kitchen renovation please advise

Hi,

Please find attached the kitchen of the house i recently purchased. I need to get your thoughts and opinions of changing it to a modern one.

With the image i have colour-coded the areas and would like to get advise on what can be done.

I went to Mitre 10 & Bunnings today just to get some initial understanding of what is required. My knowledge is very limited and could gather very little out for the discussions with the paint specialist. But it was quite an eye-opener that it is not an expensive and a time-consuming job.


Green: Floor tile

I'm not too sure if we can paint the tiles. They are very old-fashioned and would like to understand if it is possible but I am worried after a while the paint will start to chip due to foot traffic.

If so,
What Product/s:
Cost:
Timeframe:

Red: Wooden Cabinets
From my understanding White Kinght tile laminate paint will do the job. First you wash down the cabinets with sugar soap, next is primer and then laminate paint.
What Product/s:
Cost:
Drying Timeframe:

Purple - Benchtop
Can I use White Knight tile paint for the benchtop? Or is there a better product in the market? for benchtops?
What Product/s:
Cost:
Timeframe:


Blue: Splashback

I was thinking of using White Kinght tile paint to freshen up the splashback tiles, and then using a grout pen. Thoughts/Suggestions?

What Product/s:
Cost:
Timeframe:

Black : Wooden Panel

Not sure what to do here? LEave it or paint over it (would that look tacky?)

What Product/s:
Cost:
Timeframe:


Brown : Wallpaper

Someone suggested to steam the wallpaper off. Not sure what are the next steps after that, any advise?

What Product/s:
Cost:
Timeframe:


Colour Scheme Suggestions welcome.

I am about to do something similar.I was posted a before and after picture of a cheap kitchen reno that you should check out as I was very impressed.It was posted about a week or two ago.
My initial reaction to your kitchen would be to possibly put laminate flooring down over those ugly tiles.I have put some new lino in other properties and it looks great these days.I would paint cuboards and put new handles on them.Possibly get rid of that old fashioned overhead hutch and add another wall cuboard.
Paint splash backs white with tile paint.Also paint or remove wall paper.
Can't see your bench tops well but I am replacing mine with a cheap,modern looking laminate.

What are you planning to do with the property - rent it, live in it, sell it?

If you're looking at renting it, you might want to get a few of the local RE agents to come through and give a rental appraisal. I rented out a place recently with a kitchen which was in similar condition. I thought I would need to renovate it but it turned out that there was a shortage of 3 bedroom places available for rent in the area and people were happy to rent in that condition. I don't think I would have been able to rent it for a great deal more even if I had spent the money on a kitchen reburb.

poordeveloper said:

I don't think I would have been able to rent it for a great deal more even if I had spent the money on a kitchen reburb.

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This is what I was going to say, particularly as you've mentioned it needing restumping and other talk of knocking it down in a small number of years.

What will it rent for without changing anything? Is it really that much below the standard in the rest of the suburb that you need to do a cosmetic reno just to rent it out?

If you're just planning on renting it for a few years and then building something else, just fix anything that is outright broken, not working, damaged or missing and forget spending time and money on cosmetic work.

As has been suggested in a previous post discussing this kitchen.

I would leave the tiles on the floor as they look bad because of all the other busyness ones you remove the wall paper and replace the wall tiles with a plain white they will look a 100%.

I would not bother painting the kitchen as it is a big job and the result will be dubious regardless of what the salesman told you.

I would also remove that contraption of top of the servery as it cramps the kitchen and eyesore.

Seeing you can use one of the one of the paint programs why don't you try and white out (or beige) all the wallpaper splashback area and see what it looks like.

Cheers

i am living in it for about 3-5 years and then think about knocking it down. I have rented my PPOR for $500 per week.

This one was not going to get me anymore than $300.

We did some numbers and the best possible solution was to move in.

I'll appreciate if you could come up with some ideas around this kitchen

Regrads
MV

RumpledElf said:

This is what I was going to say, particularly as you've mentioned it needing restumping and other talk of knocking it down in a small number of years.

What will it rent for without changing anything? Is it really that much below the standard in the rest of the suburb that you need to do a cosmetic reno just to rent it out?

If you're just planning on renting it for a few years and then building something else, just fix anything that is outright broken, not working, damaged or missing and forget spending time and money on cosmetic work.

Click to expand...

manish.verma said:

Green: Floor tile
I'm not too sure if we can paint the tiles. They are very old-fashioned and would like to understand if it is possible but I am worried after a while the paint will start to chip due to foot traffic.

Click to expand...

You cannot paint the floor tiles. Tile paint is for walls only - it will not cope with foot traffic and it is gloss and therefore slippery when wet.
You have 3 choices:
1. Retile over the top of the old floor tiles
2. Use "leveller" to fill in all the grouting - might need a couple of coatings. This will give you a level surface to glue vinyl over the top of
3. Use timer or laminate flooring over the top

manish.verma said:

Red: Wooden Cabinets
From my understanding White Kinght tile laminate paint will do the job. First you wash down the cabinets with sugar soap, next is primer and then laminate paint.

