apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Here's one scenario:

Take the $2800 and spend that on one contractor who can take care of the entire project--demo, floor, cabinets, appliances, electrical/plumbing.

Buy the kitchen at Ikea with their 20% incentive and pay it off in monthly payments.

Appliances--either score a great deal on Craig's List or again, payment plan from Home Depot.

Tile--cash (a couple hundred bucks).

This is just one way of looking at it.

Is this being cross posted on AT? I'm pretty good _cooking_ in the kitchen, but I'm horrible with remodling suggestions, so I'm always amazing at what AT readers come up with.

Love the green though!

Ikea cabinets are VERY easy to assemble, just do one cabinet at a time. Measure the walls in several places (at different heights) as those old building are notorious for being off plumb.

To save money, let go of the dishwasher dream. Doing dishes for a dinner party of 20 isn't so bad. Just clear the counters before the party so you have a place to put them. The oven also works for dirty dishes. Other NY's understand what you have to work with.

I highly recommend Ikea butcher block counters- they have pre-cut in many sizes & they work well. Just make sure you follow the instructions on oiling to maintain them properly. They have a nice farmer sink style in white that looks like it may fit. Their faucets are good, too. Price is right. You should be able to easily get the cabinets, sink, fridge & faucet under budget. Get it delivered or rent a truck. Those aren't that many cabinets to get. We did a big kitchen last summer (well, 11'X14') and spent $5000 on the cab's & counters, sink & faucet.

Good luck!

I agree with the comment about getting the same contractor to do the job - but spend your money on a better sink/counter - get rid of that MDF (medium density fiberboard) stuff - bad for areas that see a lot of water use. Give up on the dishwasher. Go vertical with your storage, and you can get a deeper refrigerator if you have the contractor build a platform that allows for the pipes to pass and put the fridge on top of that. It could even garner you some extra storage if the contractor builds a sturdy platform with a built-in drawer.

Utilize the window area with a window seat and more storage. The green is going to make the space close in, go with a lighter color.

Just my suggestions.

I'm an architect and work on kitchen renovations occasionally (though much bigger budget). $2800 is really not much to work with, certainly not for a dream kitchen.

Concentrate on the things you've identified as crucial, a new counter with sink/faucet and a new fridge. I'd recommend not messing with the plumbing for now and leaving that along with the dishwasher to a later date. The rest of your budget could go to replacing the flooring and some shelving/cabinets above the fridge/sink/stove. The latter could also be added to gradually, as money becomes available.

I don't know about the Ikea Markland floor specifically, but there is plenty of flooring made for DIYers to install themselves. Do check that it's sturdy enough to handle heavy use and spills.

Oh, and I forgot - tile for a backsplash! Food-splattered painted wall is a bad idea - bright, glass tiles might be nice, let the light flow around, and easier to clean - but plain ol' bathroom tile could be used, too - in fact, you could do this yourself and save some money - just be sure to seal the grout. Pendulum lighting and task lighting should be installed, and careful about your flooring options - ceramic tile can be slippery if you spill something on it, and out the window you'd go!

Good luck!

How much was the materials cost for the Ikea cabinets and flooring? Installing kitchen cabinets isn't extremely hard, neither is laminate flooring. You could do both yourself with some rental equipment and save the installation cost.

Or - if this is your otherwise dream apartment and you really want to make it perfect, suggest you get the landlord to confirm that the $2800 would be available in a years time. Take a few months to live with your kitchen, get a 'feel' for what you really need, while trying to save up some money to increase your budget so you can get it done.

Rushing a project like this will make you either cut corners, or

I meant to say...

Rushing a project like this will make you either cut corners, or go way over budget with unanticipated changes. Plan it out - don't let your occupancy date drive the project.

Consider saving up to get a small portable dishwasher to stash somewhere (like this one: http://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/DDW1805W.html) on your own, outside of the landlord's budget. You can take it with you when you move.

I think wickedlizzie was on the right track with backsplash suggestions but I'd go with a piece of acrylic attached to the wall. Shouldn't be TOO hard to find.

I meant to specify spending all or most of the $2800 on labor alone (cost of the contractor).

The more you do yourself, the more you are responsible for. I'm thinking about things like purchasing, transporting, installing and trashing materials in a place like the West Village--not an easy task, I'm sure.

OK - I think your dream of a "dishwasher under the sink" is being brought about by a bad picture on the website. There's NO WAY a dishwasher can go under a sink like that!

The website must be just pasting appliance pictures into an existing photo and in this case, they've really screwed up.

Sort of reminds me of real estate sections of the newspaper showing new McMansions with garage doors, but no driveway.

Reading this, I'm thinking of Lloyd Dobler in Say Anything: YOU MUST CHILL. YOU MUST CHILL.

I agree with ChzPlz...take your time and do it right. And do a lot of it yourself - learn some skills that will be good for a lifetime. You're 25-yrs old and renting an apartment...you'll have to make tradeoffs or save up to do it right (understanding that it is not uncommon for NYC renters to upgrade their apts on their own dime).

If there is anything that is currently non-functioning, then spend some money now...but for the rest...take it easy!

Ikea cabinets are ridiculously easy to hang/install and are meant to be DIY. The Arlig door is the cheapest and fits your white preference. Glass doors are nice, but I'd give up those up before anything else. Also, make sure you are maximizing the size of the cabinets for the space, e.g. using one 36" cabinet ($62) rather than two 18" ones ($37 each). While it's not a huge price difference, squeezing a few dollars here and there could get you another one of the options you want.

Butcherblock would make a good countertop (again, cheap at Ikea) and could be either oiled or coated with Waterlox. Even their laminate countertops are fairly tough and would last years.

leepert,

GE does, in fact, make an under-the-sink dishwasher. I can't imagine how much space inside you'd have inside, but they're definitely not pulling anyone's leg.

http://products.geappliances.com/ApplProducts/Dispatcher?REQUEST=SPECPAGE&SKU=GSM2200NWW&SITEID=GEA

I agree with leepert. I work in the kitchen design industry and have never seen such a thing, nor can I imagine how it might work. Forget about the dishwasher and use the oven for storage as tallsarah suggested. There is not much else you can do to this kitchen. $2800 is a VERY small budget, and although I am not so familiar with the construction of Ikea kitchen cabinets, faucets, etc., I can tell you that you usually get what you pay for, especially in the remodeling industry. You should also check around with local countertop places. Because you have such a small area, you might be able to buy a "drop" piece for much MUCH less than it would normally cost.

catlike - thanks for sending that link. After a bit of googling, I found my answer. To have a sink that shallow seems ridiculous!

http://www.ikeafans.com/forums/kitchen-appliances/3286-ge-under-sink-dishwasher.html

I think Miss Jolly's suggestion is much better.

leepert,

Great link with the details! I've seen that model referred to on various kitchen forums, but had no idea how well it worked in practice. I'm also kinda curious about the way they have it installed under a cooktop in one of the gallery photos on GE's site.

