Thursday, November 19, 2009

Achieving Expensive Looking Kitchens On A Dime

By Matthew Kerridge

More and more homeowners are looking at ways to improve their homes. Much of this comes from the do-it-yourself market. For those people, learning how to obtain high end looking kitchens on a dime is the key.

There are many considerations before you begin. For starters, will you be gutting the entire kitchen? Will you be using a professional or doing it on your own? Well, as for the demolition, you can do this by yourself or with the help of a friend. The only thing you need to know and understand is that it will be a messy job.

Doing this on your own can save you a load of money. The rest depends on how handy if you really are. You are confident that you can't do this, go for it. If not, then you should hire someone to help you out. In order to save more money, you can be the assistant.

Assuming you are doing this on your own, and you want to upgrade your kitchen, look at the condition of your cabinets. If they are in good shape, you can simply paint them and change the hardware. If you surprised at the change. Next, you should address the issue of your backsplash. If you have a ceramic backsplash that is looking quite dated, you can paint it.

The countertop may also need to be addressed. This often takes a beating in any kitchen, especially when the chef is a little on the sloppy side. However, all that is really needed here is precise measuring. Then, visit your do-it-yourself center and order a new one. Replacing it isn't as difficult as you may believe it to be.

Changing your sink and faucet is not rocket science either. If you're going to do this, you may want to opt for a very deep sink that can accommodate large pots and pans. Under mounted sinks are very popular because they are very easy to clean around. As for the faucets, pullout spouts are all the rage because of their convenience.

One more inspection is the floor. If your floors are dating your kitchen, you should change them. But unfortunately, if you have ceramic tiles, there is no other solution besides tearing them out. But again, this is a very messy job, but one that really will pay off in the end. And, you don't have to go with tiles again, as hardwood floors have really become very popular in the kitchen. This

Lastly, you should pay attention to the lighting in this room. In fact, for those who handle and prepare food, lighting is one of the most important features. One inexpensive way to update the kitchen is to install under-cabinet lighting and new fixtures.

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