The Journal — Read Before You Renovate
Materials, budgets, upkeep — the lessons we've learned, written down.
60 articles
Green Kitchen Cabinets: What Our Real Renovation Cost
Green kitchen cabinets can transform a dated kitchen without a luxury budget. Se...
How We Chose a Kitchen Pantry Cabinet Without Blowing the Budget
Kitchen pantry cabinet ideas from a real Utah renovation: costs, sizing, materia...
White Kitchen Cabinets: What We Learned Before Spending $8,700
White kitchen cabinets can brighten an older home, but they are not maintenance-...
Kitchen Cabinets Near Me: What I Learned Shopping for Our Remodel
Kitchen cabinets near me can help you compare prices, inspect quality, and avoid...
DIY concrete kitchen countertops: our honest budget and lessons
DIY concrete kitchen countertops can save money, but the process is messy. See o...
Kitchen Cabinet Doors: What Our Real Budget and Mistakes Taught Me
Kitchen cabinet doors can refresh an older kitchen for less than a full remodel....
Kitchen Cabinet Organizers: What We Bought and What Actually Worked
Kitchen cabinet organizers helped us reclaim a cramped 1994 kitchen. Here is wha...
Ready to Assemble Kitchen Cabinets: What Our Real Remodel Cost
Ready to assemble kitchen cabinets can cut renovation costs without cutting corn...
How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets Without Turning Your Kitchen Into a Disaster
Learn how to paint kitchen cabinets from a real mid-budget remodel: tools, prep,...
Kitchen Cabinet Hardware: What We Spent and What I Would Do Differently
Kitchen cabinet hardware can change a kitchen for $150-$600. See our real budget...
What DIY painting kitchen cabinets really costs, takes, and teaches you
DIY painting kitchen cabinets can save thousands when you plan the prep, paint, ...
DIY Kitchen Backsplash: What Our $412 Weekend Project Really Cost
DIY kitchen backsplash: see our real $412 budget, tools, mistakes, tile lessons,...