YHL kitchen budget revealed

pinkeggs

In their "it's finished!" post today, they revealed that they budgeted $10,000 for the kitchen, but ended up spending just under $7,000. I would have liked to see what they would have done if they had used the extra $3K.

 

Oh, and they say they are going to leave the stools are is for at least awhile. 

Joanis018

I really wish they didn't have four stools.  They look so crowded...and there aren't even 4 people in their house.

NatS2125

I agree, spending a little more money on a splurge item or two could have helped.  I can't help but compare YHL's kitchen to Our Humble Abowed's kitchen-- http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/stick-a-fork-in-it/  OHA spent about 10 grand on their kitchen, but it doesn't look cheap and that INCLUDES cabinets, unlike YHL.  I wish YHL would have retrofitted their cabinets to have hidden hinges.  The cabs just look so dated, even with paint.  

lanyac

The floors just kill me. I could live with the rest, but I would replace the floors asap if I bought that house. 

alicat32908

They also said that their first and much costlier (and much better looking!) kitchen reno was possible because they were both working at the time.   This time around they had to cheap out on everything to afford it because neither of them has a regular job.  And they thought John quitting his job was a good idea??

HesitantBride

I think the mock up of the bigger hood is SO much better!  I really hope they change that soon.  Those floors are horrible, though, and don't get me started on those stools.

Pumpkin30

alicat32908:

They also said that their first and much costlier (and much better looking!) kitchen reno was possible because they were both working at the time.   This time around they had to cheap out on everything to afford it because neither of them has a regular job.  And they thought John quitting his job was a good idea??

I can understand scaling back a bit on income but still being happy and comfortable. I'm also questioning whether it was a good idea when they need to buy things to decorate their home to keep their blog going.

DownToEarthGirl

I don't love everything they did, but for $7k, they did pretty good.  I do like cork floors, but don't love the colors in those and I think it was okay to reuse the cabinets, but I still wish the pantry was gone to open up the left side even more, but either way, it looks like a $5-$7k improvement. 

I guess I just don't like it as much as their last one, but it does have a little more of their personalities in it than the last kitchen they remodeled. 

DownToEarthGirl

Pumpkin30:

alicat32908:

They also said that their first and much costlier (and much better looking!) kitchen reno was possible because they were both working at the time.   This time around they had to cheap out on everything to afford it because neither of them has a regular job.  And they thought John quitting his job was a good idea??

I can understand scaling back a bit on income but still being happy and comfortable. I'm also questioning whether it was a good idea when they need to buy things to decorate their home to keep their blog going.

Yeah, they may be a little more busy and strapped for cash, but I bet the quality of their life is much better and they don't have to pay for daycare for Clara. 

 

BrianaBones

I'm not a parent, so maybe I just don't understand. But, when both of your full time jobs are to write a blog, and make content or that blog. How did they only manage 5-10 hours a week of actual work on the kitchen?! where do the other 30 hours of work week go? plus the weekends that the rest of us use on this kind of stuff.

Can't they just put the kid in a playpen once in a while? I wonder how many hours a day it takes to approve blog comments.

artichokie

I think it looks great!  And the paint color seems to work now that everything is done.  I even like the floors!

cookiemonster03

What the hell do they do all week? We have jobs and two babies and spend 5-10 hrs/week on our house renos.

They'll earn plenty more pennies for the posts about the improved range hood and replacing those awful hinges and stools. 

RedRedWine2

Related side note: I went to a bar this weekend and it had the YHL stools at the bar! I wanted to shout "OMG-it's the YHL stools!" but no one I was with would have gotten the reference. They actually looked good at this bar as it fit the concrete floor/brick wall/modern electic space.

suzymarie

I completely 100% DO NOT BELIEVE that they spent 5-10 hrs a week on it.

Yes it was cheap, but the average person with a "real" job probably does not have the time for that.  I would bet that YHL takes care of all the errands/chores/bills/cooking/etc during the day, and then has all nap and all night to work on the kitchen when Clara is asleep.  So the rest of us have to come home from work and take care of all that real life stuff.

Also:  the kitchen in their old house is 1000x nicer.   

LindsaymR

I'm glad they spent good money on the wall being cut out and the eletrical. I love their kitchen except for the lights and stools. Just think it looks cheap but it's their taste. I will be glad when they put a rug in there that has color. It is amazing to look at the before. I would have never guessed to paint a wood paneled kitchen but even the fireplace looks amazing with just a coat of paint! I know some people hated how much they cut corners but the point of their blog is DIY so it's good to see they were able to reuse their old cabinets.

LindsaymR

suzymarie:

Also:  the kitchen in their old house is 1000x nicer.   

I liked the colors of their old kitchen, but hate that U shape style. That is how my kitchen is now and I absolutely hate it. I can't wait to have a more open floor plan.

B+

Am I the only one surprised it cost them 7K?!? 

