Give Your Kitchen a “Face Lift”

Fast and Frugal Tips for Changing the Look of the Heart of Your Home

So much more than a food preparation chamber, the kitchen truly is the heart of many an American home. It’s a social nerve center for many a neighborhood gathering, the place where revelations are made and shared between family members. It’s a homework zone, a bonding space, and – yes – the room where many a fabulous meal is prepared. With so much time spent in such a central area, this one room should reflect the family’s personality and – in doing so – help set a mood for each new day. Highlight Homes and Highlight Home Restoration have compiled the following list of fast and frugal tips for giving your kitchen the “face lift” it deserves:

1)      One, Two, Switcheroo: If you enjoy the current layout of your kitchen, but are tired of the look of your cabinets and/or countertops – you have the option of simply re-facing your cabinetry and installing more updated counters.  Re-facing your cabinets is a cost-effective way to alter the surface appearance in your kitchen, and – in its most basic form – entails the introduction of new cabinet doors in place of your old ones. This is most effective when the cabinetry can be painted or stained to match OR already complements the look of the new doors and drawers. If you love your china pattern, you might elect to use glass doors for some of your new cabinets and install special lighting to showcase it. If your counters are outdated or showing excessive wear and tear, it might be a good idea to switch these out at the same time. Granite continues to hold the lead in most desirable material for kitchen counters today, but less expensive alternatives such as solid surface “man-made” polymer materials, granite, or ceramic tile, and laminates come in a wide variety of styles and colors and can dramatically change the look of your kitchen.

2)      Paint and Polish: It is possible that a fresh coat of paint over your current cabinets might do the trick, followed by the introduction of new door and drawer pulls.  Consider going after your walls with a fresh new paint color that complements your new cabinets, as well, to really make your houseguests say “WOW!”  According to the experts at Pantone – the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries – you can create a mood in a room with your paint color selection. Red is daring and energetic, while blue is peaceful and refreshing. Orange is inspiring, inventive and gregarious while purple is aristocratic and enchanting.  Green is clean and earnest, while brown is earthy and familiar.  Grey is powerful and timeless, while yellow is uplifting and playful.  Touches of black throughout the room add an air of sophistication.  Don’t forget to pull it all together through your choice of linens for the table and windows, as well as a great throw rug and brand new dish towels.

3)      De-Clutter and De-Stress: With all this talk of setting a mood, let’s not forget that clutter can correlate to your stress level. Clean, uncluttered countertops will not only help lower stress – but they will give the impression of a spotless kitchen.  Stow your appliances away in cabinets or the pantry, and become an advocate for “less is more” with regard to knick-knacks in your kitchen.  This might be a great time to invest in some organizational shelving for your cabinets and pantry to maximize your use of space.

4)      Spotlight, please: You could accomplish a great deal by incorporating beautiful new light fixtures over your kitchen table and island.  When well-chosen, these fixtures could serve as a focal point. If your kitchen area is small, you might want to also consider adding track or pot lighting to brighten your space (and stay away from dark cabinets and wall colors as they will only serve to diminish the size further). A growing trend is the introduction of task lighting under cabinets that can lighten up your work space while chopping, blending and mixing – or showcase gorgeous new countertops (just be sure to keep them shiny and clean!)

In the event that you are looking for a complete kitchen overhaul – one that will exceed your wildest dreams – Tip #5 should be to call the friendly folks at Highlight Home Restoration.  We will listen carefully to your wants and needs, examine the space, and design something spectacular to fit both your vision AND your budget. Because we are well-versed in structural engineering, architecture and construction – we are your one-stop shop to taking your kitchen remodel from concept to completion. We can completely revamp the layout of your kitchen space, while adhering to the look and style of your home so it flows beautifully and seamlessly into your home’s design. We can also help with smaller jobs, like those outlined above – from re-facing cabinets, to replacing countertops, from installing organizational shelving to helping you incorporate new lighting fixtures to your kitchen space. Needless to say, our expertise can be of use all over your home – basement finishing, bathroom remodels, sunroom additions, decks and patios, and so much more.

Keep in mind that a major kitchen remodel often equates to an over 70% return on investment when a house is resold.  To get started on the exciting renovation of your family’s kitchen, call Highlight Home Restoration at 678-873-9234, e-mail us at info@highlighthomesga.com, or fill out our convenient online contact form.  To learn more about Highlight Homes and Highlight Home Restoration, visit us on the web at www.highlighthomesga.com or from your mobile device by texting HighlightHomes to 99699. We look forward to hearing from you soon, and to making your kitchen one of the many “highlights” of your family’s life!