We’re pleased to share this delightful 1985 kitchen remodel on Walter Drive in Modesto, CA!

You may recognize the before pictures for this project: the 6×6 tile countertops and yellowed-oak cabinets were a staple of 1980’s kitchens.  What did we replace them with? Rich granite countertops, sleek glass tile backsplash and perfectly-refinished cabinets (yes, they’re original!)…

Scroll down to hear the homeowner’s thoughts on the kitchenCRATE process and see an array of before and after images for this project!

The Homeowner’s Experience

What was your favorite part of the kitchenCRATE process?

My favorite part of the kitchenCRATE process was that it was a one-stop shop, from the planning meetings, to the decorator to help facilitate my ideas and put them all together, to my direct contact throughout the project that kept me posted.

What was your favorite part about the kitchenCRATE team?

My favorite part was the short amount of time it took from start to finish.  KitchenCRATE showed up when they said they would, and that’s pretty amazing.

Was there anything about the process or project that surprised you? If so, what was it?

My biggest surprise was the integrity and commitment kitchenCRATE has in making sure we were 100% happy with everything, even if that meant having to do something over. 

Before and After Pictures

(Click each image to enjoy a larger view.)

Day by Day Progress

(Note: We added a few extra days to our normal 7-day process to accommodate the owner-request add-ons, like these…)

Here’s how we did it:

Day 1 – Demo Day!  On this first day, we set up plastic walls to protect the home from dust, protected the path from the entry door to the kitchen with building paper, and then went to town removing the appliances, countertop, backsplash, plumbing fixtures, cabinet doors, and drawers.  We also removed the outdated light box in order to make room for the new LED can lighting. We reinforced the plywood sub-tops with steel straps to support the new granite countertops. Toward the end of the day we created the template for the new granite countertops, which take a few days to fabricate off-site.

Day 2 –The electrical team began the wiring for the new LED recessed lighting and LED undercabinet lighting.  Six inch LED can lights were placed strategically around the kitchen to optimize the lighting over work spaces. These lights are installed to maximize light levels for the most common countertop uses. The upper cabinets at the island were removed to open the kitchen to the living area.

Day 3 – Next, we used metal-stud framing to sheetrock the old lightbox and then hung and taped the sheetrock.

Day 4 – Since all the walls and the ceilings had been protected, our painters began preparing and priming the cabinets.  Using a high-grade, oil-based primer, every inch of the kitchen cabinets were caulked, sanded and primed.  This is the first (and perhaps most critical) step of creating a durable paint finish.

Day 5 – The painters then began refinishing the kitchen cabinets in this Modesto home and applied two coats of Kelly-Moore Dura-poxy paint in Fossil to the thoroughly sanded and primed cabinets. This same priming and painting process was used on the new doors and drawers, which are painted off-site in a climate-controlled paint booth for the highest possible quality.

Day 6 – The countertop installation team arrived to install the beautiful Blanco Precis Silgranit II double bowl sink in Truffle and the Bedrosians Jparana Santa Cecilia granite countertops with a beveled edge.

Day 7 – The tile backsplash artisans installed the Bedrosians Manhattan Madison 2″ X 8″ glass tiles. The tile backsplash was grouted with Laticrete Natural Gray grout.

Day 8 – The painting team was back on site to paint the walls and ceilings. Kelly-Moore Wise Owl was applied to the walls and Kelly-Moore Swiss Coffee was applied to the ceiling.

Day 9 –  Lastly, the kitchenCRATE team installed the homeowner’s new appliances.  The transformation then hit the home stretch with the installation of the freshly-painted cabinet doors and drawers. The final day of the project included an array of “touch-up” items: all outlets and switches were replaced, the Kohler Bellera faucet and Kohler Traditional soap dispenser, each with an oil-rubbed bronze finish, were installed and the entire project was cleaned, top-to-bottom.

Technical Details

• Countertop:  Bedrosians Juparana Santa Cecilia Granite
• Backsplash: Bedrosians Manhattan-Madison 2″ X 8″ Glass Tiles
• Grout:  Laticrete Natural Gray
• Cabinet Finish:  Kelly-Moore Fossil semi-gloss finish using a top-of-the-line Kelly-Moore Dura-Poxy paint and primer.
• Cabinet Hardware:  Liberty 3″ arched pulls in bronze with matching cabinet hinges.
• Sink:  Blanco Precis Silgranit II Double Bowl in Truffle
• Faucet: Kohler Bellera in Oil-Rubbed Bronze
• Soap Dispenser: Kohler Traditional in Oil-Rubbed Bronze
• Garbage Disposal: InSink Erator 1/2 HP Badger 5
• Wall Paint: Kelly-Moore Wise Owl
• Ceiling Paint: Kelly-Moore Swiss Coffee
• Lighting: 6″ LED Can Lights and LED Undercabinet Lighting

Are You & Your Kitchen Next?

Perhaps the Walter Drive kitchen reminds you of your kitchen.  Perhaps you like the layout of your kitchen and the cabinets are in good condition, but you are ready for a completely new look and feel.  KitchenCRATE can make this happen in 7 days for less than $15,000.

Just click here to schedule your phone consultation using our online scheduling system.  Or feel free to call us direct during business hours at 888-995-7996!

Scott Monday is co-founder and CEO of kitchenCRATE and bathCRATE. Follow him on Facebook, Google+ or Linked-In.