DIY Kitchen Makeover…Take Two
Written on October 30, 2009 at 9:54 am, by Guest Blogger
If you have the winter 2009 issue of Do It Yourself mag, you’ve seen (and, if you’re like us, coveted) Christi Jensen’s fabulous kitchen. The DIY diva completely overhauled the kitchen in her 100-year-old home in Des Moines, Iowa, using products purchased from IKEA. The result is a hip ‘n’ classy space with tons of character and charm.
But what you see on the pages isn’t the first time Christi and her husband Craig have updated the space. Christi agreed to take us on a tour of the kitchen’s history and the road to remodel. Enjoy! — Team DIY
Christi in the latest incarnation of her kitchen.
Like most young couples, Craig and I didn’t really see our kitchen’s flaws when we bought our house; we were just so excited to find something solid that we loved in our price range. Two years later, in the midst of pregnancy, the cream cabinets, fiddlehead-green walls, and scary linoleum were screaming at us. There was also the issue of the “pantry.” When our house was built, there was no pantry. Now there was this 18″ x 36″ mini-cave into which can goods disappeared. We didn’t have a lot of equity for a renovation, but we needed an inexpensive update, fast.
Christi and Craig's first kitchen project: an affordable update to the existing space.
Craig took a Sawzall to the pantry and ripped up the floor and we painted everything that didn’t move a milk bottle white ($20). Pantry gone, there was just enough room for two shelving units (the most expensive at $200) that we hoped looked like built-ins. We even put up some paneling ($14) behind them to replicate wainscot. We chose composite flooring — it’s green, durable and inexpensive. Had we stuck with a solid color, flooring and supplies would’ve cost us about $40. We chose four, so we spent a little over $100. The downside: Cutting all the squares to make the pattern was a chore and you really need to follow the step-by-step directions. All of them.
The Jensens' kitchen sporting a new floor. Christi used 12x12 inch laminate squares for the flooring.
Our cheerful kitschy kitchen served us well for awhile, but once we had the equity, we decided it was time for real change. We needed a little more room and a lot more storage. Our son loves art, so to keep him near during meal prep, we really wanted to incorporate a craft corner. With the help of our architect, designer (she’s a friend), and the indispensable IKEA kitchen gurus, we devised a budget-wise plan, once again incorporating the inexpensive composite flooring. To keep with our 100-yr-old bungalow’s style, we added small details such as mullioned windows and wainscot offset our sleek, modern cabinetry.
An exterior shot of the jut-out the Jensens added in order to gain space. Severe flooding in Iowa in 2008 slowed (but not stalled!) the process.
Almost constant rain and the floods of 2008 complicated construction and our remodel, but I have to say, it wasn’t really all that bad; careful planning helped us avoid a lot of hassles. Today, we have a great kitchen that fit our budget. I love the drawer storage (I even have a place to scoot away the dog food and bowls), and my son can reach just about any dish he needs. Having a craft/computer area is great – we’re helping with homework/art while we prepare dinner. We entertain a lot and everyone gathers in this room. I’d say our little kitchen’s gained a lot of grown-up sophistication, but it’s still the most fun room in the house.
The kitchen as it appears today. Christi's blend of IKEA products and DIY creativity helped her stay within the budget.
Now Christi has room to store her crafting supplies!
A full set of the renovation photos is available on Christi’s Flickr page
Check out Christi’s cool and crafty blog, Gussied Up, and her Etsy shop, too!
Categories: Misc, People We Love, inspiration | Tags: christi jensen, craft space, DIY kitchen, ikea, ikea kitchen, kitchen remodel, kitchen storage | 6 Comments
