How to Refresh Your Kitchen on a Budget
February 29, 2012 at 8:35 AM
By Samantha Grose, Designer, JP&CO: A residential construction firm delivering a personalized home through a truly enjoyable process, done at a remarkable pace.
According to the National Association of the Home Builders (NAHB) in Washington, a kitchen is one of the most expensive rooms to renovate, including cabinets, counters, appliances, and floors. In order to avoid skyrocketing kitchen renovation prices, we here at JP&CO have always been extremely careful about seeking out ways to improve the look of your kitchen without breaking the bank.
A larger part of this is done by discovering ways to renovate a kitchen without reinventing the wheel. Below are some of my most frequent tips for homeowners looking to upgrade without an overdraft.
7 Cost-Conscious Kitchen Renewal Ideas
- Upgrade Accessories: Replacing your cabinet knobs/handles is an easy, fast, and inexpensive way to update the look of your room and freshen up the appearance of your cabinets.
- Create Order: Outfit your cabinet and drawer interiors with organizers and dividers, which can be found at the Container Store, Ikea, and many other popular retailers.
- Save Face: Skip the refacing and consider giving your cabinets a cleaning up, new paint job, or polishing with Bona (hardwood floor product you can find at Bed, Bath, and Beyond). If your cabinets are in good shape and not worth tearing out this is a great solution that with new countertops will give you a look that can last another 15 years.
- Go Granite: Granite Countertops are stunning, surprisingly easy to maintain, and less expensive than you think. Contact me today if you’d like a little advice about where to look, what to look for, and what to expect.
- Try an Island: If you have the space, invest in a cute and functional piece of island-style furniture. Check out some of my favorite kitchen island ideas
- Create Space: Declutter counters and surfaces and make a place for everything using your new, fancy cabinet and drawer organizers!
- Improve Lighting: Upgrade your dim CFL floods with halogen floods—you’ll save energy and the light will be substantially improved. Consider installing a dimmer switch for enhanced lighting flexibility and more energy savings.
Have additional questions concerning your kitchen renovation? Post them below for expert advice or contact JP&CO.
Grose Samantha
Associate AIA, Allied ASID Designer for JP&CO.