<p>Are the cabinets made of wood/plywood or some sort of particle board? If the latter, I would replace them. If the renters spill water inside of a cabinet, the particle board can swell and crack. Might be also hard to match the new doors. </p>
<h1>7</h1>
<p>Is this condo going to be rented by people looking at it on-line? If so, forget the floor! It won’t show in the photos. Would replacing the kitchen faucet with a contemporary model be enough? Color may make them choose your home and paint is relatively inexpensive. </p>
<p>I redid my kitchen 4 years ago with Ikea cabinets and appliances. There was some sweat equity, however, I replaced all the cabinets and appliances for under $6000. There were a total of 23 cabinets, a built in oven and microwave, a and a cook top. IKEA has a wonderful online program to help you design your own kitchen. I did not get the flooring or the countertops from Ikea, however, in the situation you would be using them for I would recommend them. Once you choose your cabinets you can have them delivered (expensive) or rent a uhaul truck and pick them up. There is a good deal of sorting when you first get the cabinets. The first one takes a while to assemble. After the first one you’ll find you can put them together in 15 minutes to half an hour depending on the cabinet. The hardware is very sturdy and is great because all the drawers and doors are soft close. They have a large variety of styles to choose from. Four hours away is not that far for well designed budget cabinets. The appliances used to carry a five year warranty. You’ll have to check if they still do. </p>
<p>I just installed vinyl planking in a bathroom and am very impressed with the look. It looks like real wood, was less than $2 per square foot, very easy to install (I did it myself) and the pattern goes all the way through. We also have it in our offices at work and it has endured heavy foot traffic, walkers, canes, etc for 3 years while still looking brand new. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t put Corian in a rental. One hot pot and it’s ruined. Personally I’d put in a nice laminate, and replace it if it gets damaged. But another option would be to use granite tiles, you can install them with minimal grout lines. They actually extend the whole depth of the counter. Look up “Lazy Granite”. Vinyl planking or linoleum are possibilities for the floor. Ikea makes a one bowl farmhouse sink for less than $200. If the cabinets boxes are in good shape you can save lots by just replacing doors. If you want good quality semi custom new cabinets try St. Martins, they are made in China, but assembled in Pennsylvania.</p>
<p>My sister in law did an Ikea kitchen with their butcher block, one of their simple white cabinets and beadboard backsplash. It looks very classic. I love butcher block, but you have to like the wear and tear look, you will end up with scratches and possibly burn marks if people are dumb with pots. A fair amount of this can be sanded away.</p>
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I have seen the vinyl wood-look flooring used on some of the HGTV shows. There is also a tile which looks like wood grain. I have no idea how much they cost though.
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<p>Yes! and on those restaurant makeover shows. They seem to look good on TV. </p>
<p>“I have seen the vinyl wood-look flooring used on some of the HGTV shows. There is also a tile which looks like wood grain. I have no idea how much they cost though.”</p>
<p>I’ve seen the tile as well, but could be quite cold feeling in winter months. My realtor thinks I should pick one type of floor and do the entire condo in it (it’s a SMALL condo…750 sq ft)</p>
<h1>17</h1>
<p>(yes, I messed up earlier!!!)</p>
<p><<<
Personally I’d put in a nice laminate, and replace it if it gets damaged. But another option would be to use granite tiles, you can install them with minimal grout lines. They actually extend the whole depth of the counter. Look up “Lazy Granite”. Vinyl planking or linoleum are possibilities for the floor. Ikea makes a one bowl farmhouse sink for less than $200. If the cabinets boxes are in good shape you can save lots by just replacing doors. If you want good quality semi custom new cabinets try St. Martins, they are made in China, but assembled in Pennsylvania.
