Ideas to update a kitchen

Is your kitchen more of a nightmare than a dream? There are so many ways - with very little budget - that you can re-design the look of a kitchen without having to tear everything out and start all over again. In this article we look at a few easy ways to modernise and organise a kitchen.

 

This boring uninspiring kitchen is less than ideal for entertaining. With a colour palette of white, black and red, you can design a kitchen that mixes modern with the traditional.

Too many doors can drastically reduce the amount of available space in an already small kitchen. If there is a way to block off a door - do it. The original kitchen cabinet doors were removed and given a coat or two of paint and new handles. There are many ways to totally transform kitchen doors.

The homeowners love their home but they’re ready to update the living areas. They want the spaces to be sleek and fun, but comfortable for their young child.

A unified colour scheme is more sophisticated than the former palette. Monochromatic doesn't mean using the same shade over and over; it's about using various shades and tones to create depth.

The cabinets are a dark charcoal grey and a stainless steel backsplash is installed. The final result is a modern kitchen that's sleek and kid-friendly.

Ultimate do-it-yourself kitchen

BELOW: Many townhouses and apartments have a large open-plan living and dining area and a small, pokey kitchen. With the right tools and DIY savvy see what can be done to create a dramatic open-plan living space...

The dramatic transformation of the space was created by removing the wall around the kitchen, adding the rock feature wall, all new modern cabinets and appliances, flooring and recessed lighting.

DIY kitchen makeovers

Here are a few projects that you can easily tackle as do-it-yourself if you have some basic power tools and an understanding of DIY:

• Paint kitchen cabinets
  
• Replace kitchen cabinet doors
  
• Install new kitchen countertops
  
• Tiling walls and floors
  

ABOVE and BELOW: Installing new kitchen cabinets and worktops can make a big difference in a small kitchen.

You don't always need to call in professional installers. If you keep the layout of the kitchen the same, you can easily remove and install new cabinetry and worktops as a do-it-yourself project.

Professional advice

If you need professional assistance with renovating or modernising a kitchen - do your homework. There are plenty of companies that offer kitchen installation. Let them discuss the various options available to you on the budget you have.