Four years ago, we purchased a fixer upper in our favorite neighborhood in Orange County, CA. I immediately remodeled the entire home except for the kitchen. I felt the kitchen was liveable and not aweful. We could live in it a bit before taking it on. Four years later, it's time. Both the cabinets and countertops are falling apart... literally! I was hoping I could get by with a paint job and some organization, but no... You don't believe me? Take a look!
So at first glance, not too bad other than tiled countertops, right?
(Hi, Max!)
Wrong...
As if being tiles isn't enough, they're falling off!
The cabinet doors keep falling off.. (This is an easy enough fix if I wasn't replacing it.)
Ignore the messy pantry. I have teenagers.
Note the pullout shelves. They drive me crazy. There are actually 2 doors on this cabinet. The shelves are 36" wide (way too wide) and have no front lip! That means things get a bit tricky when pulling them out. Also note, the "cabinet" (there are no sides so I'm not sure you can call it that) is held together by some sort of cable. It works so I'll give the former homeowner that.
The tray organizers collapsed so I'm in desperate need of new ones. I prefer wooden ones that slide into grooves. They're on my list to order!
Generally speaking, there's a lot of wear and tear. It could be repaired with bondo and paint, but when considering other issues and the need for more space, I decided it's best to bite the bullet and replace them.
Goodbye, 80's tile!
I'm hoping as I document this remodel from the before pics, to tear out, to problems and how to solve them (yes, they happen and I expect them), you'll join me and give me your input!
Believe it or not, I hate remodeling my own home. I don't like spending the money - designers are like most homeowners in that respect! My favorite thing about design is working with homeowners, getting to know them and their likes/dislikes, and using that to create beautiful spaces. I definitely miss that interaction when doing my own home. I love seeing homeowners excited about their new space and its transformation.
I also enjoy the challenges that others bring to the table and the way they inspire me to grow and learn. After working with many homeowners who like a variety of styles, I have come to appreciate most styles, so narrowing down "my look" is hard for me. I don't have just one. I'm hoping you, as my audience, will join me on this project and give me your opinions! I'll be posting real-time throughout the project, so if you don't want this in your feed, you may want to silence me!
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