Mod and Marvelous Kitchen

The kitchen of Cathy Lotz and Patrick Boyle is a complete eyesore. For starters, it hasn't been updated since 1953. The bright-orange countertops don't match the mustard-colored sink, storage is limited, and some of the appliances either don't work or are awkwardly placed (note that the handle on the refrigerator door opens toward the center of the room instead of away from it). It's in need of a major makeover.

That's where Spice Up My Kitchen host and designer Lauren Lake and carpenters Jeff Devlin and Mark McGraw come into the picture. They will use their combined expertise — and a budget of $30,000 to $40,000 — to make this small space a multifunctional masterpiece. Lake lays out two options, the first of which entails spending the bulk of the money on new cherry cabinets with additional cabinetry above for storage. Corian countertops with a white undermount sink, a coordinating beadboard backsplash and a ceramic tile floor complete the list. Option 2 has the majority of the funds going toward removing half the wall between the kitchen and dining room and creating a new two-tier breakfast bar area. The Lotzes select the second option. See the results below.

For specific product information, click on the After photo of the room.