We all see the home renovation shows that allow a major kitchen remodel to miraculously take place within a 30-minute program. Sure, sometimes the best solution is to rip everything out down to the studs (or even further) and start from scratch. However, replacing cabinets, moving electrical and gas lines, or tearing down walls simply because they don’t match your planned layout and decor might take a ridiculous amount of time and eat up far more of your budget than you’d like. Luckily, there are other options that don’t cause long delays or require permits.
Marvin Daniel, co-owner and designer at KDW Home Kitchen Designworks in Richmond, suggests you do your homework before beginning the process. Websites like Houzz and Pinterest have lots of ideas to inspire you. Then, Daniel says, “Decide on your must-haves, your might-haves, and your it-would-be-cool-to-haves.” That way, you can allocate where to spend your budget and do some prioritizing. Here are six ideas:
Cabinet Painting:
Painting cabinets is an attractive option for many reasons. It is less costly than buying new cabinets, and it’s more environmentally friendly, as existing cabinets are given a new life.
Paint or Wallpaper:
You can add a new wall or ceiling color or a decorative finish on an accent wall. A a new wallcovering can give your kitchen a second life.
Light Fixtures and Hardware:
Updating knobs or pulls on the cabinets and drawers, purchasing and installing a faucet in a new finish or shape, installing recessed lights to make kitchen work spaces brighter, or adding a chandelier all change the look of your kitchen immediately.
Backsplash:
There are many different materials used for a backsplash these days. You can now choose from thousands of tiles (copper, penny, subway, ceramic, glass, and tumbled stone to list a few) and other options like salvaged wood, marble, tin sheets, and chalkboard paint. All could add interest to your existing kitchen.
Countertop:
These days, countertops come in endless varieties. It’s also okay to mix and match surfaces in your kitchen. Between laminate, marble, quartz, granite, butcher block, recycled wood, tile, and stainless steel, you can quickly update your kitchen by changing the countertop surface.
Appliances:
Do you have a side-by-side refrigerator, but have always longed for one with French doors? Do you have black appliances, but have caught yourself coveting your neighbor’s stainless steel models? Any kind of style or color adjustment to your appliances will change the look of your entire kitchen.
Whether you choose to redo from top to bottom or execute a handful of changes, here’s an important thing to keep in mind: Try to make one design element in your new kitchen stand out. “In one room, every thing cannot be the coolest thing. Perhaps it is a unique stone like in the case of this kitchen refresh,” says Daniel. “The stone on the island is simply beautiful and deserves to stand alone as the star of the show.”
Photos: H.J. Holtz & Son Painting
