I Hate My Kitchen

Jason and Shauna Morgan were living in a sleek downtown loft when they stumbled upon a real fixer-upper, a creepy '50s rambler hidden on an overgrown lot. The place needs a lot of work, and the kitchen is way too much for them to tackle on their own. So they ask contractor James Young to help them with a contemporary renovation.

Courtney and Chad Krupa are fed up with their boring brown kitchen. It doesn't have a single ounce of style. From the outdated oak cabinets to the chipped white countertops and mismatched appliances, it's just plain ugly. This couple is ready to give the space a total overhaul, but the budget is tight at 16 grand. Enter contractor James Young - he'll step in to help Courtney and Chad use what they already have and combine it with a few cool new products to take their kitchen from boring to bold.

When Rico and Indred found their 1980s split-level 15 years ago, all they saw was potential. Updating their home is a constant topic of conversation, but they've spent most of the last 15 years disagreeing on how best to renovate it. They finally agreed on one thing - bringing in their friend and licensed contractor James Young to navigate them through their kitchen remodel. He helps them gut their atrocious kitchen and open up a wall so they have plenty of room to add new cabinets, countertops and a huge center island.

A year and a half ago, Sara and Derek Wallen bought their first home. The 1975 ranch was in a great neighborhood and had a big backyard. Since moving in, they've updated the whole house, except one room. Now, with the help of contractor James Young, it's time to take on the kitchen. They have plenty of space to work with, but it's dated and not very efficient. With James's help they'll turn it into a cozy and functional kitchen.

Chris and Julie are hoping James can rescue their crumbling, outdated kitchen. After gutting the entire space and reconfiguring the layout, they bring in maple cabinetry, epoxy resin countertops and cork flooring. Custom-built storage and a handmade tile backsplash help make the space warm and inviting.

Eight years ago, Dakota and Luke Chalich bought a 1976 split-level on a huge wooded lot. They loved the location, but the house was a real fixer-upper. Fortunately, Dakota and Luke are pretty handy, so they started work on the place right away. Now they've renovated everything but one room--the kitchen. It needs a total overhaul, so they've brought in contractor James Young to transform the dated room into a modern, open space.

Sean Silver and Shannon Flinn worked hard to fix up their first home-one they chose for its beautiful original hardwood floors-but their black hole of a kitchen was too daunting a task. These self-described "food dorks" desperately wanted a kitchen to match their appetite for cooking and entertaining. So, we're tearing everything out and even opening up the walls to make room for lots of added storage and counter space. Restored hardwood floors, a painted glass backsplash, and soft-yet-durable cork tiling in the pantry crank up the style, and high-end appliances like an induction cooktop bring function into what was a feature-less kitchen. The price tag? At $32,000, it's just a couple thousand over Sean and Shannon's budget, but, for these foodies, is well worth the investment.

Police officer Dan and his girlfriend Janelle are more than ready to update their kitchen, but they want to keep the budget under $12,000. James is ready for the challenge, and he suggests the couple supplement their existing cabinetry with a few new stock cabinets for extra storage. And for a quick style fix, James wants to update the cabinet doors with resin panels and a new coat of stain. Plus, they'll reuse some of their hardwood floor and pair it with an updated tile that's groutless and easy to install. But this project has a few splurges as well, including a circular sink, a custom glass backsplash and a trendy wall-hung fireplace that will add some heat to this cool design. James also shows Dan how to save a bunch of money by using laminate countertops. And to top things off, James has an inexpensive lighting solution that this couple will love.

Ross and Dawn Substad have owned their 1920s arts-and-crafts bungalow for six years. They've spent that time remodeling the entire home, but there's one room left they were afraid to tackle - the kitchen. Its small, awkward and dysfunctional layout proved to be too overwhelming for these DIYers. But with James's help, this ugly, outdated kitchen will get a major overhaul. James will update the space with modern conveniences and will bring in high-end finishes that reflect the arts-and-crafts design of the rest of the home.

HunWen and Nick Westman looked long and hard to find just the right house - a six-bedroom masterpiece built in the 1900s. From gorgeous woodwork to beveled glass, the house was nearly perfect, except for one major flaw - the 1980s kitchen. The floors are chipping, the cabinets are falling apart and the layout is just plain awkward. Worst of all - it's in the wrong decade! But with James's help, these homeowners will mix high-tech products with old-world charm to create one timeless space.

Five years ago, Robert and Carrie Shidla bought a historic 1920s home. The kitchen was ugly, but the Shidlas were convinced it had potential. Five years later, they haven't even touched the space. Robert and Carrie have both worked in restaurants, so these two foodies would love a high-end kitchen at home. James will help these homeowners transform the dated space into a fresh cottage kitchen with modern accents.

When it came time to buy their first home two years ago, a great location was at the top of Kyle and Kari's wish list. They purchased a 1920s bungalow with good bones and plenty of opportunity to put their own stamp on it. The couple started by renovating the attic, and their cramped and outdated kitchen is next on the hit list. James helps these homeowners maximize the small space by tearing down a wall and creating a better layout. The new space will feature custom cabinets, copper countertops and a multicolored cork floor.

When Tricia and Rashad found an affordable 1940s bungalow in a neighborhood they loved, they pounced on it. At the time, they liked that although the kitchen was small, it seemed to have all the proper amenities - including a dishwasher. The couple soon discovered, however, that the dishwasher didn't work at all and the range was barely functional, not to mention the kitchen was filled with materials that were outdated and falling apart. James is coming to the rescue and suggests knocking down a wall to combine the kitchen with the dining area. He'll also salvage some of the old cabinetry, bring in additional cabinet boxes and blend them together with new Shaker-style doors. The whole kitchen will receive a contemporary update with new appliances, an interlocking rock backsplash and quartz countertops.