IKEA Kitchen Makeover Stages One and Two 2016-2017
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When I bought my house in 2014, I knew I would have to do a makeover in stages. Like a lot of people, I couldn’t afford to do it all at once. Fortunately, this allowed me time to look into different options and I discovered IKEA Sektion cabinets.😊😍 It was an affordable, good quality option and cost less than inferior quality stock cabinets.
This was my original kitchen before the makeover...
If there was a gust of wind or any vibration, the fridge door would open. The huge fridge also made the entrance to the garage very tight because recycling bins also had to stay by the door.
In the corner by the stove, the dishwasher blocked the drawer from opening.
None of the shelves inside the cabinets were adjustable either. Needless to say – not the most functional.
I have renovated it in stages over the last three years...
First, I got a new fridge (2015). A few months later I did the pantry wall where the fridge was being moved to (2016). The original space must have had wall ovens, but the previous owner had finished the space with tiles and it was just a big hole – not the best use of space. I kept the microwave oven here and there was still lots of space above it. Unfortunately, the big cupboard above it was deep and hard for me to reach.
I actually liked the little pantry cupboard that was beside the gaping hole space. Unfortunately, it was very noisy every time I closed the door.
For my kitchen cabinets I selected the IKEA Sektion cabinets with Bodbyn doors...
Designing with the online IKEA planning tool is quite the process. There is a bit of a learning curve.
The pantry wall is finished with grey doors and the rest of the kitchen is off-white.
Stage One in kitchen makeover...Adding function to the pantry wall...
First, I knew the fridge would be moved here to allow better access to the garage door. The fridge also had a water and ice dispenser but I’ve had to wait until now to get it hooked up. Fortunately the floor joists were running the right way to run a water line directly from where the sink is. I had my contractor put a little trap door in the floor behind the fridge to make it easier to access when the time came to hook it up.
My walk-in pantry was replaced with pantry cupboards and a space for the microwave.
A utility cupboard with a pull-out organizer was put in the other side of the fridge. This was great to finally have a proper home for my broom, mops and cleaning equipment.
The upper cabinets above the fridge and utility cabinet houses vases and seasonal items or items that don’t need to be used regularly. Since I had an extra glass shelf from my upper cabinets, I put it in the over-the-fridge cabinet to better utilize the space.
Stage Two in kitchen makeover...the upper cabinets were replaced...
This phase was the messiest, took the longest and gave the biggest impact on it’s transformation. Not only were the bulkheads removed above the built-in cabinets, but the drywall valance in the adjoining dining room was too. Doing this completely opened up the space. The ceiling in the kitchen area also had to be scraped and re-plastered and parts of the drywall had to be repaired and as a result. As a result – drywall dust was everywhere!!!
Fortunately, I had lots of help.
Kitchen makeover surprises...
Removing the bulkheads revealed some wires I wasn’t expecting. That added cost to the electrician’s bill. New plugs were also installed and interior and under cabinet lighting. Over the peninsula and sink new pendant lights were hung. I originally wanted three over the peninsula but when the new cabinet door was opened I realized only two would fit.
When I purchased the pantry cabinets I also got the lower 36″cabinet with drawers to benefit from the promotional offer of 10-20% in gift cards. At that time, it had to be in increments of $1000. They’ve changed the rules since then when they have their kitchen event twice a year, in spring and fall. I had this temporarily installed with a plywood countertop which I painted grey.
Crown molding from Home Depot was added to the tops of the cabinets that went right to the ceiling. The off-white paint for the crown molding was colour-matched to the cabinets.
My kitchen makeover is almost completed...
Stayed tuned for part three of my kitchen makeover…
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