goodbye to the kitchen

The deconstruction.  Considering the lack of quality of this manufactured home cabinetry, I was very surprised how DIFFICULT it was to tear apart.  On top of the difficulty, I was trying quite hard to keep the dust down.  I didn't plastic it off from the rest of the living room.   BIG MISTAKE.

good bye disgusting fan hood & un-useable corner cabinets

 good bye strange pantry

The stripe is where I repainted with the uppers still intact.  It was kinda funky for a few weeks.  I don't miss that "brown".  Now the hunt for ingredients continues.  Below is my first find.....

Actual wood uppers and lowers.  They were on Craigslist for $60.  I can't believe the guy tore these out to put in "new" from Home Depot. 
I also couldn't believe that we fit them all in my short bed Ford. 

kitchen Re-Do

I hated my kitchen.  We had put in a new floor...again.  The cabinets were pressboard covered with a vinyl.  Standard issue for a manufactured home."Oh I can do that" I said to myself.  So I started collecting ingredients.  That's the way I approach most projects.  I scrounge and "score' before I buy it and sometimes takes a while.  My first find were cabinets from a 60's ranch house that were on Craigslist for $60.  The owner was taking them out to put in cabinets from Home Depot.  How is that and upgrade from Maple to pressboard?

These are the before photos.

left side - pantry door

right side - missing cupboard doors

 The next project is a Kitchen Island.  I've been contemplating what style, size etc.Thus far I have option 1 with plans:  (link below photo) This plan is super but I'm too cheap to fork out for untreated cedar posts.  I just don't feel like using used for this.  It'll be around for a long time. I realize I could use 2 2by 4's but I'm thinking they'd be sketchy......and it'd show. 

http://ana-white.com/2010/03/plans-michaelas-kitchen-island.html

or Option 2


 http://myrepurposedlife.blogspot.com/2010/11/diy-kitchen-island.html

this option is to start with a dresser or similar and alter to the needs of the cook..... this is a great idea.  Totally got this idea from this gal's blog.  But she is there to share and motivate......ding....light bulb went on. I don't have a dresser in mind.  So the hunt goes on.  I do like this idea though. 
One important factor is that the husband needs to be able to pull up his stool and eat there.  Drop leaf would be good idea.  I'll keep searching.