Also, the ikeafans site is a great resource if the poster (or anyone else) decides to go that route.

I would consider investing some of your own money to get the 2800 up to a level you can get what you want. I know, it's not at all ideal, but it can be a worthwhile investment if you plan on staying there for a few years or more. I ended up "compromising" by splitting new flooring in my bedroom, paying about $300 toward the new floor. It's not ideal, but over the 2 years I've already been there, the added $10 a month is well worth having something I am much happier with. I would have spent that much and more time in the end trying to DIY "improve" the floor. In the end, you're lucky your landlord is willing to contribute at all!

don't do butcherblock. if you think it's akin to granite in terms of durability, you're gonna be baaaaadly surprised. we just tore out a butcherblock counter (ikea, so crappier than the standard, but CHEAP) and are replacing it with caesarstone.
it's a very small surface (less than 6') and it's still costing $1500.

the butcherblock developed mildew stains that wouldn't sand out and the wood split - and we had to sand and oil it so many times in a year...after three years of that i just couldn't handle it anymore. buhbye butcherblock!!

so, like, you CAN use butcherblock, but just nowhere near a sink or dishdrainer! i mean it! ;)

now, if i were you...i'd take the $2800 and then save up for a year. do it right, yaknow? the ikea setup looks amazing.

Like others have said, you need to prioritize and also figure out what you can do yourself. Things like removing old cabinets and laying tile are reasonable to do yourself and will save a lot of $$. I would:

- leave the electrical and plumbing as is; these are expensive things to change, and you really should not do them yourself

- score newish appliances on Craig's List

- instead of cabinets (which will totally eat your budget) opt for open shelving and those boards with holes to hang stuff on (like you would see in a workshop); you can paint it to look pretty, and even get some nice shelf brackets

- alternatively, you can score cabinets on Craig's List; countertop materials too

- tile the backsplash; you can get subway style tiles at Home Depot for about $0.20 a piece; it's a small space, so doing it yourself wouldn't be unreasonable

- the Ikea floor that you mentioned

- I would TOTALLY go for the dishwasher; it's a splurge, but I think it's worth it especially since you have zero counter space. Portable dishwashers hook-up to your sink faucet and don't require plumbing. The under-sink GE one someone else posted looks very tempting.

- formica countertop is really cheap and would spruce things up; I also like the butcher block idea. Tiled countertops are also a low cost option. On Craig's List you sometimes will find stoneyards selling scrapes for cheap; Since your counterspace is minimal, you might be able to score some nice granite for a few hundred dollars

Good luck! I remember re-doing my 9x9 kitchen on a strict budget. It was fun, daunting and frustrating all at once.

PS - and please paint over that hideous kelly green; it's terrible and I imagine will reflect light to make you feel like you're in a morgue with fluorescent lighting. Yuck.

Also, I've gotten great deals on faucets on eBay. Faucets are easy to install yourself.

PPS -- I would also like to add that you can get 18" wide dishwashers (24" is standard). A portable dishwasher has wheels, so you could store it out of the kitchen. They also have counter-like tops which adds counter space. I had one in my old apartment (18" Kenmore portable) and just loved it.

Also, you can get a nice butcher block cutting board and plop it over the sink when you need some more work space.

1. hold off making any decisions until you live in the apartment for a while.

2. look for design help at schools like columbia, parsons, f.i.t., and pratt. students often have great ideas that don't cost a lot.

3. please think about another color for the kitchen, something a bit easier on the eyes.

4. consider adding some of your own money to the pot to give yourselves more options. it'll pay off if you stay in the apartment for several years.

Don't pay a contractor for things that you can do yourself (installing floors and cabinets).

Check used appliance stores, or the 'as it' dented area at Home Depot for a refrigerator (and maybe that under-counter dishwasher). That 400$ fridge seems like it would fit your budget, but personally I'd feel better with a name brand appliance, even a dented used one.

Ask around, see if anyone you know has experience plumbing or knows a decent plumber. Just changing out your sink probably wouldn't be so hard (my dad use to do this) a friend, or even a friend's dad, might do the work for you for the price of dinner. Moving the sink, or adding in a dishwasher might cost you more than a meal though.

Consider some open storage shelves, for above the stove and sink they will look cool and save you a couple bucks.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10139596

Maybe some wire ones meant for closets.
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100172468&N=10000003 90401 501349

Check Craigslist for cheap (maybe even free old cabinets) from someone's remodel. My rental has miss-matched cabinets with similar wood grains and matching hardware. It's hardly even noticeable they fit so well, and if you paint them all white it would be even less obvious. (It might look cool if they were obviously miss-matched though)

I'm pretty sure you could install the Ikea floors yourself. Have you ripped up any of the linoleum yet? But how old is the house? What does the flooring look like in other rooms? If they are wood you might get lucky. My parents ended up with a wood floor in their Craftsman style 1950's kitchen (under six layers of linoleum), after a couple coats of wax looked decent (you could even consider painting this glossy white).

And I agree with ChzPlz, ask the landlord if the money will still be available in a few months so you can take your time picking out appliances and look for deals.

But if you are planning on sticking out this rental for a long time, I would consider paying to have the sink moved, buying a new fridge and then saving up and DIYing the rest of the upgrades yourself.

P.S your space is adorable, good luck.

As others have said, I'd go with Ikea for under-counter cabinets, butcher block countertops, sink and faucet and doing the assembly and installation yourselves. I've assembled Ikea kitchens before, and it's a completely do-able diy. Just buy a level.

If it were me, I'd forget the wall cabinets over the cooking area and instead hang simple white open shelving instead. Paint the brackets the same green as the wall, and they'll look fantastic. I have a kitchen about the same size as yours (tiny, sloping attic ceilings, doll house stove, 3/4 size fridge, only two small under-counter cabinets), and I find that I've got enough space to store what I need without bulky wall cabinets. Having lovely open walls will really help make the place feel less cramped.

