Kitchen makeover on a budget

Who wouldn't love a new kitchen?! Unfortunately, it's often the cost that holds us back; but it may be more affordable than you think. Most of our kitchens simply look a little dated and tired, but for just a few hundred dollars and some ?elbow grease,' you could give your kitchen a refreshing makeover to help you fall in love with the space all over again!

• Most kitchen cabinets are simply wooden boxes screwed into the wall and, for the most part, are easy to move up or down. So, the first step in your kitchen makeover is to ensure that all of the boxes are lined-up horizontally. Or, if you're feeling creative, why not consider lifting a few of the boxes higher than the others for a more visually-exciting line?
• Be sure to look carefully at the boxes and cabinet doors to see if molding or trim work should be added to the top, bottom, or door fronts in order to give a richer, more stylized feel.
• For a more open feel, remove a few of the doors so that the cabinets can be treated as open shelving - a modern trend in kitchen design. Another option is to replace the center panel with glass or wire mesh for a more country feel.

With all the prep and remodelling work done, get out the paint brush and roller and give your cabinets and doors a fresh coat of white, ivory, black, or espresso paint (especially over oak cabinets). Remember to remove all of the handles, knobs, and even the hinges, which you can replace with new, more visually appealing hardware.

Your choice of kitchen hardware is endless and they don't need to match; for example, you can use handles on the drawers and knobs on the cabinets, or, consider designer knobs on strategic cabinets.

So set aside a weekend and allow yourself to ooze with kitchen creativity.