Learn the money-saving tricks to turn an old kitchen into a Farmhouse Chic kitchen for under 6K, and some elbow grease! You will:
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As a first-time homebuyer I was hoping to find my dream home off the bat. I quickly realized that was not going to happen. I had dreams of lavish open concept homes with kitchen islands that could look into the living room and dining area. I always wanted bedrooms with vaulted ceilings, and an enclosed backyard, along with a garden, craft, and work center.
When I took all of my “must-have” items to my real estate agent, I quickly realized that my first home was not going to be my dream home.
I had a picturesque view of what a home should be. All of the home renovation shows I watched made me believe that I could magically update a house. However, I quickly realized that I did not have the money or resources to outright buy a perfect designer house. And I definitely did not have the resources to completely flip a house.
Instead, I took my budget and looked at homes within my price range. And, it didn’t take long for me to see that I was going to need to make compromises.
I believe a lot of home buyers have a moment of defeat when they realize they are not going to be able to afford the home of their dreams, and many give up on the whole process at that point.
I knew that I was not willing to give up on buying a home, even if it that meant having to compromise on my expectations. For me, buying a home meant major steps forward for my long-term financial health, so I was determined to make it happen.
If you are looking at becoming a first-time homebuyer, but think you can’t afford a home, check-out my post on how Millennials Can Afford Homes Too! Owning a home is a huge step towards independence!
"For me, buying a home meant major steps forward for my long-term financial health, so I was determined to make it happen."
Sometimes getting to own a place requires making sacrifices. However, buying a home is exciting, so even the sacrifices you make will be worth the investment. Start by making a list of non-negotiables, so you know exactly where you should invest first.
For me– I knew I was not going to get an open-concept home, or central air conditioning. I also wasn’t going to get a house with a brand new roof. However, I was absolutely not willing to compromise on a farmhouse kitchen, or an open-concept cooking space!
I mean, hindsight is 20/20, and I probably did not “need” a farmhouse kitchen in the moment, but I was just so committed to having one, that I set a budget, made a plan, and committed to a farmhouse chic look even with a very humble budget of $5,500.
For me, I defined Farmhouse chic as a modern minimalistic style that blended cool whites with rustic elements to create a refined country-feel.
For some homebuyers, farmhouse kitchen decor includes a variety of items. Your farmhouse might have white-washed shiplap, rustic signs, white countertops, or open-shelving.
However, my “farmhouse kitchen toolkit” which included white subway tile, white cabinets, an overhang sink, a quartz countertop, and some wood elements (like open shelving).
After creating my tool-kit, I realized that my current kitchen was far from anything that I wanted. My kitchen had old appliances, cabinets that were falling off their hinges, a plastic counter, dingy old tiles, an a lack of overall cohesion.
I knew I could not afford to add a quartz kitchen island, as it increased my price substantially, so I opted for a handmade wooden island, and it definitely did not disappoint! Farmhouse kitchen decor requires a wood element and bright colors, so while I did not have quartz everything, I believe the wood shelves and island adding a warmth to my space.
For $5500 I turned my old kitchen into my new farmhouse chic kitchen. I think the total cost was actually $5,700 (so $200 over-budget), but overall, I got what I wanted without breaking the bank!
Have you remodeled a kitchen before? Do you love the farmhouse chic look? If so, comment below & share your experience!