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Colorado homeowner Courtney Barch transformed a dated 1990s kitchen for roughly $2,100, keeping the original countertops and painting cabinets white and gray. The project, featured by Apartment Therapy, shows how cosmetic changes can substitute for a full remodel.
A Colorado couple transformed a dated 1990s kitchen for about $2,100 total by painting the existing oak cabinets, swapping light fixtures, and adding slatted wood detailing — while keeping the original countertops, according to a before-and-after feature published by Apartment Therapy. Homeowner Courtney Barch, who documents her projects as The Homebody Life, completed most of the work herself after deciding the kitchen’s solid cabinets and counters didn’t justify a full replacement.
Courtney Barch and her husband bought the Colorado home with a kitchen they described as dated, featuring oak cabinets, ivy-patterned wallpaper, and 1990s light fixtures. “We wanted an updated look to tone down all of the orange and brown,” Barch told Apartment Therapy. The couple had previously bought, renovated, and sold three homes, so they took on the project without hesitation.
The core of the update was paint. Barch chose Valspar’s “Ultra White” for the upper cabinets to brighten the space, and a soft gray for the lower cabinets and island. “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, which the report said immediately pulled the kitchen out of its 1990s look.
With the new two-tone cabinet palette, the existing countertops read as less visually busy, allowing the couple to keep them and avoid another major expense. Barch’s husband replaced black builder-grade light fixtures with brass globe pendants matching new brass cabinet pulls, and Barch added slatted wood detailing around the island and the ends of the lower cabinets. The reported cost: about $500 for paint, supplies, pulls, and lights, plus a $1,600 counter-depth refrigerator, for a $2,100 total.
Why a $2,100 Kitchen Update Resonates
Kitchen remodels routinely run into the tens of thousands of dollars, with cabinet replacement among the largest line items. This project illustrates a widely used alternative: when cabinets and countertops are structurally sound, paint, hardware, and lighting can change a kitchen’s appearance at a fraction of replacement cost. The reported $2,100 total — most of it a new appliance — contrasts sharply with typical full-remodel budgets, which is why budget-focused DIY makeovers like this one attract broad readership.
The project also reflects a broader design trend toward two-tone cabinet color schemes and warm metals such as brass, which the couple used to modernize the space. For renters and owners weighing small-scale updates, the feature offers a concrete example of prioritizing which elements to replace and which to work around.
How the Project Unfolded
According to the Apartment Therapy report, written by assistant editor Savannah West, the couple had already tackled a major expense before the kitchen work began: shortly after moving in, they installed new flooring throughout the main floor to create a more cohesive feel. That meant the kitchen update could focus on surfaces and fixtures rather than flooring.
The kitchen’s existing cabinets and island were in good condition, which shaped the decision to paint rather than replace. The report frames the update as part of the couple’s plan to make the house their forever home, with future improvements chosen accordingly. After completing the work, Barch said, “I love how our kitchen looks now.”
“We wanted an updated look to tone down all of the orange and brown.”
— Courtney Barch, homeowner (The Homebody Life)
What the Report Doesn’t Cover
The Apartment Therapy feature is a first-person before-and-after account, not an independent evaluation. Several practical details are not addressed: the report does not specify which paint products or primers were used beyond the cabinet color, how long the project took, whether the painted surfaces have held up over time, or whether wallpaper removal and surface preparation involved additional unreported costs.
The $500 figure covers paint, supplies, pulls, and lights, but it is the couple’s own accounting — labor was done by the homeowners themselves, so the figure would not translate directly for readers hiring professionals. Durability of painted cabinets, which depends heavily on preparation and product, is also not assessed.
Plans for a Forever Home
Barch and her husband say they intend to stay in the home long term and are making updates with that goal in mind, which suggests further room-by-room projects are likely, though none are specified in the report. Readers interested in following the work can find the couple’s projects through Barch’s The Homebody Life channels. Apartment Therapy’s before-and-after series continues to feature reader-submitted and professionally designed kitchen updates of this kind.
Key Questions
How much did the kitchen makeover cost?
According to the report, paint, supplies, pulls, and lights totaled about $500. A counter-depth refrigerator added $1,600, bringing the overall kitchen cost to roughly $2,100.
Were the countertops replaced?
No. The existing countertops were kept. After the cabinets were painted white and gray, the counters appeared less busy, so the couple avoided that replacement expense.
What paint color was used on the cabinets?
The upper cabinets were painted in Valspar’s “Ultra White,” while the lower cabinets and island received a soft gray for contrast.
Who did the work?
Courtney Barch painted the cabinets and added the wood detailing herself; her husband replaced the light fixtures. The couple had previously renovated three other homes.
Is painting kitchen cabinets a durable option?
Durability depends on surface preparation, priming, and the paint system used — details the report does not specify. Professional painters often recommend proper cleaning, sanding, and priming before painting cabinets for long-lasting results.
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