And I love the green -- excellent choice!

agree with a lot of things already said:

- let go of the dishwasher, its 20% of your budget, very uncommon in NYC rentals, and you don't really have space for it.
- consider going cheap with the flooring as well (some bright white linoleum even). This is after all a rental, not your own home, and you just want something that isn't going to look dirty and gross.
- spend the money on IKEA cabinets/sink/faucet and assemble it yourself, its really not that hard, and you're still young and able bodied :)
- consider repainting the kitchen a slightly different color. since you're installing the kitchen OVER the newly painted walls, future renters will forever curse you as they try to get into the nooks & crannies and repaint your unorthodox choice. additionally, green is notorious for reducing people's appetites (in studies, people who eat off green dishes eat less, etc), so for that reason alone it wouldn't be my first choice for a kitchen. maybe something with a little more yellow in it, like a lime green?

Give up on the dishwasher... it's taking up too much of your budget and it doesn't make sense to install it under the sink.

Click and lock laminate flooring is easy to install yourself, but are you sure you want white? I'd go with a light wood color...

Ikea cabinets can be installed yourself, too... just make sure when you're adding up the cost you include the wall rails, trim pieces, side panels, crown moulding, etc. To lower costs, I'd probably look into Ikea's panel countertops, too.

If you're not too picky about the sink and/or faucet, Home Depot and Lowe's often have them on their clearance end caps. I picked up a 26" stainless steel sink there for $25.

Do you have to have the remodel work done when you move in? If it can wait a couple of months, I agree with moving in and then seeing what you need based on how you live in the space.

i visited someone with one of those under-the-sink dishwashers, and it was a real waste of space to me. the sink was so shallow i dont think i could tolerate it.
is there a home depot nearby?? this weekend i'm buying a 10cf Magic Chef refrigerator that they keep in stock. it's 349 and the manager said he would honor a Lowes coupon for 10 percent off.
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100581589

i know you have your heart set on new cabinets but i've seen some great cabinets on craigslist, and i just bought two used Merrilat cabinets for $30 at the Community Forklift (building salvage) that i'm going to paint to match the other ones.
i know you're anxious to have a dream kitchen in your first post-college place, but realize that 2800 won't go that far and you'll have to compromise. laminate countertops and peel and stick tiles may be the way to go.

also, a book that i find inspirational for low cost kitchen redos, Debby Travis Kitchens and Baths. a lot of good ideas for making due with a less than beautiful kitchen.

I would suggest calling a few hardware stores and asking if they have floor models of the appliances you want for sale (with a hefty markdown), or any marble / composite countertops that were mis-cut or rejected, or extra tiles / lino / cabinets leftover from larger projects and on clearance. Try the library for books on renovations, most DIY flooring is really easy, and tile isn't beyond the realm of possibility if you have some good step-by-step instructions.

I think you could spend $20 on a home improvement/DIY book, or even a couple of hundred dollars to take a class, and suddenly, your $2800 will look like plenty to get what you want. Most big box stores offer a continuous scheule of free diy classes...
As someone else mentioned, basic working knowledge of plumbing and carpentry are skills that will make you feel like super(wo)man and serve you well for a lifetime, as are the couple of tools you will need. I realize this or any DIY may be a step outside your comfort zone, but that's one of the gifts of being alive. And seriously, it's ridiculous to even consider hiring someone to assemble and install IKEA cabinets, budget or no.
Please stop thinking like you don't have any arms or a brain that's incapable of learning stuff that wasn't taught in college. And yea, take a deep breath and slow down. The world will not come to an end if you don't have a finished kitchen by Friday.

I am a DIY'er to the death, and I'm looking at that tiny little kitchen thinking $2800 is a grand budget even if I do have to buy a couple of appliances. Seriously. I've done way more with way less, but you have to be willing to get your hands dirty beyond just shopping and painting.

As far as the nuts and bolts,
IKEA cabinets obviously. I'd also consider using open shelving wherever possible if you like that look, both because of the cost savings and because it'll help the room feel more open.
A new stainless steel sink and faucet can be had at any big box for less than $100, or check Ebay or Craigslist.
Laminate countertops are cheap, infinintely durable and look great with lots of options for color/pattern.
For the flooring, VCT is great. As cheap as it gets and indestructable, plus it comes in a ton of neat colors and is easy to DIY with no special tools or skill.

Remember, anyone (with money) can get a cool place by spending a lot, but where's the fun and adventure in that? Your new place will be much more interesting and you'll love it much more if you work for it and have a role in the process beyond just spending money.

I second the suggestion to post these same details at the ikeafans website. Posters there are very generous with their time and creativity, and they know kitchen design backwards and forwards.

If it were me, I would nix the idea of the dishwasher. I would buy a farmhouse sink, instead. (Ikea has one that fits in a 24 inch cabinet. It's $186.) I would replace the fridge with an under-cab model, even a dorm fridge, and commit to shopping for fresh produce every day or every-other day. With a full-height refrigerator, it will be tough to have a space to work (chop, prepare, or arrange) in that layout.

Butcher block countertop will hold up next to a farmhouse sink, or another type of sink that has a high lip around it--it will not survive the kind of sink that is level with the countertop and thus spreads water all along the seam. I have an IKEA kitchen myself, and the butcher block is holding up well, with minimal maintenance, but the IKEA laminate countertop, set along the sink, is pretty much a disaster. It's only two years old, and we'll likely have to replace it next year. With a farmhouse sink, you have room to stack some dishes on the floor, and a space for cleaning products and the trash can, which otherwise, I cannot see a space for in the currant set-up.

From the look of it, you need to spend a chunk of the budget on the electrical situation. I would see if the landlord will pay separately for electrical work; the plug next to the stove, for example, looks like an enormous fire hazard, and the stove will pull a large amount of power out of it.

If you are absolutely committed to cabinets as overhead storage, you may wish to buy Akurum cabinets and install them yourself. Don't buy doors yet, but hold off and purchase them one at a time as your saved funds allow. Often, Akurum boxes (the part of the cabinet without the door) are available at As-Is, for a reduced price. In a space that sized, my preference would be for open shelving, as enclosing the entire wall to the ceiling will feel very enclosing, but it's true that dishes stored in cabinets stay cleaner than ones on open shelves.

