Keep Kitchen Remodeling COSTS from Adding UP

There are two things I don’t love about my kitchen, shown above – the color of the cabinets (cherry was so chic eight years ago) and the backsplash (::ahem:: there is none). One thing at a time, right? I asked Joaquin Erazo of Case Remodeling/Design for some advice on the cabinets, and here’s what he had to say:

A complete kitchen remodel can be a big investment. Installing new appliances, updating the flooring, countertops, lighting, painting… the list of tempting to-do items is seemingly endless! If you’re trying to minimize kitchen costs for a remodeling project, you need to employ two strategies – prioritize the big expenses, and determine where you can cut corners.

Photo source: Pinterest

Homeowners looking to update their kitchens often start with their kitchen cabinets, as these improvements will likely cause the biggest notice of change (I hear that!). However, replacing kitchen cabinets can also be the biggest budget buster. An easy way to cut kitchen costs for remodeling is to identify whether cabinets should be replaced, or if they can be refaced or refinished.

Photo source: Pinterest

Before you make a decision on the type of cabinet remodel needed for your space, take a good look at your kitchen.
Reface or refinish if: you are satisfied with the current layout.
Replace if: your kitchen cabinets are not functional or if you want a completely remodeled kitchen.

Here’s the difference between the three:

• Refacing: Refacing is the process of replacing doors and drawer fronts and recovering the remaining surfaces with laminate, paint, or veneer. Refacing jobs are easy and relatively quick to complete, plus they cause limited damage to walls and other surfaces in your kitchen.
• Refinishing: Refinishing is the process of repainting all existing surfaces with a fresh coat of paint or varnish. For an added twist, consider replacing the hardware (hinges and knobs) Refinishing is the most affordable, fastest, and easiest remodeling option for your kitchen cabinets.
• Replacing: You can probably guess this one! If you’re looking for a bigger impact with your kitchen , you should replace your cabinets. The total budget for replacing will depend on the type of materials you select. Stock cabinets will be much cheaper than custom-made cabinets.

Photo source: Pinterest

No matter which route you choose, changing the look of your cabinets is a great way to breathe life into an outdated space, or just give it a little lift.

What do you guys think? Should I refinish my kitchen cabinets? As you can probably tell from the photos above, I’m a bit obsessed with white cabinets!

TRENDS from CS Interiors 5th Anniversary HOME

Isn't it fun to oogle picture-perfect show houses? I always like to imagine my life in the space ("Let's adjourn to the living room. You know, the room with the hand-stitched leather walls. But first, grab a drink from the refrigerator. It's behind the faux ostrich skin panel.") and the CS Interiors Fifth Anniversary Home was an ideal occasion to do so. Better yet, it was hosted at the newly completed Ritz-Carlton Residences, which I have been dying to peek. Neither the building nor the decor disappointed. Have a look at the six rooms, outfitted by some of the city's top designers.

Foyer and Bathroom

by Anne Coyle
 

Bedroom

by Tracy Hickman

Den

by James E. Ruud

Dining Room

by Jessica Lagrange

Kitchen

by Julia Buckingham Edelmen

Living Room

by Tom Stringer

10 NEON Accents - from Subtle to STATEMENT

Unless you've lived under a rock, you've seen a whole lot of color--neon in particular--in blogs, magazines and on the street fashions of the most trend-setting women on your daily commute. It ushered in spring fashion in a big way, and now the influence is felt in home decor, cropping up on everything from pottery to furniture. The electric-pink reproduction Thonet chair from ABC Carpet & Home seemed suddenly as ubiquitous as manicures in not-so-classic hues.

If the idea of adding loud colors to your interiors has you running for Restoration Hardware's save haven, fear not! 2012's neons bear little resemblance to the dubious iterations of the 80s. Add voltage to your decor by incorporating small touches, like a a neon stripe on a gray pillow, or by applying neon to transitional pieces (versus investment pieces like a couch or even bedding). Finally, neon need not be as loud as you might think. There are softer, more subdued versions, not to mention pairings with neutrals that balance neon when it's at its most saturated. The following are a few of my picks.

 

Rosanna's La Vie Boho dessert plate set proves that (nearly) neon colors are a soft alternative to saturated brights.

I’ve been a fan of k studio’s charming pillows since they first debuted years ago. This Clematis style pairs neon orange-pink with soft gray (love the neutral-and-neon combo).  Get it at Design Public.

Etsy vendor Ktaadn applies water-based ink to linen to make these tea towels. The yellow may be neon-bright, but the overall look is still subdued.

The chic Ander collection by Sebastian Herkner provides a pop of color; volume and spacing tones down the impact.

I've been smitten with the Dots carpet by Danish design studio Hay since it first appeared in my Google Reader. Again, pairing brights with neutrals creates balance. This area rug could work with modern interiors or more traditional ones (as seen above).

Designer Karim Rashid is no stranger to bright colors, so his use of neon-esque shades is less trend, more way of life. This xO stool (available at Y Living) kicks up the neon a notch with its single use of the yellow-green shade but is small enough so as to not overwhelm a room. 

This saturated lime-green vintage Hollywood-Regency-style table lamp from Etsy seller The Savage Savant would light up a room even when turned off.

The aptly named Sagaform Happy Days punch bowl from Fjorn Scandinavia would perk up any party--and can left out after the festivities end.

When I first spotted--and quickly bought--AMAC's colorful M Series boxes at The Container Store years ago, I had no idea they were a "favorite of designers since the 60s", much less that they were part of MoMa's permanent collection. Mine are translucent, but I'm really loving the neon colors in the more opaque versions (available at Fab.com) above.

Lumas is a great source for "entry level" art--quality pieces that while still a significant investment, aren't solely for the rich. When perusing the site recently, I was struck by Eva Castringius's "Untitled #3 (Flamingo)," with its burst of colors and neon shapes.

Interior Decorating and Design by Christine Sisson Part of the Second City Soiree Contributor Series. Christine is the author of Words on Style and is on Twitter @WordsOnStyle. Read her full bio here.