The kitchen is the hub of the home. Refresh the look of your house with a new look in the kitchen.
Painting Kitchen Cabinets
The least expensive way to give a fresh new look to your old cabinets is to paint them. Because the cabinets will have a build up of grease, grime and food particles, a thorough cleaning is necessary before you begin. Remove doors and hinges from the cabinet body. Using an all-purpose cleaner, give them a good scrubbing then wash over them with TSP and allow to completely dry.
Mask off the floor, countertops and appliances before beginning to paint. Using a fine grit sandpaper, give all surfaces a light sanding. Apply primer unless you are repainting kitchen cabinets in the same color. Paint will not stick to a stained or varnished surface.
Use a high-quality brush to apply your paint in multiple thin coats, sanding very lightly with fine grit sandpaper once the first coat is completely dry. Two thin coats should be enough, but apply a third if your cabinets are made from a heavy grained wood. A single thick coat will likely peel right off. Be patient and take the time to do it correctly.
Refacing Kitchen Cabinets
Completely replacing your cabinets is costly and refaced cabinet doors and drawers can look like new ones. Be sure the structure of your cabinets is in good condition – no warped wood or damaged fiberboard. If not, your new look will not last.
Determine a color scheme for your kitchen and any finishes you plan to use in the rest of the room. Do you want to leave a few cabinets open or use glass doors? What kind of a look are you going for? Refacing with maple or oak finishes give a traditional look while pine adds a country feel.
Refinish the external boxes with stain, paint or laminate to match your new look and paint the interior of the boxes as well.
Changing Kitchen Cabinet Hardware
You can give your kitchen a new look simply by changing outdated, tarnished or damaged hardware. Your hardware should compliment your existing or new cabinets and your kitchen as a whole. Shiny metal fittings may clash with wood-grained cabinets but high gloss fittings match a sleek modern design. As a rule, dark hardware goes best with light finishes and vice versa.
Take measurements – size, location and spacing of screws. If it is not possible to use the original holes with your new hardware, use a back plate, a metal plate that fits between the wooden surface and the knob or pull to be mounted. When choosing hinges, get expert advice. If they are the wrong size or fit badly your doors may sag.
Replacing Kitchen Countertops
Consider your options and choose the surface that best fits your needs. Want to do it yourself? Resurface with plastic laminate.
Solid surface tops provide the countertop, sink and backsplash in one piece, making it both attractive and easy to clean. Glass countertops bring a glazed non-traditional look to a modern kitchen and add a transparent or translucent depth that makes a kitchen look bright and roomy. Soapstone feels smooth and waxy to touch yet is very durable. Quartz countertops are manufactured by combining quartz crystals with resin binding and color pigments under high pressure resulting in hard surfaces that resist wear and tear. Marble or granite add both beauty and luxury to your kitchen not to mention great re-sale value to your home.
Inspiration below!
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