Kitchen Remodeling: Reface the Cabinets if You Plan to Sell Your Home Soon

In the Process of Refacing

Refacing kitchen cabinets is most often done as a kitchen remodeling project if you are planning to sell your home in the next 5 years.  The look and feel of the kitchen is one of the most important features buyers consider, and therefore should be high on your list when you want to sell your home.

Refacing your kitchen cabinets can make the cabinets appear new and the kitchen will feel updated, without the cost and time required for installation of new cabinets as part of a larger kitchen remodeling effort.

Before deciding on refacing over replacing, ask yourself whether your existing kitchen layout works and if you have enough storage and counter space.  If the answers are yes, and if your cabinets are in good structural shape, then refacing may be the answer to this kitchen remodeling question.

Refacing means that you will cover the existing cabinet surfaces with new laminate.  Door and drawer fronts are also replaced to match the new laminate.  Side panels of end cabinets are also refaced.

When you reface your cabinets, you can completely change the style and feel of your kitchen, which is at the core of kitchen remodeling.  You can go from a dark walnut wood to light oak with glass doors, for example.  Adding new hinges will put a spring back into those cabinet doors and new handles and drawer pulls can be chosen to finish off the desired look.

The reduced cost of refacing cabinets makes it easier for you to see a return on your investment when you sell your home, but it is also a substantial enough kitchen remodeling project for you to enjoy in the meantime.

If you aren’t planning to sell your home soon and want to invest in new cabinets, an upcoming blog will give you some ideas.

(Photo Credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/donabelandewen/4105718749/)

Refinish the Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen remodeling is the most expensive home improvement project that most people undertake.  In order to manage the cost of kitchen remodeling, some people choose to refinish their kitchen cabinets instead of replacing them.  Refinishing kitchen cabinets can save a lot of money and can also cut a lot of time off the kitchen remodeling schedule.  Wood or plywood cabinets are the most easily refinished. Refinishing not only refers to sanding, staining, and sealing.  Metal, laminate, and melamine cabinets can also be refinished with paint, but beware that special paints need to be used on those materials.

Before deciding the refinishing your cabinets is the optimal solution to your kitchen remodeling ideas, be sure that the cabinets are in good condition to begin with.  Refinishing does not remove knicks, warping, or other damage to the cabinets.

Here are a few tips for getting the most out of this home improvement project:

• remove doors and drawer fronts from the cabinets
• remove all hardware from doors and drawer fronts
• clean the cabinets thoroughly, paying special attention to any grease spots
• prepare the surface according to recommendations for the particular material
• if painting, spray on the paint for the most uniform coverage
• refinish the inside of the cabinets at the same time
• use gloss or semi-gloss paint or polyurethane

If you follow these tips and remain patient, your cabinets and your kitchen should have a renewed look and you can cross one more home improvement project off your list.

If refinishing your cabinets is not going to get you the results you are looking for, stay tuned to this home improvement blog for information about refacing kitchen cabinets.

(Photo Credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/hazeldog/3815828729/)

Cabinets Refinished with Paint

What to do about the Cabinets?

Old Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen remodeling and your cabinets:  to reface, refinish, or replace?  To find the answer, consideration needs to be given to other factors than just your wallet.

What are the goals of your kitchen remodeling project?  Are you looking to sell your house, update your house, or make your house more functional? 

Refinishing:  How old, ugly, and worn out are your cabinets?  Older cabinets in an older home may add just the character your house needs, which means your kitchen remodeling project shouldn’t change your cabinets too much.  You could get by with replacing the hardware and having the cabinets refinished.  You may also opt for refinishing cabinets if you don’t absolutely hate what you have, you don’t have the cash to do more, and you’re not going to sell your house in the near future.  Remember, most of the flaws and damage will still be visible after refinishing your cabinets.  These are all things to consider as you decide how much kitchen remodeling you want to pursue.

