If your kitchen is past its best, but you can't afford a brand new model, check out these tips for a beautiful renovation that needn't cost the earth.
So you want to renovate your tired, old kitchen but don’t want to pay out the $50,000 to $100,000 price tag that comes with a major renovation? It's a major outlay and you can't be certain in today's buyer's market of getting your money back when you sell up.
The good news is that if you have a few thousand dollars to spend you can make a huge difference to your kitchen and also get a good return on your investment too.
Why not try...
Cabinet Re-facing - For $4,000 to $6,000 a re-facing company can get you a desirable new cherry or maple finish by replacing your drawer fronts and doors with a matching veneer. This works out at about 50% of the cost of buying new cabinets. The turnaround on a complete re-facing job can be as little as a few days as well which is great if time is an issue.
Backsplash - A full backsplash that covers between the counter and upper cabinets looks a lot more modern than the outdated four inch high band of tile or laminate. You could be even more creative and use colored stone or glass in that space, or even beadboard panelling.
New Lighting - Get an electrician to add a few recessed ceiling lights. This would cost about $300 to $500 dollars and will brighten up the entire room. Under cabinet lights, costing about $200 to $400, will illuminate your worktops. You'd be amazed at the difference some strategic lighting could make.
Reveal the Wood Floor - Many houses, particularly those built before the 1940’s, have wood floors concealed under the linoleum, which are actually the best floors for kitchens. They are warm, beautiful and a real selling point for buyers. If ripping out the old flooring seems like too much of a chore, then you can hire a hardwood flooring company to do the hard work for under $7 a square foot.
New Appliances – Buying new appliances will help modernise your kitchen and will also improve its energy efficiency. Purchasing moderately priced equipment in stainless steel will get you that up-to-date look, and will set you back a sum in the region of $2,000 to $10,000 and up for a range, refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher.
You’re still going to have to live, so unless you like fried chicken and Chinese food that much you’d better keep the microwave handy, a small fridge and the kettle or coffee-maker.