It really doesn't look like more than a 5K job, IMO.  I don't hate their choices, but it looks somewhat cheaper than what they spent, which isn't exactly inspiring. 

I don't think they should've spent more.  I think they should have made different choices that were within their budget.  If you think outside the box, you can do a lot with under 10K. 

 

lachute

BrianaBones:

I'm not a parent, so maybe I just don't understand. But, when both of your full time jobs are to write a blog, and make content or that blog. How did they only manage 5-10 hours a week of actual work on the kitchen?! where do the other 30 hours of work week go? plus the weekends that the rest of us use on this kind of stuff.

Can't they just put the kid in a playpen once in a while? I wonder how many hours a day it takes to approve blog comments.

 

 

Lol Clara is t a newborn you can't just put a toddler in playpen. My could climb out for one.  

BrianaBones

I'm just saying, there must be some way to deal with the kid and get more than 5 or 10 hours of work done a week. I have friends with toddlers, and they seem to manage getting some things done while their children are awake. Especially when both parents are around. 

TheWop

BrianaBones:

I'm just saying, there must be some way to deal with the kid and get more than 5 or 10 hours of work done a week. I have friends with toddlers, and they seem to manage getting some things done while their children are awake. Especially when both parents are around. 

Yeah, I know people who run successful at home businesses and have young children.  You just have to know how to get the most out of your schedule.  It's not easy, but I know it's definitely possible. 

TheWop

And yeah, for $7k, that kitchen looks like shiz. 

TheBridesMom

B+:

Am I the only one surprised it cost them 7K?!? 

It really doesn't look like more than a 5K job, IMO.  I don't hate their choices, but it looks somewhat cheaper than what they spent, which isn't exactly inspiring. 

I don't think they should've spent more.  I think they should have made different choices that were within their budget.  If you think outside the box, you can do a lot with under 10K. 

 

ITA  For one thing, they should have sprung for new cabinet doors instead of wasting time/money on the frankendoors.

 

Simpsongal1

B+:

Am I the only one surprised it cost them 7K?!? 

It really doesn't look like more than a 5K job, IMO.  I don't hate their choices, but it looks somewhat cheaper than what they spent, which isn't exactly inspiring. 

I don't think they should've spent more.  I think they should have made different choices that were within their budget.  If you think outside the box, you can do a lot with under 10K. 

Ditto.  I wouldn't have spent more than $1000 freshening up a kitchen like that.  The extra $6K was a waste IMHO.  I hate that clunky tall cabinet piece where the fridge used to be.  And those stools (whether there are 4, 3, 2, 1) are terrible.  It looks like something out of a 1970's science class.

PartiallySunny

It doesn't look like a $10,000 reno to me. It looks like a $5,000 band aid this-is-good-enough-until-we-can-afford-a-real-reno reno. Makes me sad.

People need to stop saying "but it's their taste". No. The living room is their taste and I love the living room. I don't know WTF the kitchen is.

Jhawks482

BrianaBones:

I'm just saying, there must be some way to deal with the kid and get more than 5 or 10 hours of work done a week. I have friends with toddlers, and they seem to manage getting some things done while their children are awake. Especially when both parents are around. 

They are just saying the spent 5-10 hours a week on the KITCHEN. They aren't saying "oh, we only work 5-10 hours a week! What a great life!" I think people forget they were also writing and publishing a book during this time. So in addition to the kitchen they had to come up with material and photograph 100's of other projects that no one has even seen yet. Aside from what I think about the kitchen, it's not really fair for people to pass judgment about them about where they spend their time. I don't read YHL on a regular basis at all, but even I know that they are workaholics and put in far more work (time wise) than most people that clock in from 8-5 (and for less pay). I think they said they are often up until midnight or 1 each night, working.

Pumpkin30

PartiallySunny:

People need to stop saying "but it's their taste". No. The living room is their taste and I love the living room. I don't know WTF the kitchen is.

I really like the living room (except the gray beams). The office is great, except the bright chairs. I like the idea of their style, but the execution isn't always the greatest.

LindsaymR:

I know some people hated how much they cut corners but the point of their blog is DIY so it's good to see they were able to reuse their old cabinets.

I don't think anyone was against reusing the cabinets. Most posters are referring to things like the frankendoors that won't last or painting over paneling instead of replacing it with drywall.

Pumpkin30

Jhawks482:

BrianaBones:

I'm just saying, there must be some way to deal with the kid and get more than 5 or 10 hours of work done a week. I have friends with toddlers, and they seem to manage getting some things done while their children are awake. Especially when both parents are around. 

They are just saying the spent 5-10 hours a week on the KITCHEN. They aren't saying "oh, we only work 5-10 hours a week! What a great life!" I think people forget they were also writing and publishing a book during this time. So in addition to the kitchen they had to come up with material and photograph 100's of other projects that no one has even seen yet. Aside from what I think about the kitchen, it's not really fair for people to pass judgment about them about where they spend their time. I don't read YHL on a regular basis at all, but even I know that they are workaholics and put in far more work (time wise) than most people that clock in from 8-5 (and for less pay). I think they said they are often up until midnight or 1 each night, working.

