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Beyond Paint -- How to Makeover a Kitchen on a Budget
(ARA) - So you've just spent almost all your savings buying a home, or
dropped a few months rent making the move to a new apartment. More space, lots
of possibilities, but the kitchen is an eyesore. Sure, you'll paint, but how
else can you turn a sad kitchen into a glad kitchen on a very small budget?
According to experts at The Art Institutes, it is possible to stick to a tight
budget and make a few simple, yet big impact changes that will turn an ugly
duckling kitchen into a swan.
One way to do this, according to Suzann Nordstrom, an instructor with The
Illinois Institute of Art--Schaumburg, is to see kitchens as they used to be,
when "freestanding furniture was used to house kitchen objects."
Though this went out of fashion when built-in cabinetry came along, Nordstrom
says it's making a comeback, and it's a perfect design idea for anyone redoing a
kitchen on a tight budget.
"Think about using a piece of furniture, which might already exist in the
house or find a hutch or case piece at a flea market or antique shop," she
says. By using an actual piece of furniture, you have an opportunity to set a
specific style for your kitchen. Whether it's French country, Asian-inspired or
Italian farmhouse, chances are a great piece can be found on almost any budget.
In addition to furniture, Nordstrom says lighting can make or break the look of
your kitchen. "The secret to making a lighting statement in your kitchen is
to use task, ambient and accent," she explains. Most people do well with
ambient lighting, which is usually a large overhead fixture, but to get task and
accent lighting on a budget, Nordstrom recommends placing under-cabinet lighting
in the front and bottom of wall cabinets, or over islands or peninsulas by using
pendants. Both types of lighting are easily available and affordable at a local
home center. Accent lighting can be achieved by using rope lighting above wall
cabinets or using small lamps on freestanding furniture, islands or peninsulas.
Yanitza Tavarez, an interior design instructor at The Art Institute of
Washington, has learned a trick or two for turning around the look of a drab
kitchen. "Consider replacing your knobs and handles. Whether you choose
sleek and modern or fun and whimsical, new hardware provides a range of options
that will fit into any budget," she says.
Cabinet resurfacing is another option Tavarez recommends. Though it's more
expensive than just painting, it's not as pricey as all new cabinetry. She likes
inserting glass panels for a fresh new look.
Super easy tricks for updating and improving the look of any kitchen don't have
to cost anything. Tavarez says "de-clutter your countertops and you'll be
amazed how much cleaner and brighter your kitchen can look." For splashes
of color, fill a beautiful bowl with lemons or limes, or display a fresh,
brightly-colored tea towel. Take your children's artwork and frame it. With
smaller pieces, you can use them across a backsplash. Plastic or laminate frames
are easy to wipe off, says Tavarez, and they become "little masterpieces in
your kitchen."
With any budget, small or large, it's important to stay realistic. John Franke,
a design instructor at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh says, "On a really
tight budget, you usually can't move plumbing or necessarily buy new
appliances." Instead, he recommends educating yourself by heading to your
local home center, and finding out what's possible for the money you have. If
you don't have a lot of countertop, maybe you can afford a new laminate one.
Laminates have come a long way in terms of mimicking the look of more expensive
materials, and their cost is still very affordable.
Last but not least, consider consulting with a professional designer. Though it
may seem out of reach on a budget, many designers are willing to work with a
client on an hourly basis offering advice on color, lighting or effective use of
space. "Designers are professionals, and are trained to find design
solutions, even on a small budget," says Franke.
Design help can be found by contacting a local chapter of American Society for
Interior Design or a nearby design school. Explain what kind of help you need
and your budget.
Here are a few more simple tips from the design pros at The Art Institutes:
* If you can't replace old appliances, think on a smaller scale. Instead,
replace your old toaster, blender, and/or microwave with new ones utilizing
fashionable stainless steel. Remember to select a satin finish in order to avoid
fingerprints.
* Consider coordinated storage containers. For example, use glass jars to store
your pasta, rice and/or cereal. It also serves as a colorful display. In a
similar manner, you can substitute the bottles of mismatched spices into a
streamlined arrangement.
* Taking inspiration from museums, display your favorite kitchen objects. For
example on a simple shelf, make an arrangement of the myriad of ice cream scoops
and cups that you have gathered throughout the years. Thus, look at the
potential for collections when you visit flea markets and yard sales.
* Paint will always remain the least expensive way to make an impact but it is
not always an option (particularly in rented spaces). If you can paint,
generally, warm colors (oranges, yellows and reds) are better suited for
kitchens and dining rooms.
The Art Institutes system of 31 education institutions is located throughout
North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and
culinary professionals. The Art Institutes system of schools has provided
career-oriented education programs for 40 years with more than 160,000
graduates. For more information, visit The Art Institutes Web site at
www.artinstitutes.edu/nz.
Courtesy of ARA Content