Inexpensive Kitchen Update
You don’t have to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a kitchen overhaul to get a more luxurious cooking space. While some of these ideas are cheaper than others, all of them will turn up the heat on your kitchen’s function and style. Give your cabinets a facelift with stylish cabinet hardware, mix-and-match metals with a new kitchen faucet and lighting. Check out the other creative solutions for the "no remodel needed" that will increase your kitchen's investment potential.
{Image Source: Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Magazine; Designed By: Matthew Quinn of Design Galleria Kitchen and Bath Studio}
1. Cabinet Hardware
One of the easiest, yet surprisingly impactful changes you can make in your kitchen is to switch out your kitchen hardware. If you’re in a dated kitchen or just don’t love the style of your existing pulls, it’s time to make a change. If you want to keep things as simple as possible, measure your current cabinet and drawer pulls and find replacements that are the exact same size. This means you will be able to use the existing holes so you can quickly and easily swap in the new pulls.
2. Stools
It’s hard to imagine any kitchen without some sort of bar stool. In recent years, the heart-of-the-home space has morphed from simply being a place for cooking and baking to a place for entertaining and spending time as a family, so comfort and style is key. But first, you must determine the appropriate height your island requires, bar or counter. The oft-overlooked furniture piece is more than just a seat at the big chef's table. It's a chance to make a statement in a space that is traditionally very black and white. When considering a selection be sure to ask yourself, is it durable, functional, and stylish?
3. Faucet
The kitchen faucet’s basic function is to dispense hot and cold water for washing dishes, food and hands. But beyond that it’s a major player in defining the style of your kitchen design. Do you have a kitchen that is sleek and contemporary, or one that is reminiscent of a farmhouse kitchen? This one item will shift the look of your kitchen to express the style you prefer. Again, the options are endless. Work with your designer to land on the best one for you.
4. Lighting
Another great way to transform your kitchen is to switch up the light fixtures. Many older kitchen designs relied on things like fluorescent lighting boxes (yikes!). But it’s super easy to remove those and replace them with more up-to-date pendants or chandeliers. Again, if you're a renter, you can simply store the existing fixtures out of the way.
5. Runners
The final and finishing touch is the warmest and most colorful way to add personality to your kitchen floors, with a runner rug. Those with hard floors can benefit from a little softening. A little bit of extra cushioning under the feet can make a big difference if you spend a lot of time standing in one spot chopping, stirring or even just chatting. The best part: You can always roll the rug up and tuck it away if you want to change your look for the season, creating summer and winter looks that feel dramatically different. The key is to look for a flat, dense weave. In a space where spills, crumbs and a lot of wear and tear are inevitable, look for a carpet that has short, dense fibers, which will essentially lock out soil and hold up to use.
Check out our blog post for mixing metals…click here! Have a design question or design dilemma, reach out to us for expert design advice.
{Cover Image Source: Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Magazine}; All images sourced from Traditional Home and Atlanta Homes & Lifestyle Magazine.
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