readers write: kitchen makeover

A reader of mine over at Curbly posted a detailed 'how-to' of her recent kitchen makeover. Forced with limited ideas to give her rental a facelift, check out how she accomplished a super cool kitchen in just a few bucks:


"I just HAD to do something about those white laminate cabinets. I was pretty restricted due to us living in a rental. This required pretty minimal drilling and looks so good that my landlord was ecstatic."



"I purchased sheets of gauge stainless steel from the duct department of the hardware store. I cut it down to size for each cabinet door and filed all the edges so that they couldn't slice a finger. I used 400 grit sandpaper on the steel in a circular motion to make the steel look "brushed". I purchased 3/4" #10 nuts and bolts to fasten them on for a cool industrial look. I used a 1/4" drill bit to make a hole 1" square from each corner and did the same in the sheet metal. Then I simply bolted them on w/ the nut on the outside and reattached the handles."



"I found this brass chandelier on the side of the road. It had an on/off switch on the base that had decomposed from age. I took it apart, cleaning the brass thoroughly, and gutted the old switch housing from the inside. I then disconnected the wiring from the switch to hook all the lamps to one positive and one negative cord that would lead to the ceiling electric hookup. I sanded the metal w/ 400 grit paper and spray painted it black. I purchased a black chain to hang it with and hooked it up to the ceiling source and added a dimmer to control it."

[love it.]