From all appearances, they do have an amazing work ethic. They were working on a lot of stuff when they stretched the kitchen project so long.

HesitantBride

Have you noticed they have never shown a direct shot of the Frankendoors above the fridge?  I think that was the most agregious hack job, but they haven't shown a shot of it as finished.  Also, they are proud of the Restore cabinets they got for the peninsula, but if you look carefully at the one at the end (the one that was white that they got for free), it doesn't exactly line up (the drawer is not the same height as the original cabinets).  Additionally, they have never adressed the fact that the tall pantry cabinet covers the door molding next to it.  They originally said it wouldn't do that, but it ended up doing that.

My point is that in real life and in the details, I think it would be obvious the jigsaw of a puzzle that they put together in that kitchen.  Finally, they were adamant that they wanted the big opening to the dining room to look as if it has always been there, but the pony wall (which I hate) is a dead giveaway that that was never an original opening.

TheWop

Jhawks482:

BrianaBones:

I'm just saying, there must be some way to deal with the kid and get more than 5 or 10 hours of work done a week. I have friends with toddlers, and they seem to manage getting some things done while their children are awake. Especially when both parents are around. 

They are just saying the spent 5-10 hours a week on the KITCHEN. They aren't saying "oh, we only work 5-10 hours a week! What a great life!" I think people forget they were also writing and publishing a book during this time. So in addition to the kitchen they had to come up with material and photograph 100's of other projects that no one has even seen yet. Aside from what I think about the kitchen, it's not really fair for people to pass judgment about them about where they spend their time. I don't read YHL on a regular basis at all, but even I know that they are workaholics and put in far more work (time wise) than most people that clock in from 8-5 (and for less pay). I think they said they are often up until midnight or 1 each night, working.

If they're working so hard, and for so long, why are people always complaining about their crappy blog content?  *note I do not follow YHL behond what is posted on this board. 

Pumpkin30

TheWop:

Jhawks482:

BrianaBones:

I'm just saying, there must be some way to deal with the kid and get more than 5 or 10 hours of work done a week. I have friends with toddlers, and they seem to manage getting some things done while their children are awake. Especially when both parents are around. 

They are just saying the spent 5-10 hours a week on the KITCHEN. They aren't saying "oh, we only work 5-10 hours a week! What a great life!" I think people forget they were also writing and publishing a book during this time. So in addition to the kitchen they had to come up with material and photograph 100's of other projects that no one has even seen yet. Aside from what I think about the kitchen, it's not really fair for people to pass judgment about them about where they spend their time. I don't read YHL on a regular basis at all, but even I know that they are workaholics and put in far more work (time wise) than most people that clock in from 8-5 (and for less pay). I think they said they are often up until midnight or 1 each night, working.

If they're working so hard, and for so long, why are people always complaining about their crappy blog content?  *note I do not follow YHL behond what is posted on this board. 

Sherry does spend hours a day nursing the comments. Their week in the life post made it seem like they work all day long on various projects. Some of that includes returning e-mails to sponsors, giveaway donors, their other writing gigs. I can see how it all adds up, but if they spent less time on the really fluffy filler posts, they could probably beef up the other posts just a bit.

alicat32908

Pumpkin30:

TheWop:

Jhawks482:

BrianaBones:

I'm just saying, there must be some way to deal with the kid and get more than 5 or 10 hours of work done a week. I have friends with toddlers, and they seem to manage getting some things done while their children are awake. Especially when both parents are around. 

They are just saying the spent 5-10 hours a week on the KITCHEN. They aren't saying "oh, we only work 5-10 hours a week! What a great life!" I think people forget they were also writing and publishing a book during this time. So in addition to the kitchen they had to come up with material and photograph 100's of other projects that no one has even seen yet. Aside from what I think about the kitchen, it's not really fair for people to pass judgment about them about where they spend their time. I don't read YHL on a regular basis at all, but even I know that they are workaholics and put in far more work (time wise) than most people that clock in from 8-5 (and for less pay). I think they said they are often up until midnight or 1 each night, working.

If they're working so hard, and for so long, why are people always complaining about their crappy blog content?  *note I do not follow YHL behond what is posted on this board. 

Sherry does spend hours a day nursing the comments. Their week in the life post made it seem like they work all day long on various projects. Some of that includes returning e-mails to sponsors, giveaway donors, their other writing gigs. I can see how it all adds up, but if they spent less time on the really fluffy filler posts, they could probably beef up the other posts just a bit.

This is a huge time waster IMO.  I get answering questions and addressing legitimate issues commenters might bring up, but so many of her replies are "haha, so funny", "haha, so cute", "haha, that's crazy", etc. It's like an all day junior high school gab session or something.