Is Your Kitchen Looking "Tired"?
Let's face it, we spend a great deal of time in our kitchens, and most of us can't remodel our kitchens every few years. So how do we freshen up one of the most used rooms in the house without breaking the bank? Redoing the kitchen doesn't always mean removing all of the cabinets, reworking the layout and purchasing an entirely new kitchen.
As with other areas of home decor, kitchen designers are pushing the envelope and being very creative with mixing various cabinet styles and colors. Have you looked at any magazine articles on kitchen design lately? You may be surprised!
So, what are your options for sprucing up your kitchen?
Paint...We all know that painting an area is one of the easiest ways to freshen things up. Painting the walls or backsplash is the simplest way to start, so if you have white cabinets, consider using a daring color such as a bright green, blue or salmon on the walls. Usually there is not much wall space in a kitchen so this approach works well.
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The bright yellow walls and window treatment add a punch to the otherwise white space.
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Perhaps you have wood-toned cabinets. Have you ever thought of painting the cabinet faces and doors? I have done this in two of my past homes, and loved the result. I painted the wood cabinets white and used my favorite color, green, on the walls; not just any green, bright emerald green!
If you prefer a more rustic or country look, faux paint your cabinets to look "worn" by painting the cabinets your favorite color of red, blue or whatever you choose and rubbing the paint off of the edges to give an aged look.
Before
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This large kitchen could definitely use an overhaul. The homeowner didn't want the expense of replacing the cabinets so the contractor added trim and a decorative finish to the existing cabinet doors
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After
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It's amazing what a little paint can do! The cabinets have a wonderful "worn" finish created with paint and glaze.
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Backsplash: Jazzing up your backsplash with tile makes a huge difference and can totally change the "flavor" of the decor. White subway tiles give a bright, clean look (see the kitchen just above) whereas using small random cut marble mosaics creates a very elegant look. Tiles that have a fruit or vegetable motif can add a country or Tuscan flavor while shell or starfish motifs underscore a Seacoast theme.
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| The marble sink, countertop and mosaic backsplash really dress up this kitchen! |
Refacing: This definitely provides a fresh look to existing cabinets, and with a well-done refacing job, one would swear the cabinets are new. The trend now is to have several different cabinet colors in the same kitchen. Let's say your kitchen cabinets are light colored oak. Consider refacing the base and wall cabinets in a rich cherry tone and refacing the cabinets in the island with a painted front in your favorite color.
Other Options: Do you have a few cabinets that are falling apart and need to be replaced even though most of the other cabinets are in good condition? Consider removing the offending cabinets, reworking the placement of the sturdy cabinets and supplementing with cabinets in complimentary styles and colors.
Are all of the cabinets in good shape but you want a new look without the expense of refacing? Consider adding some type of trim to the face of the cabinet doors and then painting the doors and cabinet faces.
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This picture shows what can be done by adding trim to a previously flat cabinet door and then adding a decorative paint finish and new pulls.
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Another option might be to remove a shorter run of cabinets and replace them with a hutch or some other interesting piece of furniture that provides both storage and display space. This is a great way to showcase special china or glassware.
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Another option is to paint the existing cabinets different colors so that here the red cabinet looks like a separate furniture hutch.
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While these last suggestions will cost more than a coat of paint, they are definitely less expensive that the cost of a new kitchen. And, the results can be astounding.
If you think your kitchen is due for an update, but you don't know what options might work best for your needs, call your design professional to help guide you through the endless possibilities to a kitchen you love.
It is essential for me to be sensitive to your needs and dreams, lifestyle, time and budget. Your ideas plus my creative design experience and knowledge of construction techniques and eco-friendly home furnishings can make your dream of creating a beautiful, healthy home a reality.
Randy Trainor and Alpine Lakes Realty are proud to bring you these monthly installment about interior design and helpful hints to prepare your home for sale.
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