Easy Upgrades to Builder Grade or Dated Spaces - The Kitchen
I hope I’m getting your wheels turning in terms of easy (and some not-so-easy) upgrades you can make to your home. The New Year is the ideal time to think about what changes you’d like to make to enhance your home. We spend so much time at home, we should love our space, don’t you think?
This week, I’ll be focusing on some ideas to upgrade a dated kitchen.
Cabinet Doors
I was contemplating buying a condo recently and it needed everything. It was stuck in the 80’s and in my humble opinion, not much great design was happening in that decade (and I was in my late teens and early 20s then and I’m not sure hair or clothing styles were all that fashionable at that time either). The worst room (and the one that needed the most love) was the kitchen.
Although the cabinets seemed to be in good shape, the doors were melamine with oak trim (remember those beauties?) and an eye sore to say the least. In doing research, I found out that you could actually replace the doors only if you like the layout of a kitchen and placement of the cabinets. Check them out here >> https://kitchencabinetdoors.com/ <<
Because this would be a vacation home and not my primary residence, I would not opt to do a full kitchen remodel. I estimated the cost to purchase primed door and drawer fronts would be about $1500. A bargain when considering what new cabinets would cost.
Of course, if you don’t like the layout of your kitchen these might not be an option and you may have to make a much greater investment. Both options are valid. If this had been my primary home, I may have opted for all new cabinets.
Countertops
If you’ve ever done a kitchen remodel you know you can go crazy with granite or quarts, however, if cost is of concern, I love a butcher block countertop. Years ago when I was working on a huge renovation I chose maple countertops and loved them. When times were tighter and I was working on investment properties, Ikea’s butcher block countertops fit the bill and my wallet and provided a very similar look for a fraction of the cost.
Wooden countertops remain a classic and give a timeless look and feel to a kitchen. I’d use them again and again when cost and style are major considerations.
Backsplash
Many kitchens have no backsplash; however, especially near a stove, tile provides a great surface that can easily be wiped down when tomato sauce splatters. Porcelain and ceramic tiles are more affordable than marble or granite/quartz slabs and are more easy to maintain. Some classic favorites of mine are good old subway tiles – the most affordable and classic look that will stand the test of time.
If you love the look of marble, there are options in porcelain and ceramic tiles that give you the look for less. Installing backsplash is like frosting a cake. There are many tutorials on YouTube that can walk you through the process. Of course, you can always hire someone to install the tile as well.
We’ll continue our kitchen upgrades in next week’s blog. See you then!
PS - Remember to send me an email (nmichaels@nancymichaelsinteriors.com) if you have any questions or if you’d like to work with me on your home updates.