Kitchen makeovers - are they really possible without looking crap?

[Polkadothandkerchief]

I just saw one on insta of a shaker style unit painted navy with a white marble Fablon top and some sort of cut out thing to cover tiles but wonder what it's like IRL and how achievable it is. Mine is walnut ?cupboards v pricy 20 years ago but I hate it ! Black worktop with peeling off edges too. Weirdly I just found pics of the doors - still available. Maybe nobody bought them but us 🤣. All thoughts/ experiences/ photos welcome ! 🙏

My friend runs a company called colourfull kitchens that repurposes kitchens and other furniture, it looks really good

I'm a fan of the walnut, have you thought about getting new work tops fitted? In a sharp white, they might look lush. Deep blue paint and you're channeling a lovely yacht aesthetic!

I saw that make over on Ista, I reckon it won't last 5 minutes, it did look nice though.

Or, you could look to change the doors if it's in good condition?

I’d replace the work top. Not fablon it, it never looks good for long, I’d go for a work top with a copper tone to it,

dont paint them they always get chipped after a couple of years.

I like the doors, too! I don’t think they really date, it’s what you put round them.

I’d also get a new worktop, probably white (pain in the arse to keep crumb-free admittedly but brings a lot of light into the room). I’d also retile, or get the work surface company to do you a white splashback. A copper ripple through it would look lovely. Going over to a different handle would give it an update as well. Brass, or copper, as a PP suggested.

some photos for inspo (and proof walnut is classy)

I'm actually realising the worktop is what I really dislike and we did think it would age well when we got it. Tiles are awful though. The mix of three colours so beloved of the early 2000s. Green, cream, beige! So maybe we could cover them with a white splash back too.
I'm getting excited now.

If you’re willing to spend some money , but not too much, as you can do laminate, something like this would look amazing with walnut units.

https://www.worktop-express.co.uk/copper-laminate-worktops/

Worktops are really cheap in Ikea. You could then get someone to fit it?

Your walnut cabinets are lovely

Your worktop is dated and not good, replace it with ideally white quartz or if need cheaper Minerva in sparkling white or basic white laminate

Add some tiny mosaic splashback tiles for a flash of modern colour. With white and wood you can out any colour from
greens to reds

Will look fab

I agree, I would keep the units, change the worktop to something lighter and remove the tiles altogether.
The handles are a bit dated, see if you can find replacements with the same sized centres?

If you can possible avoid it, don’t get a fablon top, it stains like buggery!

Tii hi is is my account to al kitchen to who the tiles and cupboards and current handles. What handles do we think ? Copper? My current work top is speckled black laminate

Oh yes I would add a more modern tile and worktop and keep the walnut doors- wood is back in! I would definitely change the handles although they’re not awful, so you could keep them.

I think you can do a re-vamp which is much nicer and longer lasting than the fablon sticky-tiles Dunelm version.

The handles will depend on the worktop. I’d definitely change the tiles, politely, they are very dated.

Certainly are. Theyre 20 years old. No offence taken! Silly question but I guess we need to knock them off ?

I mean this politely, if you need to ask it is likely better you get a tiler in.

Changing the handles will make a remarkable difference ( you are lucky, they look like a easy standard size). Something less dark and ‘olde worlde would lighten them.

personally, I don’t hate your tiles,,perhaps because I am old fashioned….and if you don’t know how to tile ( not the easiest job if you have to tile around appliances) . I would get the worktop changed for a paler colour that would tone with the tiles, and pick out the green in the tiles for the wall paint, that sage colour is very in mode at the moment.

I don’t know how big your kitchen is, but could you take an area and paint the cupboards in it a slightly darker sage, just to break up the dark a bit? Painting cupboards is not hard as long as you use a good surface preparation to make sure the paint adheres.

Meant to say, I think you could paint the cooker hood as it is very in your face black. I’m just about to paint mine 🫰🏻) I can’t see why not as it doesn’t get hot.

If it works, I will report back if people are interested.

@janeintheframe of course I'd be getting a tiler to do it. I was more wondering how affected the units might be by knocking off tiles as I've only ever knocked tiles off before a major makeover / refit before
Cooler good painting hadn't crossed my mind.
Handles and work top might be a good start then see if I can live with the tiles. I am the sort of person who frets if I can't do it all that it will look bad but it might freshen it up a bit to do work tops to start
It's a galley kitchen so long and thin but with 3 windows on one side meaning limited wall space

A friend & I painted her perfectly good dark brown wood cabinets v. dated but we took twiddly bits off and they still look good. She replaced the handles and they all look lovely . But if you are going to repaint kitchen cabinets , you do need to scrub them , & either sand them or there is a product , can't remember which you put on before you paint. As it happens a neighbour has done similar and it looks lovely . I would not use fablon personally for counter tops ( or as blue Peter used to call it sticky backed plastic. ) I would either keep what you have or replace it. Wish you well

You might need to think about flooring too, taps and lights - it’s hard to tell but I think instead of putttibg in a cheap new kitchen spend the money you save on a good quality worktop and accessories. These are things you’d change for a new kitchen, so consider it for a revamp.

Do not throw away the walnut!!! It's ££££

I'd work with the existing cabinets.

And...
New handles
New tiles
New worktop
New fixtures and fittings

Consider removing sanding and oiling the doors/surfaces OR repainting

Personally I'd probably work with the wood.
white black dark grey (right shade) and sort of sagey greens would work well.

Alternatively paint the doors - professionals will prime and spray the doors for you alongside counters tiles etc.

my friend did this as she has a low ceilinged art and crafts place. The kitchen was very high quality but old and the wood was oppressively dark in the room so she painted it and went for some shade 3 off of white and did a new counter.
Looked INCREDIBLE like a brand new kitchen.

She spent around £5k (not £500 like on insta...😂)

Don't throw out the walnut, the walnut is great! Agree with getting in a quality worktop (real and not plastic or a cover) and change out the tiles. I would hold off on doing anything too trendy as things like small tile backsplashes are already dated. As boring as white kitchens are, they are also timeless and so doing a white quartz countertop with white subway tile is a classic look. I also love a white herringbone tile backsplash or a stone slab in the classic colours. I really like Nick Lewis on Youtube for design inspiration. He does a great job of explaining what is a classic vs. trendy. I watched all of his videos when we were doing renovations on our house and he helped me make some great choices (I also find him funny which is helpful).

Don't get white work top it'll be impossible to keep clean. I know this from experience!

My friend got granite over tops and changed door handles. Looks amazing.

To go against the grain, I love your kitchen! It's very country cottage.

I can understand you're bored and want a change.

I would: Light worktops if you can afford stone, dark slate effect if not (my in-laws have this and it's lovely)

No tiles, just a splash back (plain or image of your choice)

Match new handles

Paint in a colour to compliment the space

Pick a floor that will tie the whole thing in!

We've not long moved into our new home, and we have a solid wood kitchen that's very dated too (I'll add pic). I'm planning on updating, not replacing.

Years ago, in a rental, I covered the kitchen doors, worktops and tiles in transfer stuff. Looked great for about a year, but by the time I was leaving a few years later it was horrible. And a pain to clean once removed.