KITCHENS Where the family congregates…..the centerfold…the centerpiece….the forum with which to break bread, push buttons, where pooch sits and waits for a remnant treat from the counter…. to tell Mom & Dad you are engaged….(to what’s his name???) to ask about school…..( "Nothing new....again?" Well….it is still the most popular hub of the family unit!!! Top Five Kitchen Improvements Sinks and Faucets - Even the best quality sinks, and faucets can get beaten up over time. When it's time to sell it's a good idea to, at the very least, clean the faucets, re-caulk the sink, and if your sink is chipped take a trip to Home Depot for a low cost fix. If your sink or faucet is beyond repair it may be a great time to upgrade to a more modern sink system. Appliance Upgrade - Although not cheap, new or updated appliances can excite a buyer who may be leaving older appliances. In addition matching the appliances by color will provide continuity to the kitchen. New or Refaced Cabinets - When selling many homeowners make the choice to invest in new cabinets or opt for the less expensive option of re-facing older cabinets. Re-facing cabinets means that you leave the cabinets in place but add a new veneer to the exterior. Can't decide what to do - replace or reface? Visit www.thisoldhouse.com for ways to make your decision easier. New Lighting - According to www.homefocused.com - "Bright, airy lighting makes working in the kitchen easier. Fluorescent lighting on the ceiling provides a bright, but soft light. Fluorescent lighting can also be installed under cabinets for task lighting, throwing light directly onto the countertop below them." New Counter Tops - A kitchen counter is the face of your kitchen, sure you can have the best cabinets, appliances, lighting, flooring, and paint but if the counter top doesn't hit a home run your still three bases short of a win. The counter top ties every piece of your kitchen together. Ask yourself - Do my counter tops live up to the rest of the kitchen, if not consider an upgrade. Also don't forget the back splash, a worn out back splash can make even the best counter tops seems dull or dated! | Before | After |  |  | | | |
Wisconsin Family Friends Have Redone Their Kitchen in Their Older Home
This is Sheryl's new IKEA kitchen. She has another bank of cabinets on the opposite wall that she has set up as her office and coffee bar.
NOTE: This kitchen will recoup almost 95% of their original investment …This family plans on enjoying this new kitchen for years…..to come
Hi Laura, Here are the before & after kitchen pix. The actual total was about $22,000. Recessing the fridge added some cost to the plumbing and we decided to replace a few appliances and go with the quartz counters instead of laminate. Here's an estimated breakdown: Cabinets: $3500
Floor: $1500
Counter: $4000
Appliances: $2000
Plumbing/fixtures: $2500
Electric: $2000
Accessories: $1000
Labor: $5000
I'm happy with the IKEA cabinets so far. They're not solid wood but the hardware (hinges, drawer glides, etc) are very high-end and you can't beat the price. Sheryl |