 Kitchen Redux:
How to give your
kitchen a simple,
pain-free facelift.
by PRISCILLA KOHUTEK
photography by ROBERT FRENCH
Give your kitchen a brand new look!
Forget about expensive tear-outs and
extreme remodels — a few changes here
and there can make all the difference.
Your pocketbook will determine how far
you can go, but consider some simple tips when
making plans for a kitchen facelift.
The most common changes include updating
kitchen cabinets, countertops and floors —the things
there are so much of in a kitchen.
Cabinets: Not necessary to replace if their carcasses
are in good condition.
• Change doors. Color combinations are “in” so not
to worry if you can’t match the carcasses.
• Add moldings and crowns. Paint black if carcasses
are stained or natural wood.
• Replace door handles and drawer pulls.
• Paint them. Even stained cabinets can be painted
when properly prepared.
• Update interiors with modern conveniences like Lazy Susans, pull-out shelves and full-extension
drawer glides.
 Countertops: There are many materials from
which to choose, and all of them are good-looking
when they are new, but how they hold up in a busy
kitchen is the key.
• Granite: At the top of the charts in popularity, these provide a
high-end sophisticated look, priced from affordable to over-thetop
depending upon grade and rarity of color and patterns.
Tough and durable, but it will stain under certain conditions. Red
wine or tomato sauce left standing overnight on a light-colored
countertop will leave its mark. Highly polished, dark colors like
absolute black stand up to abuse the best. There is a wide range
of colors and designer finishes available. Check out marble, limestone
and soapstone, too.
• Quartz Surfacing/Engineered Stone: 93 percent quartz,
7 percent resin and pigment. Tougher than granite and impervious
to stains. Cambria, a high-end, designer-quality green
product is manufactured exclusively in the United States, and,
therefore, according to Cambria representative Erika Picard, “It’s more sensitive to our decorating needs. Cambria is at the
forefront of the latest trends in home décor.” Visit the showroom
at Parrish & Company to learn more.
• Concrete: This material can take on most any look — everything
from contemporary to deeply rustic — and can be textured
to replicate any natural stone and even wood.
However, like these natural materials, it’s porous and susceptible
to cracking.
• Solid Surface: Corian is No. 1 in this category of solid, seamless
materials, but Shirestone is more durable. This product is custompoured
on site in your choice of colors and surfaces, which can
imitate natural stone and concrete. It can also be poured on top
of some existing countertops, depending upon their composition.
• Metals like stainless steel and copper are high fashion and
high end. The look is industrial. However, zinc used on an
island in a vintage kitchen works beautifully with traditional
Carrara marble.
Backsplashes work with the countertops and should be compatible. If you
change out countertops, chances are you will need new backsplashes too.
Trendsetters are going for glass tiles and square metal tiles. FYI: Shirestone can
be poured on site, along with the countertop, to match, contrast or coordinate.
Flooring: If replacing the kitchen floor is on the agenda, it is wise to start
from scratch. That means tearing up the old floor and properly preparing
the base before the new material goes down — one remodeler told me he
would never consider anything else. “Laying new flooring on top of the old
is just inviting problems with leveling and adhesion, among other things.
More than likely, there will also be an awkward difference in the height of
the connecting floors,” he says.
What’s best for kitchen flooring? It is hard to say. Natural stone, quarry
tile and brick are famous for uneven surfaces that are hard on feet and
backs and difficult to keep clean; however, people insist on having them
and builders insist on accommodating their clients. Wood is difficult. Some
decorators have taken wood off the preferred list, and sometimes it’s more
trouble than it’s worth. You may want to cover yours with washable area
rugs. Perhaps large porcelain tile squares, laid dry or with infinitesimal
matching grouting, is the best recommendation. For some gorgeous flooring
with flat surfaces that somehow look dimensional like natural stone, visit area showrooms.
If you’re not ready to spring for a costly redo, consider
making one significant change for a big impact. Start with the
cabinets and eventually work down. But if the floor concerns
you the most, start there and work your way up as the budget
permits.
In the meantime, here are a few decorating tricks that
are totally effective:
 • Change the color scheme. Even when you think
you’re locked into one because of existing elements, and
you aren’t going to make changes like countertops or
flooring, you can paint the walls a different shade of the
same color.
• Change the window treatments. Get some great
ideas and see a myriad of fabrics at local stores.
• Add area rugs. Use washable, coordinating rugs.
• Install a striking new faucet that you love.
• Change the light fixtures. For a simple new change,
look at new light fixtures.
When it is time for a kitchen makeover, you have two
choices: Replace the offending elements in your kitchen or
disguise them with overpowering visual changes.
Stretch your imagination and creativity. Enjoy your
kitchen once more.
Priscilla Kohutek is an internationally published home decorating columnist
and author of The Guide to Home Decorating Indian Style. Visit her
Web site: www.askpriscilla.com.
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