Click to expand...

Yes - do that, I'd agree

manish.verma said:

What Product/s:

Click to expand...

Er...White Knight laminate paint

manish.verma said:

Cost:

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Not expensive

manish.verma said:

Drying Timeframe:

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Read the side of the can

manish.verma said:

Purple - Benchtop
Can I use White Knight tile paint for the benchtop?

Click to expand...

No, once you paint the splashback with it, put the can away.
New laminate sheeting required. Glue black granite look or white ceasar-stone look laminate to the old stuff. Get help - you need glue and dowel rods. Google it - lots of advice & pics on "how to"

manish.verma said:

Or is there a better product in the market? for benchtops?

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Yes, "granite transformations" - google that too. But will be too expensive for your make-over, sorry.

manish.verma said:

Blue: Splashback

I was thinking of using White Kinght tile paint to freshen up the splashback tiles, and then using a grout pen. Thoughts/Suggestions?

Click to expand...

Yes, If you use the white tile paint you will not need the grout pen. Just use a roller to apply over tile & grout. Make sure grout is repaired beforehand if it needs it.

manish.verma said:

Black : Wooden Panel
Not sure what to do here? LEave it or paint over it (would that look tacky?)

Click to expand...

Paint over it. White wall paint after using a sealer first.

manish.verma said:

Brown : Wallpaper

Someone suggested to steam the wallpaper off. Not sure what are the next steps after that, any advise?

Click to expand...

Paint over it. White wall paint after using a sealer first. Use the same paint as in the point just above.

I personally would:

1. Remove old splashback tiles and redo with cheap $12/m white.
2. Paint cabinets white....
3. Wallpaper over old wallpaper
4. Leave floor.
5. Paint over timber over door.
6. Either make do with current benchtop, or go to IKEA (or equivalent) and get new snazzy white, or something to match the new wallpaper...

Good luck...

I'm about to do my own reno on a retro looking kitchen too....

HandyAndy888 said:

I personally would:

1. Remove old splashback tiles and redo with cheap $12/m white.
2. Paint cabinets white....
3. Wallpaper over old wallpaper
4. Leave floor.
5. Paint over timber over door.
6. Either make do with current benchtop, or go to IKEA (or equivalent) and get new snazzy white, or something to match the new wallpaper...

Good luck...

I'm about to do my own reno on a retro looking kitchen too....

Click to expand...

Doesn't look like you need to do too much to that kitchen!

Replace sink with double bowl and flick mixer, replace bench tops, paint/replace spashback tiles and new handles on the cupboards. That is all I would do to modernise that kitchen, I think it would look great!

Edit: Maybe an island bench for more bench space!

MissMuffitt said:

Doesn't look like you need to do too much to that kitchen!

Replace sink with double bowl and flick mixer, replace bench tops, paint/replace spashback tiles and new handles on the cupboards. That is all I would do to modernise that kitchen, I think it would look great!

Edit: Maybe an island bench for more bench space!

Click to expand...

The main problem, as you have already identified, is the lack of space. I would paint the cabinets so that I could buy another unit that would separately house a dishwasher and all our electrical knick knacks. So it's either buy a dresser (timber) , or do the lot in white.

Ah, living in it and hate the decor. That's different.

I agree with some of the others -

Paint the splashbacks white
Paint the panelling/wallpaper whatever colour you like (offwhite?)
Leave the cupboards and just replace the handles
Go over the existing tiles with vinyl, laminate timber or new tiles, whichever tickles your fancy.`

Can you advise me how much will this project will cost?

Any form of breakdown would be great

you could try doing some of your own research for a start

manish.verma said:

i am living in it for about 3-5 years and then think about knocking it down...

Click to expand...

Perhaps just leave it as it is then?

Or at least wait 6 - 12 months and make a list of things that annoy you the most, then change them.

Save your money, live with it until you have a concrete decision on wether your

a)knocking it down - do nothing

b) renting it out - do nothing - kitchen will only degrade with renters.

c)live in it forever - gut it and do it professionally and get 15-20 years out of it, when you can afford it.

d)sell it when the time is right - do nothing, and take whatever capital gains you can get or gut it and do it professionally along with the rest of the house to add real value to the property.

Either way, in my mind, going down your current path is never a truly wise decision - but horses for courses. And of course - I have been wrong before.

If this was my kitchen, and I was considering knocking the house down in three to five years, I would paint the splash back tiles white, get rid of the cupboard over the bench to open it up, paint the walls and fake panelling white or off white and leave the floor tiles.

All that would take one weekend and it would make a huge difference.

I'll give you a price.....$400. Happy?