by Elizabeth Clark

Created on: January 20, 2007   Last Updated: May 02, 2007

Kitchen Renovation on the Cheap

The Kitchen, has often been referred to as the heart of any home. It's where the family gather each day for meals, and keep their message centres, whether they be notes on the fridge, a personal computer or a chalkboard. A room, that sees so much use, will obviously need more attention than a rarely used room.

Professional renovators, will also tell you, that investing in kitchen renovation and design is an investment, that will easily pay for itself, as well as earn you a profit. Statistics show kitchens and bathrooms, are the top money making renovations you can add to your home.

Renovating a kitchen can be expensive, if one decides to install new cabinetry, floors and ceramic tile back splashes. What to do if you have little money? A new look can be achieved at low cost, by using paint, and new cabinet hardware. A fresh coat of paint on walls, will breathe new life into this busy room. If you're planning on selling your home, after the renovation, it's best to keep to a neutral palette of colours.

Cabinets can be easily transformed, by using paint. Melamine paint is very durable, washable and attractive. It also comes in a variety of colours to suit any taste. Counters can also be painted using melamine paint. With a counter, it's possible to make use of painting techniques, such as sponging, smooshing, and ragging to give a faux marble or granite look.

Once you've decided to paint, and chosen your colours, there is some prep work that must be done. Cabinet doors, need to be removed and laid down on a flat surface, with drop cloths underneath. Remove the hardware and hinges, and set these aside.

Firstly, wash down all cupboard surfaces with TSP, or Tri Sodium Phosphate, which is available at any hardware store. Dilute the TSP with water, according to directions, and use gloves, when scrubbing. The solution will remove any dirt, grime or oily deposits left behind by cooking. Next get a clean cloth and wipe down the cupboards with water, to rinse, then dry thoroughly.

The next task at hand, is to sand the surface, to work away any roughness. If you wish to change the location of your hardware, now is the time to fill the old screw holes with wood filler and sand until smooth. Drill the new holes, and sand them thoroughly.

Paint the frames of the kitchen cupboards after the preparation work has been completed. If you're making a significant colour change, priming the cupboards will be necessary. Then, with a sponge roller, apply the

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