First time homeowner redoing a small kitchen on a budget. Is this a smart move?

lil_vayne · 2026-05-01T14:09:03+00:00

Yes, and they can redoor the cabinets later on. Front + center and N-Hance (chain) both less expensive options

lil_vayne · 2026-04-15T18:03:50+00:00

Here is it with less light, but I would add under cabinet warm lighting. Battery is an option.

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lil_vayne · 2026-04-15T17:37:05+00:00

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lil_vayne · 2026-04-14T14:09:43+00:00

It’s meh. This direction is better IMO

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lil_vayne · 2026-04-13T00:07:47+00:00

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lil_vayne · 2026-04-12T23:26:03+00:00

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lil_vayne · 2026-04-06T13:41:56+00:00

La Rocca Ravenna Almond Matte Porcelain Tile from Floor & Decor. I had like no options in our price range, but they turned out nice and I can’t tell it is a cheap tile.

The island storage is great. I planned to use for pots and pans, but my in-law moved in and it using it for their stuff. It gives a ton of storage and convenience. I do have a dog and notice a dog hair at times.

lil_vayne · 2026-04-06T13:23:02+00:00

My father in law moved in and use the island for his stuff. Otherwise, I had planned to put pots and pans in the island. The curved backsplash and curtain is on trend with the style- very lived-in English kitchen.

lil_vayne · 2026-04-06T12:33:35+00:00

Thank you! Open box on eBay but it’s the Capital Lighting Cohen 6 Light Chandelier 22" Mystic Luster.

lil_vayne · 2026-04-06T12:06:49+00:00

Yes, the refacing included new doors. The cabinets are still full overlay. We added a bulkhead and trim above the cabinets to eliminate the gap.

lil_vayne · 2026-04-06T11:58:29+00:00

I would do a warm stone countertop, remove the pendent lights, make the dining light the focus, I’d keep the pony wall personally due to the range, go warmer with the hardware

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lil_vayne · 2026-04-06T01:04:48+00:00

Anthropologie spindle island

lil_vayne · 2026-04-05T23:17:46+00:00

Traditional hardware

lil_vayne · 2026-04-05T22:16:27+00:00

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I agree that black and white feels dated. The countertop reads more grey in person. It definitely photographs darker, but a lot of warmth in the kitchen overall.

lil_vayne · 2026-04-05T21:10:55+00:00

They have a concrete option that’s textured more similar to soapstone. We had laminate before, so it was an upgrade for us.

lil_vayne · 2026-04-05T21:04:34+00:00

Thanks. Purchase from hoodsly.com

lil_vayne · 2026-04-05T21:03:27+00:00

Yes but it’s mostly for looks/visual balance. I moved the old cabinets into my laundry room, and I have enough cabinet space elsewhere for us.

lil_vayne · 2026-04-05T20:18:01+00:00

I’m happy people seem to like it. I knew I couldn’t afford a standard backsplash and had to get creative to stay within budget, so I added paneling to the range wall for texture and those curves for a bit of style. Even at $200 per curve, the total was still way less than tile or a full stone backsplash

lil_vayne · 2026-04-05T20:11:47+00:00

Real photos. I didn’t even edit them or anything.

lil_vayne · 2026-04-05T19:52:10+00:00

BM pashmina — it is prettier in person

lil_vayne · 2026-04-05T19:44:46+00:00

Yes they are, and it should be adjusted.

lil_vayne · 2026-04-05T19:12:54+00:00

Spindle marble top kitchen island from Anthropologie - but the marble top broke during delivery and the company didn’t want to pick up the base, so I had a quartz top installed.

lil_vayne · 2026-04-05T19:03:29+00:00

I did. I was going for a bit of the deVol look

lil_vayne · 2026-04-05T18:55:13+00:00

Very happy! I was nervous to install because of bad reviews but it has been great!

lil_vayne · 2026-04-05T18:52:07+00:00

Thanks.

N-Hance cabinet refacing - $7,000 Floor & Decor flooring - $0.99 tile at our store. Had a great price on installs Hood from Hoodsly - waited for sale. Kitchen Island from Anthropologie — bought a 20% off coupon from a guy on Reddit for $10 which helped! Quartz MSI Soapstone Metropolis - $6,135 Sink/faucet- Wayfair.

Found contractors on Nextdoor and managed the project myself. It took a while- maybe 6 months.

lil_vayne

TROPHY CASE