on 9/27/2018
As a very active room, the kitchen can easily give way to fatigue. It is very often exposed to water, grease and stains from food and drinks, which can quickly give the room a tired and aged look.
The kitchen may seem like an expensive room to renovate because there are so many rooms that need special attention, not to mention the fact that it is the most equipped room in the house.
Paola Tapia, founder and CEO of Refurb4Profit, whose mission is to transform properties to maximize value, indicates that an affordable comic renovation is possible, provided your project approach focuses on strategic planning effective. The first crucial step is to consider the purpose of the kitchen renovation.
Renovate for personal use, to rent or sell the house? This will help you determine the extent of the work, the materials you need to use and the appropriate budget to cover what you want to achieve.
It is also essential to examine the property as a whole with what Tapia calls "the connoisseur's eye". "It's very important to study the condition of the property, its location and its demographic audience to determine the best place where every dollar will be spent and to get an ever-attractive look throughout the property," she says.
Having skilled workers can also help you give your kitchen a new look in no time and sometimes at a cost comparable to, or even lower than, a DIY home.
"It is very important to study the state of the property, its location, and its demographic in order to determine the best use for every dollar spent"
FIRST STEP: THE FLOOR
The right flooring can add a lot to the aesthetics of a kitchen. It is therefore important to choose very early the style you want and the way you want to melt it at home.
A good way to create the illusion of space and cohesion is to tie the floor of the kitchen to the floor of other rooms on the same level. Tapia has applied this philosophy to a recent renovation.
"We have redecorated the floor with medium brown oak laminate flooring to give a modern and warm effect to the entire property," she says.
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It's not just the look but the function. The kitchen floor must be made of water-resistant material, taking into account its function; laminate flooring is therefore often the best solution if your budget is limited.
STEP TWO: RESURFACE SOMETHING OLD OLD
An old bench is sad to see, but does not always require a very expensive full replacement. A good resurfacing could do the trick and give your worktop a new look – and the many options available can allow you to play with different styles.
The right material is important because you want your new worktop to stand the test of time and the rigors of cooking and washing.
"[We] gives the stratified and dated work table a feeling of cleanliness and freshness with a white stone look. It not only looks new, but it is also durable, "says Tapia.
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The typical benchtop options are laminate, wood and stone, stone being the most expensive. A finished laminate worktop with the appearance of another material can save you a lot and is ideal for fast rotating projects.
STEP THREE: WORK WITH WHAT YOU GOT
During an aesthetic renovation, it is always wise to study the room in question before making a decision, because you may not have to change much at all.
A new coat of paint can give your kitchen an impression of novelty by giving it a clean, fresh look. It can also help you rearrange the room by highlighting its design elements.
In the case of Tapia, she was able to maximize the appearance of the original French provincial design of the cabinets in her kitchen renovation. "We respected the style and we just gave all the cabinets an enhanced look with a new color and a new finish."
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Since you work in a water-prone area, it's best to use a mildew-resistant, hypoallergenic paint that offers rich colors. Remember that you keep food in this room!
FOURTH STEP: THE SPLASHBACKS TAKE THE STAGE
The splashback in a kitchen should not be understated, but rather used to amplify the visual impact of space. "The look of a kitchen can change dramatically depending on what we do with the credence," says Tapia.
In addition to protecting the wall from damage and damage, you can design an entire room around a splashback because many cushions are works of art.
However, you do not always need a brand new one. "We used tile paint to refresh [the existing splashback] and give it a clean look," says Tapia.
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Hang a credence that makes a strong impression and accentuate it with walls of a neutral tone to really bring out the works of art. Arty backsplashes can also hide stains, though you should always clean them regularly!
Step 5: The well of accessories
Small details matter in a kitchen renovation. Furniture accessories such as faucets and cabinet door handles can enhance or detract from the aesthetics of the room. You must keep them in mind when you want to modernize your building.
During its renovation, Tapia demonstrates just how simple the replacement of accessories can improve a kitchen. "For the appeal to be even more appealing, the sink needed a new faucet that went with style and lifted the space.
