What You Can do to Your Kitchen for $1000

A lot of potential customers come to us not wanting to spend a lot of money on their kitchen.  They carry a belief that refacing - or our custom-made product recrafting - is going to get them the kitchen of their dreams on the cheap.  But more often than not, we have to break the bad news to them - their dream kitchen is going to cost money.  And in fact, it is going to cost you somewhere in between $10k to $20k.  Many people don't want to hear that.  They don't like to think that there are real costs associated with re-doing a kitchen well - and that these costs are actually extremely fairly priced in today's market.

BUT....there are things that you can do to update the look of your 30-yr old kitchen that don't have to break the bank.  Check out the before and after pictures and the project description that our VP of cabinetry worked on for her niece.

THE ISSUES:
1 - The kitchen has 30+yr old cabinets with a white dishwasher and range that were 5+years old and a refrigerator and range hood who's age has yet to be discovered.  Needless to say the appliances did not match.
2 - The shelf unit over the peninsula portion of the countertop created a huge division in the sightline and aesthetic flow of the room's space.
3 - The tile countertops were dirty and had missing or broken front edge tiles.
4 - The wall cabinets had an uneven bulkhead above them.

THE SOLUTION:
1 - White appliance paint changed the refrigerator and avocado green range hood to standard white, creating matching appliances throughout the kitchen space.
2 - The dividing shelf unit came down, opening up the space.
3 - The tiles on the front edge of the countertop came off and were replaced with a dark stained 2" wood trim.
4 - Large white crown moulding above the wall cabinets was added to bridge the gap between the ceiling and cabinets and both the trim and ceiling were painted white to match and create a unified sightline.

Water damage had caused the sink base doors to warp and be covered in water stains, while also causing the dishwasher and countertop to be unlevel.

The problems from the water damage were fixed with new birch plywood doors and drawer fronts and a brace that went underneath the cabinets to level the countertop and dishwasher.  New hardware was also added, completing the overall change in the look of the kitchen.

Some elbow grease, Murphy's Oil, clear lacquer, and clear poly finishes helped add polish and panache to the rest of the cabinetry.  Commercial tile and grout cleaner cleaned up the backsplash and counters.  The light fixture, sink, and faucet were all updated as well, creating the finished kitchen.  It goes to show just how much the look of a kitchen can change with the details and some cleaners. 

And meanwhile, you can save some dollars for when you actually want to design and create your dream kitchen :).

The Roy G. Biv of Kitchen Colors

Today we have a guest post from one of our new design interns, Molly Holland.  Molly is a recent graduate from Virginia Tech from their Bachelor of Science, Apparel, Housing and Resource Management program.

In the kitchen design world, it's not just about what cabinets to place in what area of the room.  I like to think it's designing an area where you can feel comfortable in and plan to keep for (hopefully) a lifetime.  Now with saying this, I don't mean that people are strictly forced to stick to one wall color or even one door style (ahem, Recrafting is done here at Signature WoodCrafters! :)).  People are allowed to change whatever they wish to, but right now, I have recently learned about the new trends in colors for kitchens.

While opening up my browser today at work, MSN.com flashed upon the screen with an article in the lifestyle area about the colors of the modern kitchen.  Since I'm a connoisseur of design and trend literature, I decided, why not give this article a read through?  To my disbelief, I realized that people are using crazy colors!  This plethora extends from bright, grass greens inspired by modern European sensibilities to plain, stark white English country kitchens.  These colors are endless throughout the slideshow of vibrant kitchens (as seen below from the article).

What I found so interesting, though, was the fact that people are now using bright colors for the insides of their cabinets, then placing glass on the doors.  What an intriguing idea...which makes me wonder, why didn't I think of that? Then again, that's how life goes in the design world, but now I am inspired to see that kitchens are no longer just natural wooden picturesque model rooms.  Oh no, they are painted with a never-ending rainbow of colors that obviously are the trend these days.  But before going down this route yourself, do remember one thing...how many coats of paint will it take to cover that grass green in three years?  Or do you want to start saving now for your next kitchen replacement! :)

Cabinet ReCraft: Herndon, VA

Kitchen ReCraft: Herndon, VA, originally uploaded by lauren_taggart1.

This was a kitchen recraft job that Signature WoodCrafters completed in Herndon, VA. The homeowners elected to go with our recrafting process versus our kitchen replacement process because they wanted to have their kitchen in use throughout the entire installation process.  So they kept their existing layout, revamped the look of the cabinets with our recrafting product, added new countertops, backsplash, and flooring.

Because of the bulkhead above, the homeowners decided that instead of adding the traditional crown moulding that most kitchens opt for, they would add lite rail moulding to the bottom of the cabinets, providing that little extra special detail to the new look of the kitchen. The end result is stunning.

