|
|
Beautiful Kitchen Updates on a Budget
Sat 11/15/08 11:06:24 pm
Repair & Renovation
(ARA) -
Today’s kitchen is the new living room. During the past few decades, it’s
evolved from a room where we simply prepared and ate our meals, to one where we
now hold family discussions, socialize and entertain guests, study or work and
even play with the kids.
As the kitchen’s role has grown, so has the
price tag that comes along with renovating it. Creating a stylish kitchen has
turned into a costly American obsession, with the average remodel costing tens
of thousands of dollars. For the majority of us dealing with a slowing economy,
a credit crunch and rising gas prices, the idea of a pricey kitchen remodel
might not be top-of-mind these days.
That doesn’t mean you
have to live with the kitchen you have until the limping economy bounces back.
There are some do-it-yourself projects costing $200 or less that can still help
transform your current kitchen into a cozy and comfortable haven, sooner rather
than later.
Paint
If you have a small budget and want to make a big impact, wall
color will do it. For the cost of a few gallons of paint, you can easily change
the look and feel of your kitchen. Dutch Boy offers hundreds of today’s hottest
colors. Plus, its new Refresh paint with exclusive Arm & Hammer
odor-eliminating technology actually removes common household airborne odors,
making it ideal for the kitchen.
Hardware
Tired looking cabinets can easily be brought back to life with
a coat of primer and paint, and so can dated cabinet hardware. If you’re willing
to use a little elbow grease and purchase an inexpensive can of spray paint, you
can transform any handle or knob. You don’t have to stick to traditional paint
color choices, either. There are a variety of metallic spray paints available
such as chrome, copper, brass and satin nickel that mimic the look of these
expensive finishes.
Backsplash
The kitchen backsplash can easily serve as the focal point of a
kitchen, if it’s done right.
A contractor’s cost to install an average-sized
kitchen backsplash can run upwards of $500 for labor alone. But if you use your
creativity and think outside the box when it comes to choosing materials, you
can do the entire project for half that cost. Rather than using tile, consider
installing pressed tin ceiling tiles. Apply adhesive found at your local home
improvement store to the backs of the tiles and simply press them onto the wall
behind the stove or sink. You can also create the illusion of an expensive
backsplash by using self-adhesive linoleum floor tiles that look like stone or
marble.
Sink and Faucet
Replacing an old, scratched sink is easier and cheaper than you might
think. While real porcelain might be out of your price range, many stainless
steel and acrylic options can be purchased for less than $100.While you’re at
it, don’t forget about updating the faucet. Moen’s Muirfield faucet comes in
chrome and stainless steel finishes and even has a traditional sidespray
feature.
Lighting
It might not be the first thing you think of when refreshing a kitchen,
but updating existing lighting fixtures is a simple way to add style without
spending a lot of money. Changing out old ceiling fans and light covers, as well
as adding colorful and fun kitchen lamps can help pull your new look together
and unify your design. For about $50, you might also want to consider adding
under-cabinet lighting fixtures that plug directly into existing electrical
outlets and mount to the underside of your cabinets.
For more information on Dutch Boy
Refresh paint, or to locate a Dutch Boy retailer, log on to
www.dutchboy.com/refresh , or call (800) 828-5669.
Courtesy of
ARAcontent
|
LOCAL GUIDES
|
|
Sell A
Home
Buy A Home
Financing
Insurance
Book Store
Forums
Yellow Pages
Repair/Install
Articles
Videos
Book Value
MH Business
Park Investor
Newsletter
Contact Us
