It’s not easy to love your circa. 1925 kitchen cabinets. Installing new cabinets and counter-tops is a pricey proposition. Painting your kitchen cabinets is a cheaper alternative. Hiring professional home painters for this task costs at least $1,000. If the painter needs to strip all of the cabinets and drawers first, this will cost more. Kitchen cabinet painting can be a do-it-yourself job.
Refreshing your kitchen cabinets involves seven steps. Read on to see if this is something you can take on yourself, or if calling on professional home painters is the best idea for you.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting Steps
- Envision a new look: Tack up paint swatches so you can pick an interior painting color palette.
- Deconstruction: Unhinge the cabinet doors and pull out the drawers. Place these cabinets and drawers on a drop cloth in a well-ventilated room or your garage floor. If you live in an older home, check your kitchen cabinet painting with a home-lead test.
- Surface clean: Your kitchen is the busiest room in the house, and these surfaces have collected years of dirty fingerprints. Use everyday household cleaners for this task. If the grime doesn’t fade away, clean with trisodium phosphate (TSP); follow this strong cleaner’s recommended safety precautions.
- Prep and Sand: Glossy or shiny cabinets that feel like a laminated surface will need to be sanded. Use 150- or 180-grit sandpaper. If your cabinets are dinged and nicked, fill those character flaws with nonshrinking putty, and sand these areas after the putty dries.
- Prime: Heavily stained cabinets and drawers need to be primed with a stain-blocking primer. Otherwise, prime your surfaces with an alkyd or 100 percent acrylic latex primer. Any imperfections can be sanded away.
- Apply two coats of paint: Wait a few hours for the primer to dry, then apply two coats of either oil-based or latex paint with a brush. A semi-gloss or gloss paint will offer good kitchen-cleaning capabilities. For optimal results, kitchen cabinets can be spray-finished; this is when it pays to hire professional home painters.
- Dry for an entire work week: After waiting five days, put your new kitchen cabinets back together.
If you have enough elbow grease, time, and painting know-how, you can complete these seven steps yourself. Otherwise, professional home painters can tackle your kitchen cabinet painting, adding new luster to your home kitchen.
Four Important Considerations Before Your Kitchen Remodel Begins
January 11th, 2010 by admin
You’ve saved. You’ve dreamed. Then you’ve saved a bit more. Now it’s time for that kitchen remodel you have been craving since the moment you bought your house!
It’s time to pick up the phone and get quotes from the professionals, but before you do that, take a good look at your plans. Choosing a kitchen remodeling contractor is only the first step. Many homeowners start a kitchen remodel and before long, they are in over their heads and the job is only half-finished.
What to Expect from Your Kitchen Remodel
Planning ahead is crucial. Before you choose a kitchen remodeling contractor, know what to expect from your kitchen remodel.
Need help? Find a kitchen pro near you.
- Your kitchen is no longer your own. If you are undergoing a major remodel, you might be without a kitchen for a week or more. Kitchen remodeling contractors try not to upset the flow of your household, but you still have to deal with a kitchen that is out of commission, not to mention the presence of strangers in your house all day.
- There could be budget surprises. When you budget for your kitchen remodel, it’s a good idea to estimate high, so that if you do run a bit over budget, you can cover the extra expense. Plan for the little surprises that might pop up, such as the discovery of rotting wood under those old cabinets or problems with electrical wiring.
- What to do when you can’t cook! While your kitchen is in the hands of the contractors, you need to make alternate arrangements to eat–and that can add up to a big expense. If you can stay with friends or family while the work is being done, great! But you might have to eat out during that time, or plan to plug in a microwave in another part of the house and eat microwaved foods for a few days.
- Should you move out? It might be tempting to take a vacation while the remodel is being done. However, if the contractors need to get in touch with you or consult with you on something, it would help if you were nearby. You might consider staying in a local hotel instead.
The work might seem like a major inconvenience as the kitchen remodeling contractors take over your home for a few days. But in the end, you have a beautiful place to cook and entertain. Stay patient–your dream kitchen is almost ready!
