52 THE QUEENS COURIER • AT HOME • MARCH 15, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
at home
Minor and major projects that can recreate your kitchen
As the hub of activity in a home, the
kitchen serves many purposes: meal prep
base, dining area, family gathering place,
celebration zone, and entertainment center,
to name a few. Does your high-use,
heart-of-the-home kitchen meet the challenges
and needs of your family life?
If not, then it’s time for a renovation. A
kitchen remodel can be inspired by lifestyle
changes, the need for energy effi -
ciency, upgrading of decades-old styling,
or simply that you are ready for a change.
Th e good news is that remodeling the
most used room in your house not only
improves the space itself, it increases the
overall value of your home.
Research from Remodeling magazine
shows homeowners who undergo a
mid-range kitchen remodel can expect
to recoup 81 percent of their spend upon
selling their home. A major kitchen
remodel will recoup 59 percent, according
to the same study. With statistics like
these, remodeling your kitchen has the
potential to be good for you now and in
the future.
So what are you waiting for? Start planning
your kitchen remodeling project
today. Here are six ideas, ranging from
minor to major:
• Replace your faucet. For the amount
you use your kitchen faucet, functionality
and ease-of-use should be top priorities
- highlighted with stylish designs
lines, of course. Th e Avery Selectronic
hands-free pull-down kitchen faucet
from American Standard features
a three-function spray that can handle
any kitchen challenge. Plus, this higharc
touchless faucet off ers fl exibility to
suit user preference - simply switch to
manual function for guests not familiar
with touchless operation.
• Paint your cabinets. If replacing your
For homeowners who enjoy crafting delectable meals for family and friends, an upgrade to the GROHE Essence semi-pro faucet provides the perfect
combination of modern functionality and high style.
kitchen cabinets is not in the budget
this year, repainting them is the next
best thing. A fresh coat of paint can dramatically
change the appearance of your
kitchen. Select a paint that dries hard so
it can stand up to wear and tear; choose
a satin fi nish paint to hide imperfections
in the cabinet surface. To complete
the look, consider replacing the cabinet
hardware. Pick the style that appeals
most to you and remember knobs are
more common on cabinets, handles on
drawers.
• Add a backsplash. Create an instant
wow factor by enhancing the walls
above the work areas of your kitchen.
Th e use of varying shapes and materials
can really showcase your creative
side. Today’s homeowners are choosing
larger sized subway tiles, introducing a
bit more color to this traditionally neutral
colored area of the kitchen, experimenting
with varying tile patterns, and
choosing metallic and mirrored fi nishes.
Extending the backsplash all the way
to the ceiling, with the use of shelving
instead of cabinets for storage, is a new
trend gaining ground. Whatever your
choice, a new backsplash can delight
you every time you enter the kitchen.
• Elevate your faucet. For homeowners
who enjoy craft ing delectable meals for
family and friends, an upgrade to the
GROHE Essence semi-pro faucet provides
the perfect combination of modern
functionality and high style. It features
convenient one-hand operation,
full 360-degree sink mobility and two
high-performance sprays. Plus, this
high-arc faucet features a fl exible silicone
hose that can be easily replaced
in a variety of rainbow colors for an
instant kitchen “perk-up.”
• Explore sink options. Whether it’s for
food preparation, dish washing or bathing
a small child, families depend on
the kitchen sink for a lot of things. Th e
DXV Hillside stainless steel sink exhibits
the rich character of popular farmhouse
sink styling with a refi ned sophistication
ideal for the modern kitchen.
Made from 16-gauge stainless steel, its
clean apron-front design makes it perfect
for under-counter, fl ush countertop
or above-counter custom installation.
Th e result is a high-style sink that
can meet any kitchen need.
• Change out those cabinets. While
repainting cabinets can change the
look of your kitchen, replacing them
can totally upgrade the room’s core
style and functionality. Select new cabinets
based on the current needs of
your kitchen, considering accessories
that can improve functionality. Th ink
slow-close drawers and doors, turntable
corner cabinets, pull-out trash can
cabinets, plus many innovative storage
features. Th e choice of design styles -
framed or frameless - will impact your
kitchen’s look. Cabinets vary in price,
depending on whether they are stock,
semi-custom or custom. With kitchen
cabinets accounting for up to 40 percent
of a full kitchen remodeling budget,
invest time in choosing the style and
function that will make you love your
new kitchen.
Whatever your level of kitchen remodeling,
these upgrades are sure to make life
easier and more enjoyable in a room that
is the focal “living” room in any home. Go
ahead and plan your renovations today -
and experience the benefi ts for years to
come.
Courtesy BPT
The Avery Selectronic hands-free pull-down kitchen faucet from American Standard – featuring a
three-function spray that can handle any kitchen challenge – off ers eff ortless wave-on/wave-off
functionality.