Shantel’s Story:
Shantel and Matthew have dreamed of owning their own home and in 2014, they thought that dream had finally come true. They were able to purchase a home that, while it needed some work, fit within their budget and they were prepared to take on the renovations needed to make it the cosy family home they had dreamed of. The tables turned in 2015 when the economy took a hit in the oilfields where Matthew works. With Shantel on maternity leave (they welcomed their fourth child in March), finances have been a struggle and renovations have been put on hold.
Shantel’s painted plywood cupboards with missing doors and broken drawers are topped with a haggard countertop that looks like it has been used as a cutting board by previous owners. The laminate flooring is separating and coming apart making the floor unsafe for little ones. The horrible purple colour on the cabinets is nearly as bad as the attempted sponge painting technique on the walls.
We asked Shantel:
How does the kitchen effect your life and your family life?
We love to cook and entertain but our kitchen is an embarrassment and trying to find room in the budget for renovations is stressful at best. A lack of storage space and very little workspace makes cooking and cleaning more difficult and much more stressful, especially with a new baby in the house.
What would your dream kitchen look like?
My dream kitchen has always had cherry oak cabinets with dark countertops and a brick-look backsplash. I would add an island for additional workspace and I’d add a dishwasher! I’ve never had a dishwasher and I’m sure, with 4 children, it would help lighten the workload a fair bit! I’d finish the look with a red accent wall, tiled floors, matching black appliances and a gorgeous faucet.
How would a new kitchen affect your life and your family life?
With so many projects that need to be completed, a new kitchen would take a bit of the weight off our shoulders, allowing us to focus on making our children’s rooms more livable for example. We’d have a fun place to bake together with the children, prepare meals together, and entertain. We’d be able to enjoy our time spent in the kitchen as a family and we’d enjoy family meals once again.
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My kitchen is 25 years old, one cupboard door is cracked and held together with packing tape. One drawer falls in all the time. The tap leaks whenever it is turned on. The floor, linoleum desperately needs replacing and the blue paint on the walls really need to go. I would be ecstatic if I won a new kitchen.
My kitchen is 25 years old, one cupboard door is cracked and held together with packing tape. One drawer falls in all the time. The tap leaks whenever it is turned on. The floor, linoleum desperately needs replacing and the blue paint on the walls really need to go. I would be ecstatic if I won a new kitchen.
Thank you!
My kitchen has had no reno since 1994. My cabinets are beige in melamine. One of them holds with glue, the countertops are used, the ceramic floor has many tiles cracked, the lighting is poor and the paint is over 20 years old. Help!!!
My kitchen is 28 years old and in need of a BIG update!