Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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Using Secondhand Cabinets For A Kitchen Renovation

We knew we weren’t likely to find $1 cabinets again (like we did for the office built-ins) but we couldn’t resist checking out the Habitat For Humanity ReStore for the four cabinets that we need to create the peninsula and build in the microwave/fridge (we’re able to reuse the 36″ cabinet that used to live where the stove now sits, so that saved us some major money). The good news is that we found three out of the four we needed! And only spent $90 total.

Restore Cabinets

Yup, we got a corner base cabinet for the peninsula for $50 and two upper cabinets (one for over the fridge and one slightly taller one for over the microwave) for $19 each. And just for reference, to buy those cabinets new from Home Depot or Lowe’s (in the stock, off-the-shelf department) they would have been $219, $96, and $89 respectively (for a grand total of $404). So we saved $314 by going secondhand. Which made complete sense since we’d be scrapping the doors anyway.

The issue with the doors? They don’t match our existing ones (nothing that we hunted down both new or secondhand did since our doors are 30 years old). But to get the solid oak cabinet frames for that price is a steal and once they’re all painted white with new or retrofitted matching doors (from other existing cabinets that we’re not using), no one would ever guess they hailed from the ReStore.

We could only fit two of the three into our trunk. But thankfully they’ll hold items for seven days at our ReStore, so we just came back for the giant corner cabinet with a bigger car borrowed from John’s sister a few days later.

Cabinets Trunk

Now they’re all at home, but not in their places yet (the carport and our sunroom are the holding area for lots of old cabinets and doors that we have removed and new ones that we’ll be switching in).

Cabinet In Carport

Cabinets In Sunroom

And yes, the sunroom looks especially crazy and smells like wood. Could be worse (wood isn’t that bad of a smell, actually). Hopefully in the next few days we’ll be back to share our freshly built-in fridge.

But wait- it’s Halloween. Did you really think we’d let you go without sharing the kiddos in costume? Meet Mrs. Monkey & Mr. Banana:

Costumes Petting Burger

Costumes Sucking Thumb

Costumes Clara Tail

Costumes Running Together

Clara liked doing her best monkey impression (saying “ooh ooh ah ah” and waving her arms) while Burger slinked around looking beyond embarrassed. The second we popped on the “hat” part of his banana, he just slumped down and half-closed his eyes as if to say “this is not ok.” We freed the poor guy from his yellow prison within a few minutes of this photoshoot though. And gave the boy a bone. Actually his monkey friend handed one over. She’s a very generous chimp indeed.

And Clara’s cousin Emanuel (seen here turning two) even got in on the fun. He was a ferocious lion who requested candy corn throughout the photoshoot. Hilarious.

Costumes With Emanuel

Of course the banana + monkey thing might not be as cute as one especially cute combo from last year…

Halloween Costumes

Hope you all have a very happy halloween! Oh and what were you guys up to this weekend? Any cabinet hunting or candy corn binging goin’ on?

Psst- Check out our pumpkin patch adventures (including a family moon bounce and corn bin adventure) here.

Comments

  12. Jessica says

    So cute!
    Outside of Philly, this weekend involved snow. A lot of it. Halloween parties were canceled, and as a teacher, I have my first snow day today because so many people still don’t have power. It’s crazy!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yeah isn’t that crazy? My mom and John’s sis are up in NY and they said it was such an unexpected thing! So sorry for all the trouble that pesky snow caused!

      xo,
      s

  14. Jennifer says

    The costumes are adorable! They are perfect for trick or treating in this chilly weather. You seem to be a health conscious family (like mine) so I thought I would share how we handle the oodles of candy that come through the door on Halloween night. Our kids can eat as much candy as they want on Halloween night (usually about 3 pieces, lol) and pick out 10 pieces to keep. The rest is put on the table when they go to bed and the Switch Witch switches the candy for a new toy. We started tis tradition when our kids were tiny so this is norml to them. Happy Halloween! :)

    Reply

    • heather says

      The switch witch! I need to keep this in mind for when we have kids. I definitely don’t want tons of candy around either (for my own hips sake at that), but I want them to have the experience and get some. I love that idea!

