1. Replace all your hardware.

Most of us are dealing with the stock knobs and drawer pulls that came with our homes. Depending on how old your house is, this probably means they are pretty dated. A simple change of some hardware can make your whole kitchen feel like it's brand new and it will look much more current. Look for brushed nickel finishes for an edgy look, or go with black iron for a more traditional and country approach.

The sky is really the limit with today's hardware and you'll have a lot of options. If you can't decide which one works for you, get one of each of the styles you like (keep the receipt) and try them out live in your own kitchen. Return the ones you don't like and get the rest of the hardware to complete your kitchen.

2. Replace aging fixtures and/or sinks.

Again, we're dealing with something that came stock with your home and since our faucets get so much wear, it's probably past time to get it replaced. There are so many new options out there that it may be a little overwhelming.

Try to stick with a finish that matches your new hardware, or have some fun with some copper fixtures. Just remember to buy the fixtures that will fit your existing sink, unless you are planning on replacing that too. A new sink is cheaper than you might think and this can really change up the whole kitchen. Look for one that solves your existing problems (not enough room, too shallow, etc...) while still fitting in your existing cabinet.

3. Put in a new floor.

With today's new laminate flooring or peel and stick tiles, it is a lot easier and more economical to get an entirely new kitchen floor. Stay away from dated floral and marble prints and feel free to get a little edgier with your design. A dark floor gives a kitchen a very dramatic look, but if your kitchen is on the small side, look for a light colored material.

Since the goal is a cheap makeover, we really recommend going with a flooring that is easy to install on your own. For example, laminate flooring can just click together over your existing floor and doesn't require a lot of labor or know-how to get the job done. If you've got the skills and the budget, we really recommend ceramic tiles for a modern and fresh look.

These are just three simple ideas that can dramatically change your kitchen in just a few hours. See what you can come up with and then get that makeover started!

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-12-08 21:29:19. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Refreshing

Pros – This is a very cheap alternative to completely remodeling your home. It will allow you to retain certain features such as built-ins or other permanent fixtures in your home. With the right techniques, refreshing can be done in as little as a week and often gives similar results.

This is perfect for homeowners that need to sell their properties quickly and do not have the time to do a complete remodel. You can essentially make the home look almost brand new and you won’t have to worry about it taking months to get to completion. This is also a good alternative for those who prefer to do the work on their own, but may not have the time to dedicate to a complete remodel.

The main benefit is of course the price. Refreshing a home will cost thousands less than a remodel, and can produce almost comparable results in many cases.

Cons – The biggest con for refreshing is that you are not really addressing problem areas in the home. For example, you are not replacing older appliances that may be past their prime, nor are you fixing issues regarding flow, fixtures that no longer work or areas that are completely rundown. Basically, refreshing is best for homes that still have a lot of life in them and only need cosmetic assistance.

Remodeling

Pros – Remodeling your home can greatly increase its overall value. This is vital if you are trying to recoup equity in your home or sell it in a down market. The results are usually more dramatic and can make the entire home feel like new. Problem areas can be addressed and newer features can be added that will make the home more workable.

If you have been considering moving, but aren’t really committed to it, remodeling your home can make it feel brand new. Whether you are creating larger rooms, making your kitchen more functional or just improving the existing space, remodeling is usually the best answer.

Remodeling may be necessary in many cases, especially if a home is severely dilapidated to the point where refreshing will not help.

Cons – The cost of remodeling makes it prohibitive for many homeowners. It can easily run into the tens of thousands, especially if your home needs a lot of help. This may require a home improvement loan, which can eat into your home’s equity.

Another major obstacle is the fact that a remodel can take months to complete. If you are remodeling areas such as the kitchen or bedrooms, this can significantly impact the way you live for a long period of time. You may need to stay in a hotel or with friends, and costs can really mount up over time.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-09-23 05:17:04. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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First, let's discuss new countertops.

There are numerous different surfaces out there that range from really cheap (formica) to very expensive (poured slabs). You'll need to think about how you normally use your countertops before picking the new surface. Formica is pretty durable, but it is easy to stain. Marble looks terrific, but does have some maintenance issues. Poured surfaces are costly, but last the longest and need the least amount of care. Try to get some samples of various surfaces before you decide which one is right for you. For a compromise, try marble tiles. They're cheaper than marble slabs and easier to install.

For your new sink you'll also have quite a few options.

Most are easy enough to install, and come in sizes that will fit most existing installations. If you're completely replacing your countertops, you'll have more options when it comes to the kind of sink you can use. When picking a surface, remember that stainless steel looks nice but can be hard to keep shiny. Ceramic is a good solution, but make sure that it is properly sealed to reduce the amount of scrapes that can come with normal daily use.

New cabinets can be pretty exciting, and again, you're going to have a lot of new options here.

