Home

[Mominohio]

---

@RainyDayGal wrote:

We just did a kitchen remodel as a birthday present to me.

I love the look of many of the Corian patterns, but we're not easy on things in the kitchen and I didn't want to constantly be buffing scratches and marks on it.  I already knew I wanted granite and that's what I chose.  A beautiful pattern that completely updated the look of my 70s kitchen.  (My sister chose some beautiful laminate for her kitchen remodel and it is absolutely gorgeous, they have great patterns now.)

We talked about new cabinets but refused to spend that amount on them.  We'll just be changing the hardware out later.  (Though everyone says our current hardware works beautifully with the countertops.) You can look into resurfacing to cut costs.

I also did not want a stainless sink.  I chose a great Blanco silgranite. It has a very large bowl on the left, and a smaller bowl on the right.  I think it's called a 1 3/4.  I also chose a beautiful touch on faucet.  I didn't want touchless, but I just needed to be able to touch it with my hand or arm to have it come on. I love it!

We changed our overhead lighting to something inexpensive, and replaced the lighting above the dining room table (it belonged to someone else but works in our house).

And it wasn't planned, but we had to replace the window by the sink to make the granite work, so we replaced the windows in the dining room also. Wasn't happy with the added expense, but the windows are so nice.

---

@RainyDayGal 

I was considering laminate for the counter top too, I just haven't really looked at countertops in detail yet. I'm wondering how the laminates hold up these days. 

My counters are original to this 1973 house, and while they have horrible seams in the corners that stand out like a sore thumb, and they are extremely dated looking, they are tough! I cut on them, put hot pans on them and they should look a whole lot worse for what they've been through.

Haven't ruled out laminate yet, for sure, especially if it is much cheaper, because you are right, they have such beautiful patterns now.

[Mominohio]

---

@AuntG wrote:

@Mominohio I didn't say much about our kitchen update on these boards because I was on a budget and only wanted to freshen up things a bit. First, Corian has many pretty colors and designs. Use it! Our cabinets were oak so all we did was change the hardware and I thoroughly cleaned them. What an improvement. We put in a good backsplash. Love it. I went with a porcelain sink, but I think a stainless sink and nice faucet is perfect for you. Can you include new appliances? They make a big difference when remodeling. Get new light fixtures. Inexpensive but they'll make a huge difference. Finally, 1970's flooring needs to be replaced. I went with wood-look but a mid grade laminate might be just what you need.

---

@AuntG 

I'm glad to hear others are happy with financially conservative updates too. 

We are definitely going to have to do the floors in kitchen and dining room, as they run together. Not looking forward to that part, as I really don't know what to do, and I'm so undecided about a shade/color for a wood look laminate. I'm sure it will fall into place, once other choices are made. 

I'm undecided about a backsplash too. I see so very few I like. Everything you see in magazines and on tv are way too modern and trendy for my tastes. That is something else I have to give some thought to and some searching for! LOL

[Mominohio]

---

@jannabelle1 wrote:

We remodeled our kitchen 7 years ago....we're in a town home and the kitchen is small. We had a budget as well, and it definitely was not high-end. We went with Corian type counter tops instead of granite (which was the rage at the time) to save some $$. I haven't regretted it at all, although it may affect resale value. We went with medium grade cabinets in white - they're not a flat front and I've been very happy with them. They've held up very well.

Of all the things I wish I would've spent more on, it would be lighting. We have a goofy almost flat to the ceiling fluorescent light above our work island with a fixture cover, and I wish we would have had that corrected and changed. We also should have had the ceiling above the sink wired for more lighting.

The bottom line is that you can get a nice updated kitchen without buying the most expensive, but there are certain items where it makes sense to spend a bit more if you can (light my lighting issue). Good luck to you if you decide to move forward. The only other thing I'd say is make sure the contractor you hire gives you a fairly firm finish date. It's awful being without a kitchen for even a week!

---

@jannabelle1 

Good point about the lighting, and we did address that in the first visit. What I have works well enough, but some of the fixtures need changed, more so than adding new. 

I'm not sure how we are going to function without a kitchen. We don't eat out, and I prepare three meals a day.  Should be an adventure for sure!

[Mominohio]

---

@GingerPeach wrote:

@Mominohio 

Lucky you getting to redo your kitchen. 

You've had some great advice already.  I know you said you didn't want quartz, etc. due to maintenance and upkeep, but I can tell you from experience that quartz does NOT need any upkeep or sealing or periodic anything at all and you can put hot pots on it without any worries.  

It comes in the plainest of plain to very intricate patterns.  This is just fyi since you already said you preferred Corian, etc.

On the other hand, getting an estimate won't cost anything.  

a few of the quartz patterns available:

---

@GingerPeach 

Good point, estimates cost nothing. If looking at countertops, it wouldn't hurt to have several different kinds quoted. Sometimes the difference in prices isn't as much on things, as you are thinking they will be. 

[Mominohio]

---

@Carmie wrote:

If you're on a budget, I don't see how Corian is a bargain.  This is an expensive product and can be priced the same as granite.

My friend just redid her kitchen and when I went to see her update, I was shocked and surprised that she went with  Carrera marble.  It was beautiful.