    • Tabitha says

      I wish I would have heard of this before tonight!!! I’ll have VERY hyper children who can’t help but cry for candy. Sigh. Next year the Switch Witch will be switching for sure!

  16. Allyn says

    Eek!
    Monkey monkey monkey!
    She’s so cute it kills me!
    I got to work to find a huge tin of candy corn and candy pumpkins on my desk. I have a pretty great boss.
    Of course, pretty much all someone has to do is keep me fed and I’m a happy camper.

    Reply

  19. Julia @ Chris loves Julia says

    We recently picked up a cabinet for ourselves from the ReStore. I have to admit, I was bummed when I didn’t see any $1 ones. And then I got uber bummed when we found the perfect size in AMAZING condition for….$40. $40?! But now I see that $40 is a really great price for what we got. It is solid wood and has a finished side and when I painted it white, it was perfect for our laundry room.

    http://chrislovesjulia.blogspot.com/2011/10/laundry-room-revamp-reveal.html

    That monkey and banana costume is SO cute. Did you and John dress up as anything fun?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Nah, but we’re thinking about it next year when Clara’s a little older and has more endurance for the whole door to door thing (this year we’ll probably just be giving out candy from home…).

      xo,
      s

  21. Teresa says

    aawwee.. that is the same costume my little man is going to wear tonight. :) Too cute!

    Good find on the cabinets… still anxiously awaiting those AFTER pics of your kitchen!

    Reply

  24. Jackie says

    Hey Sherry!
    I’m Jackie, I’ve been reading your’s and John’s blog for over a year and I just wanted to say that I love you guys! I think it is SO AWESOME that you are saving so much moolah with your kitchen renovations by diy-ing so much. You are an inspiration for my husband and I to diy our renovations (we are hoping to buy a home next summer and we want a fixer upper). But yeah, I just think you guys are the cutest and wanted to tell you I think your family and your home is beautiful, keep up the good work! :)

    Reply

  25. annabelvita says

    So stinking cute. That one where clara is sucking her thumb is a keeper.

    I know you weren’t planning to paint the insides of your cabinets (I don’t think?) but will you stain them all to match or paint them now they’re all mismatched, or just leave them be as they’re behind closed doors?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Good question! I think we might paint the insides down the line- or even do something fun like use wallpaper, contact paper, shelf liner, or some other “cover” to give them a new look whenever you open the door. We’ll keep you posted!

      xo,
      s

  26. Lindsey says

    Love the costumes! So cute!! What did we do this weekend? Hunkered down inside while 18″ of snow piled up outside. Someone definitely played a trick on us here in NH!

    Reply

  27. Erin @ One Project at a Time says

    I never would have even thought to look at the Restore for those cabinets- you guys must be saving a fortune! I’m going to have to find one up in our neck of the woods (Minnesota) before we get cranking on our next bathroom remodel!

    Reply

  29. susan says

    Oh so cute pictures of monkey and banana. We have an actual weiner dog I should dress and have my kids go as ketchup and mustard. Too late, they are 14 and 19:)

    Reply

  30. Meredith says

    Cutest Monkey/banana combo ever!!

    This weekend involved me getting engaged (!!!), getting a job offer for the city where my fiance lives, and watching my best friend get married. Doesn’t get much better than that.

    Reply

  31. Amber says

    Best.Costumes.Ever. I like them even better than last year. Will you be taking Clara Trick or Treating? This weekend I had engagement pictures taken :) So much fun.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We’re thinking that we might ring a few neighbor’s doors just for fun but will spend the majority of the time giving out candy for the bigger kiddos (Clara and Burger both love when the doorbell rings…).

      xo,
      s

    • Lindsay says

      So, I’m dying to know… did Clara attend the little Halloween party she was invited to by the pumpkin head? How was it?