About the author: Shannon Dauphin is a freelance writer based near Nashville, Tennessee. Her house was built in 1901, so home repair and renovation have become her hobbies.
Easy Basement Renovations & Other Home Renovation Ideas
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Four Important Considerations Before Your Kitchen Remodel Begins
The Best Kitchen Lighting is Practical and Dramatic
December 5th, 2009 by admin
The proper kitchen lighting can turn your cooking space from ho-hum to “wow” in the time it takes to flip a switch. You already know you need ample lighting for your kitchen workspace, but what about lighting that adds that unique flair? Kitchen lighting is the finishing touch that makes your space warm and inviting.
By consulting with a kitchen remodeling contractor about both the practical and the artistic possibilities of your kitchen, you can have the best blend of the practical and the dramatic!
Kitchen Lighting Options
The options for lighting your kitchen are limited only by your imagination. Here are a few tips to get you started on the road to kitchen lighting:
- Make task areas a priority. The best kitchen lighting will be necessary where you work the most–countertops, sinks, tables, and rangetops. Installing bright lights underneath the kitchen cabinets can work well for directing light right where you need it. Don’t forget to install bright lights in the pantry as well.
- What about the kitchen island? Hanging pendant-style lighting, such as a wide chandelier directly over the island space, can work wonders for lighting up the room and the island countertop.
- Consider ambient lighting. If you are simply sitting at the kitchen table and talking among friends, ambient light from above can give the room a hearty glow. A central fixture works well for this, but recessed lighting often makes a grander statement.
- Accent lighting adds flair. Small lamps that highlight collectibles, wall scones that glow alongside artwork, and recessed lights that reveal elegant architectural details are all perfect for the dramatic kitchen.
- The fixtures matter. Unique kitchen lighting is not just about the light itself–how it is presented matters, too. An elegant chandelier or a striking antique fixture can make for a beautiful conversation piece.
- Dimmers offer more control. Does the light seem perfect before dinner, but too bright during the meal? Use a dimmer switch to tailor the light to the mood.
Ask Your Kitchen Remodeling Contractor
Though you may have a few great lighting ideas in mind, your kitchen remodeling contractor might be able to offer further insight. Monty Gilbertson of Lighting Design in Lacrosse, Wisconsin recommends letting a professional offer valuable tips. “There are many ways to light a kitchen, some better than others,” he says. “There are a lot of things an expert can bring to the party and make any room in the house more livable.”
About the author: Shannon Dauphin is a freelance writer based near Nashville, Tennessee. Her house was built in 1901, so home repair and renovation have become her hobbies.
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The Best Kitchen Lighting is Practical and Dramatic
Granite Countertops: Pros and Cons
December 5th, 2009 by admin
Granite countertops are prized for their natural beauty and durability. They can give your kitchen a rich and unique look, and add to the value of your home. But there are also drawbacks to granite countertops. So as you plan your new or remodeled kitchen, consider both the pros and the cons of granite.
Granite Countertops: Pros
- Granite countertops, because they are a natural material, have a unique look
- Granite adds value to a home, and doesn’t depreciate over time
- Granite is sanitary, does not harbor bacteria
- Granite is easy to clean
- Granite is durable
Granite Countertops: Cons
- Granite is heavy, and may require extra structural support
- Granite is expensive, and installation is even more so
- Because it is a natural material, an exact uniform look to all your countertops may not be achievable
- Granite must be sealed to prevent stains
- Granite can crack if struck with a hard, sharp object
- Once installed, granite is very difficult to remove
- Some types of granite have been shown to emit radiation
Dealing With Kitchen Remodel Problems
The most disconcerting is the radiation issue, which was addressed in detail in a New York Times article on July 24, 2008. Certain types of granite have been found to emit moderate levels of radon and radiation, because they contain uranium, thorium, and other radiation sources. The solution is to have the granite you select tested and only use granite with low radiation levels.
Also, since granite is porous, it is imperative to have your granite countertops chemically sealed to prevent stains. There are a number of commercial sealant products on the market that work quite well, but it is important to seal the granite before stains occur, or you could seal the stain permanently into the surface.