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<p>Yes, I too worry about hot pots and Corian.</p>
<p>I also worry about a laminate that needs replacing because in my other VRBO, I already know that I wouldn’t have time to replace between guests. (That rental has regular granite (not tiles).) I often worry about anything “big” happening between guests. One time I had to replace a big TV within a couple of hours and that stressed me out. The purchase was relatively easy, but the set up, reconnecting to DirecTV, reprogramming the remotes, etc…had me sweating bullets. </p>
<p>The fear with back to back rentals (with just time for housekeeper to clean) is fixing a serious problem. I wouldn’t want an innocent guest dealing with a big ole burned formica.</p>
<p>The rental with the granite tiles has been fine and would probably be as stress-free as regular granite. I will have to look up Lazy Granite. The ones that I’m familiar with were 12" squares, but with minimal grout.</p>
<h1>18</h1>
<p>I just redid a kitchen for resale…the standard 20 foot, L-shape. Here’s how you do it for little money: Go to Lowes or Home Depot and look at the stock cabinets, which are 20% off right now. I chose Home Depot. Find one of the long time kitchen designers to work out a configuration for you. I happened to know a young contractor who went with me, so he made some useful suggestions - so useful, she actually offered him a job on the spot. Cabinets: under $1,900. Countertops: Got the Lowes fancy-edge ones that look like granite. A couple hundred. Stainless steel stick on backsplash and a sink/faucet combo. Looking for stainless steel appliances right now on Craigslist. Will only buy like-new for several hundred, since I’m not spending thousands per appliance new. I have an appointment to see a fridge in a little while for $500. All in, I’m going to spend about 5000-6000, including installation and stainless appliances. Looks amazing and I hope will sell the house fast. </p>
<p>I would never install butcher block in my own kitchen, much less in a rental. You have to be FAR too careful with it. I think the granite tiles with minimal grout lines would work well. I think it would be key to use a darkish granite so that you can use equally dark grout, though. No pale grout in a rental.</p>
<p>Some of the floating floors are great-looking. I like the Allure pseudo-tiles.</p>
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<p>I was trying to use the Home Depot online Kitchen Planner last night and couldn’t get it to download. There was another condo for sale in the same complex that was $30k higher that seemed to have HD stock cabs in it…and they did look pretty nice. </p>
<p>Consolation…are the “floating floors” the ones that interlock some way? or what?</p>
<h1>21</h1>
<p>The Allure floating floor has flaps that stick to the bottom of the next piece. As opposed to the kind of engineered wood that clicks into place.</p>
<p>^^thanks</p>
<p>Now I’ve tried to download the HD kitchen planner on my iPad 2 and it says that I don’t have the latest Safari downloaded, but I do. </p>
<p>And, it won’t download on my laptop using Windows 8 either. </p>
<h1>23</h1>
<p>I was not impressed with IKEA at all. I add a third vote for Home Depot. You can spend time with the kitchen planners and choose all sorts of things at a good cost. Different brands at the Home Depot have different price and quality levels so you can decide which level to go with. If Lowes is local instead of Home Depot you may try them. Definitely avoid Corian for kitchen sinks- a neighbor’s is full of cracks from hot water. In our old house I went with laminate counters, a stainless steel sink and vinyl floors.</p>
<p>I have used Home Depot before for a kitchen remodel and it turned out very well. I am considering them for this . I’m annoyed that I can’t seem to get the Visual Kitchen Planner to download on my iPad or my laptop. :(</p>
<p>HD would be easy if they’ll “do it all” floors, cabs, counters, sink. I have a short window of time that the whole thing needs to be done. </p>
<p>Lowes is in town, too, so I will look there too.</p>
<p>We used HD for design and cabinets just a year ago. The woman who was our designer was pretty good. Did not use their installer nor did we buy appliances, flooring or counter or backsplash from them. But for design and cabinets, they were pretty good.</p>
<p>I’d suggest laminate. Most vacationers will likely do a lot of BBQ and microwave cooking - put a smooth top range below the microwave. Then add one or two large, clear glass cutting boards (or butcher block boards) at other locations where they might put hot items. </p>
<p>We are in the process of selling the current house. It was purchased for the purpose of the best school district. </p>
<p>The kitchen is very out dated with plain white cabinets. </p>
<p>Today we got a quote for a remodel - new basic cabinet, Corian counter top, SS sink + garbage disposer + faucet, nothing else. It is a small kitchen and the quote is $14000 for all. Is it too much? Our first quote. </p>
<p>Thanks </p>
<p>What is on the floors?</p>
<p>For what you are saying is going to be done, this sounds like a very modest estimate. </p>
<p>Are the cabinets in good shape?
Ours are original to a 1900 cottage.
We just built new doors.
If you have a compost pile or recycling yard waste you don’t need a garbage disposal.
It does seem high, but we do everything ourselves.</p>
<p>$14,000 for all new cabinets, counters, sink, disposal, all labor to demolish and rebuild…is not a huge amount. These costs include the materials and labor. </p>
<p>EK…we know plenty of folks with compost piles…but I will tell you…if my garbage disposal broke, I would replace it immediately.</p>
<p>Dad II…what kind of new cabinets are you getting? Why corian? Most folks don’t want it…and the costs around here are the same as for granite. </p>