Inside Country Living Magazine's September 2012 Issue: Editor Sarah Gray Miller's Stunning Kitchen Makeover (PHOTOS)

Before Country Living editor-in-chief Sarah Gray Miller bought her Athens, New York home, she hadn't stepped foot in the small apartment that was attached. Unfortunately, what she found when finally toured the space was a strong odor of cat urine and ugly tan linoleum. These two horrors followed her into the kitchen, which was in worse shape than the rest of the unit. But instead of locking it up and throwing away the key, she used a meager budget to completely transform the room into a rustic eatery which is featured in Country Living's September 2012 issue on stands now.

The 120-square-foot space was originally filled with mismatched cabinets and a mix of valances, curtains and venetian blinds overpowering the windows. Rather than buying custom cabinetry, she simply painted oak cabinets she purchased at Lowes (for a mere $218) a fresh white to create a clean, new look. She also nixed all of the window treatments, allowing a lovely view to be seen from the home.

When it came to buying appliances she wasn't about to go for stainless steel, but she certainly did find a deal when she purchased a midcentury fridge for $80 from her local Penny Saver circular. "[It] scores major points for old-school cool. Besides, it serves the necessary purpose in guest quarters: chilling beer and butter," she said.

Our favorite part of the kitchen? The floor, which as we mentioned before had unsightly stains and smells. Miller ripped up the tiles and cleverly used green porch paint to hide any evidence of the previous owner's furry friends.

Looking at the kitchen, it's easy to see Miller deserves an A+ in DIY-on-a-dime.

Click through our slideshow to see Miller's kitchen and pick up the latest Country Living issue to read more about her kitchen makeover tips.

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