Budget Kitchen Remodeling: Under $5,000 Kitchens

The original kitchen in this home featured new kitchen cabinetry, appliances, and counters, but it lacked the finishing details to really make the space shine. To fill an awkward space between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling, the homeowners installed upside-down baseboard trim topped with chunky crown molding. A movable cart offers a flexible work space and extra storage.

Total cost (excluding labor): $2,555

The combination of a slide-in range and a wall oven-microwave unit offers plenty of cooking and baking power, especially useful for entertaining and hosting guests. A new cutting board next to the range was made from butcher block left over from an earlier project. New cabinet hardware upgraded the look of the existing beaded-board cabinets.

With a few smart additions, the homeowners updated the sink area at minimal cost. The builder-grade sink and faucet were replaced with more upscale models. A new windowsill and a mosaic tile backsplash add style. The space was finished with a copper pendant light, a lucky flea market find.

In one corner of the kitchen, a standard closet became an efficient pantry. A shelving system from a closet company proved cost-effective, although the homeowners built their own wine racks to save money. Classic white penny tile replaced old linoleum flooring, setting a stylish foundation for the storage area.

A collection of unexpected accents and salvaged finds brings a playful style to this Massachusetts kitchen. Although the homeowners purchased a new dishwasher and range, they kept all the kitchen appliances in the same place to save money. The backsplash along this wall is created from a $10 roll of roofing aluminum that the homeowners distressed. An old chalkboard and a vintage carnival wheel add a whimsical feel to the cooking zone.

Total cost (excluding labor): $2,940

To create the eye-catching kitchen island, inexpensive stainless-steel cabinets were arranged back-to-back and topped with refinished floor joists, reclaimed from a 200-year-old factory. The cabinet hardware was painted the same bold red as the walls; the vibrant red hue helps set the kitchen¿s lively mood. Stylish Roman shades for the windows finish off the kitchen's look.

To create additional seating, an eating counter was installed beneath the kitchen's two windows, using floor joists held up by antique brackets found in the home's basement. Retro barstools enhance the room's fun, easygoing style.

In this kitchen remodel, a dated country-style space gained a new casual seaside cottage style. By retaining the original layout and kitchen cabinetry (only doors were replaced), there was room in the budget for a couple splurges: marble countertops and a beaded-board ceiling. The Carrara marble countertops, which replaced old laminate countertops, give the room a new, upscale charm. To cut down on costs, the homeowners installed the countertops themselves.

Total cost (excluding labor): $4,991

An old table brought up from the basement now serves as the kitchen island. Aqua paint, glass cabinet hardware, and a new soapstone countertop helped transform the furniture piece into a focal point of the design. The island's open shelf offers a handy perch for large pots or decorative items.

The room's color palette of cool white, light aqua, and blue-gray complements the home's seaside location and promises long-lasting style. New glass fronts on kitchen cabinets flanking the sink add to the room's airy feel, while a chandelier purchased at a home center brings a touch of elegance to the clean-up zone. The practical stainless-steel sink is a holdover from the original kitchen.

A clever mix of repurposed items brings a fun, vibrant style to this hardworking cooking zone and cozy eating area. A variety of stock cabinets, salvage bins, and secondhand drawers were combined to form the storage-packed kitchen island. In the eating area, retro-style table and chairs were refreshed with paint and the chairs were given a softer look with slipcovers sewn from drop cloths.

Total cost (excluding labor): $2,160

All of the kitchen cabinets were found at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore, which sells new and gently used building materials to generate funds for low-income housing. Although the cabinets were in different styles, the mismatched set was unified with blue paint. To hide inconsistencies, you can also add molding at the top or bottom of the cabinets.

A mix of kitchen cabinets and open shelving adds interest to the primary storage wall and accommodates varied storage needs. To conceal the lower portion of an open shelf unit, a fabric panel was suspended from a swing-arm bar. (Another bar at the bottom keeps the fabric taut.) The striped fabric lends colorful personality and hides less-attractive items.

In this eclectic kitchen, vintage pieces are used as kitchen cabinets and innovative storage elements. Repurposed from a collection of antiques, the items add unique charm and greatly reduced the overall budget. Instead of upper cabinets, decorative items and artwork hang on the walls and bring a comfortable vibe to the cooking space.

Total cost (excluding labor): $3,528

A freestanding cabinet adapted from an old French wire wine cage stands next to the new refrigerator. Open shelving added to the base of the unit offers convenient storage space for heavy bakeware and other large items. A distressed cabinet once used in a shop in France now serves as a unique kitchen island.

A new dishwasher hides on the interior side of the furniture-style kitchen island. To save on plumbing costs, the sink was kept in its original location. The drop-in stainless-steel sink, an economical option, sits directly on the countertop.

With a functional L-shape layout and a serviceable kitchen island, this kitchen already had the framework of an efficient cooking zone; it just needed an update. To transform the space, the upper cabinets were refaced and new base cabinets were installed. Upgraded appliances helped make the kitchen more functional. White cabinets, vintage cabinet hardware, and butcher-block countertops all combine to create an inviting cottage-style space.

Total cost (excluding labor): $4,328

An apron-front sink sets the room's vintage tone, plus it's deep and wide enough to accommodate large pots and pans. The nickel faucet with traditional cross handles was a bargain find. An old window and a decorative shelf for display enhance the clean-up zone's charm.

The kitchen island got a fresh look, thanks to a coat of paint, new cabinet hardware, beaded-board paneling, and a butcher-block countertop. Beaded-board panels also lend vintage style to the breakfast nook in the kitchen's far corner. A built-in bench, a circular table, and a pair of cafe chairs bring dining room functionality to the small space.

Old-fashioned details infuse this kitchen design with custom character. Metal-rimmed labels on cabinet doors, for example, lend vintage appeal and help identify some of the cabinetry's contents. Similarly, a gathered fabric panel under the sink conceals clutter and enhances the room's cottage vibe.

By creatively reconfiguring a difficult to maneuver space, this remodel resulted in a small kitchen that lives large and encourages family gathering. Existing kitchen appliances and cabinets were reused, with the cabinets getting a fresh coat of white paint for a classic, timeless style. Since granite countertops didn't fit into the budget, extra-durable porcelain floor tiles were used instead.

Total cost (excluding labor): $3,138

A long, vertical window in the kitchen was shortened to make room for the sink base cabinet, which used to reside in a dreary corner. A new 15-inch cabinet filled a gap between the refrigerator and the sink, and was one of only two kitchen cabinets added to the room. The stylish window treatment unites the colors of the pumpkin walls and black countertops.

Instead of a pricey island made out of custom cabinets, an old desk was repurposed as a functional and stylish kitchen island. New furniture-style legs match the kitchen's traditional look, and butcher block adds natural warmth on top. The new island offers an additional work space, and barstools pulled up to one side create a casual eating area.