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My kitchen dream? Or nightmare?

Tammy McGee | • Published August 25, 2009

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Recently, I decided to redecorate my kitchen. I’m not sure that ‘redecorate’ is the correct description, or ‘renovate,’ because there just isn’t the budget to put in new cupboards or counter tops….yet.

What I am going to do is paint (with color), tile the backsplash, add new hardware to the cupboards and doors, perhaps replace sink fixtures, and eventually we’ll be replacing floor tiles with hardwood flooring.

This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment idea, so I’ve really been doing some mental prep, planning, and I’ve been slowly buying the tools and materials so as not to take a sledgehammer to the checking account. And yes, I’ve been watching Do-it-yourself television. Specifically, two different shows that I just happened to come across: One is, ‘Kitchen Renovations,’ which has been somewhat helpful. The other is ‘Renovation Realities,’ both on the DIY network.

Kitchen Renovations is pretty self-explanatory: Some contractor-type person helps a do-it-yourselfer renovate their kitchen. Renovation Realities, on the other hand, follows a do-it-yourselfer through the process of renovation without the help of any professionals. Renovation Realities is the ultimate horror flick for a do-it-yourselfer preparing to do-it-herself. It scared me.

The only part of my project that is making me nervous is the tile work I’m planning for approximately 25 square feet of backsplash and wall around the kitchen.

I’ve spent countless hours reading, watching videos on Home Depot’s Web site, choosing a color scheme, and deciding which materials are within my budget, but will also serve me well for a few years and make me happy to be in my kitchen. I have grandkids, after all, and I’m just not the girl to be constantly having to maintain walls. I want walls that I can wipe clean when needed, but look good too. I want it all!

Now that you know what I’m about to do, let me tell you what I have to REdo.

Several months ago, my husband and I decided to redecorate the living room and dining room. We are still very happy with our choices, even though we took a big leap and painted two walls a very dark chocolate. One of those very dark chocolate walls extends from the living room in to the dining room, so we ran our living room color scheme in that direction.