Refacing:  Cabinets that are in good condition, in the layout that you want, but just not the wood or look that you like, may be able to be refaced.  Refaced cabinets can update a kitchen without the expense or hassle of completely replacing your cabinets as part of a larger kitchen remodeling project.  New hinges and other hardware can also add new life to older cabinets.  Refacing is an excellent choice if you’re planning to sell your house in the next few years since you are more likely to recoup your investment.

Replacing:  The most radical solution to outdated kitchen cabinets, is to replace them all.  This kitchen remodeling decision is an expensive one and can lead to additional expenses if you also decide to replace the countertop, sink, and other built-ins.  The advantages of completely replacing cabinets include being able to move things around and remodel the space as well as update the cabinets.  You also will have the choice of many new conveniences such as built-in spice racks.  This project is expensive and in many markets will not get a large enough return on investment if you sell your house in the next few years.

The next three blog entries will explore your kitchen remodeling options further:  refinishing, refacing, or replacing kitchen cabinets.

(Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lesliepepple/430651819/)

Simple Painting Project

Ready to Paint!

Painting is absolutely the easiest and cheapest of any home improvement project.  You can update the interior design of a tired room or add curb appeal to your home’s exterior at a fraction of the cost of most home improvement projects.

Choosing the right colors for you, your room and your furniture is the most difficult aspect of interior design.  The color choices today are endless, but thankfully experimenting with color is relatively easy with paint.  If you want to try something different, just buy a half-gallon and see how it looks.  Express yourself in your interior design.

After your color decisions are made, it’s time to get down to work.  The most important, and least appealing, part of painting is the prep-work.  These steps are time-consuming, but will pay off in the end:

• Remove switch and outlet covers.
• Spackle nail holes.
• Tape off windows and other areas difficult to paint around.
• Cover furniture.

Another time-saving up front step you can take is to make sure you have all the proper home improvement and painting tools at hand:

• Brushes (at least one smaller one with an angle tip for cutting in molding)
• Rollers
• Roller pans
• Edgers
• Rags for spills and drips

Edgers are great time-savers for painting up against ceilings or up to door trim.  As long as the wall texture is not too thick, an edger will help you make a clean line transition, a hallmark of excellent interior design.

Remember, paint top to bottom.  Paint the ceiling first, then all of the trim, finally the walls.  After all of the preparation is done and the right tools are available, the actual painting goes very quickly and the look of your room transforms in front of your eyes.  A simple coat of paint, done well, could be just the right home improvement project for your house.

(Photo Credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/booleansplit/3366476478/)

Home Made Christmas Decorations: A Wreath

Home Made Christmas Wreath

The Christmas season is upon us and there are many ways to decorate your home.  Christmas decoration ideas aren’t hard to come by as they are available from TV, home stores, the internet, and your neighbors.  Sometimes it’s hard to keep up, but home made Christmas decorations can be an inexpensive way to decorate.  New family traditions can be created at the same time.  A favorite home made Christmas decoration is a home made wreath.  The fragrant greens will fill your house with the scent of Christmas.

You’ll need bundles of spruce or fir boughs and a wreath frame.

• Cut the branches into 6 to 8-inch pieces.
• Stack several together with the larger branches at the bottom for support and the smaller tips on top.
• Tie the stack to the wreath frame with twine or wire. Continue around the circle until you have a nicely filled-in wreath.
• Now you can adorn your wreath with pine cones, holly, ribbons, angels, or anything reminiscent of Christmas or that has special meaning for your family.

Some other home made Christmas decoration ideas use themes such as toy soldiers or seashells.  Hang the wreath on your front door, or use it as part of a larger theme of home Christmas decoration ideas inside your house.

There are many more home Christmas decoration ideas that you and your family can create.  You can also visit a craft store for home Christmas decoration ideas, or simply look around your own neighborhood.  In the meantime, enjoy your wreath.

(Photo Credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/59089068@N00/2317190)