Upgrading countertops and changing the lighting can make a huge impact in a small kitchen.

An often overlooked area, ironically, is lighting. It’s possible your kitchen would look pretty good, if only you could see it. Changing fixtures or maybe changing the lighting styles — from ceiling mounted to recessed can lighting — can have a big impact. Sure, there’s going to be some drywall (or plaster) refinishing and painting to come along with it, but the results are sure to be a vast improvement.

Changing accessories like plumbing fixtures is another potential TYI (I prefer the acronym “tackle” it yourself) project. Maybe the sink and faucet just don’t quite shine the way they used to, or those calcium deposits defy everything but TNT. A Saturday spent replacing those items will draw your eye to new kitchen focal point in a hurry.

Next, take a look at your counter tops. Granite may be over your budget (and granite is most definitely not a TYI project), but new laminate tops — now available in myriad colors and patterns — might do the trick. You can order them made to fit, have them delivered and again, tackle the project during a long afternoon.

Replacing aging or unattractive flooring can have a big effect on your kitchen without requiring a second mortgage. New sheet vinyl or maybe ceramic tile can really brighten up the room, add color and generally give it that new-room feel. You may have to call in a pro to lay the vinyl, but you could take on placing the base trim and removing the old flooring, which will save on some of the expense.

Modest Makeover ($25,000)
For a kitchen where the finishing work and superficial changes just won’t work, where do you look next? Well, if the kitchen is basically functional — that is, the layout works, placements are convenient and traffic flows well — maybe an elbows-deep face lift is in order. This is the place where you may be best served by calling in the pros.

If you have the resources, a simple in-place cabinet and countertop replacement is a large investment, but won’t break the bank. And statistically there’s no room in the house that’s proven a better place to invest than the kitchen. So, even if it’s not your “Home for a Lifetime,” it’s money you’re sure to get back in the long run. Let’s face it; you spend the most of your time (at least awake) in the kitchen, so why not make it look fabulous.

Depending on the size of your kitchen, you still may not be able to go with the cherry cabinets and granite countertops, but you can certainly make an attractive kitchen. Just decide on your priorities — is it the cabinets and countertops? Or should you work more extensively on lighting, fixtures, painting and flooring? The answer will drive you to the project that most effectively improves your kitchen.

Magnificent and Magazine-Worthy ($50,000)
Pulling out all the stops on your kitchen project can easily exceed even a hefty $50,000 budget, but by mixing the better of the previous two options, you can leverage the impact for a moderate expenditure. Maybe it’s time to eliminate that mood-assaulting translucent panel ceiling light (we’ve all seen them, and most of us have them) and go for the recessed can lighting. Change the cabinets and countertops with sensible choices, add new floors, and voilá, you have that beautiful new kitchen that can now take its rightful place as the center of your home.

A complete kitchen makeover incorporates new flooring, custom cabinets, backsplash tile work and custom lighting.

It’s easy to get carried away and decide to move walls, expand pantries and upgrade features “while you’re at it,” so establish a “not to exceed budget” early, share it with your remodeler and prioritize your goals. For better or worse, even at $50,000 the remodeling expenses will consume the budget faster than you might think, so check your budget frequently and don’t presume that $50,000 is a large amount of money. On one hand, it is, but it takes a substantial sum to purchase premium cabinets, upgraded countertops, beautiful floors, accent lighting and more.

Regardless of your budget, there’s a kitchen makeover for you. Just remember to set a budget early, take advice from reputable sources, check references and find the right mix of improvements in that will provide you with the biggest bang for your buck.

Greg Miedema, CGR, CAPS, is president of Dakota Builders in Tucson, Ariz. The Southern Arizona Home Builders Association (SAHBA) has named Dakota Builders, Inc. Remodelor™ of the Year in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2003. For more information, send him an e-mail. To learn more about remodeling, visit www.nahb.org/remodel.   [ return to top ]