---
|
Your cabinets are one of the main features of your kitchen. If they're drab and boring then guess what? Your kitchen is probably drab and boring, too! But what can you do? Changing out or resurfacing your cabinets can be an expensive process. |
Well, the good news is that there a number of quick and easy projects
that you can do to greatly enhance the look of your cabinets thus
changing the overall look and feel of your kitchen. So, even if your
cabinets are old and beat up, you have a number of options:
Paint 'Em!
|
One of the first things you might consider is simply painting them. The key is proper preparation of the wood before getting started. You'll want to be sure to prepare the surface area so that the new paint can adhere. With a palm sander and a little primer, this is much easier than you think. Another factor you'll want to consider is your color choice. |
For more on this project,
click here! [2]
Stain 'Em!
|
You might consider re-staining the wood on your cabinets. If you choose to go this route, be certain to remove as much of the old stain as possible. Any new stain you apply to the old stain will come through as dark patches on the finished product. This will be somewhat limited if the new stain is darker than your old stain, but it can still be an issue. Again, a palm sander will make this job much easier. You can also use an angled sanding sponge to get into the edges and corners. |
Add Moulding
One great addition that will really bring out the flair in your
kitchen cabinets is to add some moulding!
There are two ways to go about this:
|
1) If your cabinet doors are flat and
lifeless, simply by adding a "moulding frame" to
the face of each door can really enhance the overall
appearance. Depending on the look you're going for,
you can choose from a wide variety of styles.
This is something you'll want to do prior to painting your cabinets. Simply purchase enough moulding to complete the frames on each door panel. Figure out a placement on your door panel that you're happy with, make your cuts and attach the pieces with nails. Don't use an adhesive, because over time, the temperature and humidity variances in most kitchens will break down the bonding qualities and you'll have moulding pieces cracking off. Once your pieces are attached, use a wood putty to fill in any gaps to insure a professional quality look. |
|
2) Another great moulding technique is to
add it to the underside and top of your cabinets. One
company we've tried and liked is LP Prefinished
Moulding. It comes in a wide variety of colors and wood
grain textures, is easy to work with, and chances are you
might find one that already matches your current cabinetry.
The easiest way to complete this project, is to attach a backer board to the top (to give you something to attach the moulding to). Be sure the backer board is far enough away from the edge of your cabinet top so that your new moulding will be flush with the frame of the cabinet. |
Here are a few examples of the types of mouldings available:
click for larger pic [2]
When purchasing your moulding, you'll want to measure out the
entire surface area you intend to add moulding to and then add an
additional 10% in case of errors. Make your cuts using a compound
miter saw and attach the pieces to the backer board using a nail gun.
Use some wood putty to fill in any gaps and paint or stain your
cabinets as needed.
Cool Tool!: If you don't already own a compound miter saw, one
saw to consider is the Ryobi One+ 8 ¼" 18V Cordless
Compound Miter Saw. This versatile saw is powerful enough to get any
job done quickly and efficiently. One other great benefit is that
it's cordless - meaning it will go where you need it when you need
it!
Light 'Em
|
The overall mood of your kitchen can be dramatically enhanced
through lighting. While overhead lighting is quite
important, one area that you might normally overlook is
cabinet lighting. It's relatively inexpensive, and
it's a lot easier to install than you may think!
Ideally, it's great if you purchase and install the type
of under cabinet lighting that can be mounted to the under
(or top) side of your cabinets then hard wired into your
existing electrical wiring, which can then be controlled by a
switch on the wall. However, don't worry if that sounds
too scary: the good news is many retailers carry a great
selection of plug-in cabinet lighting, so you can simply
mount it with the provided screws, plug it in, and go!
|
We've always found great cabinet lighting selections as places
like Home Depot and Lowe's, or you can even try Ikea. Just be
sure its meant for installing on cabinets -- it needs to be as flat as
possible so you can hide it, and you don't want a light that's
going to heat up so much it burns a hole in your cabinets! Here are
a few examples:
You should also keep in mind there are three types of cabinetry lighting:
You should also keep in mind there are three types of cabinetry lighting:
1) Ambient: This is lighting that is usually
installed on the top of your cabinets, assuming that you have at
least 5 inches from the top of your cabinets to the ceiling. This
lighting reflects upwards giving a soft glow to the ceiling and is
more of a back light. It's often a strip of rope lighting that is
installed around the interior side of the upper most portion of your
cabinets. It's a great look for parties!
|
2) Task: Task lighting can also be known as
"Under Cabinet" lighting, especially if it's
directional. This type of lighting is perfect for those
areas where you do your food preparation like chopping and
dicing to reading and reviewing your recipes. A bit of extra
light always helps!
|
3) Interior: Usually reserved for showing off the dishes in your dining room, interior cabinet lighting has had a recent resurgence. If you have glass panel cabinet doors, these low wattage lights are easy to install and the perfect way to enhance your wares. Just be sure the light fixture you purchase goes well with the decor, since it will typically be more noticeable than under or over cabinet lighting.
______________________
You don't have to feel like you're being held hostage by your
ugly kitchen. Just try a few of these easy to complete projects and
we know you'll love the results!
|
|
[3] | 
[4] | 
[5] | 
[6] | 
[7] | 
[8] | 
[9] | 
[10] | 
[11] | 
[12]