Kitchen Gets Current With Makeover

As an art teacher at a local middle school, Sally DeVinney has learned to keep an objective stance on each student's attempt at creating a personalized style of artistic identity. But when it comes to the amateur artwork scribbled across all of the cabinets and walls in her kitchen, she doesn't have as much patience. A former owner painted green ivy leaves on the cabinets and was attempting to extend that theme throughout the space, starting with the walls. DeVinney is ready to change that.

Host and designer Lauren Lake and her team of carpenters Jeff Devlin and Mark McGraw sign on to bring a more current style to the space. Keeping a $25,000 to $30,000 budget in mind, Lake presents two options. The first includes keeping the existing layout but modernizing the kitchen with new cherry cabinets, lighting, natural stone countertops and hardwood floors. Option 2 is a complete redesign that includes knocking out the existing island and building a two-tiered freestanding peninsula/bar area to house the sink, dishwasher and additional cabinetry. This option also includes bringing in solid maple cabinetry and laminate countertops and flooring. DeVinney selects No. 2.

Even more problematic is that the current layout doesn't function well. Other issues are mismatched appliances and countertops (which are also not level), a mixture of metal cabinets and wooden cabinets, plus an outdated stove and lighting.