Introduction

My husband John and I had been dreaming of renovating our dated, cramped kitchen for years. We wanted to open up the space, add more storage, and give it a fresh, modern look. The problem was that all the estimates we got from contractors were far out of our budget. We had almost given up hope of being able to afford our dream kitchen—until the day I was browsing Craigslist and came across some amazing solid wood cabinets for dirt cheap. From that serendipitous find, we ended up sourcing most of our kitchen remodel materials secondhand and getting our dream kitchen for a fraction of what we were quoted.

In this article, I’ll tell you how we found all the pieces to create our perfect kitchen on Craigslist and other used platforms. I’ll go through where we got each element—cabinets, countertops, flooring, appliances, fixtures, and more—along with tips for evaluating used kitchen items to make sure you get quality pieces.

Whether you’re on a tight budget, love hunting for hidden treasures, or are just eco-conscious and want to source as much used as possible, you’ll learn how to find surprisingly gorgeous kitchen components for way less than retail. Let’s dive into how we built our dream kitchen entirely out of secondhand scores!

Sourcing Used Cabinets for Our Kitchen Remodel

The starting point of any kitchen remodel is the cabinetry. New custom or even stock cabinetry can eat up a huge chunk of a kitchen renovation budget. That’s why finding used cabinets in great condition is the holy grail for a budget kitchen redo.

We Struck Gold With Our Craigslist Cabinet Find

Browsing Craigslist one day, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I came across a set of solid wood cabinets for only $500. They were exactly the style we had wanted—shaker style with a clean, classic look. And they appeared to be in impeccable shape in the photos. I immediately emailed the sellers to confirm they were still available.

Turns out, they were ripping out their kitchen to do a full gut renovation. The cabinets had only been installed for 5 years and were in perfect condition. We confirmed the measurements would work for our space and hitched up our trailer to go pick them up, overjoyed at the unexpected score.

Tips for Finding Quality Used Cabinets

Here are some tips for finding secondhand cabinets that will work for your own kitchen remodel:

• Search Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp: Scour used classifieds regularly to find cabinets in good condition at bargain prices. New listings appear daily.
• Act fast: Good deals go quickly! If you see something promising, contact the seller ASAP.
• Confirm cabinet condition: Ask for close up photos of the cabinet boxes, doors, drawers and hardware. Look for damage, wear, dysfunctional closures or slides.
• Evaluate style & layout: Make sure the cabinet configuration will work for your space and preferred style.
• Measure carefully: Confirm the cabinet sizes precisely to make sure they’ll fit your floorplan.
• Hire movers: Retrieve cabinets carefully to avoid damage. Hire movers with furniture blankets and dollies if needed.

Prepping and Installing Our Used Cabinets

Once we got our sweet Craigslist cabinets home, we got to work prepping and installing them. Here’s how we got them ready for our kitchen remodel:

• Deep clean: I gave the cabinets a thorough wash inside and out with soapy water and degreaser to remove any grime.
• Sand and paint: John sanded all the cabinet frames and doors lightly to rough up the surface and prime them for painting. We painted them white using a high-quality cabinet paint.
• Replace hardware: We swapped out the dated brass hardware for modern brushed nickel pulls and knobs. It was an inexpensive update that made a huge difference.
• Add new interiors: While the cabinet boxes were in excellent shape, we opted to replace the old, worn-out laminate cabinet interiors with new white melamine.
• Install carefully: John watched many YouTube tutorials on best practices for kitchen cabinet installation before carefully hanging and leveling the cabinet frames.

Sourcing Cabinet Doors and Drawer Fronts

In addition to the full cabinet boxes from Craigslist, I wanted extra upper cabinets and a large bank of drawers for more storage. Rather than buying expensive new cabinets, I was able to source perfect secondhand cabinet doors and drawer fronts on Facebook Marketplace for much cheaper.

I kept an eye out for sellers who were replacing their cabinets and selling the doors and drawers separately. By finding ones that matched the style of our existing cabinets closely, I was able to combine the used pieces seamlessly.

