Cabinetry can also benefit from fresh paint if there is no room for re-facing or new cabinets in the budget. High gloss paints in white or off-white do wonders for old cabinet faces. Either manually paint all exposed cabinetry or spray paint it if you are feeling extremely frugal. You may also wish to try you hand at amateur cabinet front replacement. Remove a few strategically chosen old fronts and replace them with individually purchased glass-paned pieces. Instead of your old stuffy cabinets, this will give you open modern display cases. If you are concerned about keeping the visible shelf space neat, opt for brightly colored dishes behind frosted glass. This will add a splash of color but will distort the cabinet's contents a bit. Alternately, you could remove the cabinet fronts altogether to change the tone of the room. With some bright accent paint, these areas can be used to display decorative accents or oft-used appliances.
Yet another great way to spice up the look of your kitchen is the change all the hardware. Get rid of dull hinges and handles, replacing them with exciting new pieces. Whether you choose simple stainless steel hardware, elegantly sculpted pieces, or an eclectic mixture of colors and styles, the change will be stunning against white cabinets. Other surfaces can also benefit from a makeover, but you need not spend a fortune. To change the look of old countertops, forget about expensive custom-installed marble. Instead, consider installing your own cost-effective tile countertop. Depending on the size of your counter , the project should only take about a day. You can add unique accent pieces -- home improvement stores now carry an incredible selection of these -- as well as a lovely backsplash. You can likewise completely revive a tired floor. Check out your local store for easy-to-install ceramic tile , wood, laminate, or linoleum . On top of an impressive array of choices, these stores will also offer advice on installation as well as free classes on occasion.
Having improved all of these areas of your kitchen, you may find that your sink looks a bit pathetic. While it is possible to replace the entire piece, it can be expensive and rather difficult depending on the size of sink you choose. Rather than going to all the trouble and expense, think about simply replacing the faucet. These fixtures are now as lovely as they are useful, with sleek swan-like spouts, elegant handles, and even delightful little extras like spray hoses. Install a stainless steel or understated white faucet and you will find that the sink does not look nearly so old.
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