Make over your kitchen
In my home everyone hangs out in the kitchen. That’s one reason why I want it to be beautiful and comfortable.
Even though I’m not a great cook, investing in my kitchen is a smart financial move – I can get back between 85 percent and 10 percent of what I put into it if I ever sell my house. Still, not everyone can afford a major kitchen redo, which can cost on average around $30,000.
If you’re short on funds, or are selling your place and don’t have time for a major renovation, don’t despair. There is a lot you can do to revamp the room without busting your budget or using up a lot of valuable time. Start with your cabinets – improving them makes a great impact even in small spaces.
Consider changing the knobs on cabinet doors. Gold and brass pulls are old-school, while brushed nickel and stainless steel handles are sleek and modern. All you need is a screwdriver for a power screwdriver for even faster work). A little inspiration and a bit of time to make the switch.
If your cabinets are dark and dreary, paint them a crisp white or French blue. Make sure to wash the cabinets thoroughly with a degreasing cleanser remove the doors (number them to correspond to the cabinets so reinstalling is easier) and sand them and the cabinet fronts lightly.
Remove the dust with the a tack cloth, grimeprime with an off based primer and let everything dry overnight. The next day, start painting with a semi-or high gloss paint (these finishes allow for easier cleaning). You might need to give the cabinets two coats. Let them dry for 48 hours, then reinstall.
If you don’t have time to paint the doors, send them to a pro. For about $25 per door, they will give the doors a spray with a color of your choice. You will have to paint the cabinet fronts – but it takes far less time than painting everything yourself.
Finally if your cabinet doors are really out of date, consider changing them. Replacing doors cost about 25 percent less than buying new cabinets. And the result is dramatic. Google “cabinet refacing” to find dealers in your area.
After you’re done, order your favorite take out and ivite your friends in to admire your handiwork.
If I can do it, so can you!
