I Hate My Kitchen

Emily and Dave love their charming 70s home, except for the closed-in, outdated kitchen with broken appliances and well-worn cabinets. Licensed contractor James Young's renovation plans include demo'ing all the walls to create an open concept kitchen, new cabinets, inexpensive DIY slab door countertops, an art glass chevron backsplash and a brass sink and faucet worthy of the new space. The new kitchen design flows seamlessly with the couple's eclectic modern style.

A 70s kitchen eyesore, complete with blue plaid wall paper, mismatched appliances and an awkward faux brick feature wall gets an update from licensed contractor James Young. The homeowners like the rustic look, but hope for a more sophisticated, functional kitchen. With help from James, the couple demos the kitchen, leaving behind well-made cabinets that get a clever facelift. A limestone feature wall gives the new space the focal point the homeowners are looking for, while a copper backsplash, distressed pine flooring and unusual use of wallpaper adds to the rustic country kitchen makeover. With a budget of $25,000, James' clever use of materials gives the reno a huge bang for the buck.

Newlyweds ask licensed contractor James Young for help updating their dated 70s kitchen. Their appliances are old and out of date, and the style clashes with the rest of their tastefully decorated house. James helps the couple open up walls and shows how to save money by reusing and updating the kitchen cabinets. They splurge on a brick herringbone floor, an eco-friendly backsplash and sleek new appliances. As an homage to the couple's love of entertaining, James shows how to create a conversation-piece table out of old wine bottle corks. The finished kitchen leaves the couple nearly speechless, and all for a budget of just $28,000.

Two young sisters share a condo they have lovingly updated into a chic, modern living space. But the kitchen is stuck in the 80s, and they need licensed contractor James Young's help to turn it into the open-concept entertaining space that fits their lifestyle. He helps them knock down walls, and create a custom island with beautiful, but cost-concisous epoxy countertops, unique canvas-wrapped columns and fun ambient lighting. New cherry red cabinets give the kitchen a pop of personality, along with a hand-crafted art glass panel created by the homeowners. For a budget of just $25,000 the kitchen is loaded with personality and ready for a party.

A beautiful century-old Craftsman house has been lovingly updated by the homeowners but the boxy kitchen with counter space spread out into two rooms has the couple at a standstill until licensed contractor James Young steps in to help bring the space into the 21st century. With his help, the couple knock down walls and create one large space for their kitchen. New craftsman-style cabinets with soapstone counter tops anchor the space, while art tiles, DIY stained glass and massive sliding doors for kitchen storage give it the custom look the homeowners crave. Clever use of salvaged materials turns the new kitchen into a charming area that pays respect to its past while utilizing every modern amenity, all for a budget of $30,000.

Licensed contractor James Young tackles a 1940s kitchen with broken cabinets, mismatched appliances and paltry counter space. With homeowners asking for bling, James brings in clever materials unexpected in a kitchen renovation. A glass and mirror backsplash is complemented by a faux fireplace with a mirror insert sitting atop a leather counter. Marble and tile floors are "reflected" in a clever ceiling treatment, and custom cabinets and fridge panels give the kitchen a high end, glamorous look, all for a budget of $35,000.

A young couple loves their historic home's charm but hate the kitchen that was last updated at a time when baby blue laminate and pink flowers were popular. With help from contractor James Young, the couple take down walls and create an open concept kitchen that mixes traditional elements with funky pieces that match their personalities. The new kitchen's centerpiece is a huge DIY butcher block island that costs a fraction of what it costs in stores. They also update unsightly radiator covers, create easy DIY shutters and install beautiful large-format rectified tiles. In typical fashion for James, the new hardwood floors come with a twist, and the built-in bar stools are one-of-a-kind. The transformation leaves the couple nearly speechless, all for a budget of $25,000.

Micaela just moved into her first home -- a 1950s two-bedroom rambler that was in need of a lot of love. She's done a great job at cleaning and painting, but the kitchen remains a disaster. The dingy cabinets don't stay shut and have been known to hit her in the head. The appliances are old and don't work, the sink is permanently stained and the countertops are dated and chipped. The floor is coming up in parts and the pink brick backsplash is layered with grease. With a budget of $24,000, James helps Micaela transform her kitchen into the cozy, comfy space she wants. Bright apple green and white cabinets make the new space pop. A funky button backslash, open shelving, and a DIY pot rack give the room personality. But it's the clever use of removable gingham wallpaper on the ceiling that takes this kitchen transformation to new heights.