To prevent cracking or chipping, always protect your granite countertop with a cutting board when chopping with a knife or cleaver.
Finally, if your sense of aesthetics requires a uniform look throughout your kitchen, or if you like to change the look periodically, then granite may not be for you.
Granite Countertops: Installation Options
Granite countertops can give your kitchen years of beauty and utility. If you are doing a kitchen remodel and have decided on granite, you have two options. You can tear the tops off your old cabinets and replace them, or you can have prefabricated granite countertops made to fit over your old countertops. Specialized contractors are available to provide either option.
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Granite Countertops: Pros and Cons
Tie Everything Together with a Stunning Kitchen Backsplash
December 5th, 2009 by admin
When people think about kitchen design ideas they consider cabinets, countertops, appliances, and flooring as the major visual areas of the kitchen. The one area which can tie everything together in the kitchen is the backsplash, and it is often an afterthought in the design process of a custom kitchen.
Depending on what material and design you choose for your kitchen backsplash, you can create a subtle continuation as your eyes move from the kitchen flooring up over the base cabinets, countertop and continue up to the wall cabinets, or you can create an accent that captures your eyes as soon as you enter the kitchen. Your kitchen backsplash can convey the statement that you have a casual kitchen, or a country kitchen, a frivolous kitchen, or that a serious cook resides in your kitchen.
Kitchen Backsplash Materials
There are as many different different types of kitchen backsplash materials as you can imagine. When considering materials for the backsplash in your custom kitchen, a few things to consider are:
- Style
- Cost
- Ease of installation
- Ease of cleaning
Style
You may know what style you are seeking, or you may want to consult with a Kitchen Designer or Kitchen Remodeling Contractor for some help. Most kitchen backsplashes will extend from the top of the countertop to the bottom of the wall cabinets. Backsplashes can blend in or stand out, it is up to your kitchen design ideas.
Cost
Depending on what material you choose for your kitchen backsplash, it can be a costly item such as extending your granite countertop up the wall by using slabs of granite, or the backsplash can be relatively inexpensive if you decide to use sheets of mosaic tile or wallpaper.
Ease of Installation
This needs to be considered if you are installing your kitchen backsplash and don’t have a lot of practice, or if hiring a contractor, a difficult installation process can add to the cost.
Ease of Cleaning
Is your kitchen used on occasion, or is a full meal cooked in your kitchen every day? Are you going to need to clean grease and food off of your backsplash on a regular basis, or is your kitchen there for when you don’t feel like going out to eat?
Popular Kitchen Backsplash Materials
These are a very few of the more popular materials used for backsplashes in custom kitchens:
- Marble tiles or slabs
- Granite tiles or slabs
- Ceramic tile in all sizes
- Hand-painted tile
- Glass tiles
- Glass panels
- Stainless steel
- Wallpaper
- Wood bead board
Each of these materials, and the many others that are available, have pros and cons that should be considered when selecting them. A kitchen designer or kitchen remodeling contractor may be a big help when making your decision.
About the author: Jeffrey Anderson has a Degree in English from V.M.I. and served as an officer in the Marine Corps. He worked in Residential and Commercial construction management for 25 years before retiring to write full time.
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Tie Everything Together with a Stunning Kitchen Backsplash
Five Inexpensive Kitchen Makeover Secrets Shared by Kitchen Designers
December 5th, 2009 by admin
Savvy kitchen designers often recommend five simple and inexpensive changes that can add new life to your old kitchen.
1. Apply Fresh Paint.
Give your kitchen a fresh new look with a coat of paint, and get an instant kitchen makeover. Choose a lighter color or leave your ceilings white if you want to make your kitchen appear larger. Purchase paint, a paint tray and liners, paint brush, roller with frame, masking tape and a drop cloth. Be sure to use latex-based paint, as it’s easy to clean. Tape off anything you don’t want to paint, lay down the drop cloth and begin. Consider using the services of a local painting professional if you’re short on time or are inexperienced with painting.
