HELP: Economical kitchen makeover is needed.

[snafu]

While I understand the planning process is Klingon/Star Wars-like territory, it is a necessary process to work out budget, priorities, tasks, costs, short cuts, suppliers, choices to give you the outcome desired with the least amount of work. As a kitchen update warrior, I can't imagine emptying the cupboards [living with resulting mess], removing doors and hardware, cleaning all with TSP, undercoating painting the cupboards [boxes], styles, doors, overcoating with polyurethane, deciding you don't like it and repeating the process.

Depending on your budget, one way to reduce the work and get a really super result is to removed cupboard doors and hardware, clean each, load in vehicle to privately owned [not franchise] auto body shop that is looking for work in slow season and have them spray paint 2 coats of color choice. They dilute paint for spraying so you only use 1/2 to 2/3 amount suggested for sf coverage. I supplied the paint as I wanted the melamine product. It took one day to paint and two or 3 days in their 'drying' rm. Meanwhile I painted the boxes, styles etc. The guys were terrific and sprayed the old hardware that was totally functional and saved me $$$$. The downside was the time I spent talking to auto body shop owners who thought I was 'eccentric.' [nuts]

[JudyDunlow]

I'd use Ikea - great prices on kitchen wear.

As far as a contractor I'd ask around at your local church, or other community group. Always get multiple bids (our family rule is 3 bids per job), then do what work you can & contract out the rest.

Good luck!