FOR BREAKaING NEWtS VIS ITh WWW.QNoS.COM me AUGUST 17, 2017 • AT HOME • THE QUEENS COURIER 45
Tricks to customize a kitchen on a budget
Who wouldn’t want a kitchen customized
to meet their specifi c tastes and
needs? A complete kitchen renovation
can cost tens of thousands of dollars,
but you don’t have to spend a bundle to
achieve a custom eff ect. A few modest
investments can help make your kitchen
work well and look great.
Here are ways to aff ordably customize
your kitchen:
Get creative with cabinets
Completely replacing cabinets can be
costly, but it’s possible to create a custom
look with the cabinets you already have.
Customization tricks to try:
• Paint cabinets a trendy color, like dark
blue. Or, paint one set of cabinets, such
as those under an island, a diff erent
color.
• Remove the doors from one cupboard
to create an open eff ect where you can
display prized showpieces. Further
accent the look by painting the back of
the cupboard a contrasting color.
• Replace dated or dull hardware with
drawer pulls and knobs that speak to
your personal design tastes. For example,
if you love a vintage look, replace
metal hardware with glass or ceramic
knobs.
Freshen up the faucet
Cabinet hardware isn’t the only “jewelry”
in the kitchen. Th e faucet can also be
a design focal point that looks as good as
it works. If yours is old, basic or just not
to your taste, replacing the kitchen faucet
with a newer model that speaks to
your style can help aff ordably reinvent the
entire room. Plus, a new faucet can provide
functions and features that will make
your kitchen more usable.
For example, the Tournant faucet by
Kohler combines traditional design with
modern industrial elements, so it works
well with a variety of kitchen design
themes. A three-function, pull-down
spray head lets you put the water exactly
where you need it, while a special
BerrySoft setting is gentle enough for
washing fruits and vegetables.
If a more vintage look appeals to you,
Kohler has recently added a bridge
model faucet to its popular Artifacts
line. Reminiscent of turn-of-the-century
kitchen and bar faucets, the deck-mounted
bridge faucet works with either lever or
six-prong handles for temperature controls,
and features a dual-function sidespray.
Visit www.us.kohler.com to learn
more.
Enliven your lighting
Good light is essential for a kitchen to
function well, but it’s common for kitchens
to have just one overhead light and
maybe a pendant or two over a breakfast
bar. Replacing dated fi xtures with newer
ones that suit your personal style is easy,
but what can you do if you want more
light without the expense of paying someone
to install additional wiring?
• Replace a standard ceiling light with
track lights. Th ey require no additional
wiring and you can position lights along
the track to put illumination where you
want it.
• Install under-cabinet lights that can easily
plug into an existing counter-level
electrical outlet.
• Place a swing-arm task lamp over work
areas, so you can aim light where you
need it most while working. Th e lamp
can easily plug into a wall outlet.
Accentuate accessories
Accessories are the finishing touch of
personalization in any room, including
the kitchen. However, since the kitchen
needs to be high-functioning, look for
ways to accessorize that also enhance
your kitchen’s ability to work for you.
• Every kitchen has small appliances
that get regular use, such as toasters,
food processors, blenders, etc. If
your toaster sits out on the counter,
why not turn it into part of the design
theme by selecting an appliance in a
bright color to match your decor?
• A matching set of potholders or dish
towels hung from a hook beneath a
cabinet or on the side of a cupboard
not only puts a much-needed item
close at hand, they can add decorative
flare.
• Place a bright, cheerful area rug in
front of the sink or prep area. The
rug will not only perk up the space,
it helps cushion your joints while you
stand in one spot working.
• A pot rack above an island provides
much-needed storage space for large
pots and pans, while adding a homey
touch to the kitchen.
Customizing a kitchen doesn’t have
to be costly or require you to sacrifice
any functionality. With a few smart
updates, you can cost-effectively create
the personalized kitchen of your
dreams.
Courtesy BPT