2. Update Kitchen Hardware.
Replace the hardware on your cabinets for a surprisingly impactful kitchen makeover. Choose from thousands of designs and colors and give your cabinets a new look. Select round ceramic, plastics, porcelain or brass knobs and pulls. Round knobs are around $0.80 at Home Depot or Lowes; pulls are about $0.90. When shopping for new hardware, take an old hardware piece with you to try and match the holes. After choosing your new hardware, remove all of the old hardware with a screwdriver and replace with the new hardware.
3. Replace Your Faucet.
With ever-changing styles, choose from sleek modern faucets to classic traditional. Purchase a faucet for as low as $20.00 for a quick update and an inexpensive kitchen makeover element. Prior to installation turn off the water underneath the sink. Remove the old faucet and replace with your new one, be sure to use sealant. Kitchen designers often recommend that you contact a local plumbing professional to assist you if you’re unsure of how to replace a faucet correctly.
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4. Change Your Window D
Kitchen Countertop Ideas: Why Laminate Countertops Make Sense
December 5th, 2009 by admin
Sure, we all cringe a bit picturing grandma’s olive green and silver-flecked Formica countertops (along with matching olive green refrigerator and stove, of course). But today’s laminate countertops provide all of the positives that grandma loved with some new benefits that you’re certain to appreciate.
Laminate Countertops: Nearly Unlimited Design and Color Choices
Laminate countertops come in an amazing array of colors and patterns. Do you want the look of wood? Laminate can do that. Do you want the appearance of granite? Laminate can do that. Do you want zebra stripes on your countertop? That seems a bit excessive, although laminate could do that if you truly wanted it to. Most homeowners don’t get quite that extreme but it’s nice to know that whatever your kitchen countertop ideas, you can probably pull them off. Whether you want something very natural-looking or a crazy pattern to match your playful design style, laminate can deliver the goods.
Need help? Find a kitchen pro near you.
Kitchen Countertop Ideas Should be Simple to Clean and Maintain
The need to keep your countertops clean will be directly in your face every single day. You won’t need expensive, specialized cleaners to wipe up your laminate countertop after small spills or after making a big, messy dinner. Just use soap and water, general kitchen cleaners, or even bleach for those really tough jobs. Scouring with powdered cleansers and steel wool might scratch the surface and you should always use a cutting board to avoid cuts. But for the most part, laminate will be perfect for busy families who use and abuse their kitchens regularly.
Design Your Kitchen with Countertop Budgets in Mind
In today’s economy, price can make or break your ability to implement your kitchen countertop ideas. Many families just can’t afford to invest the kind of money necessary to put in a granite, concrete, or butcher block countertops even if they’d like to. Choosing laminate instead can save you thousands of dollars and even open up the possibility of a remodel where none existed. Although nearly all homeowners should have their countertop installed professionally, the savings may still be significant. Laminate typically runs about $5 to $30 per square foot, while granite can cost from $45 to $100 for the same coverage.
So the question of the hour is this: are high-end countertops really worth it to you? The answer might be yes, and if so, that’s great news. If that answer is no, that’s great news, too. You can celebrate the fact that you’ll still be able to choose a beautiful, durable countertop that will transform the look of your kitchen. Whatever your budget or design style, look closely at laminate countertops.
About the author: Natalie Morris is a freelance writer who loves to learn and ask questions. Her favorite home improvement activities include gardening, organizing, and painting large expanses of wall while her husband does the trim work. Natalie holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Arizona State University.
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Kitchen Countertop Ideas: Why Laminate Countertops Make Sense
Kitchen Countertop Materials: Comparison Shopping for your Renovation Project
September 27th, 2009 by adminI was helping my daughter having her kitchen remodelled recently. She was having problems trying to decide on a new countertop material. Walking through the counters area in Home Depot gave her a few ideas, but she was still undecided when the time came to choose a month later. I decided to write out a quick comparison of all the materials and costs for her and when I was done I thought other people might find it useful as well, so here goes.
