Way Off Topic... Low Budget Kitchen Remodel

[1 Wild R/T]

I've had a small part in this but mostly Momma has been busy for the past 3 months staining kitchen cabinets.... I routered out eight of the flat panels so we could add etched glass..... I think it looks damn good & I'm proud of her for seeing it through....

Before & after pictures...

Oh, she says no but I'm thinking I should buy her a quartz countertop that looks like marble....

[Cuda Cody]

That's impressive!  Very nice work.    

[1 Wild R/T]

That's impressive!  Very nice work.   

When she started I expected to have to finish it.... She learned that HGTV's weekend remodels aren't reality... I think she'll have more appreciation & understanding of why projects really do take longer than people who only watch TV & never actually do anything believe it should take..... Like I said, I'm proud of her....

Well Maybe Alan could get it done faster but we normal folks are a little slower...

[BIGSHCLUNK]

I'm impressed....., but don't give my wife any ideas..     

[1 Wild R/T]

I'm impressed....., but don't give my wife any ideas..     

Hey, if she does the work......  If you look it's all the same appliances, all the same cabinets including the doors.....   I bought stain, sealer, hinges & handles & etched glass.....   Spent less than $800.00.... Now if I decide to replace the brown granite with white quartz I'll blow the budget but thats my choice, she's told me no but I know she would love it & so far it's been super cheap....

I figure she lets me play with cars I can help her play with houses.....

[Jay Bee]

What a huge difference on the cheap, nicely done.      
I'm helping my son and daughter-in-law are doing a medium budget kitchen remodel that includes eliminating the "Oak" too.

[Chryco Psycho]

Nice upgrade !!

[Brads70]

Looks nice but it also looked nice before.  We have oak cabinets too and the wife has been itching to paint it white. I guess I'm "old school" ?   She loves all those decorating show like most women I suppose?  Great if you have the money ...... If it makes her happy!   
I always have the garage! 

[BIGSHCLUNK]

I've seen those shows... employment vs budget ... really???  Anyway I know houses are like mopars - you start a project for X dollars... then you get the "well im here" "its half apart now" ect ect. XXX dollars later you done! 

[Brads70]

I've seen those shows... employment vs budget ... really???  Anyway I know houses are like mopars - you start a project for X dollars... then you get the "well im here" "its half apart now" ect ect. XXX dollars later you done! 

  That and 5 years from now you get informed it's all out of style and we need to do it all over again!

I guess it's like our cars.... they are never "done" 

[Katfish]

Love it! What's the process for attaching the glass?
I might want to give it a try.

[1 Wild R/T]

Love it! What's the process for attaching the glass?
I might want to give it a try.

The trick is this router bit...  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CNO7U4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1   It cuts the recess for the glass & the bearing at the tip guides it off the inner frame so the cutout is perfect every time...   My doors are made with a 5/16 plywood back panel so I set the bit at the depth where it just cuts through the panel without cutting away any extra material & ran the router around each door.... Now I have a recess to accept the glass...  Well actually because my doors have the fancy curved shape at the top there was an extra step..... I can't cut curves in glass to well so I routed out the top as straight lines & I used a different bit without a guide bearing to make those cuts... I used a few pieces of wood clamped in place to guide the router for those cuts...

finally after Momma stained & sealed the frames I cut the glass & glued it in place with clear silicone...

[1 Wild R/T]

I've seen those shows... employment vs budget ... really???  Anyway I know houses are like mopars - you start a project for X dollars... then you get the "well im here" "its half apart now" ect ect. XXX dollars later you done! 

  That and 5 years from now you get informed it's all out of style and we need to do it all over again!

I guess it's like our cars.... they are never "done" 

If I can keep her happy with projects like this I'm 100% cool with it.... I just can't justify paying big $$$ for a contractor to do a job we are able to do ourselves...

We keep doing little projects, some renovation, some needed maintenance... We don't hold a hard line on a budget but we don't waste money either....  My thoughts of splurging for a white quartz counter could be considered wasteful since our granite is in good shape but I'll repurpose those countertops in my shop....

[RUNCHARGER]

She did a great job. That really moderns up the kitchen.

[Bullitt-]

Kudos to you & the little lady......   
Amazing what a little imagination & determination can do.