Finding Secondhand Countertops

After installing our dream cabinets, it was time to hunt for affordable countertop options to complete the look. Brand new countertops were quoted in the thousands, way over our budget. Instead, I scoured listings for used countertops and found the perfect counters at a fraction of retail pricing.

Transforming a Free Granite Island into Our Peninsula

My favorite secondhand find was a gorgeous oval granite-topped island I found for free on Facebook Marketplace. The sellers were doing a reno and just needed it gone ASAP.

John was able to carefully cut and polish the oval island top to create the perfect peninsula shape for our kitchen layout. The granite was a stunning blue stone that looked so high-end, but we got it for nothing!

Finding budget-friendly butcher block counters

For the remaining perimeter countertops, we opted for long runs of maple butcher block purchased used. By keeping an eye out, I was able to find listings for people who were replacing their butcher block counters and picked them up for next to nothing.

We sanded, trimmed, and re-finished them with Waterlox to protect and seal the wood. I love the warm, organic look of the wood paired with our cool granite peninsula—the best of both worlds!

Tips for sourcing secondhand counters

When searching for used counters, here are some tips:

• Check measurements to ensure the counter depths and lengths will work for your cabinets.
• Carefully inspect any granite or solid surface for cracks, chips, or flaws in the finish.
• For butcher block, check for excessive scratching, splitting, or water damage.
• Granite can usually be cut and reshaped as needed by a fabricator.
• Butcher block can be trimmed, sanded, and refinished easily as well.

Scoring Vintage Tile on Craigslist for Our Backsplash

To bring in some color and personality on our backsplash, I was determined to find vintage, unique tiles rather than basic white subway tile. I was thrilled when I came across a Craigslist post for handmade Spanish tiles dating back to the 1950s.

A seller had crates of the tiles leftover from an old California estate. There were beautifully hand-painted floral and geometric patterns in blues, greens, and yellows. At $2 a tile, the price couldn’t be beat.

We rented a truck to go carefully pick up the crates of fragile tiles and transport them home. I spent hours sorting through the tiles and laying them out in pattern ideas until I settled on my design. We used the original tiles as accents mixed in with some white tiles as the background.

The heirloom tiles brought so much character and a one-of-a-kind look to our backsplash on a dime. It was one of my favorite thrifted elements!

Secondhand Finds for Our Open Shelving

Along one wall, we added open shelving to break up the cabinetry, while also gaining a space to display some pretty dishes and décor. I was able to source solid wood shelves in varying lengths for cheap or free on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist.

After rounding up 6 shelves of different sizes, John cut and mounted them into our desired staggered, asymmetrical configuration. I gave them a light sand and seal to protect the wood.

To bring in even more character, we used antique cast-iron brackets found at our local ReStore outlet to add support under the longest shelves. The mix of salvaged wood and architectural accents made for really special open shelving on a budget!

Our $50 Used Sink – A Gorgeous Farmhouse Find

No kitchen remodel is complete without the all-important kitchen sink! I was hoping to find a used farmhouse apron-front sink to fit with the vintage-inspired look I was going for. Luckily, I found just what I was looking for on Facebook Marketplace.

A local contractor was selling a stunning white porcelain sink with an apron front for just $50. From the photos, it looked truly pristine. Turns out it was a customer return that was never installed. I snatched up the listing immediately, and couldn’t believe the steal once we unpacked it—not a scratch!

Paired with our secondhand brass faucet, also found on FB for $25, we had a beautiful farmhouse-style sink and fixture combo that would have retailed for $1000+ for less than $100.

Appliance Finds from Habitat for Humanity ReStore

While I was committed to finding secondhand cabinets, counters, and accents, I had my reservations about used appliances. We decided to compromise and source lightly used, open box, orscratch and dent appliances from Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

At our local ReStore, I was thrilled to find:

• A Samsung fridge still in the plastic wrap with some dings on the side—Saved 50% off retail
• A General Electric gas range with minor cosmetic damage—Saved 40%
• A completely flawless Bosch dishwasher marked open box—Saved $350
• A microwave with minute scratches but in perfect working order—Saved $75

ReStore often gets brand new or nearly new appliances from store return clearances or home remodels. Definitely check them out if you want quality appliances at a fraction of retail pricing.

