Kitchen Facelift - Plastic surgery (of sorts) for your kitchen If you thought you had to spend $20,000 and up on a brand new kitchen think again. We have a simple, three-step plan that will take ten years off your kitchen without breaking your bank. Whether you are planning to stay in your home or are trying to sell it, a "kitchen facelift" is one of the best investments you can make in your home.
 The three steps to give your kitchen a brand new look and feel for a fraction of the cost are:
1. Revitalizing your cabinets
2. Replacing countertops
3. Installing new faucets
As with any home improvement project, be sure to do your homework before beginning. Choosing the right colors, styles and materials for your home and your lifestyle will help ensure successful results. Most of this project is do-it-yourself friendly and can probably accomplished fairly easily over a few weekends.
Step One: Close The Door On Replacing Your Cabinets
There are two ways to get great looking cabinets without completely replacing them. One is simply ordering replacement doors, which can completely change the look of cabinets and still provide a tremendous savings. An even more affordable choice, however, would be to simply refinish the existing doors.
Start by lightly sanding down wooden doors, touch up existing stain (try to find the best possible match) and then apply several coats of varnish. You will be amazed at the way your cabinet doors come back to life. If you prefer the painted look or are starting with a painted surface, simply use a liquid deglosser or sander to achieve a flat surface, apply two coats of primer and then several coats of high quality top coat. Again, you will surprise yourself at the ease with which your cabinets can be transformed. If you do paint your cabinets, try your hand at a process currently growing in popularity called "glazing". It is very simple and involves taking a can of clear finish and having a tint added to it. The glaze is then applied sparingly (brush-on/brush-off) to the newly painted cabinet door offering a unique finish.
For a finishing touch, be sure to find some interesting new hardware for your doors and you are on your way to beautiful new looking kitchen.
hint: Be sure to take your old hardware with you when you buy new hardware in order to match up the existing holes.
To see some samples of kitchen hardware click here: www.amerock.com
Step Two: Count On A New Countertop
While you are waiting for the paint to dry on your cabinet doors, get ready for the next step by choosing a new kitchen counter. Today, there are many choices in countertop materials and prices can vary widely from affordable to high end. Below are some descriptions of the choices available:
Laminate
Still the most common counter surface in homes today, laminate countertops are durable, attractive and an affordable choice for many homeowners. The countertop starts with a particleboard to which your choice is applied. There are countless colors and patterns to choose from and almost any style of home can be complemented by an attractive new laminate countertop. Be sure to ask your distributor for suggestions when it comes to finding a contractor to install the countertop, or better still, call your local Home Builders Association.
Prices range from $15 - $25 per square foot installed.
For samples of choices in laminate countertops click here: http://www.wilsonart.com/laminate/consumer/products/index.asp
Solid Surface
Solid surface countertops boast performance, style and function. They are as durable as they are beautiful and allow you to create the look and design you've always wanted. Easy to maintain and repair countertops made from solid surfaces such as Wilsonart's Gibraltar and Earthstone are available in a wide array of colors and stone-like patterns.
Solid colors and smaller patterns are less expensive. Pricing depends on local market and design complexity, i.e., more complex and radius edges, cove backsplashes,etc.; hence the broad price range.
Prices range from $40 - $60 per square foot installed.
For samples of some choices in solid surface countertops click here: http://www.wilsonart.com/solidsurface/gibraltar/index.asp
Engineered Stone
Engineered stone is a fairly new choice in countertops offering a blend of 90% quartz and 10% resin. Silestone is one popular new type of engineered stone that offers the natural beauty of granite and is also almost completely resistant to staining. Silestone is also less likely to break than granite as it is slightly more pliable and can be fabricated with less thickness than granite.
Prices range from $60 - $70 installed
For more information on Silestone click here: www.amj-g.com (formerly Carrara Marble & Granite) or www.silestone.com
Natural Stone
Simply put - there is nothing you can put in your kitchen that quite looks, feels or performs like granite. It is the more resistant to heat and scratching than any other material and offers the beautiful, natural look of stone that is unparalleled. he good news is that, while previously thought of as the "top of the line" and most expensive choice, granite has become relatively affordable due to improvements in fabricating technology and as many fabricators now offer services over the Internet, a beautiful granite countertop that will last a lifetime is just a click away.
Prices range from $40 - $60 installed
To view some examples of beautiful granite countertops click here: www.marblenation.com
Concrete
One of the fastest growing trends in kitchen countertops today is concrete. Providing a warm, natural look, concrete fits well with the increased popularity of more natural materials like wood, stone and brick. The beauty of this material is also, to some extent it's drawback. Over the life of a concrete surface it will evolve, building character as it ages. A great benefit of concrete is its versatility in terms of shape and design. Features including integrated sinks and the ability to mix colors and ingredients make concrete the high-end almost designer choice of more and more homeowners every year.
Prices range from $50 - $80 installed.
To view samples of Concrete countertops click here: www.concreteworks.com
Step Three: Make a Splash with a Fabulous Faucet
The final and possibly easiest step is changing your kitchen faucet. Besides providing the finishing touch to your kitchen facelift, gleaming new taps with interesting features may even have your kids fighting to do the dishes. Make sure you choose a faucet style that matches your overall style in your kitchen.
To see some samples of new kitchen faucets available click here: www.deltafaucet.com
We hope we have provided you with some ideas and that you will plan to embark on this project in the near future. Be sure to drop us a line and let us know how it goes. |