BEFORE:



AFTER:





This picture really captures the detail in the lite rail moulding...beautiful...

Kitchen Remodel: Herndon, VA

Another View of Galley Kitchen, originally uploaded by lauren_taggart1.

Signature WoodCrafters took a small galley kitchen and transformed it into a beautiful new work of art. We used Century Cabinetry, new granite countertops, and a great backsplash to tie everything together!



Another "before" view...



Kitchen in Process...New Cabinetry installed!



Signature WoodCrafters helped to create some great storage solutions by adding a corner pantry cabinet and above refrigerator cabinets to the existing layout.




Transformed!  New countertops, backsplash, cabinets, and flooring all flow together in a beautiful piece of design work.  Cabinetry has been extended to the ceiling to create more height and storage space in the space.

Kitchen Design

Top Kitchen Lights Design Tips

1. Start underneath

"The least-expensive, easiest layer to add is under-cabinet lighting," says Cameron. She suggests low-voltage xenon bulbs in varying lengths to light counters or islands below shelves or cabinets, but recommends steering clear of small "puck" lights. "They give your counters and shelves these odd spots of light and you can see some models plainly," she says.

2. Choose a ceiling light for now and later

"If your ceiling mount fixture is outdated, replace it with a newer model that has a nice finish and gives off a nice light, but isn't overly embellished," says Cameron. "You want to make sure it will work with a contemporary or traditional decor."

3. Pick out the popular stuff

For mood-setting (or ambient) lights, Lambert says you can't go wrong with two established trends: the pendant light and the track light.

"One of the more interesting brands of track lighting is Tech Lighting -- a bit costly, but very cool stuff over an island or counter," he says.

Glass pendant lights have also been holding their own in the kitchen market for some time, says Cameron, because they are fresh and pretty and can still work with different decors.

4. Decorate, but impersonally

A little decorative lighting is a nice touch in a kitchen and that, too, can be achieved with art-glass pendant lamps, says Cameron: "Many of the hand-blown fixtures can really add to the overall aesthetic in a kitchen."

5. Suit someone else

Whether you're choosing modest or lavish decorative lights, remember that you're not looking for the style that most appeals to you but for the one that's most likely to enhance the value of the kitchen.

6. Stick to one look

There are a lot of really nice, really pretty kitchen lights on the market, and potential buyers will probably expect to see some of them in the finest kitchens. That said, make sure any replacement lights you purchase match the current decor or are neutral enough to work with the wishes of the future homeowners.

What Can I do to my Kitchen for $1000?

Want to make an improvement to your home? Try starting with the kitchen.  Any upgrade made to your kitchen increases the overall value of your home (just try Googling "Kitchen Upgrades Add Value to Home" and see all articles that pop up!).  While upgrading your cabinetry adds the most value, not everyone has $10,000 for new, good quality cabinetry.  So what can you do with a fraction of that amount?  Check out some of these ideas, courtesy of Shine From Yahoo!, on how to update this room inexpensively:


1. Small Change
Instead of everything but the kitchen sink, how about just the kitchen sink? Replacing a dated faucet does wonders for overall style.

2. Surface Value
The whole kitchen will get a lift if you fit the island with a new marble or granite top. It’s far less expensive than refurbishing all the countertops, but adds a very high-end element to the kitchen.

3. Less Is More
Tiling an entire wall or backsplash can be a dollar-draining proposition. Instead, create a fancy medallion with clearance tiles that will pop on the existing wall color.

4. Soft Touch
Cover kitchen windows with basic cafe curtains instead of pricier blinds or layered treatments. A flounce or a valance up top and a half-curtain hung at the middle of the window frame is just enough for a kitchen.

5. Lighten Up
Adding new fixtures above an island or counter not only adds style, it improves lighting over key prep areas. Don’t be afraid to mix and match; just keep pieces unified with one consistent element, like a color or finish.

6. Quick Contemporary
Fake a modern makeover in three steps: Strip down old window treatments and leave windows bare, paint walls and woodwork a fresh trendy hue, and ditch stained wood barstools for plastic or metal seating.

7. Splash of Color
Try a focal wall painted in an unexpected hue to add a modern touch for under $20—you’ll only need a quart of paint! No-cost idea: Ask friends or neighbors if you can dip into their stashes of leftovers from their recent projects.

8. Bits & Pieces
Add color and texture with high-impact accessories. A new table runner, fruit bowl or set of countertop storage canisters can be an instant, low-commitment update.

Kitchen Design Trends for 2010

Wondering what the next big thing in kitchen design is going to be? Check out this latest press release from National Kitchen & Bath Association on their thoughts for what the year 2010 holds!