Salvaged Barn Wood Island and Shelves

To add some rustic flair, I was on the hunt for reclaimed wood. On Facebook Marketplace, someone local was deconstructing an old horse barn and selling the siding. It had incredible patina and character.

John was able to construct a beautiful kitchen island using the aged boards. We also had plenty leftover to make floating shelves flanking the range. The salvaged wood offers such a wonderful aged look you just can’t recreate.

Finishing Touches from Thrift Stores and Antique Shops

To complete the eclectic, vintage vibe I was going for, I scoured local thrift stores and antique shops for unique details. For just a few dollars, I found:

• Classic blue Ball jars for the open shelves
• A set of vintage rolling pins to style on the island
• A farmhouse-style enamelware pitcher for holding utensils
• Galvanized metal buckets for open storage
• A wire fruit basket for displaying apples and lemons
• A vintage-style scale for decor next to the mixer

Keep an eye out for little accents as you thrift. It’s a budget-friendly way to add big personality!

The Grand Reveal: Our Dream Kitchen Completely Thrifted and Upcycled!

When we first set out to renovate our kitchen on a tight budget, I never imagined we’d be able to get our absolute dream design fully from secondhand materials and vintage finds. But patience, persistence, and some creativity allowed us to hunt down incredible deals and hidden treasures.

In the end, we were able to reimagine our outdated, cramped kitchen into a gorgeous, spacious gathering place for our family. Here are a few shots of the final kitchen reveal:

We are so thrilled with how our secondhand kitchen turned out! It’s truly the heart of our home now, where we gather to cook, eat, laugh, and make memories. Not only is it beautiful, but it was an incredibly affordable remodel by sourcing everything creatively from used resources.

I hope this article shows that you really can hunt down incredible finds and create your dream space on a budget. With some imagination and persistence, that Pinterest-worthy kitchen you’ve been pinning could be yours for a fraction of what you might expect!

Happy deal hunting!

Frequently Asked Questions About Finding Used Kitchen Materials

Here are answers to some common questions about sourcing used kitchen remodel materials:

Is it safe to use secondhand kitchen appliances?

Used appliances from reputable retailers like Habitat ReStore that have been tested and guaranteed are generally safe. Inspect thoroughly and ask questions to ensure appliances are in good working order.

Where can I find used kitchen cabinets besides Craigslist?

Check Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, thrift stores like Habitat ReStore, and online auction sites. Also, ask contractors if they have clients doing remodels where you could buy used cabinets.

What should I inspect on used cabinets?

Check for water damage, peeling veneers or laminates, condition of doors/drawers, functionality of slides and hinges, and overall structural soundness. Also inspect for odors.

Can I change the layout of used cabinets?

You can usually remove, reconfigure or repurpose used cabinets to work for your space. Keep in mind modifications like cutting countertops or re-drilling doors.

What should I check on secondhand countertops?

Carefully inspect for chips, cracks, stains, or other damage. See if countertops can be reused as-is or cut to fit your space. Make sure you can properly support large pieces.

Do secondhand kitchen materials need special cleaning?

Clean used surfaces thoroughly with soapy water, degreaser for cabinets, and mineral spirits for wood counters before installing. Sanitize sinks, faucets, and appliances well.

Are salvaged or vintage materials safe for kitchens?

Lead paint and asbestos are concerns with salvaged materials. Test old paint and get asbestos inspection to ensure safety. Make sure reclaimed wood has no rot or pests.

Conclusion

I hope this journey to finding our dream kitchen on Craigslist inspires you to think outside the big box when planning your own kitchen refresh. With some persistence and imagination, you can absolutely source stunning secondhand materials, fixtures, appliances and accents to create a breathtaking kitchen on a reasonable budget.

Keep deal hunting on used classifieds and reuse outlets. You never know what treasures you’ll uncover to make your home uniquely yours. Happy deal hunting for your dream space!