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A Colorado couple updated a dated 1990s kitchen for roughly $500 in paint, hardware, and lighting, keeping the existing countertops because new gray-and-white cabinets made them look less busy, according to Apartment Therapy. A later fridge purchase brought the total to $2,100.
A Colorado couple gave their dated 1990s kitchen a modern look for about $500 in paint, supplies, hardware, and lighting — while keeping their existing countertops in place, according to a before-and-after feature published by Apartment Therapy. Courtney Barch, who documents home projects as The Homebody Life, painted the oak cabinets herself in white and gray, and said the new color combination made the once-busy counters look far less dated.
Courtney Barch and her husband had recently bought a home in Colorado whose kitchen, in her description, featured oak cabinets, vintage-looking ivy wallpaper, and ’90s light fixtures. “We wanted an updated look to tone down all of the orange and brown,” Courtney told Apartment Therapy. The couple had previously bought, renovated, and sold three homes, and shortly after moving in they installed new flooring across the main floor, removing one major expense from the kitchen project before it began.
Because the kitchen’s cabinets and island were in good structural condition, painting them was, according to the report, the most practical route. Courtney chose Valspar’s “Ultra White” for the upper cabinets and a soft gray for the lowers. “I love the interest this brought to the space, and it made it less stark than painting everything white,” she said. She also removed the curvy corbels from the back of the island — a small change the report credits with visually pulling the kitchen out of the 1990s.
The other changes were lighting and detail work. Courtney’s husband replaced black builder-grade light fixtures with brass globe pendants matched to new brass cabinet pulls. Courtney added a slatted wood detail around the island and on the ends of the lower cabinets, which the report says gives the cabinetry a custom look. The report states the counters now read as “way less busy” against the new cabinet colors, so they stayed in place. The couple later bought a counter-depth fridge for $1,600, bringing the total kitchen cost to $2,100.
Why Keeping the Counters Saved the Budget
The project illustrates a recurring point in budget renovation coverage: countertop replacement is typically one of the largest line items in a kitchen update, and this couple avoided it entirely. By shifting the kitchen’s color palette — white uppers, gray lowers, brass accents — the existing counters stopped reading as dated, according to the report. For readers with structurally sound kitchens and limited budgets, the piece suggests that paint, hardware, and lighting alone can materially change how a space is perceived. The reported $500 outlay for the visual overhaul is small relative to typical full kitchen renovations, though this project also benefited from flooring that had already been replaced separately.
The Home’s Dated Starting Point
: “According to Apartment Therapy, the kitchen’s original look combined oak cabinetry, ivy-patterned wallpaper, and 1990s-era light fixtures — a palette the owners described as heavy on orange and brown tones. The couple approached the work with prior experience, having renovated and sold three earlier homes. The report notes they consider this Colorado house their intended forever home, which shaped their decision to make updates incrementally rather than through a single gut renovation.
“We wanted an updated look to tone down all of the orange and brown.”
— Courtney Barch, via Apartment Therapy
What the Report Leaves Out
The report does not break down the $500 figure by item, specify how long the painting took, or describe preparation steps such as priming, sanding, or the paint products used beyond the cabinet colors. It does not state whether the existing ivy wallpaper was removed or covered, or what material the retained countertops are made of. Durability of the painted finish over time is also not addressed — painted cabinets typically require curing time and careful use, and long-term wear cannot be assessed from a before-and-after feature. Claims about the counters looking “way less busy” are the homeowners’ and publication’s assessment rather than an objective measure.
The Couple’s Longer-Term Plans
According to the report, Courtney and her husband intend to stay in the home long term and are making updates with that goal in mind, which suggests further room-by-room projects may follow. Apartment Therapy’s feature links to shoppable products from the project, including the paint colors, pulls, and lighting. Readers considering a similar painted-cabinet update should follow paint manufacturer instructions for surface preparation and curing, and consult licensed professionals for any work involving electrical fixtures beyond simple like-for-like swaps.
Key Questions
How much did the kitchen update cost?
The couple spent about $500 on paint, supplies, pulls, and lights, according to Apartment Therapy. A later counter-depth fridge purchase of $1,600 brought the total to $2,100.
Were the countertops replaced?
No. The existing countertops were kept in place. The report says the new white and gray cabinet colors made the counters look less busy, which removed the need to replace them.
What paint colors were used on the cabinets?
Courtney Barch used Valspar’s “Ultra White” on the upper cabinets and a soft gray on the lower cabinets and island.
What other changes were made besides painting?
The couple swapped black builder-grade light fixtures for brass globe pendants, added matching brass cabinet pulls, removed corbels from the island, and Courtney added a slatted wood detail around the island and lower cabinet ends.
Is painted-cabinet updating durable over time?
The report does not address long-term durability. Painted cabinets generally require proper surface preparation, curing time, and careful use; readers should follow paint manufacturer guidance for their specific surfaces.
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