What to do with these kitchen cabinets??

[Shawn]

Need to put in a modern fridge and a microwave range hood, but the cabinets are too low.

Contractor gave us these options are in order from least expensive to most expensive:

1. Raise the end cabinets to accommodate new appliances.
2. Raise all of the cabinets to same height. Back splash will have to be replaced.
3. Raise the end cabinets to accommodate end appliances and fill the gap between the other cabinets and the ceiling with drywall.

Back splash is textured board so option 2 wouldn't be much more than option 1.

We would really like to redo the entire kitchen, but we are doing about $25k in repairs on other areas of the house that are more important so we need a really cheap solution for now.

Pics:

 

[guyver01]

My answer still stands

(4) Replace everything as that is one fugly looking kitchen.

 

[Shawn]

Not in the budget

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Why don't you just do the cheapest option now and when you can afford it, redo the entire kitchen? If you think you might redo the entire kitchen in the next 3 or 4 years, do the cheap option now.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Move them all up. It'll look weird to have them at different heights.

 

[SandEagle]

My answer still stands

(4) Replace everything as that is one fugly looking kitchen.

stay classy, guyver01

 

[guyver01]

stay classy, guyver01

 

[Shawn]

Why don't you just do the cheapest option now and when you can afford it, redo the entire kitchen? If you think you might redo the entire kitchen in the next 3 or 4 years, do the cheap option now.

I'm just worried the first option will look really weird. The back splash is just textured board and the contractor said he thought he could add at the seem and the cost would be minimal. So if the first 2 were almost the same what do you think would look best and still be functional?

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I'm just worried the first option will look really weird. The back splash is just textured board and the contractor said he thought he could add at the seem and the cost would be minimal. So if the first 2 were almost the same what do you think would look best and still be functional?

Well, personally, I'd probably move all the cabinets up if I intended to keep them for 5+ years because it probably would look a little off with the end cabinets being higher. Do you really need the cabinet above the refrigerator?

 

[Shawn]

This is my really crappy photoshop attempt:

 

[Demo24]

Good luck reaching stuff easily with them all ceiling attached. That's how mine are in my apt and even at 6' I have to reach to get stuff off the top shelf, good luck finding anything pushed back.

 

[DrPizza]

wtf? Where the hell do you live? I'm going to quit teaching and move there & work as a contractor. Moving all the cabinets up and replacing the backsplash should take about 2-3 hours, tops, for 2 guys. Materials: $5 for new screws for the cabinets, and wild guess on the "back splash": $100. That's $300 tops. And, an incredibly simple do-it-yourself project. Hell, if you were my neighbor, I'd help you do that entire part of the project for the cost of materials and a couple six-packs.

(And that's the route I'd take: option 2. Option 1 would look weird, option 3; I hate.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Move the cabinets up yourself and loose the shitty back splash. Just paint the wall.

 

[Shawn]

Move the cabinets up yourself and loose the shitty back splash. Just paint the wall.

I'm doing a 203k renovation loan in order to buy a house that wouldn't normally quality for an FHA loan, and they aren't letting me do anything myself. Damn contractor has to do everything. Also I'm being forced to have a crap load of shit addressed that I didn't want to get into because the HUD inspector said they needed to be done.

I've got to bring a ton of crap to code because they are pulling permits and everything has to be done by the contractor. They needed to bring in an electrician to fix something on the fuse box, and now I have to pay them to put in GFIs and change a light fixture outside that's broken.

I can do that myself, but because I'm not a qualified electrician I'm not allowed. I can do I can't even bring in home depot to do the carpets even though they would be cheaper.

I had to fight to get them to let me paint the house myself instead of paying the $2400 the contractor wanted, and in order to do that I have to be a subcontractor and fill out a form stating that I am capable of doing the job myself.

Luckily the appliances aren't required for FHA so I can buy them myself.

edit: Good idea to get rid of the back splash though.

 

[Shawn]

Neighbor has their house for sale and it's the same house. This is what they did with their crappy kitchen:

 

[Humpy]

I would just get rid of the cabinets that are in the way for now.

Remodel the kitchen on the down low after everything is settled and you have the cash.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

I would just get rid of the cabinets that are in the way for now.

Remodel the kitchen on the down low after everything is settled and you have the cash.

:thumbsup:

Remove the double doors over the frig, and remodel latter

 

[0roo0roo]

yea cheapest option, other options are too much work for old units

 

[paperfist]

I don't get it, the room looks like everything is set to a normal height unless that door isn't 80" high. What are the dimensions that they fridge and microwave won't fit where they used to go?

 

[Rage187]

My answer still stands

(4) Replace everything as that is one fugly looking kitchen.

I bet the old cabinets fall apart once they are moved around.

 

[Shawn]

Microwave can't just replace the hood. It will sit too low. Also modern fridges are much higher than the ones made in the 1970s.

 

[Shawn]

I bet the old cabinets fall apart once they are moved around.

I don't see why they would fall apart. They are solid wood, unlike the cabinets made now.

 

[Zebo]

You could do that kitchen up nice for about $1800 I've done it on flips.

Go to lowes and check out premades/prestained in the back, their oak is nice

Check out the travertine formica which matches really well and doesnt look much like formica.

 

[ProfJohn]

My answer still stands

(4) Replace everything as that is one fugly looking kitchen.

This.

If that is not option then do the cheapest thing and plan to replace it all later.
If later will be a few years then at least make it look decent in the mean time.

 

[Shawn]

You could do that kitchen up nice for about $1800 I've done it on flips.

Go to lowes and check out premades/prestained in the back, their oak is nice

Check out the travertine formica which matches really well and doesnt look much like formica.

I was looking at those yesterday. They looked pretty nice. Don't know if I could get them all to fix properly though.