Kitchen makeover contest

[Leanne]

OK you all - I'm so bummed b/c I wanted to enter the kitchen makeover contest. For some reason, I thought entries weren't due until May! When did it end?
Also - I have my write-up all finished. I worked hard to make it good & still remain within the 300 word limit - very difficult! Does anyone want to read it just to make me feel better? :)
Leanne

[Natasha]

Yeah, sure, bring 'er on! :)

And there's always next year, right?

Natasha :)

[ebobbitt]

Sure, I'd love to read it. E-mail it to me if you'd like. :)

[Leanne]

Here goes.... (I know I would have won if I hadn't been such a space case!! :) )

We just bought a house built in 1981. Before we moved in, we redid the floors and painted everywhere but the kitchen, so now the kitchen looks especially bad. It’s not only the looks of the faux-wood counters, the dog-stained linoleum, or the “wet-me-mattress” wallpaper (ask a summer-camper) that are troublesome, but also the poor use of space and faulty appliances.
The appliances are a refrigerator (missing rails, broken shelves), a leaky dishwasher, and a microwave/stove combo. The microwave runs for about 10 seconds before it blows the fuse to the kitchen. So, we have another microwave taking up what little counter space we have. The stove must be set to broil to ignite the gas, then turned to bake, where it may or may not remain on, but the gas will continue to leak. I live in constant fear of an explosion.
We also have a faucet that leaks and drips, cabinet doors that won’t close without a swift kick, and wire pantry shelves that sag.
We entertain often – having people over every other week or so. I also host a supper club for 8 women at my house twice a year, not to mention other parties and holidays. (This Thanksgiving, our first weekend in the house, we almost had to order pizza, but luckily we discovered the “broil” trick.)
I mostly cook light and healthy, but I must deceive my husband because he won’t eat anything light if he knows it in advance. With Cooking Light, he usually can’t tell.
We need a new kitchen, and we want it done right since we plan on staying in this house for years. Dream kitchen – natural stone or tile floor, natural wood cabinets, granite countertops, stainless steel or black appliances (including double oven), and pale green or yellow wall paint.

[ebobbitt]

I think you would have won and I love the dream kitchen. :)

[Natasha]

Leanne,

Sounds convincing, and your dream kitchen sounds wonderful. Definitely do hold on to it for next year!! Good luck. :)

Natasha

[Leanne]

Definitely do hold on to it for next year!!

Sadly, I cannot live with the threat of explosion for another year!! (at least, let's hope I won't have to!) :)

[Natasha]

True...maybe you could deal with that issue before then... ;) :p

Natasha

[Leanne]

Too bad you can't see my kitchen. The problem is that the microwave is actually attached to the oven - sits above it - is all one appliance. So, if I get rid of the oven, I get rid of the microwave & leave a gaping hole on the wall where the microwave was. Not to metion, I want to do a cooktop & double oven - so I hate to waste the $$ for a new oven that will go away soon. (again - hopefully)

I am soooo bummed I missed the deadline! :(

[Natasha]

Does anyone know of any home decorating magazines or stores that offer kitchen makeover contests? That might be an idea...

Natasha

[Leanne]

I'm all over it if someone does!! Good idea.

[JeanneW]

I'm behind with the boards as always, but I had to let you know about Better Homes and Gardens Magazine's contest. They don't pay for the new kitchen like CL does, but if you win you do get a cash prize of some sort. They have several different categories and it sounds like you'd be a shoe-in to win something!

Unfortunately, I just pitched my last issue but I'm sure they'll have details on their website, www.bhg.com. Good luck!

[funnybone]

Originally posted by JeanneW
I'm behind with the boards as always, but I had to let you know about Better Homes and Gardens Magazine's contest. They don't pay for the new kitchen like CL does, but if you win you do get a cash prize of some sort. They have several different categories and it sounds like you'd be a shoe-in to win something!

Unfortunately, I just pitched my last issue but I'm sure they'll have details on their website, www.bhg.com. Good luck!

I think the BH&G contest is a "Before and After" photo contest. You have to have done the reno already to enter.

[Leanne]

Keep the ideas coming - I'm up for ANYTHING!!
Part of the reason I fell like resorting to a contest is (besides thinking I have a good chance) is that DH lost his job just before his bonus & we were going to redo the kitchen with his bonus. So, we're trying not to spend lots-o-money until he gets a new one. (Which hopefully won't be too far off!)

[rosen]

Leanne
We redid our small kitchen 2 years ago. We really did our homework as far a figuring out what our house was worth/would be worth w/ a redo. Answer was it would NOT add much in value...but would help sell it better. We could not stand what we had any longer & figured that we would get our $$ worth in sanity if we stayed in the house at least another 5 years.

We have an under $10,000 kitchen now (including all new appliances)...but you would think we spent twice that. We had the floorplan done by both Lowes & Home Depot & went w/ HD because they had the best price for the exact same plan. Kraftmade cabinets, laminate countertops, sheet vinyl flooring. The basics, but pretty. This house/neighborhood could not justify custom anything. We did the demolition ourselves, but decided the cabs were too expensive to install ourselves & screw up & so used the HD contractor to install the cabs. Not a "glamour" kitchen...but it is clean, bright, more modern (than 1960!) & it will sell well. Anything can be replaced by the next owner at not much expense.

The point in all of this is that it took us a looooong time to come up w/ a work-able floorplan & work out all the details. HD was great to work w/ & it cost us NOTHING to have our plan re-worked countless times. We were able to get what we wanted (for THIS house) by really shopping around for our choices.

I understand how crazy you must be feeling & how you cannot stand to wait any longer. My advice is to start figuring out NOW what you want, so you can research. You may be able to afford more than you think...or be able to do just as well w/ less.

[Leanne]

Thanks Rosen. I agree with everything you wrote - very sound advice. I re-did a kitchen (12'x13') in my last house for 6000$ - new appliances, cabinets, tile floor... I was THE bargain shopper. I worked with HD too - but had to fire them almost immediately. Several problems along they way (I think they saw a young, single girl & thought they could take advantage of me) & sadly I found out after I had ordered the cabinets that I could have had custom cabinets for cheaper!! It's a cute kitchen now anyway. I had Kraftmade cabinets too.
Anyway... no HD for me except for ideas. I pretty much know what I want - I've already been appliance shopping too - as far as getting ideas & prices. There are still several details to be worked out though.
I'm very excited to do it. We plan on being in this house a long time. We got a bargain on the house (hard to imagine with how awful the kitchen was! ;) ) so we have some room to play, plus the neighborhood can hold it. And heck - If I'm going to be using this kitchen for the next 15 years - it might as well be what I want! :)