Glass doors add a touch of class to any new cabinets, and you can add some variety by having a few with solid doors and a few with glass. If you can't find the stain or color you like, get some unfinished cabinets and stain or paint them yourself. If your budget won't allow new cabinetry, you can still overhaul existing cabinets by replacing doors, adding new hardware or simply giving them a fresh coat of paint or a stain.

When it comes to floors, the sky is the limit.

There are so many options right now it can be hard to decide which one is best. Many new kitchens feature poured concrete floors that are then stained to match the décor. However, this is expensive and labor intensive. If you're remodeling on the cheap, you can find peel and stick tiles that can go on above your existing floor. This is a very easy and economical way to jazz up your kitchen with very little effort.

When remodeling your kitchen, try to figure out how much work you can do on your own. If you're handy, you can save a lot of money that can be used for better fixtures or options, if you do the work yourself.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-11-14 03:38:04. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Adding a room to your home is a significant expense. But renovating the basement, a space that already exists, adds more living space to your home, and raises the home's value without the same amount of expense. You can add almost any kind of room in a basement, from a family room to a bedroom. Often, basement renovations see more than one room added, or the large space becomes multi-purpose.

Will the renovations be more trouble than they're worth? If you have had water problems in your basement, those issues need to be fixed anyway just to preserve the sound structure of your home. Older homes typically have more basement moisture problems, because newer homes have built-in drainage systems in the foundation that help prevent these issues.

If you have an older home with a concrete basement floor that needs to be replaced or a dirt floor that requires a new concrete pour, then the expense of basement renovations could be closer to the expense of the addition of space at ground level. And in the case of an older home with a dirt basement floor, pouring concrete may not even be possible if that means the clearance from floor to ceiling will be less than 7 feet. It may be necessary for a contractor to dig the basement deeper to start basement renovations.

If you have an absolutely dry basement, you could put a wood subfloor over a cracked basement floor rather than replacing it. But if the potential for moisture is there, this can cause headaches later. Any water would require that the subfloor be removed to allow the floor to dry.

You could also opt to cover the concrete with laminate or wall to wall carpeting. You can even glue carpeting directly to the basement floor. This might seem problematic, but if you should have a water issue later, then it's just a matter of cleaning and drying the carpet rather than removing a subfloor and replacing it. No matter which covering you use, the floor has to be leveled first. A floor leveling compound should be spread across the area and leveled properly to ensure a good result.

Choosing which kind of flooring you want for your basement renovations will not only help you decide how to repurpose your basement, but will help you figure the rest of your budget for things like framing, drywall, lighting and other important issues.

If you're an experienced DIYer, then some jobs like covering the floor and even drywall are things you can probably do yourself. For framing the walls around pipes and obstacles, unless you're experienced doing this you may want to contact a contractor. Either way, basement renovations give you more living space and add value to your home, so decide what you'll do with the extra space and start planning.

Photo Credits: tandemracer

Originally posted 2009-09-24 03:23:28. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Before Nash gets into the actual projects, he provides the reader with some different philosophies and mindsets when it comes to renovating older homes. There are definitely purists out there that will only use old materials and techniques to fix up their homes, while there are those who will use new materials and change them so that they fit the character of the house. You'll be able to use this section to determine which techniques and materials you should be using for your home as well as some useful workarounds if you can't match something perfectly.

It should be noted here that there is definitely a difference between renovating and remodeling. When you're renovating, you're preserving the heritage of the home - remodeling is usually associated with modernization. While there is nothing wrong with remodeling, this book focuses mainly on keeping with a home's original traditions and renovating it for restoration purposes.

Part of the best part of this book is that it is useful even for those who aren't quite ready to tackle their own home improvement projects, but are interested in buying an older home for the purpose of fixing it up. Older homes are usually much cheaper, but there are some warning signs that you'll need to look out for when buying it. Nash gives some great hints on how to get an inspection and how to find an older home that won't turn into a money pit.

After the preliminaries are out of the way, Nash gets down to business with ten chapters that cover some of the most common renovations you can try with an older home. The best part of these chapters are definitely the color photos which make it easy to see what the project entails and how your house will look when you've completed the projects. Again, if you're a fan of old homes, but not really handy, you'll still get plenty of enjoyment out of the book for the pictures alone.

Necessary things such as handling cellars that are frequently breeding grounds for mold and mildew. Older homes tend to have issues with this, especially in humid climates, but you'll get plenty of information to help you fix these issues quickly. You'll also learn about fixing little things, like rotting window sills and how to replace the windows with newer and more efficient windows without losing the original charm of the older windows.

Sewage systems are also covered and this is very important for any older home. You'll need to know how to bring everything up to code, from water lines to sewage lines and this book will walk you through everything you could ever want to know about fixing up an old home the right way.

Originally posted 2008-11-24 05:58:39. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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