Is it possible to fully update a 1970s kitchen with new flooring, countertops, stove, lighting and cabinets for just $1,100? Yes, it is!
New Flooring
Anna took on this challenge when her husband agreed to put in much-needed new flooring in their kitchen. Her old floor had vinyl tiles with a brick appearance. In several places the tiles had come up, and the subfloor was rotted.
“The new flooring was the most expensive part of the makeover,” says Anna. “Our beautiful new floor is luxury vinyl planking that’s 100% waterproof.”
Like-New Cupboards
While her husband worked on the flooring, Anna got started sanding and prepping her Formica cupboards. She removed hardware and scrubbed each piece with steel wool, then repainted the hardware.
Having the advantage of an existing backsplash of off-white subway tiles that are now back in style, Anna chose a taupe color for her cupboards. After completing the repainting of the cupboards and hardware, she turned next to the countertops.
Countertop Tips for Success
“I did a Google search for countertop alternatives and found Daich Coatings,” says Anna. “My tight budget forced me to look for different options instead of replacing the countertops. The SpreadStone Countertop Finishing Kit was the perfect solution.”
Anna was more than ready to get rid of her Formica laminate countertops. They had unsightly burn marks and chips that she was eager to cover.
After selecting the Oyster color kit, Anna got to work.
“The best piece of advice I can offer anyone doing a kitchen rehab is to try and have a design plan in place with all your colors chosen before selecting the countertop color,” says Anna. “After that, just follow the easy instructions in the kit!”
Anna offers these tips to anyone tackling the countertop kit:
Tip #1 – Clean and prep your surface very well before applying your base coat.
Tip #2 – Once the base coat is completed and thoroughly dry, apply the stone coating. Move the stone pieces around on the countertop to get an even distribution. There’s no “right or wrong” for this step — it’s just your personal preference.
Tip #3 – A rotary sander makes the job of sanding super easy!
Tip #4 – Take extra time to thoroughly clean the surface before applying the sealant.
Tip #5 – Apply several top coats of sealant for a very durable finish. I used three!
Tip #6 – Make sure not to get any water droplets on the surface during the curing time of the sealant.
Economical Countertop Kit
With the countertop finished, the entire kitchen upgrade was almost complete. Anna found a “new” stove on Craigslist for $75. Then she visited a local thrift store and found a hanging light fixture for over the sink. The price? Just $8.
“The Daich Coatings countertop product was the most fun I had with this project,” says Anna. “The results even fooled a contractor friend of ours. When he came over to see it, he thought we had replaced our countertops with real granite!
“The countertop kit was right up my alley. It saved the day to complete my new kitchen on a very tight budget. I’m recommending this kit to all my friends. It’s an affordable project that brings very impressive results!”