After I oooed and awed over the sheer beauty of it, she said it was laminate.  What?!??

The new laminate is not your mother's.    I have granite, but would have considered laminate, the new stuff,   had it been available when I got new counters. Her counter even had a fancy edge like granite.

i wouldn't rule out one of the new laminate stone patterns.

---

@Carmie 

I've been hearing and seeing that the new laminates are quite deceiving! Some are fooling a lot of people! I'm definitely not ruling out laminate yet, I just wonder how well it will hold up to hard use. I wonder if they are stronger now than in the past, or if there are various grades/prices etc. that hold up better than others.

[Mominohio]

---

@godi wrote:

Under cabinet lighting. Enjoy redoing your kitchen, stay calm and just know when it’s done it will be worth it. 

---

@godi 

That wasn't even on my radar. Thanks for that idea, as I think it is something I would love!

[Mominohio]

@jackthebear 

We are on it. IT will be the second roof since we bought the house. Ugh!

[Mominohio]

---

@RedTop wrote:

We did an update on our small galley kitchen 4 years ago.   Our neighbor was the general contractor; he set us up with a local cabinetmaker, as I wanted custom cabinets to fit my needs, not basic stock options.

I had 3x the amount of cabinets made as were torn out, Formica countertops, and all hardware, installed, for $3800.   My new cabinets have deep, full extend “pot” drawers, with heavyweight bottoms.  I would rather get what I need from a full extend drawer, than bend down and reach blindly into a floor cabinet trying to find what I need.    

I feel sure a local cabinetmaker can make a sturdier, more durable Wolf style cabinet at a better price.   

---

@RedTop 

You got all that and labor for install for that price? Unheard of around here. 

We have a lot of Amish cabinet makers around here, but nothing in that price range, ever. Heck, 20 years ago, a resurface of the existing cabinets was like $10,000. 

[Mominohio]

---

@Loveac wrote:

Mominohio, I put a kitchen together in my newly-built home. Not an easy task. 

Although I have a stainless sink now, my former home had a Blanco silgranite sink I loved it. Stainfree, scratchfree, so easy to clean. I highly recommend it. 

I chose a quartz countertop for my kitchen perimeter. It is so easy to clean. No scratching, no sealing needed and u can put a hot pot on it. Since I have essential tremor, it was my best option. 

My cabinets are the shaker style in an off white color. I got brushed stainless knobs and I have stainless appliances. I have a wall oven and microwave right on top of it. So for my stove, I have the burners only, with cabinets under it. To offset my countertop and cabinets, I chose a crushed glass backsplash and got an arabesque-like pattern over my  stovetop. 

My only mistake with getting a dark wood floor. It needs constant cleaning. If I had to do it again, I would get tile. 

I have a center island island which I extended. I have a dark granite countertop on it with lots of silver mica and gold splashes in it.  I have the same shaker style around the base of it to match my cabinets.  It is my focal point. 

I got glass in two doors that are diagonally across from each other. 

I got dove-tailed drawers and sliding drawers for my pots. I regret not getting under cabinet lighting, but at some point u have to stop cause it really adds up. 

On another note, I posted a topic in the travel forum looking for advice on planning a trip to Holmes County. Your pics of Amish buggies outside your window always give me a desire to visit there. Any input is very appreciated. 

Good luck with your kitchen. Don't rush into anything keep us posted!❤️

---

Thanks for the sink recommendation @Loveac , I"m not familiar with it, but I'm going to check it out for sure. 

As for Holmes county, I spend a lot of time there. I don't know where you live, or if you have ever been to some of the other Amish destination areas (like Lancaster county, or some in Indiana), but I can share a few things that may help.

First, we talk to a lot of out of the area tourists who come there, and many are disappointed at how commercial a lot of it is. I think they expect there to be a lot of cottage industry type things, and while there is some, there is just more and more commercialism. Places that aren't selling local, hand crafted goods, but the same things you see other places, made in China. And a lot of it not really related to the Amish culture, or even 'country' life. More fashion stores coming in, fewer places to find local made quilts. 

So while we enjoy going, we hit a lot of thrift stores, a lot of Amish and Mennonite owned businesses that are really full of mass produced home decor (one place Christmas stuff, but all mass produced), antique shops, Amish style buffet restaurants etc. There are a lot of furniture stores with Amish made furniture, if you are interested in that, and there are some places with actual hand crafted local made things, you just have to seek them out. 

Lehman's hardware is a great place to visit for sure, in Kidron. So much to see and a fun place. There are several theaters there now with family friendly type productions, I believe comedy type plays. Never been to one, but they seem to be popular. Lots of good food in the area, if you like home cooking type eating, and lots of good cheese! LOL

[Mominohio]

---

@VaBelle35 wrote:

I switched out my double sink for a single sink and I am happy I did because I never liked the double sink. 

My only suggestion is to make sure you pick the depth you want.  The sink they gave me is really too deep and if I spend too much time washing dishes it starts to bother my back.  They never asked me about the depth and I didn't know I had a choice.

Lesson learned.

---

@VaBelle35 

Great point about sink depth. I've considered double vs single, but hadn't thought about depth. So thanks for that great input!