5 Easy Kitchen Upgrades

I always tell my clients a kitchen may be the most used room in your house and runs the risk of looking tired, outdated, overwhelmed or all three.  But in a jam packed world of obligations and work, it’s often hard to get yourself motivated to take on a mammoth project like remodeling your kitchen.  Especially when it seems like all of your friends tell you stories lamenting on how their kitchen renovation took months to complete, tens of thousands of dollars, and enough takeout to form long-lasting relationships with all the cashiers at the local fast food joints!  However, there are some small, simple, and relatively inexpensive ways to ways to update your kitchen area that will bring it out of the 80’s and make you and your family fight over who gets to do the dishes.  (Okay, I can’t promise that last part, but it will look great, add functionality, and up the value of your home.)  Below are my top 5 Easy Kitchen Upgrades to revitalize the heart of your home:

1. Ditch the Kitchen Desks :   A lot of older kitchens were designed with a desk as a part of the design.  It is no secret that they typically
   become the junk pile with over flowing mail, bills and other miscellaneous items. These desks can easily be removed, kitchen height cabinets can be made to match the existing ones, and WHALA!  This simple fix is a two’fer: you not only have more kitchen countertop space at the original counter height, but you also have increased your kitchen storage!
2. Update your Lighting : With minor electrical work plus a little drywall repair and a fresh coat of paint on the ceiling, you can tackle the below upgrades. These efforts will surely pay off in the end by creating a relaxing ambience and pleasing appearance.
   • Get rid of that terrible fluorescent lighting and install a few recessed can lights as the main sources of light in the kitchen.
   • Add a few pendant lights above a peninsula or island to give your kitchen a little “POP.” Have fun with the color and design of pendants, as they can be changed out later on easily if you tire of them.
   • Install under cabinet lights to improve the lighting of your workspace in the evenings or to keep on as night lights for that midnight ice cream snack.
3. Countertop Overhaul : Countertops are an essential part of the kitchen, but many trends installed in the past years have become dated-looking.  The hardest part about replacing countertops is picking the new material and color.  Once you have that nailed down, you can switch them out in about a week.
4. Add a Backsplash : With or without replacing your countertops, you can add a bit of color and texture to your kitchen with a backsplash that could include a focal point behind the range or cooktop.
5. Install a Second Sink : In just about every kitchen remodel that I do these days, I suggest installing a second sink, especially if there are two chefs in the family.  It may seem like an extravagant feature to have, but this additional prep sink doesn’t have to be large.  A small bar sink would serve the purpose of giving additional prep and veggie washing space.  Let me tell you first hand that every single family that did install this extra sink absolutely loves it and they don’t know how they ever cooked a meal without it.  Although this project may be a little more complex than the others, it’s worth considering, especially if you are already in the mindset of replacing the countertops.

These 5 relatively simple and quick projects can drastically improve the look and functionality of your kitchen within a matter of weeks!  Before you go and start ripping up your kitchen, you should always consider hiring a professional kitchen remodeler to assist you in your renovations.  Catch up on my prior blog posts to learn tips and tricks on how to hire a good remodele r and what remodeler reference questions to ask other homeowners to educate yourself on what to watch out for in shady contractors.  And remember, Tracy Tesmer Remodeling is here to help you with anything from small handyman services to large additions. 

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