My Fixer Upper Inspired Kitchen Reveal!

I am SO excited to finally share the before and after shots of my Fixer Upper inspired kitchen redo!! I’ve been channeling my inner Joanna Gaines, tearing down walls and installing shiplap like mad. Can you say “major improvement??!!” Can you believe the contrast from dark and dreary to light and bright? I am just smitten.

And here’s the real clincher…

I did all this for about $300!!!

I have been anxious to start on this project for years. I’ve dreamed and planned and pinterested up a storm. Now, after 2 weeks of non-stop painting, sanding, and faux marbling – I am ready to take a painting hiatus for a couple years!

Did you catch my original post about achieving the “Fixer Upper” inspired look? You may want to check it out: HERE

Here’s what I did

A summary of the steps I took:

• Removed the upper cabinets from above the bar area
• Removed the doors on two uppers around the stove
• Primed everything using Stix Primer
• Installed a faux shiplap backsplash using peel and stick vinyl floor planks
• Removed the bi-fold doors to the pantry and all the shelves
• Hung the upper cabinet (that was above the bar) in the old pantry
• Bought a used lower cabinet at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore for in the pantry
• Used 2×6 boards to create a faux butchers block counter in the pantry turned coffee bar
• Painted the upper cabinets with Benjamin Moore Advanced paint in Dove White
• Lower cabinets painted with Benjamin Moore Advanced paint in Kendall Charcoal
• Painted the walls with Glidden paint in Smooth Stone
• Created a faux marble finish on the countertops using Stix primer, Glidden flat white paint and charcoal craft paint and a Giani brand Top Coat
• Installed recessed lighting in bulkheads
• New switch plate covers
• Installed a new trash can inside a cabinet
• Clean and organized, decluttered and downsized!!

Price Breakdown of Major Improvements

Here’s the cost involved in this project:

• Stix Primer – $50
• Benjamin Moore Advanced Paint for Cabinets – $100
• Top Coat for Countertops – $25
• Glidden Wall Paint – $25
• Peel ‘n Stick Vinyl Flooring (for backsplash) – $20
• Used Lower Cabinet – $20
• Recessed Lighting – $60
• 2 4X6 Wood Planks – $8

Things I Already Had:

• All the tools needed
• I updated the hardware on the cabinets a few years ago and spent about $40 on the value packs from Home Depot
• The Glidden wall paint and colors I used on the counter tops
• Ceiling paint and black craft paint for countertops
• Sand paper
• I updated the flooring a few years ago using groutable vinyl tile

Things I Almost Did, Then Didn’t:

• I was able to add a little shiplap into my life for about $20 and I really wanted to use SUBWAY TILE somewhere. Having purchased metal peel and stick subway tile from Menards, I was prepared to use them on my coffee bar area when I decided it just wasn’t worth it. I couldn’t justify the price for a spot that was almost completely covered by coffee pots!

Supply List and Paint Colors

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Liquid Sander (Deglosser) for the Cabinets: Home Depot or find it on Amazon
• Stix Primer: Amazon
• Benjamin Moore Paint in White Dove (upper cabinets and shiplap)
• Benjamin Moore Paint in Kendall Charcoal (lower cabinets)
• Glidden Paint in Smooth Stone (on walls)
• Wine glass rack (holds 12 glasses): Amazon
• Mug rack: Amazon
• Recessed lights: Home Depot
• “@” sign: Amazon
• “You Spin Me Round” sign: Cracker Barrel
• Plate holders: Amazon
• Copper tray: Target (Similar)
• Michigan slate board: Bed Bath and Beyond
• Metal buckets and silk plants: IKEA
• “Keep it Simple” tea towel: Target
• White and red tea towel: IKEA
• White scalloped bucket and wooden spoons: IKEA
• Giani top coat for countertops: Amazon
• Turquoise coffee pot: Kohls
• Silk orchid: IKEA
• Table: IKEA
• Chandelier with light cages: find my tutorial here
• Handles for cabinets: Home Depot
• Boxwood wreath: Target (Similar)
• Slide-out trash can: Amazon

NEXT UP IN THIS SERIES…

Here are the next things on my to-do list:

• Install a Faux Shiplap Backsplash Using Peel ‘n Stick Flooring
• Paint a Faux Marble Countertop
• Convert a Pantry to a Coffee Bar
• Paint Cabinets without Sanding
• Custom Cabinet Upgrades and Organization on a Budget

I’m so excited about this coffee bar area! The base cabinet was $20 from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, the upper was repurposed from another part of the kitchen. I used 4×6 planks to create a faux butchers block counter. THIS IS NOT DONE! It’s one major thing I have yet to finish. It still needs to be sealed and polyurethaned. But it was close enough to take a few pictures!

One issue that had to be tackled after demolishing the pantry and turning it into a coffee bar, was where to store the trash can! I am so excited about this kit I found which turned an annoying corner cabinet into a useful and custom feeling feature! Find a kit like this here: Rev-A-Shelf 

Here’s a BEFORE of the Pantry!!

And NOW…

Thanks for stopping by to tour my new kitchen!
Stay tuned for the next post in this series. I’ll be sharing a video tutorial on the
countertop painting, all the details on cabinets and more!!