 | Jason Huang began his career in the home remodeling industry fabricating and installing natural stone countertops after
being inspired by the beauty and elegance of granite and marble. His main goal at Wichita Granite and Cabinetry is the
satisfaction of the customer, excellent service, and sharing knowledge associated with natural stone. A member of the
Better Business Bureau,The Wichita Area Builders Association , and the National Association of Home Builders. Wichita granite
and cabinetry is family own and operated.
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Home Remodeling and Improvement
2013-05-29 10:08:04
Kitchen Crisis
Q-I have family coming to visit in less than a month. I would like to update my kitchen and I don't have time to do anything major. Do you have any ideas?
A-Here are some quick and easy ideas to freshen up your kitchen.
Open Up Shelving
Remove upper cabinet doors to give a narrow kitchen a sense of openness. Then set off the revealed shelves with a decorative treatment.
Here's how: Remove cabinet doors and fill in holes with wood filler. Sand until smooth, and paint or stain as desired
Add Bold Color
Even the most lackluster space can be energized with a vibrant color. Paint the walls or cabinets a lively color. Re-cover chairs or stools with bright, patterned fabric. Hang new curtains in a can't-miss-it shade.
Soften the Cabinets with Fabric
Fabric helps soften a kitchen's lines, adding a cozy touch that harder surfaces can't offer. Fabric panels behind glass-front upper cabinets add personality and hide content clutter. Cloth skirts attached to a countertop are a fast, easy way to conceal unattractive lower cabinets.
To achieve this, simply remove lower cabinet doors, gather fabric on a tension rod, and mount the rod to the cabinet frame.
Replace Faucets
The sink area is among the most hardworking of kitchen spaces, and faucets, especially, get a workout from daily use. Because of its constant use, an updated faucet would provide an immediately noticeable kitchen improvement.
Paint Select Cabinets
A new coat of paint is a cost-effective way to make your kitchen spaces feel more expansive and imbue them with freshness and cleanliness. A little prep work makes the results long-lasting, so prepare your walls and cabinetry before painting.
If you don't want to paint the entire room, consider painting just a section of cabinets. For instance, painting three or four cabinets on a short run will create the illusion of a built-in hutch. Or create variation by painting the lower and upper cabinets contrasting colors.
Install Wainscoting
Add architectural interest to your walls with molding or wainscoting. For wainscoting, add an extra-deep baseboard or beef up the existing baseboard so it's at least 3/4-inch thick at the top. Then nail 1x3s vertically around the room, spaced 8 inches on center and butting the baseboard. Top the vertical 1x3s with a new piece of molding. Paint or stain the new molding to finish.
Replace Window Treatments
The right window treatment can transform a flawed kitchen space into a place that reflects your style and your sense of beauty. It can highlight your kitchen's best qualities or turn problem eating areas into sleek, sophisticated spaces.
Add Vintage Appeal
Dress up your kitchen with colorful finds. Vintage pottery, kitchenware, and knickknacks create instant charm.
Update Cabinet Hardware
Think of hardware as kitchen jewelry. Add new metal or glass knobs to highlight kitchen cabinets. If you're using metal hardware, choose one metal (gold, brass, silver, stainless steel, nickel, chrome, etc.) for the scheme and, as much as possible, stick to it when adding hardware.
Be sure to count the number of doorknobs, handles, or drawer pulls before heading out to store. You don't want to be caught empty-handed when you get to the last door or drawer.
And here's an easy solution if the new hardware doesn't fit the old holes: Buy some backplates to cover the gaps, then drill new holes.
I hope these ideas are helpful and remember to have fun with your project.
