The kitchen is the heart of any home — a place where families gather to cook, eat, and spend time together. However, when your kitchen is cramped and cluttered, it can be hard to enjoy the time you spend in there.
That’s the predicament Sue King is in. She loves the style and comfort of her 85-year-old condo in midtown Mobile, but her small kitchen could use an update. So we’re going to change this tight spot for cooking into a truly cozy kitchen.
As the Development Coordinator for Habitat for Humanity Southwest Alabama, Sue’s no stranger to home improvement. So, as we work on this project, we’re saving any leftover items we can to donate to Habitat for Humanity ReStore. The items they sell help build houses for low-income families in the Mobile, Ala., area.
The Projects
Replace Countertops
Because the kitchen has ceramic floors Sue wants to replace her granite countertops with butcher block countertops to add some warmth to the kitchen.
First, we remove the granite backsplash, which is a breeze since it’s only held in place by adhesive. However, the big countertop is another story. It takes two of us to remove the heavy piece of stone from the cabinet.
After the countertop is out, we haul it away to ReStore.
Using the measurements from the cabinet footprint we can cut the slabs of butcher block countertop to size then make the cutout for the sink before sanding all of the surfaces thoroughly. Once we’ve applied the construction adhesive to the tops of the cabinets. We can bring the countertops in and set them in place.
In order for the countertops to last, we need to waterproof them. So we use Waterlox Original Sealer/Finish. Once it’s dried and cured it will be food safe.
Install Backsplash
Sue’s antique style is very eclectic and there’s lots of stuff going on in her kitchen. So, we use a larger format tile so the backsplash itself wouldn’t be too busy and her antiques would shine. Plus, the bigger tile will also make the room feel bigger.
The new tiles are the perfect size to fit between the window and the countertop. So on that side of the kitchen, we do one single run of the tiles all the way across, just like the old granite backsplash.
Instead of using traditional thin-set to install the backsplash, we’re using SimpleMat from Custom Building Products. This stuff is like double-sided tape. All we need to do is cut the roll to size and apply it to the wall.
So that we don’t have any tile edges exposed when our backsplash is complete, we’re using tile edge trim to conceal it and make it look nice and finished. To make sure the tile sticks to the edge trim, we cut a piece of SimpleMat and stick it to the inside of it.
Not only do we need to replace the backsplash that we removed with the old countertops, but we’re going to improve upon it by adding more backsplash tile behind the stove so that it’s easier to clean when Sue maybe gets a little grease and grime while she’s cooking.
Because the SimpleMat requires no drying time, the grout can go on as soon as the tiles are in place. We chose light-colored grout to complement the natural wood countertops.
Convert Pantry to Laundry Space
When Sue moved into her condo, her washer and dryer weren’t working, so she transformed the laundry space into a pantry. Now, though, she wants to change it back to a functional laundry space so she doesn’t have to run to the laundromat in the complex every time she needs to do laundry.
First, we clean out the food and dismantle the shelves. The shelves aren’t budging after we tape them with a hammer, so we grab our drill to disassemble them. As it turns out, the shelves were built using 5½-inch screws instead of nails, so whoever built them meant for them to stay put!
Once we remove all the shelves, we remove two wood panels to reveal the water hook-up and exhaust for the washer and dryer. And now that the pantry demolition is complete, John patches the damaged drywall so we have a clean slate for the washer and dryer to be installed.
Replace Sink
To match the newly bought all-white kitchen appliances, we’re going to replace the stainless steel sink with a white enamel cast iron sink with a brass faucet set.
However, we run into a problem when we measure to figure out the sink placement.
Now, the sink itself is centered in the cabinet, but it’s not directly under the window. You might think that aligning it with the window would be the obvious choice, but we think it’s more important to have it centered in the cabinet. Plus, with a double-bowl sink, the separator between the two bowls would be painfully off-center if it were aligned with the window instead.
No way is wrong, but you always have to look at what ultimately is going to look best longer.
Once the countertops are installed, we place the sink in the hole and hook up the faucet to the plumbing.
Cleaning tip: White toothpaste is an effective and inexpensive way to clean and buff a white enamel cast iron sink. It can help remove stains and marks on the sink and leave it looking clean and shiny. Just be sure to use non-gel toothpaste, as gel toothpaste may contain abrasive particles that can scratch the sink’s surface.
We also
- Created a stove-top cutting board out of leftover butcher block countertop
- Repaired hardware on cabinets
Post-Production Thoughts
Sue’s tiny little kitchen was dated and a little bleak. She had replaced the appliances but didn’t have room for the stackable washer and dryer she needed and even with the glaze cabinets the room still lacked the visual appeal. She wanted it to have.
But now, the new butcher block countertops add the warmth and texture the space was missing. The new sink and faucet contrast beautifully with the counters to elevate the room’s appeal. And the ceramic backsplash adds a bright clean look that is both attractive and functional. Plus, she finally has the washer and dryer she’s needed all along.
Other Tips from This Episode
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Products Featured in This Episode
Countertop
- Butcher Block Countertop: HARDWOOD REFLECTIONS Unfinished Birch 6.17 ft. L x 25 in. D x 1.5 in. T Butcher Block Countertop
Backsplash
- SimpleMat Roll of Tile Setting Mat
- Tile Edge Trim: TrimMaster PVC L-Shaped Tile Edging Trim in Bright White
- Tile: Daltile Restore 4 in. x 16 in. Ceramic Bright White Subway Tile
- Grout: Custom Building Products SimpleGrout in Haystack
Sink
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