We also installed new chrome handles that fit the overall style, "she says. By investing in new accessories, you will also be able to make sure that they work perfectly, because wear over time can adversely affect the operation of your device.
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Opt for faucets that last a long time and require little maintenance, such as those in stainless steel or chrome. They go easily with a lot of styles and can update a space by adding a modern touch.
STEP 6: CREATE A FLOW IN THE WORLD
One of the simplest ways to improve the appearance and fluidity of a kitchen is to install an island bench. It has become an essential part of many modern kitchens, as it can improve the layout of the room without the need for major restructuring. Shops like IKEA sell flat kitchen islands that you can assemble yourself at a low cost.
They are multifunctional because many island benches have extra storage space for you to store more items. They also serve as additional surfaces and are a great place to serve food and drinks to guests, making them the perfect party kitchen.
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Position the kitchen island correctly so that it is halfway between the cooking zone and the entertainment center. This creates a subtle division without isolating the one who prepares the food.
STEP 7: THE LIGHT THAT IS WELL
Exceptional lighting is not limited to COST, but allows you to see what you are doing. it highlights what you did to a space.
Kitchen lights must not only be hard and bright, they must also create an atmosphere, especially because the kitchen is becoming a place where many people receive guests.
It is ideal to have dimmable lights to adjust the settings to the desired purpose. Downlights are perfect for the ceiling because they do not create shadows. The suspensions are ideal for kitchens with islands – they come in different interesting styles and generate a warm glow.
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Recessed lights can be installed just about anywhere. So you can use extra lighting when cooking or near storage areas, to make sure the room is bright enough for the tasks you need to do.
CASE STUDY
Completely transforming the look of a kitchen with a fixed budget is not impossible. Paola Tapia explains how it works.
The first expertise of Paola Tapia, founder and CEO of Refurb4Profit, is to maximize the value of a property for customers.
When she recently took a townhouse in Blackburn North for this purpose, she took a look at the outdated kitchen of the house, which badly needed an aesthetic renovation.
"They had old looking tiles, a worn laminate worktop and old-fashioned accessories. The cabinets were in good condition, but they looked like old-fashioned wood – so we knew we were going to eliminate all that, "she says.
"We wanted to make the link with the rest of the property to give it this traditional look, with a touch of modernity". The kitchen had a French provincial aesthetic that Tapia wanted to maximize while enhancing it.
She contacted skilled workers who began painting the surfaces to give new life to the kitchen. "The rest of the appliances being in good condition, we changed the water tap, as this is a feature, especially with the island bench [new]. We modernized the buttons and used the chrome ones, "she says.
Tapia also resurfaced the existing worktop – the new worktop resembled stone but cost one-third of the stone's actual area.
She is also interested in water-resistant and easy-to-maintain floor coverings, as the kitchen could be knocked over. Finally, she opted for a laminate floor. She admits that the new flooring did not come without problems, however.
"When we get up, tiles can leave a residue of glue, which means we have to do a little more work than we thought," says Tapia. "We had to rent a machine and we had an extra day of work.
As in any renovation, there are sometimes things you do not know. Nevertheless, in the end, all the kitchen looked brand new – incomparable with its original appearance.
The renovation of the kitchen cost only $ 4,480 in total, out of a total expenditure of $ 23,000 for the entire house. "What we are trying to do with our strategy is to choose what would have the most impact with the least expense. I watched how many people I could find to do a very high quality job while keeping it within budget. "
Paola Tapia
is the
founder of
Refurb4Profit
STEP EIGHT: END WITH A BANG
It's not just big things; COST small decorative touches serve as cherry on the top in a beautiful kitchen. It can be as simple as an interesting wall painting or an awesome cork board with a recipe list.
A bookshelf of colorful books can add vibrancy, as well as fun utensils. Elegant vases filled with flowers (real or artificial) can give life to the room. Pretty tea towels or potholders hanging on the wall can improve the aesthetics while remaining functional.
"The finishing touch is essential to increase the appeal," says Tapia.
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Do not overdo with decorations; try to keep things minimal for a streamlined and streamlined look. These elements should be there to support your existing aesthetic and not to control it.
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