Kitchen Remodel Ideas: Shortcuts to unique or just out of place?

Question

I would like to do a little remodeling in my kitchen, but I don't want to spend a ton of money. My plan looks good in my head, but I'm not sure if it will work in reality. Here is what I am thinking:

Get rid of the laminate counter top on the kitchen island, lay down some wood and then tile it. (A friend has given me a ton of 6x6 smooth white tile). Remove the laminate back splash and use the remainder of the white tile as my back splash, which I will lay all the way up to the base of the cabinets. Finally replace the remaining laminate counter tops and install new laminate countertops, the ones from home depot with waterfall edges that look like granite counter tops. With the tile being free, the remaining materials would run me about $150. It will probably take me a weekend to get through.

Is this is great remodel idea that will save me money and result in a unique and stylish kitchen, or are these shortcuts going to leave me with a confusing and out of place kitchen design?

Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

out of place design

Answer 2

Your basic plan sounds ok, but to avoid an institutional look, you may consider adding a row of  contrasting color tile to the back splash and interspersed on the island, or applying the tile in a diamond pattern or some combination of the two.

Have fun!

Answer 3

Confusing and out of place kitchen. Pick a counter top and go with it throughout.  Laminate doesn't buy you anything these days.  Kitchens are expected to be a stone of some sort....granite, silestone, or any of the new stones.  Tile can be done but you would then have to do it for your entire kitchen countertops.  Use the tile you have been given for your backsplash and pick a coordinating  stone countertop to match it.  That would pull your kitchen design together.  Kitchens and baths are two areas you shouldn't go cheap on.  It will always affect your resale.  If you don't do it now, you will have to do it later and what you are proposing is just too disjointed and doesn't flow.  You will be wasting your money.  Wait until you have the money to do it right.