Our $281 DIY Kitchen Remodel – a home DIY project of painting oak cabinets white, adding wood trim to make flat cabinet doors shaker style cabinet doors, adding hardware, and a great hack to make your old, white dishwasher stainless steel for less than $50!
Unbelievable $281 DIY Kitchen Remodel: Transforming Oak Cabinets and More!
Life has a wonderful way of surprising you. For us, that surprise came in the form of a dream move – right next door to my sister! This incredible opportunity means we now rent a charming 2-bedroom house from them, sharing a driveway, and making impromptu visits a reality. Our son, Josh, now enjoys his own room, and we find ourselves nestled in our favorite part of town. This setup truly feels like hitting the jackpot.
One of the greatest perks of renting from family is the freedom to personalize our living space, transforming it into our own cherished home. My brother-in-law, Shawn, has already tackled several significant projects, including building a spacious detached shop for storage and his tools, and a chicken coop so we could bring our beloved chickens along. Inside, we’ve made numerous small but impactful changes: painting the interior walls a refreshing white, cozying up the bedrooms with a soft grey, upgrading all outlets to tamper-proof for child safety, swapping ivory toggle switches for sleek white rockers (and adding dimmers!), and replacing all brass door hardware with a modern dark bronze finish. These thoughtful touches are laying the foundation for a home that perfectly reflects our style, knowing we’ll be here for a good while.
The Heart of the Home: Our Kitchen’s Starting Point
Among all the home improvement endeavors, the kitchen presented our biggest challenge and greatest opportunity. Fortunately, my sister and her husband had already laid a fantastic foundation, installing elegant granite countertops, a stylish tile backsplash, and a larger sink with an updated faucet during their time here. They also invested in high-quality stainless steel appliances – a double oven and a microwave. We completed the set by bringing our own stainless steel French door Whirlpool refrigerator, which I absolutely adore!
However, despite these excellent upgrades, one element consistently caught my eye in a less-than-positive way: the original kitchen cabinets. These were flat-front, dated, orangey oak cabinets that, frankly, didn’t spark joy. Given that the kitchen is the very first thing you see upon entering our house, and our living room opens directly into it, I found myself staring at these oak cabinets a lot. It became clear that an update was essential, but it had to be achieved without draining our savings.
Phase 1: Cabinet Transformation – From Drab Oak to Chic Shaker Style
My vision was clear: transform these uninspired oak cabinets into something fresh, modern, and full of character. I had seen countless examples of painted cabinets online and was particularly inspired by this comprehensive online tutorial. Beyond just painting, I longed to elevate the flat-front design. That’s when I discovered this ingenious DIY shaker cabinet door tutorial, which I immediately recognized as the perfect finishing touch our cabinets needed.
Initially, I worried about burdening Shawn, who already works full-time and with wedding season approaching. I even reached out to several companies for quotes to paint the cabinet doors and bases. The best price I received was $2,200, and not a single company offered to add the shaker-style wood trim. Knowing Shawn’s incredible handyman skills, I realized he could not only handle the entire project himself but do it for a fraction of the cost. And so, he bravely took on the challenge!
The Meticulous Process of Cabinet Makeover
Shawn began by carefully removing all the cabinet doors. Each door was then thoroughly sanded with 150-grit sandpaper. This crucial step ensures proper adhesion for the new paint and creates a smooth base. Next, he embarked on the shaker-style conversion.
For the shaker trim, Shawn meticulously cut 3/16″ thick plywood into 1.5″ wide strips. We found this width to be ideal for our cabinets, particularly for the narrower doors (like the one next to the oven), where anything thicker would have looked disproportionate. He then skillfully glued these strips onto the cabinet fronts using high-quality wood glue. To ensure a secure hold, he reinforced them with Brad nails. Post-nailing, he meticulously filled all wood holes and outer edge seams with wood putty, aiming for an impeccably smooth finish. For the inside seams, silicone caulk was applied, providing a durable and moisture-resistant seal. Once everything was completely dry, another round of sanding with 150-grit sandpaper smoothed out any imperfections, leaving the doors perfectly prepped.
With the doors ready, Shawn turned his attention to the drawer fronts and cabinet bases, sanding them with the same 150-grit sandpaper. The next vital step was applying a single layer of Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 White Water-Based Interior/Exterior Primer to all surfaces – doors, drawers, and bases. This specific primer is excellent for covering oak and ensuring that the tannins don’t bleed through the final paint coat, which is a common issue with older oak. After the primer had fully dried, he gave everything a light sand with 220-grit sandpaper, creating the perfect smooth surface for the paint.
Finally, it was time for the moment of truth: painting! We chose Kelly Moore Durapoxy 1685 in a semi-gloss finish, opting for the elegant “Picket Fence” shade. I absolutely love it! It’s the perfect crisp white, beautifully complementing our home’s natural light. Shawn meticulously applied two layers of this durable paint, transforming the kitchen with each stroke.
Adding the Finishing Touches: Hardware and Hinges
To further enhance the updated aesthetic, Shawn spray-painted all the existing brass cabinet door hinges black before reinstalling the freshly painted doors. This simple, cost-effective detail made a significant impact, tying into the darker bronze hardware we’d used elsewhere in the house. Once the doors were back on, I knew they needed the final touch of new hardware. I selected these stunning door knobs and coordinating drawer pulls, and I am absolutely obsessed with them! Their quality is remarkable, especially given their affordability. To ensure precise and consistent installation, Shawn utilized a handy knob template and a drawer template – essential tools for any DIYer aiming for professional results.