Commercial Vinyl Tile may be a solution for your flooring. It is less expensive than many flooring options, but is very sturdy and long-lasting. I would be skeptical of IKEA flooring, and if you are going to spend the labor to install something, it might as well last. There's not much floor space in there, so the material cost will be the least of your problems.

my house is 625sqft. storage is a premium, just like in your apartment. ditch the idea of a dishwasher. storage is a premium in your kitchen and you need a place under the sink for dish soaps, scrubbies, garbage can, etc. washing dishes by hand is easy and not worth sacrificing for a dishwasher. emphasize storage and counter space...both are necessary for a functional kitchen, otherwise you'll be hesitant about taking on involved recipes.

I've installed Ikea Akurum cabinets. They're very easy to do yourself as a weekend project.

Undersink dishwashers, as others have noted, aren't really worth the tradeoffs. If you are serious about having a dishwasher under your sink, for almost the same money you could get a single drawer-style unit - e.g. Fisher and Paykel single DishDrawer - and still have room for a full sink.

I have no experience with kitchen renovations, but I do have experience with bright green kitchens--they're cute in theory but not so much in reality. I had a kitchen that was about that hue, but a shade or two lighter and I could only stand it for a few days before I repainted it a sky blue.

Certain shades of green (especially the grassy or kelly green you see here) bounce light oddly and make everything else look a little sickly. Your food will look weird and you and your hubby will look drawn and pale. If you want green, try for something more muted and icy, or earthy and mixed with brown or gray.

You have quite the challenge!

My first thought is I would give up on the idea of having a dishwasher. It seems to be the thing eating up most of your budget with cost of the appliance and installation and plumbing.
Instead, I would keep the area under the sink clear of things and put a large washing tub or bus tub there such as this one: http://www.webstaurantstore.com/rubbermaid-17227-bus-tub-17-x-22-x-7/70217227.html
After a meal, just stack the dishes in it under the sink until you are ready to do the dishes. That way they are neatly out of your way.
Put that money into some other things that will make you happy in the kitchen. Like more counter space or storage.

Good luck! Please let us see the finished result! I love the green by the way!

I think Splat girl is right about the DIY stuff. My husband and I are currently remodeling our kitchen ourselves (mostly - we hired out the electrical and gas line install) and it has been at times overwhelming but totally worth it.
A suggestion on your cabinets - we got ours brand new for $25 a piece from a lumberyard preassembled that had mis-ordered them for another job. We had to mix in two Ikea pantries to get the layout right - but it looks great. Check out Craig's list, etc before you buy anything - you'd be amazed what you can find. Glass tile is lovely, but white subway tile is appropriate for an older dwelling and much more budget friendly. We used the Ikea flooring you are considering and it was very easy to install - but plan on mopping 2-3 times a day. So far I love my Ikea butcher block counters- but then I'm one of those strange people that don't like granite.
Most important, take your time and enjoy the process.
Good Luck!

So wondering what happened? Is there a follow up?

One very easy and important thing! The opening in the built-ins you're keeping should have a counter top installed that extends out about 4". Round the edges so you don't wack yourself and you have some actual counterspace to use!

Also, check the height of your fridge to be sure it doesn't block the circuit breakers. Worst thing in the world? Moving the fridge in the dark to trip the breaker again.

Also regarding the dishes, Ikea cabinets come with an option for the bottom of the wall cab to be a dish drainer. This might work for hiding those party dishes!

A great post. I, too, am thinking about a very, very low-budget renovations. Did someone mention Green Demolitions? I have seen entire kitchens, some including appliances, for as low as $2k. They also have individual appliances for sale.

http://www.greendemolitions.org/

And I 100% agree with everyone who said ditch the dishwasher. It's one of those things that you desperately want but will look back and wish you had spent the dough on something else.

For my $$ I would do IKEA cabs, craigslist sink and other fittings, wait for a sale at the HD for very, very simple tile on the floor and DIY, butcher block countertops.

I've also seen those backsplashes where you do wallpaper covered with plexiglass -- another option to consider...

Good luck!!!

I think you have a nice little space to work with, the fact that you have one wall of built-in cabinets is quite nice.

I would get a section of PRAGEL countertop (which can be cut to fit) and cut it to fit into the existing space in the built-in. Depending on the current depth of the built-in you should even get a bit more depth out of doing that, or you can cut it down so it doesn't stick out. If you let it stick out by even 5 inches it would become comfortable to eat at it with a couple stools.

Above the sink and stove (in the positions you have rendered them) I would put 3 of the 47" GRUNDTAL wall shelves spaced about 15" apart. The matching dish drainer (which I would consider for full time storage, not just for drying), spice rack, cutlery caddy and various hooks and clips will get some commonly used things in one handy space.

Get several more estimates on just moving the sink to where you want it and get'er done. Forget about the dishwasher.

We re-did our kitchen for about the same money you have - incl. appliances (even a dishwasher!), new flooring and we even had the sink and a radiator relocated. We went with cabinets and bamboo flooring from Ikea, assembled/layed it by ourselves, tracked down the cheapest appliances we could find while still buying energy-saving quality pieces (search the internet!). We saved money by installing open shelves and letting go of my backsplash-tile-dreams (you can do this later anyway). Really everything was DIY and I absolutely love my kitchen now. It´s the best I ever had.

How come noone has mentioned demo-ing the wall of cabinets on the opposite wall and putting a regular sized fridge (hence more likely to find good bargains on it)?

I would talk to the landlord, offer him that you will put up $500-1000 of your money towards the reno, and get him to match you, bringing the total budget up to $3800-4800.

This will definitely make it possible for you to have your dream kitchen, and the end result will be way better for both you and the landlord since you won't be cutting any (or less) corners.

And you don't even have to have all the money at once in a lump sum. You can use the 2800 first, and come up with more money down the road for the second phase of your reno in a couple months.

Demo the wall of cabinets, move the fridge to the opposite wall, put a kitchen island cart thing on the bottom once the cabinets are gone, open shelving on top.

Get a dishwasher.

Also, won't you be needing a hood for your stove?

So basically, up the budget, do the sink-side of your reno first. Dishwasher, new countertop / sink combo, DIY backsplash and a hood for your oven with the 2800 you were promised.

Wait on buying a new fridge or the upper cabs, so that you can find the best deals without being pressed for time. Live with openshelving until then.

