I Hate My Kitchen

Isaiah and Tanya love the location of their home, but they've had their hands full with repairs and updates over the 4 years they've owned it. One space they've yet to tackle ? the tiny kitchen with a strange laundry addition and a ceiling that's caving in. Licensed contractor James Young comes in to help them open up the space and make it a cohesive, efficient kitchen. Plans include all new cabinets and more counter space, and a center island addition. Plus, they'll add style to the kitchen with classic wainscoting and a bold graphic backsplash.

Chris & Maria have a family of five, but their poorly designed kitchen only allows 4 of them to sit together at mealtime, plus their stove partially blocks a doorway and creates a fire hazard. Licensed contractor James Young comes up with a plan to remedy their problems by reconfiguring the layout to allow safe passage throughout. The updated space will include new cabinetry, heated tile floors, a contemporary tile backsplash, and an expanded dining area to bring the whole family together.

When Janet bought her contemporary home, lake living was her top priority. Unfortunately, her amazing house came equipped with a tiny kitchen tucked back in a corner that obscures any sight of the lake! License contractor James Young knows priority number one is removing the walls to completely open up the space. They'll add a blend of rustic contemporary style with materials ranging from reclaimed barn wood to more modern metal and concrete. Other plans for the kitchen include all new base cabinets combined with open shelving, a large contemporary mural, and a river rock epoxy floor.

Ben and Tara have 4 growing children and a kitchen that's a hot spot for use and abuse. An awkward peninsula makes it hard to move about, and the bland, outdated style doesn't exactly match this fun family's tastes. They're stuck on how to best fix their problems, and that's where licensed contractor James Young comes in. Plans for the new space include replacing the peninsula with center island, adding additional and more functional storage, plus upgrading everything using more durable, stylish materials.

There's always a party going on outside Jon and Lara's cozy suburban home, but the makeshift kitchen and living space they're thrown together makes it tough to accommodate their outdoor lifestyle. But much of their backyard is sitting unused and licensed contractor James Young thinks that needs to change in a big way. A cedar deck and pergola will sit center stage and the new outdoor kitchen will feature a grilling station and side burner, a beverage bar that includes a kegerator, plus stainless steel cabinetry and granite countertops. Living spaces on either side of the deck will provide plenty of options for entertaining.

Newlyweds Vue and Lilly have differing ideas when it comes to design, but they both agree their kitchen is in need of a major upgrade. Licensed contractor James Young steps in to help blend his love of bold, contemporary style with her desire for a more traditional space. The dark cabinets will be refaced with birch veneer, and a center island will be added that features a built-in saltwater aquarium. Other features include snow-white quartz countertops, a aluminum tile backsplash made from recycled airplanes, and an inset of fun grafitti tile in the middle of the kitchen floor.

Kaytie & Nick's rambler in the city looks like a 1970s time capsule. From the smoky mirrors to the shag carpet, they've embraced the space for what it is, but after a year of suffering with their dark, closed-off kitchen, they are ready to start making changes. James Young's plan to take the kitchen into the 21st century include opening up the kitchen to the dining room, adding all new high gloss cabinets, and fabricating funky laminate countertops with a cool retro metal edge. The floor gets an urban vibe with wafer board joined with aluminum seams and covered in poly. Plus the backsplash will be a combination of green glass subway tile accented with vintage bottle caps.

Ian & Emily bought their 3-story duplex in the city because it was loaded with old school charm and offered plenty of space for their family. But the kitchen is tiny, has little countertop space, and not a single drawer, making it a challenge to do every day tasks. There's not much room to expand, so Licensed Contractor James Young comes up with creative solutions to save space, such as a base cabinet with a pull-out table. Going for a rustic modern theme, he blends old-school materials like reclaimed bleacher wood & recycled chalkboards, with sleek modern ones such as hi-gloss cabinet doors.

Paul & Carla love the charm of their first-ring suburban neighborhood, and their spacious home is perfect for their growing family except the galley-style closed off kitchen. Licensed contractor James Young's plans include widening a doorway and nixing a sight-blocking cabinet to improve the flow of the home. Everything outdated is getting a makeover, and the improvements flow into an adjacent seating area where James gives them an inexpensive solution to solve their storage woes.

Brian & Meghan were left without a finished kitchen floor when a flood destroyed all the flooring on the first level of their home. They'd also like their kitchen to be open to the rest of their home so licensed contractor James Young comes in to help them reconfigure the space & make it shine from floor to ceiling. Plans include giving the old cabinets a facelift, upgrading the counters with modular granite slabs, and adding a large center island that will increase their countertop and seating space.

Adam & Kristin's ranch-style home has good bones but has required a lot of TLC to bring it up to date and they are stuck on what to do with the kitchen. Licensed contractor James Young decides on a plan to keep their old base cabinets because they have a cool design, and add all new uppers so the space is better utilized. They'll also add a peninsula, a shelf that doubles as a light, and a cool backsplash made using painted strips of wood.

Brian and Kim are newbie homeowners who know a kitchen remodeling project is over their heads so they bring in licensed contractor James Young for some guidance. There is nothing salvageable from the old space, so he starts from scratch with all new cabinets and a travertine tile floor. He saves on the budget by pouring his own concrete countertops, and finishes off the space with some cool techie additions.

Loshi & Justin know the cramped kitchen in their 50's ranch-style home has tons of potential, but they're overwhelmed at the prospect of tackling it on their own. They both love the vibe of the American southwest where Justin is from and want their kitchen to reflect their style. James Young finds creative ways to add southwestern flair to the space while working with a budget of $20,000. The existing floor and cabinets get major facelifts, new countertops are fabricated from sheets of copper, and warm splashes of color are added throughout including a hand-painted sink and a terra cotta backsplash.