Most people are familiar with laminate countertops. (Formica is one brand name.) They’re a thin surface of high-pressure laminate applied to a thicker base of plywood or particleboard. Pluses: The standby, available in literally hundreds of patterns and colors, laminates are the least expensive (next to tile) and durable, requiring less upkeep than tile. Minuses: Easy to scorch with hot cookware, the use of layers in their construction makes it tricky to repair chips, show scratches, especially lighter colors, so not usable as a cutting surface. Less durable than natural stone or solid surface; use with under mount sinks is not recommended. Cost: $25 to $50 foot
Solid surfacing, (brand names Corian, Fountainhead, Avonite and Surrell) a newer countertop material, is durable and mimics the appearance of natural stone materials like marble or granite. Pluses: Gives seamless surfaces, easy to care for. High impact resistance, easily repaired, nonporous and seamless, so won’t trap dirt, collect bacteria or stain; easily. Minuses: May melt from hot pot; looks non-natural in some color schemes, licensed contractor required for installation and repair work. Cost: $60 to $110 per foot.
Natural woods. Used in butcher-block style arrangement. Maple, oak and other hardwoods, make durable and elegant countertops. Pluses: Good surface for cutting foods; scratches easily repaired by sanding; easy match with wood cabinets and floors. Minuses: Requires a finish to preserve appearance, may scorch with hot cookware, allows bacterial growth, so needs regular cleaning. Not practical for entire countertop – good for small sections. Cost: $50 to $75 per foot
Granite. Popular for their elegant and rich look, natural stone countertops will last longer than most kitchens. Pluses: Adds to value of home, hard durable surface, very heat resistant. Minuses: very expensive, requires care since it is porous and must be sealed periodically, grease will stain. Cost: 60 to $200 per foot for granite $60 to $130 per foot for marble (stains easily and not recommended for food prep countertop)
Ceramic or Porcelain Tile: This is the countertop material my daughter was replacing. While the counters were in pretty bad shape, refurbishing was an option. Tile has a comforting, classic look and is inexpensive.. Pluses: Easy to clean up after a mess. More heat resistant than laminates solid surfaces, inexpensive, unless you are thinking about custom or hand-painted tiles. Minuses: Can chip and crack easily; needs regular maintenance to keep bacteria out of grout. Scrubbing grout. Cost: $10 to $25 per foot.
So, what countertop material did she choose in the end? For it’s reasonable cost and reparability, Corian got the nod for the new kitchen. We found a color that was very close to a granite look and we also liked the ten year warranty.
Renovations for Your House – The Basics of Home Remodeling
September 22nd, 2009 by adminWith the mortgage business being what it is these days, it may be a safer think to fix up your house as opposed to selling it and purchasing a new one. House prices have come down so much that nowadays homeowner will have a hard time finding the right value for their land. Most people are turning to house renovations to enhance the price of their house and prepare for the future bounce back in the housing market. Here are a few simple home remodeling tips that can help you fix your house up.
If you are looking to obtain the most for your money, it is a great bet to start with the kitchen. One problem you may encounter is that a complete kitchen renovation may take a little longer than expected and the cost could be a bit higher than you have to expend. A good place to start renovating your kitchen is with something inexpensive like the walls. Slap a fresh coat of paint on your kitchen walls and it can do wonders for the appear and feel of the kitchen.
The next thing you want to focus on is the bathrooms. The kitchens and the bathrooms in your house will be the major focal spots when you go to sell your residence. This is why you want to start with these two parts and repair them up as much as possible. A good place to start in your bathroom is the flooring. If you can, don’t make use of vinyl for your flooring and if you do have vinyl floors, upgrade these floors to tile.
The next point to modernize and enhance the value of your home is the front area of your house. Whether this is a small area of grass or you have a big front yard with a garden, you want to ensure that you have excellent curb charm when you are planning to sell your house.
The economy may be on a down swing, but you know how to still do the aforementioned things in order to increase the value of your house while you stay for the economy to recover. Do these things and you will be good on your way to a great house remodeling job.