I have been wanting to re-do my kitchen for years, but the cost was out of reach. Then my refrigerator, it was 20 years old, so what did I expect. Well that started it all off. I found out that Sears and P.C Richards had a clearance and "scratch and dent' center, so I went to look. I decided on one I saw at Sears. I found one that was 20 cubic ft. instead of my 18.5, in the same 30" that I needed. I got black, very modern looking without handles and rounded in front instead of flat. I had bought a new dishwasher a few years back that was black, so this matched perfectly. It had a couple of small dents on the bottom; you would need a magnifying glass to see it.

Some have scratches or dents on the side, perfect, if the dies are not exposed who would know. They cannot sell them full price and have to discount. I wound up paying $445.00, the regular price was somewhere around $900.00 or so. Then I had gotten a $50.00 coupon from K-Mart, (who I found out now is owned by Sears). to spend at the clearance center. I kept it knowing that I would need a stove in the very near future. Sure enough a few weeks later Sears ran a sale, 20% of appliances over $399.00 and free delivery, which is $60 in itself. So off I went to look. I found a great one on sale for $399.00 in black to match the rest. With all the discounts and free delivery it came out to $209.00. Then I needed a new range hood, I got that at P.C. Richards on sale for $35.00.

Well of course with all my great new appliances my cabinets looked in need of a redo. I thought of re-facing, that would be the cheapest way to go, but I didn't have the money right then to do it. So here's what I did.

I sponged my walls a few years back and it looks great and very easy to do. I have a breakfast bar with two bar stools in the kitchen. My countertops, bar and cabinets were almond Formica. I made a mess of the Formica bar top a few years back and thought I would to replace it, so before I did I sponged it and then used 3 coats of water base polyurethane (it does not turn yellow). It came out looking great, although you have to be careful, keeping in mind it is not Formica anymore. So know I decided to do the cabinets and countertops the same way. I sponged it a dark beige over the almond color and then white over it all. Again three coats of polyurethane. I kept two large round glass plates with tiny feet, on the countertops and put everything on them, and always keep a cutting board around. Keeping in mind it is now a lot more delicate than Formica, but it looks very goof. It has a marble effect.

The trick is in the sponge. A large sponge with a flat surface that has large holes that makes the effect that I think looks best. Even if you have to cut the holes larger by yourself, the paint could be crafted paint water base. All the supplies cab be gotten easily and any craft store such as Michaels.

Now I needed a new backsplash. When I bought my new place it came mirrored above the cabinets, so I mirrored it behind the stove years ago. So now I thought the best look would be mirrored backsplash all around. I made a number of calls and found someone in the neighborhood who did it for $150.00. I bought small little round lights that stick under the cabinets. When I put them on at night, with the light reflecting off the mirror, it looks fantastic; A whole new kitchen on a dime. Eventually, when I put enough money away I can redo the cabinets, but for now it looks great, and I haven't spent a lot of money for all I've got.