Jevetta and Amondo have three children and large extended families and the party is always at their large 1950s multi-level home in the city. Both Jevetta and Amondo love to cook and share their home with friends and family, but the cut off kitchen space with old, broken appliances don't make things much fun. Licensed contractor James Young can't wait to tear out the walls between the kitchen, living room and dining room, opening the entire space and giving them a party house! He knows the couple are fans of reused and recycled products, so with a budget of $40,000, he brings in historic tiles from France for the floor and eco-friendly bamboo cabinets. They splurge on a high-end backsplash and black walnut countertops to create a warm, open kitchen, perfect for entertaining.

Siblings Amanda and Kevin Horner knew they could live together as adults without a problem. But now that they've gotten their first house together, the stakes are a lot higher than the typical childhood tug of war about household chores and bedroom sizes. While their negotiations over living room décor have been easy, they're each holding their ground when it comes to the kitchen makeover. Amanda likes classic design and Kevin is into contemporary style. With help from licensed contractor James Young, who has a $20,000 budget, they knock down walls and create a modern-classic mix in the kitchen. New contemporary cabinets with quartz countertops are installed, along with a solid surface panel backsplash. They make a DIY metal table, and create a clever solution to a common kitchen storage problem. A colorful cork floor in a grid pattern anchors the new space, for an eclectic kitchen with touches of modern and classic that both siblings love.

James helps a family with two elementary-age kids turn their dated suburban ranch kitchen into an appealing open-concept space. The couple bought their house because of the great neighborhood and school district. And while they have been able to update the rest of the house, the kitchen remodel was so overwhelming, they didn't even know where to start. It is closed off from the living and dining rooms and has old appliances. The hood vent is comically oversized for the space and doesn't fit with their traditional design taste. The worst part, however, is all the laminate: laminate floor, countertops and even walls! James helps the couple open up their space by knocking down two walls and moving some of the appliances to create a workable space. James introduces some new products in the reno, including a wine-stained floor, vinyl-covered tiles that mimic expensive custom tile, a DIY vent hood and a plate rack the couple makes themselves. A massive kitchen island in a bright burst of color anchors the space. It's a massive and beautiful transformation that comes in with a budget of $50,000.

Licensed contractor James Young helps a young family add personality and function to a builder-grade kitchen with cheap finishes and a boring design. Brian and Shemeka bought their house because they love the neighborhood for their two elementary-school age children. And while they've been able to add a hip touch to most of the house, they haven't done anything to the kitchen because the upgrades seem too daunting for their $27,000 budget. Once James is onboard, the couple tear down a wall and make the kitchen an open concept space that works with their lifestyle. James saves money by re-facing the base cabinets, and adds new horizontal upper cabinets for a modern vibe the couple loves. A funky curved island with quartz countertops will anchor the new room. Brian helps build an inexpensive DIY table from old records and epoxy, and Shemeka helps create a floating bench. Even though James keeps some of the couple's existing kitchen cabinets, the room has a completely different look with a dramatic modern flair the couple had been hoping for.

Licensed contractor James Young helps a young couple turn their ugly, dated, 1980s kitchen into a modern classic space. The kitchen has weird oak cabinets with a button detail, fake butcher block countertops, a tattered faux parquet floor and a dropped ceiling. James helps the couple change the layout of the room by opening up a partition wall between the kitchen and eating area, and relocating the fridge. Since the cabinet boxes are in good shape, James saves money by refacing the cabinets and adding some extra cabinetry to fit the new layout. New molding and wood trim on the soffits adds a sophisticated detail the couple love. In need of a wine and coffee bar, James shows how to repurpose a 1980s armoire, and turn it into an eye-catching piece of kitchen furniture. They install a cost-effective DIY quartz countertop, along with a beautiful mother-of-pearl backsplash. On the floor, a fossilized bamboo floor with a clever metal trim completes the kitchen renovation, all for a budget of $20,000.