3 cheap ways to make your old kitchen feel new
15.08.2010 00:00
3 cheap ways to make your old kitchen feel new
By Josh GarskofAugust 9, 2010: 11:27 AM ET(Money Magazine) -- Shelved plans for that $50,000 kitchen remodeling until the economic recovery actually starts to feel like a recovery?
Make the waiting less painful by breaking out your toolbox. A few cheap fixes -- painting cabinets, swapping out old knobs and pulls, and replacing your ceiling lights -- can make a huge difference.
Consider tackling the following three projects too. They're just a bit more difficult but bring big benefits to the look and feel of your kitchen -- and cost less than $1,000 each.
Update your backsplashIt's a quick way to dress up an old kitchen, not to mention protect your walls from stains and even fires. If you're not eager to mess with mastic and grout, consider Aspect Tile's new peel-and-stick metal tiles.
Available in copper and stainless steel, they'll give the room a clean, updated feel. And though the metal finish can look fairly modern, these tiles come in a traditional three-by-six-inch subway-tile format, which fits in with a variety of d?cors.
How to Do It: The tiles, available at Lowe's or , go up as easily as address labels but stick tenaciously to the existing backsplash. Bonus: Your contractor can reuse them (with some added glue) when the kitchen gets redone later.
Cost: $500 to $600, typically
Time: One day
Dress up old appliancesBuying new appliances may not make sense at this stage because you don't know what your eventual remodeling will require. But a fresh coat of white, black, or silver paint on old refrigerators and dishwashers (not ranges, which get too hot) will give them -- and your kitchen -- a cleaner, newer look.
How to Do It: Lightly sand the surfaces so the paint will adhere. Cover handles and hinges with masking tape. Then spray on two coats of Krylon's Epoxy Appliance Paint or Stainless Steel Paint (available at Home Depot or ).
Cost: $20 to $30 for three to four cans (enough to cover the fridge)
Time: One to two days
Make your own concrete countertopsWorn-out Formica, tile, or butcher block make your kitchen look dilapidated. But spending $6,000 or more for granite or even $2,500 for new laminate makes no sense if you'll be reconfiguring the kitchen in a few years.
A solution: polished, colored concrete. It has all the burn and scuff resistance -- and visual appeal -- of granite but is pricey if it's professionally installed.
How to Do It: Buy a DIY kit at . You'll get everything you need to cast, polish, and install your own counters, including a customizable mold and detailed instructions.
Still none too sure you can pull it off? Attend one of the how-to seminars the company runs around the country.
Cost: $750 to $1,000
Time: Two weekends
#cnnfb_connect {background-color:#f5f5f5;width:auto;height:auto;padding:10px;clear:both;} First Published: August 6, 2010: 5:04 AM ETRight Now
Motorola's second version of its popular Droid phone features a centered keyboard, Wi-Fi hotspot capability and Flash. Google responds to naysayers on its joint policy proposal with Facebook, with a long fact sheet about its ideas on Net neutrality. The velocity of mobile OS debuts is spelling a faster end to the PC era than anyone could have predicted.
| 30 yr fixed mtg | 4.52% |
| 15 yr fixed mtg | 3.95% |
| 30 yr fixed jumbo mtg | 5.37% |
| 5/1 ARM | 3.49% |
| 5/1 jumbo ARM | 4.09% |
Find personalized rates:
Bankrate.com.
Buying shares in a diversified mutual fund, not picking individual stocks, is a safe way to begin investing. Ben Bernanke and the FOMC steered clear of using the word deflation, easing tension in the stock and bond markets. Co-founder Reid Hoffman talks about why he created the social network and the projects he'll be working on in the future.
| Markets | Last | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10,303.15 | -16.80 | -0.16% | |
| 2,173.48 | -16.79 | -0.77% | |
| 1,079.25 | -4.36 | -0.40% | |
| 2.69 | -0.05 | -1.72% | |
| 1.28 | -0.01 | -0.55% |
| Company | Price | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.88 | 0.01 | 0.26% | |
| 13.23 | 0.17 | 1.28% | |
| 21.36 | 0.00 | 0.00% | |
| 19.15 | -0.30 | -1.54% | |
| 9.39 | 0.43 | 4.79% |
Sections
Oracle is charging into unprecedented territory by suing Google over open-source patent infringements -- a battle that will take years to slug out. | A new bill signed by Obama cuts loan guarantees for renewable energy projects by $1.5 billion. When are we going to start putting green money where our mouth is? | Oracle is charging into unprecedented territory by suing Google over open-source patent infringements -- a battle that will take years to slug out. | Runners have flocked to a new cult shoe brand -- and so have counterfeiters. | Sure, it's expensive to buy the toys of the rich and famous. But buying them is just the start - once you have them they cost a small fortune to keep. |
Please create a screen name to access this feature.
Screen name (Select one with 3-12 characters; Numbers and letters only)
Forgot password
Enter your e-mail address below and we will send you an e-mail with a link and code to reset your password.
Password selection
Reset code
New password
Log in & let's get started!
Password
Remember me for two weeksNot a member yet?
Sign up or
Screen name
Select one with 3-12 characters;Numbers and letters only
You will receive an e-mail to validate your account
Password
Make it 6-10 characters, no spacesType what you see in the grey box
If you can't read this,Yes, I would like to receive occasional CNNMoney member updates about new features and special offers.
CNNMoney will use the information you submit in a manner consistent with our . By clicking on "sign up" you agree with and and consent to the collection, storage and use of this information in the U.S. subject to U.S. laws and regulations. ()
For our international users, please be aware that the information you submit when registering for our services is collected in the United States of America. In addition to being subject to our Privacy Policy, the collection, storage, and use of your data will be subject to U.S. laws and regulations, which may be different from the laws and regulations of your home country. By registering for this service, you are consenting to this collection, storage, and use.
We're Sorry!
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please try again soon.
Thanks!
Please check your e-mail and click the link to confirm your membership. Then, you'll be ready to participate in all activities and conversations on our site.
Add comment