I Hate My Kitchen

I Hate My Kitchen is a design series on the DIY Network. It features James Young, a licensed contractor and electrician who renovates ugly, old, and worn out kitchens into budget friendly updated spaces for homeowners. From updating cabinets, to selecting energy efficient appliances, flooring and updated paint colors, James and his crew transform spaces for homeowners who are on a budget and are in dire need of an updated look. Quite often, kitchens have never been renovated and are in the original state when the home was built.

James visits the clients at their homes in an effort to get an understanding of what the homeowner would like to change in the space to make it more functional and efficient. They discuss a wide variety of new products on the market and innovative tools they can incorporated into their spaces. These new changes are all budget friendly and are selected because of their durability of everyday use and how well they will stand the test of time. The client decides what style they are seeking to create. In some episodes the clients have chosen Tuscan, Country, Shabby Chic, Retro, Contemporary, and Colonial.

In some design plans, it is not necessary to demolish the entire kitchen. All that may be needed is to update the cabinets with new molding and paint, or sand down the old worn wood flooring so it may be re-stained. However, in most cases, it is necessary to gut the entire kitchen and start off with a clean slate. Depending on the budget of the client, this is the preferable way.

The transformation begins as James and the homeowners work together to create a new floor plan that will function more efficiently. New flooring, appliances, countertops, backsplashes, lighting and accessories are selected to give the space a much needed update.

By the end of the episode, the homeowners are delighted with the changes and all of the budget friendly choices James has selected.