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yes! It was such a hit! So many kiddos were there and we did a pumpkin seed hunt and painted pumpkins and the adults had a pumpkin carving contest. So cute.

      xo,
      s

  33. Sarah-Nadine says

    Clara and Burger just made the cutest pair in those costumes. Can’t wait to see how the kitchen is coming along

    Reply

  35. Brandan WH says

    Those are too funny! Both of the babies have such personality! Wish I could get my daughter into a costume, but looks like it will be her “Batman” tutu and a onesie. Gotta love shopping in your closet! Be safe!

    Reply

    • Amy says

      When we were remodeling our house (okay, we still are!), I didn’t want to buy a truck, or a trailer that I would have to store somewhere, so I bought a rooftop rack for my 2002 Jetta. It has carried everything from drywall to double doors to cabinets to various pieces of furniture (I once brought home 8 dining chairs in one trip!). It’s saved me a ton of time and truck rental fees. I highly recommend it. I got it for about half price (about $180) by buying off ebay, but it was totally worth it! Maybe it’s something you want to consider?

      Amy

  40. Lindsey says

    And PS I just realized this morning that it is Halloween so my kids are wearing random things out of the dress up bin. #parentingfail

    Reply

  41. Maureen @ This (Kinda) Old House says

    Well, I already professed my undying love for my local ReStore in another post from last week. I am kicking myself for not visiting sooner!

    The costumes are adorable!!! I wanted a zombie costume for our Basenji, but they only had them for larger dogs. Boo. Will mom and dad be partaking in the costume wearing at all? :) I will be wearing a witch hat and hair to go trick or treating with our nephew.

    Happy Halloween everyone!

    Reply

  42. Katie @ Epistle says

    Ugh, I don’t have a baby (or a dog) but your Halloween costume combos (both this year and last’s) make me want to have a baby like yesterday. Probably should start with the dog though…

    As always the cleverness with which you save money and repurpose inspires me to do the same in my life. Thanks!

    Reply

  43. heather says

    hahaha oh burger. So tolerant! They are the cutest.

    My weekend consisted of having a date night with my Pepere, driving home 3 hours and hitting the snowstorm with 1/4 left to go. Let me tell you, and unplowed dark, snowy highway at 35mph is still pretty intimidating when your studded tires aren’t on yet. Made it home all safe and spent yesterday powerless. Which in essence just means I made sauerkraut, crafted my pinterested challenge, crocheted some mittens, and melted some snow from outside to wash the dishes (yay gas stoves!). We had a generator for keeping the fridge cold here and there. We got power back last night thankfully, but man – 8″ of snow in October is a lot, even in Maine!

    Tonight my husband will be on the tractor pulling the hay trailer around the neighborhood for the annual trick-or-treat hayride! I can’t wait (I always sit on the trailer).

    Reply

  44. Alexis says

    That pic of Clara and Burger, where she’s sucking her thumb is my absolute favorite.

    Loving these shorter posts with your bits o’ progress. Keep em coming! They help me quell my desire to see an already finished kitchen, though I do enjoy the whole makeover process.

    Reply

  45. Mari says

    Can you explain more how you are going to get the second hand cabinet doors to match? Are you going to take them to a carpenter? And for the corner cabinet, are you building it out so that it is a right angle in the peninsula?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We’re actually going to try to use some of the upper cabinet doors that we’ll be removing (so they’ll be extra) and retrofit them to hopefully work on the new cabinets (by cutting them down and using the Kreg Jig to reattach them in the right measurements). Could be a total bust though (in which case we’ll probably hure a carpenter who can mimic the old doors exactly). We’ll definitely keep you posted as we go!

      xo,
      s

  48. Karen @ Aurelia Interiors says

    It never ceases to amaze me how you guys zero in on crazy deals and come up with creative low-cost alternatives. I would feel like I beat the system with a 15% discount at a big box store and be totally happy, but you guys, you guys have a true saving talent. Can’t wait to see the kitchen makeover unfold. PS: Clara and Burger = melting heart! So cute!

    Reply

  49. Reenie says

    OMG…those costumes are adorable. Love all the pics ~ especially love the one with Clara sucking her thumb and Burger looking directly at the camera.

    Great find on your cabinets.

    Happy Halloween!!!

    Reply

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