When you have more money available, deal with the other side of the kitchen, and the flooring.

Just a couple things that might help:

I would make sure you have some countertop space on both sides of the sink and stove - even if it's only 6 inches. It makes a big difference to be able to balance a pot or plate while cooking.

Also, I just installed some of those linoleum stick-on squares that look like slate (I know, I know) over some fairly level tiles in a bathroom and it looks really great and was super cheap. The main difference is I bought some grey grout and left a space between each of the tiles so they really end of looking like they could be real stone tiles instead of obviously linoleum. And, you can cut them with scissors instead of needing to rent or buy a wet ceramic saw.

It would seem that if you are going with ikea, you might be able to the majority of the work yourself. Buy a stud finder, build a backing lattice of wood attached to the studs, and then attach cabinets to the lattice. There are also countertop dishwashers that might be an alternative (I've seen them in Bed Bath & Beyond in NYC) that you could place on a shelf rather than the actual countertop.

A postscript - last week I bought two of the Udden stainless steel consoles from ikea, and put them together fairly easily. Put two cabinets under on and drawers under the other. You can even get a sink one. They are one of the cheapest options as ikea, but I really like them.

AND - very important - right now the Elizabeth ikea is renovating and most of the kitchen stuff is out of stock so you might try the Brooklyn one first.

I was going to start by saying to paint the walls to get rid of that green then I kept reading... A source list for you:
Ikea, Home Depot, Build it Green! NYC, Amazon. Forget a tile backsplash (the tiles won't cost you, but the labor will), focus on the floor, sink/cabinet, fridge and light fixture. Good luck.

Who has their "dream kitchen" right away in their first "real" house? No one I know. I'm not saying you shouldn't focus on making it as nice as you can, but we can't have everything perfect right away. I think you are being a bit unrealistic with some of it if you want to stay inside your budget. I can also tell you are going a million miles an hour with this and are really excited which is nice.

Be patient. I think that there is a lot of good advice here. Slow down and really think about your priorites. I'm sure it will be lovely in the end.

This place lists small-sized appliances perfect for NYC.

http://www.compactappliance.com/

I think you love your green paint color, so stick to your green and white plan, but I also think a previous comment's suggestion of light wood flooring is a great idea, especially if you use butcher block counter. This would soften the otherwise possible harshness of green against white. A natural element, like wood, is good for doing this.

Just a personal tic, perhaps, but I'm jonesing for a green and white checked, ceramic tile blacksplash. . . .

And I know crystal chandeliers are all trendy, but how about a green glass one to replace the lightbulb dangler?

As others have said: cool your jets and take your time, too. Get the feel of the space, which can only happen by living in it and using it.

Not sure about NY, but in Denver there is a Habitat for Humanity 'outlet' store where they bring all the items they have taken from houses they are fixing/updating and sell them for cheap. It's at least worth a look to see if there is one in NY and then to see if they have anything that will work for you. They carry paint too, so that might be a little bit of savings there...

Plus, you could go for the modern look and just have the cabinets w/o doors, or purchase them yourselves and eat the cost...

If you like the idea of your dishes showing, you could probably save a lot of money by simply installing shelves instead of cabinets. Especially if your dishes are white, you'll still get that strikeing white on green effect. I've liked the idea when I've seen it on AT. It seems like it would make a small kitchen like yours more open than cabinets would.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/inspiration/inspiration-white-dishes-on-white-floating-shelves-060399

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/flickr-finds/flickr-find-docs-simple-open-shelving-084688

For interest of countertop space, since no matter what there won't be much, you might consider a sink that has butcher- block-like covers that will go over the opening. Either that or a large cutting board that can be set over the opening. If you're getting butcher block countertops, you could ask the contractor to cut you a piece that will fit over the sink to match. It will give you a little more space if you are doing prep work.

Don't let your occupancy date drive the renovation. That is a recipe for DISASTER.

Think about adding your own money to the $2800, especially for things you can take with you, like faucets and light fixtures.

Remember that appliances can be affixed with a stainless steel panel.

Take time to price out everything you want. You'll never know what you can score on the 'net.

Sorry, but again, this just can't be rushed. Not if you want it done right and on budget.

I disagree on the click and lock "wood' laminate. I looked at it for our kitchen and it looks really fakey and not sturty. this is really inexpensive and a floating floor you can install over the laminate you already have:
http://www.ecohaus.com/C-36/marmoleum?gclid=CK23zdnKvpoCFQzxDAodIFNVsg

the have click plans or tiles - the one the dog is laying on would look nice with the white and green. I like the green FWIW, it doesn't look like psych ward florecent or unflattering.

I second the ikea butcher block counter, but do not follow their oiling instructions, instead poly coat it and get a large cutting board - do not use your butcher block as an actual cutting board or prep surface or you will have a mess.

You could get away with a smaller refrigerator and use fresh direct for food several days a week, though I would just get a regular sized one, the cost difference is not make or break.

Skip the under sink dishwasher, get a regular one, if you are able to install. I don't think wanting one is that outrageous or weird, especially if you entertain a lot. I have one in my NYC rental. They are becoming more common.

I agree with putting some of your own $$ into the reno to get closer to what you want.

Also, glass cabinets can be gotten cheaper if you find dirt cheap cabinets with paneled doors--you can pop out the panel and replace it with glass.

I haven't read thru the comments cause there are so many so I apologize if this is a repeat. Don't have a lot to add except for the dishwasher. I used to live in a space that had a free standing dishwasher. It fit nicely under a cupboard and when I needed to use it I pulled it out, plugged it in and hooked it up to the faucet. It worked well and made the tiny kitchen usable without a lot of additional plumbing. I don't know if these are still made, but if they are you could tuck it under the sink and just pull it forward to use without all the extra costs.

The Container Store has tres cool open wire shelving and they hold a massive amount of weight. I have dishes and cookware on the ones in my kitchen and they have worked well for nearly five years. For $400-500 you could get all the upper shelves and maybe use Ikea stainless steel on the bottom. Home Depot has cool easy to install floating cork floors--100 sq. feet costs about $450 for flooring and supplies. With my estimate, you can do the floors, cabinets, upper shelving for $1200. This lives $$ for paint and appliances.

A quick comment: find out from Con Ed if there is an applliance rebate program. You may be able to get a bit more out of this by buying an Energy Star refrigerator.

