For most people, the kitchen is the lifeblood of the home. And for those of us who love to cook and to entertain, having a kitchen space that is comfortable to work in as well as utilitarian is absolutely essential. Unfortunately, for many setting out to improve a kitchen space is a daunting and intimidating task. Costs can run wild in your head as you ponder every desirable possibility for improvement, and rather than taking on such a big project, it gets put off another year. As a builder myself, I cannot recommend strongly enough that first, you take a step back and simply establish priorities before you begin, then proceed with informed choices based upon your specific budget.
First you should ask, what is the one thing you could change right off the bat if you could? Would it be the color scheme, the arrangement of your appliances, the lighting, the floor? Establish for yourself an order of operations and then set out to tackle them one by one, rather than trying to digest an entire overhaul all at once; as ultimately, without having knowledge of low cost fixes that can achieve your goals, you may end up spending much more than is necessary.
For example, one client of mine was generally unhappy with the way her kitchen "felt" when she was using it. For her, it wasn't a place she enjoyed spending a lot of time in, despite the fact that she was a self-confessed foodie and culinary adventurer. Her appliances had been recently updated, but still her new range with all its high-tech gadgetry and self-sufficiency didn't make her kitchen the comfortable space she had hoped for.
What I recommended was that we first take a look at the surfaces she was working with. She did have new shiny appliances, but yet, as they were framed by old worn cabinetry and countertops her kitchen still had that same clunky feel as it had before. Opening her eyes to a number of options, I found that she was surprised to see that a few relatively inexpensive changes would have such a dramatic impact.
I pointed out that while it's not often considered, painting or staining existing cabinetry can be an excellent option to upgrade your kitchen atmosphere. Believe it or not, there are ready made kits a homeowner can purchase to do this work entirely by themselves. In a weekend, with a little elbow grease and some diligent work the rewards can be great despite a low cost. You can choose your own stain, paint, or finish, and make it happen all on your own time. In addition, throwing on some new hardware is simple enough even for a novice, and can have a tremendous impact on the feel of a kitchen. The great thing about this approach is that you can step into the changes in a gradual manner, and not be compelled to jump right in to a huge overhaul commitment.
For a little more money, I pointed out that countertops can be either restored, refinished, or replaced altogether, giving her endless possibilities of texture and color combinations to go with an upgraded design. She was surprised to hear that new laminate is very common, and is actually quite easy to install over old and worn pre-existing laminate countertops. This is a job for your local contractor however, but the bang for the buck can be huge. It could mean the difference between hundreds and thousands when all is said and done, because your existing cabinets will be preserved rather than replaced altogether.
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