I Hate My Kitchen

Chris and Kristin bought their early 20th century home as a foreclosure and spent months updating the interior, but the bland, outdated kitchen overwhelmed them. Enter host and licensed contractor James Young who comes up with a plan to give the kitchen a better layout and update it using a blend of classic farmhouse features and modern accents. He's utilizing a wide range of materials - from a rustic wooden peninsula table, to a concrete countertop and a cork floor - to create a cozy, eclectic gathering spot for the first-time homeowners.

Jesse and Tiffany want to transform their small, dark kitchen into a brighter space with an open floor plan. To accomplish this, host and licensed contractor James Young removes a wall, gives the cabinets a facelift and adds an island. Stone countertops, stainless appliances and sink, plus all new lighting will help give their 70's split-level a fresh, contemporary vibe.

When a financial planning assistant, Shelly bought her 1950's fixer-upper, she was certain it would be a good long-term investment. She's tackled many updates herself, and practically doubled the livable space, but the kitchen remains a sore spot for Shelly and her 3 roommates. With a limited budget, licensed contractor James Young shows them how to get the most bang for Shelly's buck. By reusing the existing cabinetry, coming up with creative storage solutions, and adding stylish, budget-friendly features, James helps them to get a chic, functional kitchen without breaking the bank.

Mike and Leigh love everything about about their charming 1920's bungalow - everything, that is, except the poorly planned out kitchen. You have to squeeze past the stove just to get in and out of the kitchen. Licensed contractor James Young suggests closing off one of three doorways so they can better utilize the space. That'll create room to add a much-desired dishwasher, and the rest of the room will be filled with stylish features like recycled glass countertops, a hammered copper sink and a customized, interchangeable backsplash.

Jeff and Sonia's 80's kitchen is definitely the problem child in their house. It's got plenty and space, but zero style. James Young helps them update it with modern, flat-front cabinets, stone counters, and poured epoxy resin floors. Convenient extras like a built-in coffeemaker help turn their kitchen into an earthy, sophisticated space.

Jeff and Amanda have a closed off kitchen that doesn't flow with the rest of their 1920's home. They lack DIY skills, so James Young comes in to show them how they can make the most of their $25,000 budget and teach them some skills along the way. The existing cabinets are repurposed and topped with soapstone countertops, opening up a wall allows for changes in the layout, and a peninsula addition gives them lots more storage and surface space.

Nikkie & Joe have a large 60's rambler with one seriously outdated kitchen. It's covered in multiple layers of wallpaper, and the barely functioning yellow appliances have got to go. Contractor James Young helps them demo the space and reconfigure their existing cabinets to save some cash. The cabinets are refinished with an easy to use kit, and flexible stone veneer flooring, granite countertops, and high-tech accessories help to bring the kitchen up to date.

Matt has renovated every part of his 1920's bungalow except the tiny kitchen. A gorgeous built-in hutch has kept him from expanding the room, but contractor James Young comes up with a plan to remove and repurpose the buffet, turning it into part of an island. The rest of the space is then filled with a mix of modern and vintage features.

Jim & Jen love the open floor plan of their 1940's home, but the outdated galley-style kitchen is a sore spot. They have so little storage space that they're using a dresser in the adjacent dining room to fulfill their needs, and the whole space needs to be more efficient. Licensed Contractor James Young unifies the two rooms with hardwood flooring, and adds an island with a dry erasable countertop to give them an additional work surface. New cabinets, zinc countertops, and a Carrera marble backsplash add style and sophistication, and a self-programming thermostat brings in modern convenience.

Roy & Katie's kitchen has a terrible layout, minimal cabinet space, and completely ancient appliances. To fix the issues, Licensed Contractor James Young starts by reconfiguring the layout to create a working triangle and make the space more functional. He then adds old world charm with a beadboard ceiling & coordinating cabinet doors, an apron front sink, and rustic shelving made from an old wooden pallet. Laminate tigerwood flooring and a stone backsplash help warm the space up and complete the cozy country themed space.

Dave & Brittany spend a lot of time in their kitchen cooking and brewing beer, but it's an inefficient, eyesore of a space that isn't laid out well and feels cut off from the rest of the house. Licensed Contractor James Young helps them stretch their $18,000 budget and maximize space by reusing their old cabinets and adding more along an empty wall to create a beverage center with a built-in beer fridge and tap. The floor will get updated with porcelain tile that looks like wood, and the backsplash will be covered with sleek glass mosaic tile. Finally, the wall adjacent the dining room will be opened up and a countertop ledge with seating for three will be added.

Midcentury not so modern is how Allison and Rustin describe their modified rambler just five minutes outside the city. They bought the house because of its location, but four years later they're still stuck with an out-of-date brown and beige kitchen with appliances that don't even work! Licensed Contractor James Young will help them better utilize the space by opening up a small wall between the kitchen and dining room. The cabinets will be painted white with stainless steel accents and countertops, giving it a contemporary feel. A mother of pearl backsplash will make an elegant statement, and a red range will add a splash of color.

Jennifer and Keith have 5 busy kids between them, and although they had an addition put on when they blended households 4 years ago, a kitchen remodel had been put on hold ? until now! Licensed Contractor James Young helps them not only gut the space, but knock into an adjacent bedroom to give them the large, open floor plan they've always wanted. The overall theme is rustic and that includes wide plank flooring, pine cabinetry and reclaimed barn planks on an accent wall, plus aged copper countertops and a stacked stone backsplash.