I'd put my money into the appliances, counter and flooring. Basically everything countertop down. Skip the butcherblock, it's difficult, it burns, stains, dents etc. Find a scrap, you don't need much. I wouldn't rearrange or change to gas. I've had a glass top stove in the past and it was great. Easy to clean also. I'd save money on the cabinets, as in, none on the walls. Go with shelving, as much as you can fit. Elfa makes some great stuff, easy to install and versatile. Some sort of island on wheels would be helpful too, you can push it against the wall when not in use and wheel it into the center when you need. I recently put up acrylic mirror backsplash in my kitchen and love it. They'll cut it for you custom at Canal Plastics, clear or color and you can stick it up with foam tape if you like.
PS: love the green!

oh, and check out copies of "this old house" magazine. they have changed the format dramatically and it's a very cool resource for everything from drawer handles to comparison of flooring. they not only give you prices but also the professional take on the practicality of things like pergo flooring vs bamboo vs hardwood.

#1 - Forget the idea of using a contractor - Other than electrical and plumbing (What a mess!!!) you need to DIY this as much as possible.
#2 - Forget the idea of a tall refrigerator - You live on Manhattan, so you really only need an undercounter model, which will also allow you to have additional counterspace.
#3 - Forget the idea of a dishwasher - you don't have the space or money.
#4 - Forget the idea of a stove with an oven - You're probably not going to be cooking Thanksgiving Dinners here anyway. Get a drop-in cooktop, and a microwave/convection oven/fan for above the cooktop. This will also allow you to have additional storage space for pots, etc. below the cooktop.
#5 - Forget buying all new everything - Folks in Manhattan are ripping out practically-new kitchens every day. Search out pre-owned kitchen cabinets, sink, appliances and other fittings on Craigslist, your local building center reuse stores, etc.
#6 - Don't buy all of your own tools - Other than basic screwdrivers, hammers and cordless drills which you will use over and over again, try to rent as much as possible. (this also will help you stick to your deadlines to complete these jobs.
#7 - Make use of the angled space as much as possible - that means rather than using a tall cabinet in the corner, run the countertop all the way to the far wall and angle it back so that it misses the window - below this, mount a narrow wall cabinet down low on the wall and use this for additional storage or leave it open for a recycling/trash center.

I also suggest keeping the oven away from the fridge - think of your kitchen as a mini assembly line: Food comes out of the fridge, is chopped at the sink and is cooked on the stove: This is the order that you should place your appliances, from right to left - which will also allow you to have one continuous sweep of countertop from the far right wall to the stove on the left.

WORDS OF WISDOM (From someone who scheduled a 4 month renovation that ended up lasting 2 years.)

REALITY: DO NOT try and do everything at once and on that budget. DO NOT. Why? You'll compromise in ways you will eventually hate.

Take care of the main things now, like the plumbing, and things you can't take care of later. Little by little you can buy a new refrigerator, install upper cabs, etc.

The biggest mistake you can make is trying to do everything at once with the budget you have.

TRUST ME: DOING IT RIGHT IS BETTER THAN DOING IT RIGHT AWAY.

Lots of luck!

Keep your range. Try to find a convection oven/ toaster oven/ microwave combo to mount on open shelving or countertop and a new to newish fridge with the platform WL recommended. New toaster ovens keep your apt. cool and a newer fridge helps you save money and lessens spoilage of your takeout. Fix/ get your sink cabinet bottom fixed and install internal pull out drawers/racks inside all of your cabinets to maximize your space. If you can't get almost free cabinets, fix up the doors or buy new doors and hardware and paint the insides after washing them. Install/ have installed a deeper sink. Hang a dish drying rack above it. Have a tub to put in your bathtub for dinner party dishes. No one will care.
A light fixture and some under cabinet lights and you'll be set.

I'm another vote for:

1 - Save the money and do it right when/as you can afford it. You'll be so much happier with it in the long run.

2 - Seriously consider open shelving instead of cabinets. It offers a lot of space, flexibility, and it can be a lot cheaper.

3 - Live with it as is for at least a couple of months before you do anything. The kitchen is such an active work zone, and you don't even know yet what you really like/dislike about the space yet.

If you are going to put up any of your own money into this project with the plan of owning those things (like anything removeable) I would make sure you have all items in a list with receipts and documentation so that you can prove it's yours should the time come to move. Even copy it, sign both and have the landlord sign both - one for each of you. I just moved out of a studio that the landlord tried to claim some of my items were his - stupid stuff, so it didn't matter. But if you buy anything for yourself, not for the apartment, make sure to cover your bases. In fact, now that I think about it, I would recommend doing this regardless.

i reno-ed my kitchen through ikea as well, and saved some cash (and a predictible, cabinet-heavy look in the kitchen) by using their stainless shelving--three racks of it--for all my food storage. added bonus: gives a friendly "help yourself" vibe when company is over.

used the ikea butcher block as well and LOVE. IT.

re: your backsplash, i bought textured wallpaper from home depot ($12/roll i think?) and papered the backsplash, then gave it a couple of coats of a high-gloss bathroom paint. it has worn perfectly over two years, and cleans and handles wayward food particles from the frying pan exceptionally well. the result was a great effect at an even greater price-point.

There are always people out there who need the very latest and are not satisfied with "very good" stuff -- craigslist is only one source for re-usable kitchen cabinets, appliances, etc. Scratch and dent for appliances is always an option -- and many appliances can be professionally painted if you do not like the original color and then you have the option of doing something truly custom. This is also true for cabinets -- sanding, painting and new hardware can turn so-so stuff into something truly fabulous.

In a small space, there's a lot to be said for using shelving instead of cabinets, but in NYC, it's always a challenge to keep things clean if they are not in an enclosed space (so keep that in mind).

I have used black and white lino tiles in my kitchen to give a classic look without spending beaucoup bucks. Enjoy!

ALSO, there are places that sell pre-cut countertops (including Home Depot) and suppliers that have ended up with perfectly good countertops that the builder/designer/home owner changed their minds about after the materials were cut. Branch out from granite, too! I had marble tiles in one of my places and they were beautiful (and unusual). Check out countertops made from recycled glass (in cement?) -- gorgeous and unusual.

