priming and painting the paneling while the permit process for the doorway proceeds. Sayonara dark paneling—prime and paint are next, and we might already be priming as you read this.