Dinged and scratched. Cracked and worn. Peeled and faded. Not the ideal way to describe one of the most used spaces in your home. If you’ve found yourself in such a state of disrepair and it’s a tight budget that’s kept you from renovating your kitchen cabinets, don’t stress any longer. I have a few inexpensive remodel recipes that will help bring the spice back to your cooking area.
Whether it’s an all-out face lift to provide a fresh new sense of style or an overhaul to revamp the functionality, there are several options available within a tight budget that will make even Betty Crocker want to come around to see what’s cooking.
Hardware
Starting off the list with the least expensive, do-it-yourself, project is simply replacing all of the hardware on your current cabinets. Those old, worn brass pulls or handles can be replaced with a wide variety of new hardware which you can find at varying price ranges at stores throughout Phoenix or online. From sleek and modern to antique and rustic, there are several options that can alter the mood of your kitchen and provide a quick-fix without having to dive into any high-end projects. Advice: Prices can range from $100 to $500 or more, depending on the number of cabinets and quality of hardware. If cabinet restoration or replacement is in the near future for your kitchen, you may want to just wait until you start the new project. On the other hand, if this solves your problem, then you’ve successfully saved yourself a few thousand dollars.
Pull-out Shelves
If you’ve been struggling with having to get on your hands and knees to reach your favorite pot from the back of a packed cabinet, you may find relief in custom cabinet pull-out shelves. Surprisingly inexpensive, these are within reach of a tight budget.
Shelves That Slide has been in Phoenix for the last 40 years and installs these products in existing or new cabinets at just under $500 for an average-sized kitchen.
Pull-outs not only provide ease for accessing cooking wear and storage items, but also add value and character to your house for resale purposes.
Restoration
If the budget will simply not allow for brand new construction, your kitchen could benefit from a restoration of your existing cabinets. Aside from a few end pieces of new wood laminate and the addition of new hardware and hinges, this process primarily involves a tune-up your existing frames and doors and costs about 90% less than going new.
Restoration is an inexpensive alternative for kitchens cabinets that have experienced normal wear-and-tear over the years. You may not realize but even using certain hand lotions and chemicals and then touching the wood, can cause damage over time.
Arizona Kitchen Tune-Up offers what they call a “1-Day” procedure which involves a deep cleaning, removal of deep scratches and dings and a resealing with a water-based polyurethane finish. The end result is impressive as it turns back the clock on your kitchen’s cabinets, restoring them to their original (or better) appearance.
For right around $1200, the restoration process can spice things up in your kitchen and typically only takes a couple days.
Refinishing
If it’s a complete color and style transformation you’re looking for, refinishing may be the right option. Depending on the type of overhaul desired, this process dramatically changes the finish of your existing kitchen cabinets at 25% to 75% less than the cost of replacement. Desert Cabinet Refinishing offers homeowners a few inexpensive alternatives involving striping, painting or staining of existing materials. The cost to refinish is considerably less than refacing because the other involves buying new doors and drawers with a matching wood ‘skin’ that goes over the cabinet frames.
Advice: If you decide to go this route, plan ahead as your kitchen will be off limits from normal use while the work is being done. The refinishing process can take a few days, and your kitchen will be taped off and floors and walls and appliances covered in plastic in order to protect your kitchen from stains. Also, the cabinet doors and drawers are typically brought back to the company’s shop for the necessary steps and to keep away harmful chemicals and sprays from you and your family. In other words, plan on eating out for a few days.