A short while back, Maureen Bray, from Room Solutions Home Staging, Portland, OR, was kind enough to share a blog of hers with my readers regarding inexpensive suggestions for updating and remodeling the kitchen within your home. Maureen's helpful blog still receives many viewers each and every day on my website. 
Perhaps a new home or expensive remodeling is out of the question for you right now financially, but with some elbow grease, small monetary expenditure, and effort ... you can still achieve big things and add value to your home by following these bits of advice.
The continued popularity of Maureen's post proves to me that there is definitely an eager audience hoping to learn about this topic. So below, I've added some tips I've gathered from some top remodeling experts regarding the prepping, painting, and/or re-staining of your home's present kitchen cabinetry.
Most families will say that their kitchen often serves as the "hub" of their home. Function, lay-out, quality of materials, appearance, trends, colors, and how to achieve the latest "hot" look ... everything about the kitchen is important, so it's also where sizeable expenditures are often made in remodeling and updating.
Painting or re-staining kitchen cabinets is an inexpensive way for homeowners to improve, refresh, and update the appearance, appeal, and value of their home without breaking the bank financially. But this cabinet work must be performed correctly, or the appearance and desired upgrade in "value" will not be realized.
Surface preparation is key when painting or re-staining cabinetry. Stripping cabinets to bare wood eliminates issues with adhesion of the new paint or stain, but depending on the construction of yours cabinets, good results may also be achieved by thoroughly cleaning, and then lightly sanding the old cabinets as well. Most household cleaners will take care of the ordinary dirt and grease build-up on kitchen cabinets. But if you smoke or cook alot, especially with cooking oils or grease, something stronger will be needed. Consider using a cleaner with trisodium phosphate (TSP) which can be found at most hardware or paint stores, in these instances.
To help you better understand the preparation and steps needing to be taken for painting or re-staining your cabinets, watch the video below ...
Remember, the finishing touches made to your cabinets are very important. They can mean the difference between only a "so-so" appearance and having that "wow" factor you desire. Consider making an investment in new hardware for your newly painted and upgraded cabinetry. Everything will look new and fresh that way ... and also be sure to be in working order.
There's a huge range of hardware styles to consider. A suggestion is to coordinate your new hardware with the kitchen sink faucet. This small attention to detail pulls the whole kitchen together and unifies the overall design.
Hardware for your newly-painted or stained cabinets can be trendy or personalized to the homeowners tastes, but if thinking of selling soon ... keep their installation to a minimum as an "accent". New owners will consider making the investment in a small change for a few hardware pieces or knobs, but possibly balk at a larger expenditure of money and time to install something new of their own taste.
Painting or re-staining your kitchen cabinets can be achieved for as little as "hundreds" of dollars versus the thousands of a complete replacement or re-facing. Take the time to prepare and then apply the new paint or stain. Make the expenditure for excellent quality brushes, wood fillers, caulk, hardware, paint or stain. If the correct tools of the trade are used and the time is taken to do the job well, the end result can be spectacular. It can transform your home.
And, if not acquainted with Maureen Bray, her home staging talents, or how home staging can help you sell or improve the appearance of your home ... check-out Maureen's businesswebsite or her blog on ActiveRain: http://activerain.com/blogs/roomsolutions.
* If seeking mortgage advice or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. I also can provide referrals for other trusted, experienced real estate professionals in our area. Contact me in any of the following ways:
Direct: 815.277.4036 Cell/Text: 708.921.6331
Email: gene@chicagobancorp.com
Website: www.genemundt.com/Contact-Info.html
Skype: 630.219.1316
Gene Mundt, Sr. Vice President
Personal NMLS #216987
The Federal Savings Bank
1823 Centre Point Circle, Naperville, IL 60563
Now on Skype! 630-219-1316
