Kitchen Remodeling - When You are On a Budget

When it comes to kitchen remodeling, one doesnt have to break their budget. Here are some ways to stay within your budget.

Kitchen remodeling can be a great way to update one of the most important rooms in your home. Lets face it; the kitchen is like the heart of the house. Its where food is stored, prepared and served. Many times it is also the place where the meals are eaten. Fond family memories often center around food with all of its wonderful aromas and tastes. Think of the cookie baking smells that fill the space as children come home from school, or a turkey roasting in the oven as the relatives trickle in for the holidays. When a party is thrown, where do the guests often end up? They often find their way to the heart of the home, the kitchen, to chat with the host or hostess who is readying the snacks. If a homeowner has a dingy, unwelcoming feel in this space, it may hamper their desire to throw a party or family gathering.

Remodeling can be very lavish and therefore expensive. It can also be accomplished beautifully with much less cost. Here are some tips for keeping this rehab project within your budget:

- Cupboards: The high cost way to re-do cabinetry is with the installation of high-end custom cupboards, with all gizmos and gadgets one could imagine. There are several lower price alternatives, however, that still create a lovely look. Buying stock cabinets is one way to save money. Readymade cupboards come in a wide variety of construction materials, such as oak, pine, maple, laminate and metal. These stock products still offer many nice touches such as sliding shelves, lazy susans and corner units. No need to go the total custom route. Another low priced alternative is to keep the old cabinetry and simply repaint it. Adding new knobs and hardware can completely upgrade the look. Some homeowners choose to buy new cupboard doors in order to refresh the old units appearances, which is sometimes referred to as re-facing.

- Sinks and faucets: There is a huge price range for sinks and faucets. Look around the aisles of a home goods warehouse and youll see nearly identical products for a fraction of the cost as the high end name brands. Off-name brands or fiberglass sinks offer the gorgeous new look but for much less cash outlay.

- Countertops: If your countertops are old, peeling, have burnt spots and are just plain ugly, youll want to convert them to something more appealing. Readymade countertops in everything from laminate to granite can be purchased in slabs that are ready to install. Counters can also be built from wood, and then covered with ceramic tile for a country or southwestern look.

- Flooring: There are several economical flooring materials to choose from. Tile floors are classic work surfaces, perfect for easy clean up of cooking splatters and messes. While some tile is quite pricey, there are many inexpensive varieties that are very classy looking. Laminates are also designed to withstand the heavy wear and tear of this room. Laminates may be patterned to look like wooden floors, tile, or just checkered in an old fashioned retro look.

You too can have a fantastic looking heart of your home. Kitchen remodeling is possible on a shoestring.

Kitchen Remodeling - When You are On a Budget