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10 kitchen remodelling quick fixes

Remodelling the kitchen will certainly add to the value of a home, however, it can be very expensive. Any of the following projects will give your kitchen a pick-me-up without breaking the bank!

1. Refinish your cabinets.
In many cases, the finish on your cabinets will soften around the handles - this is the result of body oil breaking down the finish. Most finish can be stripped off fairly easily. Use one of the newer citrus-based strippers and layer it on. After the finish was removed, we applied a stain that gave a totally new, fresh look.

2. Freshen up your walls.
A fresh coat of paint works wonders. Try your hand at one of the faux techniques that are so popular, including sponge painting, the ragged effect or the fresco effect. There are roller covers available now to make the task easier and even striping rollers, which give the illusion of striped wallpaper at a fraction of the cost. You might also consider a new wall covering or even a simple border.

3. Add moulding.
Moulding can be the finishing touch in any room. If you are handy with a saw, try topping off your wall cabinets with crown moulding. Mitring the corners can be a little tricky however; check your local diy shops for 'mitre-less' moulding. The idea behind mitre-less moulding is the pre-formed corners - they form a 90° angle for inside corners and outside corners. All you need to do is make straight cuts.

Keeping this in mind, you may even try your hand at installing crown moulding (at the ceiling) or maybe a dado rail. In general, choose a more expensive wood (such as oak) if you plan to stain the moulding, and use a stainable wood putty to cover over any nails. If paint is the way you want to go, consider pine, and fill over the head of the nail with filler.

4. Replace the work surfaces.
Cabinets in good shape? How about the work surfaces? Work surfaces take a lot of abuse and can look worn and drab. Replacing the work surface is certainly more expensive, but often worth the effort. New work surfaces will really make it feel like a new kitchen.

5. Decorate your windows with colour.
Does your window treatment need updating or a little colour? Here's a quick remedy: Hang a curtain rod and simply fold fabric placemats or napkins over it. If they are square, hang them on the diagonal. For rectangular fabric, fold lengthwise. Another option is to fold all of the rectangular fabric the same length, or fold in half on each end, allowing it to drape in the middle.

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