Redecorating Your Kitchen On A Budget

by Debra on Monday, September 14, 2009

redecorating your kitchen

Are you one of those people who at the thought of redecorating their kitchen it sends chills down your spine? And not the good chills.

Some people start thinking that they need to replace everything in order to get a whole new look. But that’s just not true.

Just by following a couple, or all, of the tips provided below, you should be able to create something new for next to nothing. And who doesn’t like to get something new when it doesn’t cost very much?

1. Instead of replacing the cabinets in your kitchen, why not repaint them? There are lots of techniques around that are easy to learn and will create a cool designer look. Techniques as crackling, faux finishing and glazing are not only simple to do, but will save you lots of money.

If you need help on looking for ways to up date old and tired kitchen cabinets, just take a look at this article:

How To Paint Veneer Kitchen Cabinets

2. Dreary, tired looking kitchen? Give your kitchen walls a new look with a coat of paint. By painting your walls in warm and inviting colors, you will make the room even more of the hub of the home. Plus, if you have good quality wooden cabinets, a new coat of paint will help the wood to appear richer.

3. Why not spend a little of your budget on purchasing some new hand towels and potholders that will match the color of your new décor?

4. Another simple and really REALLY easy tip for redecorating your kitchen (and it’ll cost you nothing) is to get some of those beautiful dishes (serving bowls, platters, soup tureens, etc. ) and glassware you have out of the cupboards, and use them to accentuate the kitchen.

  • Use the soup tureen for a cookie jar.
  • Hang a large platter on the wall.
  • Use a beautiful glass pitcher as a vase.

5. A great way of changing the whole décor of your kitchen is just by putting up new curtains! Really. Curtains in a fresh new pattern or color will make the whole room look different. You could try this first before you do anything else.

New curtains certainly will not break the bank. Plus, you may well find that just making this one change will give your kitchen a completely different look.

By changing your curtains, you could actually bring out the personality of the kitchen with little or no effort on your part. Try avoiding those cute little curtains made specifically FOR kitchens and instead try some that are more for bedrooms or dens. Something heavier and “richer” looking.

6. Why not consider replacing the cabinet doors. Just the cabinet doors, not the whole cabinet. There are lots of companies around that have many different designs, colors and shapes of kitchen cabinet doors. Light, dark, glass. You pick. This is a much more cost effective way of giving your kitchen a whole new look without actually having to replace the whole cabinet.

7. A bit less expensive option to replacing the cabinet doors… is to just replace the wood insert for glass. This can be done by a medium skilled DIY’er and a fairly small budget.

8. Even easier than replacing the kitchen cabinet doors? Replace the hardware! Get new knobs or put on handles instead of knobs. Just by doing this you will be giving your kitchen a whole new look.

9. Another affordable way of making your kitchen look different is by adding a kitchen island. They not only provide you with more counter space, but they provide a place where people can gather.

However, for those of us on a budget, instead of getting a permanent one, why not instead consider getting a kitchen cart? Because they are on wheels, when not being used they can be put away.

You can make an island out of an old table by adding wheels! Use larger wheels (3″ or 4″ in diameter) to lift the table higher and make it a better work surface.

10. Finally, even if your kitchen redecorating budget is small think about replacing the backsplash. Just by doing this, you can really dress up that drab and dull kitchen that you have.

The great thing about backsplashes is that they now come in a variety of different colors and materials, as well as styles. But how much you spend on this will depend on what material you pick.

So there you have it. Simple and easy ways to revitalize a kitchen. Redecorating your kitchen on a budget can be as simple as giving the walls a new coat of paint, or changing the doors on your cabinets or just the existing hardware. Just by making one little change to your kitchen you can give it a whole new look.

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Home Landscaping Tips

by Debra on Monday, September 7, 2009

When people come to your house, almost all the time the design landscaping that surrounds your house and defines the areas of your garden are the attributes that give people the first impressions of your property. The landscape design that you use is one of the most significant elements in determining how the people who visit you will feel once they arrive at your home. Additionally, the landscaping around your house will also have a significant impact on what your house and property will be valued at.

New Complete Guide to Landscaping: Design, Plant, Build (Better Homes and Gardens(R))

There are many different kinds of ways to improve the landscape surrounding your home. There are some people who are worried that in order to improve their landscape design properly, they would need to hire landscape contractors or landscape architects. This can be a very helpful option if you have the ability to afford it, however there are many people that successfully undertake landscaping design of their houses on their own.

If you as a type of person that is interested in taking on the challenge of completing design landscaping for your home and garden, then one of the first things that you need to do is educate yourself on some of the basic landscaping design principles. There are basically four main aspects to all good landscape design and if you combine them with your own attention to detail and sense of style, then likely you’ll be well on your way to creating a landscape environment around your home that is unique. for more please visit Landscaping maintenance

Balance

One of the first components of landscaping is the concept of balance. If you concentrate the majority of your new plants in one area, then the rest of your garden landscaping area will appear to be rather neglected. You need to distribute the plants around the yard or garden at least to some degree in an even manner and with a sense of flow. This will help to draw the eye through the entire landscape design and help to engage your visitors.