Phase 2: The Dishwasher Dilemma – A Stainless Steel Hack for Under $50!
With the cabinets looking spectacular, the glaring white front of our dishwasher became even more prominent, clashing with our other stainless steel appliances. My initial thought was to simply buy a brand new dishwasher. However, our current one worked perfectly fine, making a new purchase seem like an unnecessary expense and a waste. I explored online solutions, including stainless steel adhesive paper that could be applied like a large sticker. Unfortunately, reviews consistently cited difficulty in application and achieving a flawless finish. I also found a stainless steel magnet option, but our dishwasher didn’t have the correct dimensions for it to fit properly.
Discussing these two less-than-ideal options with my sister and brother-in-law proved to be a stroke of genius. My sister casually mentioned that the dishwasher door panel might be reversible, with a different finish on the other side. She was half right! Upon inspection, we found screws along the edge of the dishwasher that allowed us to loosen and slide out the metal sheet. While one side was indeed white, the other was ivory – still not the stainless steel we craved. However, my brother-in-law, always full of brilliant ideas, suggested getting a custom piece of stainless steel cut to the exact dimensions at the metal shop he frequents for his automotive business. This was the breakthrough we needed!
The very next day, I headed to the metal shop, and for an incredibly reasonable $42, they cut a piece of stainless steel that fit our dishwasher door absolutely perfectly. The result? Our dishwasher now seamlessly matches the rest of our kitchen’s stainless steel appliances, looking as though it came that way from the factory. This ingenious, budget-friendly hack is hands down my favorite part of our entire kitchen remodel. It’s a testament to thinking outside the box and leveraging unexpected resources!
Beyond the Cabinets: Complementary Kitchen Updates
To ensure a cohesive look, Shawn also extended his cabinet painting magic to our oak island cart. Using the exact same primer and paint method, he transformed the cart into a crisp white, adding matching hardware for continuity. My sister had purchased this island cart at Target when she lived here and graciously left it for us. Since we were updating the existing oak cabinets, it only made sense to give the oak island cart a fresh, modern facelift too!
The finished look truly speaks for itself! The newly painted white island cart, the “new” stainless steel dishwasher, and the elegant hardware have collectively made an astonishing difference, elevating the entire kitchen’s aesthetic.
As you can see, the dishwasher now perfectly complements the other stainless steel appliances, creating a unified and polished appearance.
Smart Storage Solutions for a Small Pantry
Our kitchen has a compact pantry, so maximizing food storage was another priority. I found the perfect solution at Ikea: a white shelf unit that fit precisely between our front door and the island cart. To organize dry produce effectively, I paired it with these functional wire baskets. This setup has been fantastic.
I absolutely love how this storage unit turned out! It fits seamlessly into the space and provides an excellent way to store fruits, potatoes, and onions, keeping them fresh and accessible. Beyond its practicality, I think it adds a charming pop of color and visual interest to the kitchen.
An added bonus is that the shelves are at the perfect height for Josh, who frequently helps himself to healthy snacks like oranges, apples, and bananas. It encourages independent, healthy eating, which is a big win in my book!
Each cubby comfortably accommodates two wire baskets, providing ample storage capacity.
The Incredible Budget Breakdown: How We Did It for $281!
I genuinely adore our new kitchen. Every time I look at it, a wave of happiness washes over me. It feels so uniquely “us,” and the fact that Shawn accomplished it all himself fills me with immense pride. He’s truly an incredibly handy person, and it’s wonderful to share his hard work with visitors who marvel at our gorgeous kitchen.
And the most astonishing part? The total cost was incredibly affordable! Here’s a transparent breakdown of our expenses:
- Wood Trim for Shaker Style Cabinets: $30 (for 3/16″ plywood)
- Primer, Paint, and Roller Brush: $65 (1 quart of Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Primer, 1 gallon of Kelly Moore Durapoxy 1685 paint)
- Cabinet Door Knobs, Drawer Pulls, and Installation Templates: $60
- Custom-Cut Stainless Steel for Dishwasher: $42
- Ikea Shelf Unit and 8 Wire Baskets: $84
- Miscellaneous Items (Brad nails, wood glue, wood putty, black spray paint, etc.): $0 (we already had these on hand)
Grand Total: $281!
DIY Insights and Lasting Impressions
While Shawn is exceptionally handy (his day job is as a handyman for the school district!), making this project seem relatively easy for him, I believe that with dedication and good tutorials, many motivated DIYers could achieve similar results. The entire kitchen transformation took him approximately two full weekends of focused work. Every hour and every dollar invested was absolutely worth it for the stunning and functional kitchen we now enjoy.
Our kitchen now exudes a calming, modern, and impeccably clean aesthetic. It truly brings me so much joy every day. I’m one happy wife, living in a space that feels utterly perfect for our family!
None of the products mentioned or linked are sponsored; they are simply the items we personally used and genuinely loved for this project. All opinions expressed are solely my own. We are not professional contractors or experts, but rather enthusiastic DIYers sharing our experience. Please note that a few affiliate links are included, which may provide a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. Thank you for your support!