Sherry’s junk drawer switcheroo was really just the start of our kitchen makeover — the first phase of a larger plan.
With our self-imposed six-month waiting period ending earlier this month, we finally began putting plans into motion last week. We like to live with a space for a while before doing anything permanent so we make thoughtful decisions about what should be removed, opened, or kept. The idea is to do a careful “Phase 1” refresh that preserves as much of the existing kitchen as possible (the cabinets, countertops, vinyl floor, paneling, beams, etc.). Later, once we’ve saved more and refined our plans, we’ll move into Phase 2 for a more invasive renovation. For now we’re focused on a Phase 1 that improves function and light without a full gut.
Here’s a recent photo of the kitchen as it looks now for reference.
And here’s an older shot from the other direction (yes, that’s stockings and a tree). We don’t have many photos from that angle, so this is the most recent view we could share.
Here’s the Phase 1 breakdown. Even this limited update has many steps, so it won’t happen overnight — we’ll tackle tasks as funds and energy allow. Below is a concise list of what we plan to accomplish (not necessarily in this exact order):
- Remove woodstove insert from fireplace — done
- Prime and paint fireplace — done
- Remove the desk area to the right of the oven to make room for a wide opening into the dining room (we plan to add an island, so a desk is redundant)
- Prime and paint the dark paneling to brighten the space
- Open a double-wide doorway between the kitchen and dining room — aligned with the dining room window for visual balance (this will require a pro and a permit)
- Replace the too-low microwave above the cooktop with a proper hood (the current microwave vents poorly and is not up to code)
- Swap the single wall oven for a wall oven/microwave combo
- Prime and paint the cabinets
- Redo the backsplash entirely
- Upgrade and update the lighting (goodbye fluorescent fixtures)
- Add a large island with storage and seating where the current kitchen table sits, taking advantage of the new wide doorway for easy flow during gatherings
As you may have guessed, Sherry’s junk drawer efforts were preparatory for removing that desk area and the cabinet above it — our future mega-doorway will cut right through that spot.
We actually taped off the future opening months ago with green painter’s tape and lived with it to make sure the placement felt right. After more than 60 days of consideration we confirmed it’s the ideal location. The opening will connect the kitchen to the dining room and mirror the width of the dining room’s front window for balanced sightlines. Losing the upper cabinet and desk is a trade-off we’re happy to make for a more open plan and a much larger island that will provide both storage and occasional desk functionality.
We could have worked around the cabinet, but the desk had become a magnet for clutter, and we’re not short on other upper cabinet storage. We had already moved many items into empty lower drawers during the junk drawer reorganization, and the glass-fronted upper cabinet contents fit easily into a mostly empty lazy Susan cabinet below.
With the cabinet cleared out, we were ready to take it down. Removing the upper cabinet was straightforward: we removed the glass doors first for safety, then supported the cabinet while Sherry unscrewed it from the wall and the adjacent cabinet. It came down in one surprisingly light piece.
The desk base was a different challenge. Sherry started the same way she did when removing a bathroom granite backsplash: she scored the silicone caulk with a razor and pried carefully. The small backsplash popped off with some screwdriver and hammer-chisel work. She then cut the clear caulk holding the countertop to the wall, the neighboring cabinet, and the drawer below, expecting the countertop to lift away. It didn’t — after repeated cutting and prying, one strong tug finally tipped the granite and drawer off the cabinet and onto the floor. Granite is heavy, and the fall nearly took us with it. Note to self: wear shoes during demo. Barefoot is risky.
With the cabinet and desk removed, we were left with some minor damage: missing trim and glue residue on the remaining cabinet. Those are straightforward fixes — scrape off glue, fill holes with wood putty, sand and stain if needed, and reinstall the missing trim. Since we plan to paint the cabinets, we may skip some refinishing steps, but the trim will be addressed.
The most interesting discovery was under the torn vinyl tile where the desk leg had been: after scraping up the thick old tile and plywood, we found original hardwood flooring below. Exciting, but restoring the hardwood would be a Phase 2 project because it would require removing lower cabinets and appliances. For now, we replaced the damaged vinyl tile with a matching spare the previous owners left behind. We cut the tile to fit, used existing glue residue on the plywood to secure it, and weighed it down while it set.
We reused a piece of quarter round from the desk to fill a gap in the molding and Sherry smoothed cracks and holes in the paneling with spackle. Since that baseboard segment will be removed when the doorway opens, these are temporary fixes that keep the space functional and presentable until the larger renovation.
With the cabinet gone and the wall prepped, it’s time to prime and paint the dark paneling — a brightening step we can complete while we wait for the permit and pro schedule to open the new doorway. Sayonara, dark paneling. We’ll likely be priming and painting very soon.