My husband and I installed IKEA cabinets and it was not difficult. We also have installed IKEA laminate counters in our house in the bathroom, and those look great. They are thick and blunt-ended, and cheap! Do the cabinets yourself, but do not try and hang them flush to the ceiling. Check out IKEAFANS.com with any questions you may have about their kitchens. I found the best appliance prices at AJMADISON.com, and also found good deals in the clearance section of RCWilley. Good luck!

$2800 is going to go so fast, especially if you do custom work. Try using as much from IKEA -- especially Udden and the other freestanding parts -- as possible. They have dishwashers that fit with their sinks units, and nice stainless steel back splashes. I would also consider leaving the current refrigerator (if it works) where it is and putting the sink and dishwasher next to it to the right, then running a counter or shallow table across the window. Yes, you may have to kneel on it to open the window, but it would be a nice workspace.

How deep is your stove? Could you remove the cabinets on the slanted wall and put the stove there with a cart beside it to hold pots? Then you could hang cabinets and/or shelves above these and the sink.

If you go with IKEA, try to be strategic and buy as much as possible at the same time in the store. Their maximum delivery charge from the store is $100 (up to some enormous weight limit), so that is a good way to minimize delivery charges, which can be considerable.

Hi Lindsey, I got a bit obsessed with this and worked on it, and if you guys do a bit of the work yourself, I think you can get most of what you wanted for your budget.

I think you should pull up your old vinyl floor tiles, and put down some new ones. Cheap, easy to do, easy to care for. Should be under $200.

Pull out the old cabinets that are in there, buy the skinny fridge ($420), and put it on the wall where the cabinets are now, with the tall Ikea AKURUM cabinet ($200) next to it.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S59811861

Then get the Ikea BRAVAD sink cabinet with single bowl sink
($556). http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S39835250
This is a free-standing unit, so installation should be no problem. Put it where the fridge and sink are currently.

Then get the Ikea RENLIG dishwasher that fits into that cabinet. ($600)
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60142370

Leave the stove where it is, and get the Ikea PERFEKT NEXUS ($60) to tuck between it and the wall.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50141955

Then hang 3 of the glass fronted Ikea AKRUM ($460) on that wall.

That leaves $300.

Look at craigslist and sales and find some basic white tiles the put in the space between the appliances and the cabinets. It would be a pretty easy DIY. Or Ikea has stainless steel backsplashes,
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90075406
and
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70059657

Get a cutting board that fits the sink opening to maximize the work space there, and you will probably also have room for one on top of the little PERFEKT cabinet next to the stove, to give you a few more inches of surface area. And hang cooking gear on the two end walls.

If it was me, I would go with the cabinets without glass to save some money, and try to get some better lighting in there.

Good luck, and as others have said, take your time.

Me and my fiancee are doing kitchen renovation too also a very similar style (green with white cabinets). We are going for drawer and pull out cabinets only from IKEA and open shelving instead of upper cabinets. We like it better and it's much much cheaper. We layed Tundra white laminate flooring which looks great with Abstrakt glossy base cabinets. It's about half the price of Markham flooring. My mom has laminate flooring in her kitchen for more then 7 years now and she is very happy with it, so we went with that no matter the fact that everybody was warning us against it. It's nice so far.
Make shure you get a lot of quotes for the plumbing and electricity job...prices vary as much as three times. I think your budget should be enough for your kitchen size.
I agree with some previous post about a smaller sink but disagree about no oven. It's your cooking style you're after and anything is possible with a bit of patience and calculating.
DO ASSEMBLE IKEA CABINETS ALONE, don't hire anyone to do it. We did it in the past few days...we had a guy asembling them and I started helping because it looed like fun and ended up knowing more than him assembling most of them. It's fun...do it yourself.

I have the GE under sink dishwasher. Its the best investment. You have to buy the matching sink because its shallower than standard sinks. Its $550 for the dishwasher and $200-250 for the sink plus installation get pricey.

As for kitchen cabinets, flooring, one word IKEA. And do it yourself. Its relatively simple.

I'm a kitchen designer. Go back to Ikea (or Home Depot or Lowes) and get them to price doing the work with a different number (and size) of cabinets. Instead of the drawing you have with the ten cabinets, do a layout with one sinkbase cabinet three doored wall cabinets. The wall cabinets should be 36" high, two at 30" wide flanking one 24" wide, then just do an open shelf in between the cabinet and the sink(base), it should be about 21-24" above the counter top. Ensure they include in the order enough fillers to run at the very top of the wall cabinets (in between the ceiling and the wall cabinets) and for each cabinet that is at a wall end.

I like the butcher block top idea, but it may be more expensive than a laminate top. Laminate is fine, just don't cut directly on it, get a cutting board. At least look at the laminate options before dismissing them all together. Also, the prices of laminate tops usually vary due to "stock" tops and "custom" tops. Ask your sales person about this possible pricing scenario so you can get the best deal.

If you can afford the option, get them to demo the existing cabinets/built-ins on the opposite wall. Then purchase matching cabinets; two 30" high X 21" wide wall cabinets, have them install them on the floor by building up a toekick with 2x4s and wrapping them with toekick to match the cabinets. Placement: find the center on the wall, and mark 7.5" from the center mark in each direction. These two new marks will be where you can place the two new cabinets so that there are two cabinets with a 15" space in between (for trash container, or recycling). Add a 10" wide X 13" deep counter top and some open shelves above on wall brackets. Make sure you place the lowest shelf high enough so that it isn't right in front of your face as you stand there, if you would use the counter space for prep.

Your floor actually looks like VCT, not linoleum. But linoleum and marmoleum are great, economical and green flooring options.

Also, in this economy, you might get a better price from a small business. Problem is finding someone or a company that is reliable and guarantees their work.

1) Get a portable dishwasher off craigslist, or if you can't find one, buy one at Sears, Walmart, Lowes, etc. Lots of times this has a "countertop" that you could use as an island. This may take up floor space permanently, but for me, it would be worth it. As mentioned previously, you can take this with you when you leave.

2) Your floor is is bad shape, so I'd get peel&stick tiles and do it myself. This is a cheap option that will work. You will need to "repair" the existing floor or put new underlayment down so that it is a relatively flat, gouge-free surface. If you want eco-friendly, they have cork peel&stick squares. If you do put down marmoleum instead, your floor will need to be pretty level. That may cost a lot of money to get that way, or the resulting look will be disappointing. If doing marmoleum, look for remnants on craigslist for other people who have done jobs.

