When it comes to kitchen design there is no such thing as “affordable”, “under budget”, “before schedule”, or “quick”. Which after renovating two kitchens for ourselves we have found out first hand. However a beautiful kitchen doesn’t always have to involve lots of custom finishes and $$$ – which is why we pulled together 7 different looks for those of you looking to give your kitchen a refresh without giving it a full “down to the studs” overhaul.
In full disclosure these kitchen designs are not the kind to hold on to if you are planning to buy your dream home one day which includes a fully customized and decked out kitchen. But, if you have a place that is in need of a refresh, a fixer upper that you are looking to give a new look to, or a rental kitchen that you have stared at in disgust for way too long then these designs are for you. So clear your weekend, get your DIY hat ready and let’s dive in.
A few notes: all these prices include 20 pieces of hardware, 20 square feet of backsplash tile, and an 8′ counter. Prices do not include paint, as that’s hard to calculate but most kitchens don’t need more than two gallons which is $50, so add that into the total as well as cabinets which depending on how custom you get can run the gamut in pricing, but we have linked up a few of our favorite ready-made retailers at the bottom of the post.
Tile | Countertop | Hardware | Faucet | Sink | Wall Paint | Cabinet Paint | Pendant | Chair | Table
First up is coastal chic, and this setup is making me very happy. I love the combo of brass, white, wood with hits of blue (duh), as well as the modern accents like the brass knobs and simple dining table.
Tile | Countertop | Hardware | Faucet | Sink | Wall Paint | Cabinet Paint | Pendant | Chair | Table
This one has some downtown urban dweller vibes which for the right space would be so chic. We brought some color into this one with the slightly grey/green wall color although you could swap the colors as well if you were willing to go bold on the cabinets. The countertop is also a marble look-a-like if you aren’t ready to splurge on the real thing.
Tile | Countertop | Hardware | Faucet | Sink | Wall Paint | Cabinet Paint | Pendant | Chair | Table
It’s happy, bright, and modern – all things I would hope my best friends describe my personality as… But in all reality I love this simple and clean kitchen. Again, the countertop is a look-a-like version of marble but for the price it’s pretty great.
Tile | Countertop | Hardware | Faucet | Sink | Wall Paint | Cabinet Paint | Pendant | Chair | Table
I haven’t seen these tiles in person but man are they speaking to me on the moodboard. This one leans much more moody than a lot of the others, but I love the stark black and white combo that is warmed up with the wood and leather dining set. Another thing to note, the pendants over the dining table are all sold separately at $50/each. If you are doing some remodeling then you could easily wire up all three, but if you still want the look without having to call an electrician you could use the largest one over the table.
Tile | Countertop | Hardware | Faucet | Sink | Wall Paint | Cabinet Paint | Pendant | Chair | Table
As you can see, white might be trending in a lot of these kitchens however, it is a color that will never go out of style and something that works with just about every style. Chrome is also back (see here for more info on the trend) which I am loving in these Bertoia chairs, sink, pulls, and faucet.
Tile | Countertop | Hardware | Faucet | Sink | Wall Paint | Cabinet Paint | Pendant | Chair | Table
This one might actually be my favorite of the bunch. I love the dark green of the cabinets mixed with the rich warm wood color, the graphic hits of black throughout and the windsor inspired chairs. Only thing missing is some rainy Portland skies, and a glass french press with your morning cup of jo.
Tile | Countertop | Hardware | Faucet | Sink | Wall Paint | Cabinet Paint | Pendant | Chair | Table
Last but not least is this adorable little french inspired kitchen for all those of you that are ready to give up on city dwelling and move out to the countryside (anyone else have those reoccurring feelings?). I love the wall mounted faucet and the antique inspired blue and white backsplash. We also modernized it slightly with the rounded back windsor inspired chairs to keep it from going too twee.
So which of these is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below and as promised here are a few of our favorite “ready-made” or “quick-ship” cabinet vendors: Ikea, Costco, Kraftmaid as well as Semihandmade which makes cabinet fronts for Ikea cabinets. If you have some more that we don’t know about let us know below.
