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Nov 13, 2010
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Comments Off on Kitchen Cabinet Makeover on a Budget

Kitchen Cabinet Makeover on a Budget

By Carmen Fontana

As the world sits firmly entrenched in a recession, homeowners might be thinking that this spring is hardly the ideal time to be contemplating a kitchen overhaul. As the heart of the kitchen, kitchen cabinets most often come to mind when it comes to a room makeover. Unfortunately, brand new, custom-made kitchen cabinets are expensive and fall outside the budget of most of today’s recession-anxious homeowners. Fortunately, however, many affordable alternatives exist.

The Daily Journal recently tackled this topic in its spring home improvement section with an article titled, “Cost-effective ways to rejuvenate one of the busiest rooms.” That room of which the publication is speaking, of course, is the kitchen. So what ingenious ways did the newspaper and its expert sources come up with to take the financial sting out of a cabinetry overhaul?

1. Consider refacing your kitchen cabinets over replacing them. Your local home improvement center can give you a good idea about what new door fronts will cost you. Such a supercenter can also give you a glimpse into all your cabinet door options in one convenient place. The wide variety of wood species, door shapes and finish options may at first overwhelm you. The retailers’ staff, however, can help you make sense of all your choices so you select the right door fronts to fit your needs and lifestyle. As long as the basic construction of your cabinetry is in solid shape, refacing is a great money-saving option. It isn’t, however, always the least expensive route.

2. Look into assembled and ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinets. One of the homeowners highlighted in the article “assumed it (kitchen cabinet refacing) would be less expensive than pulling out the old cabinets and starting over. The price [for such refacing, however,] was not cheap. Ultimately, the homeowner was able to remove all the old cabinets, replace them with semi-custom wood cabinets, install Corian countertops and install a tiled backsplash for $4,000 less.” With so many options to choose from, stock cabinetry is fast becoming comparable to custom designed, yet it’s much more wallet friendly.

3. Consider the fact that maybe your actually cabinetry doesn’t need any work at all. If you’re looking for a quick and easily update that will give your quality-constructed existing cabinets a brand new look, perhaps a simple and inexpensive upgrade in your hardware is all that is needed. “If the cabinets are made of wood and are in good, working condition, buy new hardware, knobs and hinges for a lot less money than replacement cabinets,” one expert recommended. Decorative accents put the finishing touch on your cabinetry. These enhancements customize your cabinetry for a look that reflects your personal style … and doesn’t put a strain on your bank account.

4. When all else fails, you can’t go wrong with a new coat of paint. “A homeowner can get a brand new freshening up on their existing cabinets without all the project mess and inconvenience, using a washable oil-based paint in semi gloss, and the cost will range between $1,200 to $1,500.”

Carmen Fontana is a Web Services Manger for Western Reserve Internet Services. Explore the many types of doors available for your wall cabinets at the Kraftmaid website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carmen_Fontana

www.LKNcabinets.com

Nov 13, 2010
lkncabadmin
Comments Off on Kitchen Design – What to Plan For

Kitchen Design – What to Plan For

Before you begin designing or remodeling your kitchen, there are a few things you need to think about. When it comes to your kitchen design, it’s important to thoroughly assess your own needs and wants (as well as your family’s) before investing your time and money into this important project.

First of all, you need to think about the size of your family. Do you have a large family with many children? Are you single? How many people are going to be actively using the kitchen on a daily basis? This will determine what you need in terms of size and accessibility.

If two or more cooks are going to be using the kitchen at the same time, you may need to add more counter space. It’s also important to leave enough “wiggle room” so that your family isn’t bumping into each other all the time.

Second of all, ask yourself if you or your family have any special needs. You may need to tailor your kitchen design online a certain way depending on factors such as being tall, short, disabled, etc. Assess your family’s needs before making any major changes.

Lastly, entertainment can factor into your kitchen design. Do you do a lot of entertaining? If so, it’s probably a good idea to take down a wall or two to open up the kitchen into the living room. You also may consider adding a bar or a kitchen island (or both!).

A kitchen is a great room to be used as the “social hub” of the home. Of course, you have to design it accordingly.

So now that you’ve assessed your needs and made your plans, how do you go about the actual design and remodeling process? Chances are, your pockets are probably hurting due to the recession. It can be pretty hard to finance anything these days.

Fortunately, there’s an easy, affordable solution to your design and remodeling needs. Kitchen Design Online is a thorough, detailed resource that offers step by step instructions and advice covering all aspects of your kitchen project.

You can learn how to save time and energy, as well as thousands of dollars, by buying and installing affordable kitchen storage cabinets that will make your kitchen look absolutely stunning and professionally done.

This will increase the resale value of your home dramatically. I highly recommend checking it out and taking advantage of this amazing resource.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jerry_McClelland

www.LKNcabinets.com

Nov 8, 2010
lkncabadmin
Comments Off on Kitchen Design Basics – Affordable Countertop Options

Kitchen Design Basics – Affordable Countertop Options

By Paul Eden

Most people are familiar with the common kitchen countertop options. The range of choices and costs are vast. Some are set on having granite and are will to sacrifice on the quality of the underlying cabinets in order to afford the countertops of their choice. Others view the countertop as something they can upgrade later and splurge on upscale cabinetry while at the same time accepting a lesser countertop surface. The usual choices of affordable countertops are listed below, along with their advantages and disadvantages:

Laminate Countertops

This is usually considered to be the entry-level choice. If it has been a while since you have checked out laminate, you may be pleasantly surprised. With more realistic textures and optional edge treatments, laminate can be a very attractive alternative. Of course the absolute cheapest option is to choose an available stocked countertop item at the local home improvement center. While colors and edge treatments are limited, the price is right.

Ceramic Tile Countertops

If you have the expertise to install tile yourself, the cost can compete with laminate, depending on your tile selection. The number one complaint with tile on countertops is the difficulty in keeping the grout joints looking clean. That being said, ceramic tile is a good way to go if you want an upgraded look on a budget.

Laminate and ceramic tile are two of the more affordable countertop options. Before making a final selection be sure you look at the new generation of laminate products-you may be surprised what you find.

Paul Eden is a mechanical engineer who also ejoys home improvement projects. He has also recently written about flat screen wall mounts and DVD VCR recorders

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Eden

www.LKNcabinets.com