3) Clean up and get as much storage space as possible. Cabinets or shelving is where I'd put the remainder of the money. Not just to look good, but to be functional. You mentioned glass shelves. I'd stick with good old cabinet stock. Are you going to entertain in your kitchen? More bang for your buck to have clean and plentiful storage, than less but really cute storage. If you can't afford to redo the cabinets, still get more shelving and clean up existing cabinets inside the drawers to make them feel new and not icky.

4) I guess with the cabinets comes counter tops, and her again, I'd go bang for the buck and not trendy and cute. I'm not a fan of preformed laminate as I don't think it last very long, but look into it as it is very economical. I'd go get some basic white tiles and do the tile countertop myself. Keep the grout lines really small. You have a small space, so not much to tile, so much easier to do yourself, and you could potentially get a backsplash out of it too.

Good luck and I look forward to seeing pictures and hearing what you did.

Here's what I'll be doing in my next kitchen, and if it gives you some ideas for a tiny space, then hey, it's all good.

Go to Ikea and get one of the big honking chopping blocks -- it's almost as thick as a countertop, has a lip on one end to hook over the countertop edge, and is about 20" wide, roughly. Flip it over and rest it across your cooktop, and it becomes an extended countertop space when you're in prep-stage or need more countertop space but aren't using the cooktop. I do this on my own cooktop right now, and while I'm not always crazy about the raised-aspect (I have gas-top, so the metal grills raise the chopping block another inch or so), it's still more countertop space than I'd have if I let the cooktop only be a cooktop and never adapt it.

Next time around, though, I'll do the tile backsplash ON some kind of butcherblock, and when I'm not using the cooktop, I'll just fold the backsplash down, so I can see the reverse (butcherblock) side. How exactly that'd work (hinges, weight, etc), I'm still puzzling out, but that's the general notion. The other thing I'll do is find a way to either lower the cooktop (better to see inside pots/pans while cooking) or slightly raise the surrounding countertop, so when the backsplash is down it becomes seamless continuous-level surface.

For countertops themselves, two things I have learned the hard way: ignore the "big tile, small tile, how-the-space-looks" arguments. Yes, these have value but you can only fool the eye so much, and no eyeballs will ever mistake a tiny kitchen for 19-feet-by-27-feet. In which case, just get the biggest tiles you can afford, because the more grout-lines you have (as in, small tiles), the more it's going to be obvious when it gets messed up, and in kitchens, it will. The grout is the weak link when it comes to tile, especially as concerns stains and discoloration.

Countertop-depth is most often the standard 24" deep, and that's two 12" tiles -- it won't take that much to cover what small space you do have. Then ask yourself, is this a countertop for the ages, or just for the next few years, and just how messy are you? With 3/4" plywood as a base, then BINZ the hell out of it (oil-base sealant, stinky, but awesome), lay the grout-adhesive, put down the tile, let dry, seal grout, and you're done, for pretty cheap. If you want it to last reasonably longer or you have a habit of leaving standing water on your countertops for an hour at a time, then 3/4" plywood plus water-area cement backer-board (the kind for bathroom walls), and carry on. It'll make the countertops thicker and heavier, but reduce even further the water plywood issue of regular countertop base with tile on top.

Me, I waterproofed plywood and put down tile, and haven't had a problem, and it's been over a year -- and sometimes I do get messy with the splashy water. Still fine.

As for dishwasher, it sounds to me like your real priority isn't "something to wash dishes" so much as "someplace to PUT dishes pre-washing" -- which is different, and it's less expensive if you de-conflate the two, and give some thought to what else you could do instead. Why not do the same as a restaurant, with the busboy bins -- those large gray ones -- and put dirty dishes in it, then slide that in under the sink to wait until you're able to tackle them all at once? A bin that fits into the sink -- so it could just be lifted up and set in for ready-to-wash -- would be especially good, if you could find one that size.

The other thing I'd note is that putting the fridge at the end of the kitchen (away from the door) might cause issues when entertaining, as well as when cooking. The one thing in any kitchen that gets extra-cook traffic is the fridge; one person may be cooking while the other half pops in to get drinks for guests, or grab some ice, or whatever, and such quick in-out is the fridge. Putting the fridge at the other end means those in-out trips now must navigate around the cook, and then you get traffic jams. Not good. Make the fridge accessible to the quick trips, and keep the cooking-areas (sink, cooktop, countertop) sequestered slightly. Then, as cook, you can access fridge for prepping but you're not blocking it for anyone else.

Although in your place, I'd get a fridge that's split vertically -- not as much internal space, sure, but the trade-offs are worth it, IMO/IME. First, it's easier to find a shallow-depth fridge of that type, plus less visibility when you open the door for others outside kitchen to see. More importantly, the door swinging open is not the full 30" wide, which will block all traffic behind it for the duration of open door. Seems like a small thing, but after awhile, in a small space, it does get bothersome. The half-width doors are much more amenable to tiny kitchens.

Then, along the cooktop, I'd stretch countertop from that awkward corner right along the window to meet with the existing countertops on the other side. Maybe a low bench underneath that doesn't block the windows (and can be used for more storage), but the important thing is the additional countertop space -- even only 18" deep is better than nothing! -- which would be at your right-hand when you're cooking. If that becomes your prep station, a plus is the gorgeous natural light, although having your back to the door might be rough if you're an extrovert.

Last thing: doors on kitchens take up space. If you want to block the visual without making the getting in/out difficult, I'd suggest hanging a noren -- a Japanese curtain. They come in different lengths, and one that's from about waist-height to the top of the doorframe is a good size. Enough to block the visual but without cutting off all light, plus the split-curtain means pushing through is really easy. If you spend a little more, you can often find ones that are works of art all on their own, and then guests can't see directly into kitchen and check out the mess on the countertops or cooktop.

I guess the question is: how much do you want it to look like a suburban kitchen, with closed-door cabinets and matching molding and so on? If your style is a bit funkier than that, just do shelves all the way across, maybe 6" deep at 12" above the countertop, then 10" the rest of the way up -- cheaper, easier, and makes for good display, too. Hang pots/pans on a bar across the window (won't block shelves, then), and consider those display as well.

Good luck, and I don't think $2800 is impossible for a kitchen redo -- but with a bunch of appliances added in, it does get really tight. You're going to report back in and show progress, right?

I recommend using strand woven bamboo flooringalthough it will exceed your budget