Proportion

The second element of good landscaping is that of a proportion. The concept here is to make certain that any landscape design feature that you select fits in appropriately, in terms of its size, the surrounding areas, structures as well as fixtures. For instance if you try to wedge a huge gazebo into a very small backyard it will end up looking almost comical and will not give you that superior effect. While at the same time, if you have a very big front lawn, then the addition of larger elements in features or plantings will be required so that they will be noticed and not as overwhelmed. for more please visit Landscaping design

Transition

The third principle is that of transition and you will need to have some knowledge of this for your landscaping project as this element is closely related to proportion. Despite your landscape design including large shrubs and flowers, plants, bushes and even some trees, the way to really make them work in a graceful beautiful way is through the use of transition. It is the smooth flow from one kind of plant and size to that of another. Your goal is to lead the eye from delicate plants to larger types with some size variation in between. Transitions of color can also be a very effective element of your overall landscape design plan.

Unity

One of the last of the four concepts of landscaping is that of unity and it is this ultimate sense that you’re attempting to express with your design. All of the different selections that you make and how you balance, proportion, transition of the various sizes, colors as well as textures of landscape elements should be principally governed by a unifying theme. This is what actually brings a landscape design together to make it work in harmony in creating a unique home and garden. for more please visit Landscaping installation

One thing that can make design landscaping much simpler and also more cohesive is to determine on the type of scene that you want to use and then be certain to stay true to that theme. Having a specific idea in mind can help make any future decisions much simpler when it comes time to add furnishings, plants or any type of accent pieces to your landscape.

New Complete Home Landscaping

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Redecorating Guest Room With Travel Theme

by Debra on Thursday, September 3, 2009

Guest Room That Painter Lady

Ta Da! I finally finished (almost) redecorating one room in the house. Geeesh… what a project! We did scrape the ceiling, added 4 recessed lights and changed out that awful white ceiling fan. Yes – That black square on the wall ( next to the bed) is a flat screen TV. The white cord cover still needs to be painted.

I think I might like crown molding in this room… someday. For now – it’s Done!

My assistant hung all the decorator stuff on the walls. Having someone else look at your piles of “stuff” gives everything new outlook. I didn’t buy anything new for the walls in this room.

I’ll give you a little tour of the room and if I purchased something recently… I’ll show you where I got it. :)

The before pictures are quite hideous… I had no idea I hated the wall color of this room so much.

peach wall color guestroom

This project started with a new iron bed and the comforter set. Both were purchased 3 years ago (along with a new pillow top mattress set and carpet). I waited way too long to finish this room.

I found 2 similar comforter sets at J C Penny’s:

red comforter set

Red Comforter Set

red floral comforter set

Red Floral Comforter Set

Make A Cornice Red Flowers

I made the wall to wall cornice and covered it with an embroidered curtain from Target.

floral red drapes

Floral Red Drapes

The lamps were a steal at Target… they are black with a pale gray wash to highlight the carved texture. Of course the shades were extra… Target had these as well. The lamp shades are the same texture as the fake – faux silk drapes – just a slightly different color.

Black Table Lamp

Black Table Lamp

Fake Silk Drapes

Fake Silk Drapes

These reddish mahogany colored blinds come from Home Depot. I found them at Smith+Noble for 3 x the price. The blinds from Home Depot are Not lined – so I used a block out roller shade underneath. The glow that is cast in the room during the day is amazing. (I’m going to use the same treatment in my Master Bedroom – can’t wait)!

dark red bamboo blindsDark Red Bamboo Blind

I wanted bookcase style side tables in the guest room. I think drawers in a guest room next to the bed are creepy. I’m always afraid of what I might find. These tables leave plenty of room for drinking glass, reading glasses, clock, books and the lamp.

I found a table similar to this at Target… but much smaller. Then I scoped these tables out for about the same price at Pier One. Pier One is turning out to be one of my new favorite stores.

black side tableBlack Side Table

Soft Sage Green Wall Color

The other side of the room is a bit of “nic-nac” heaven. The desk is cluttered looking – Now that I see the picture… and I want plenty of room for guest to set down “stuff”.

The travel theme isn’t really obvious… it just gave me an excuse to hang all the art I’ve purchased when traveling.

These two storage ottomans are a “Best Buy”. Walmart gives these away compared to other stores. The faux leather has a nice finished look and the saddle stitching is perfect. These two stools give my guests a place to sit and put shoes on without having to cram a chair into the corner.

The beaded tassel hanging from the ceiling fan is actually a Christmas ornament. I have found a ton of beaded items in the import stores during the holiday decorating season… that I use all year.

A small mirror is all that is needed in a guest room… who cares about pantie lines when you’re on vacation.

brown storage ottoman

Brown Storage Ottoman

If you have any thoughts or suggestions about my re-decorated guest room – leave a comment below.

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