Renovation kitchen | Small kitchen makeover at budget

• Relocate the refrigerator and move the sink to the corner. It makes meal prep and cleanup easier. Located behind the sink, the stainless drying rack takes advantage of unused space.
• Replace outdated appliances with newer models that saves both space and energy.
• A compact 18" dishwasher, a self-vented microwave/speed oven (wall-mounted above a 30" range) and an 18-cu.-ft. refrigerator with bottom-mount freezer will prove smart solutions.
• Refresh the kitchen with a neutral, two-toned color scheme that makes the space seem larger, as do the glass-fronted cabinets. Keep the clutter to a minimum with a row of wall hooks and customize cabinet organizers.
• Convenience counts: Mount under a cabinet and above the stove, a microwave/speed oven frees up counter space while offering additional cooking options. This model is self-venting that makes it easier to install.
• The range's continuous grate serves as a landing spot for hot pans and trays coming out of the oven -- another plus for your kitchen where counter space is at a premium.

Counter tops - Kitchen fix ups
The biggest visual in your kitchen is the counter surface, so remove your existing countertops and replace them with new materials that will make an immediate impact.
Hardware
Jazz up all the kitchen cabinets with attractive new hardware if you can't replace all of them.

You can find a variety of door handles and drawer pulls at do-it-yourself home stores to match every décor, from ultra contemporary to antique looks.

Lighting
Instead of replacing all of the lighting systems, use dimmers to change the look and functionality of the room. You need not have to have an unsightly dimmer control on your wall. Its accompanying screw- less wall-plate, comes in 15 decorator colors to blend with paint, flooring and wall coverings.
Flooring
Remove the old yellowed linoleum floor. High-pressure laminates can give the look of a much more expensive natural wood flooring than any other option. Patterns range from time-honored favorites like maple, oak and cherry to sophisticated looks like burled mahogany and exotic woods.
Paint
Nothing can match a fresh coat of paint for improving the look of your kitchen. This is very useful if you have dark cabinets that were once popular but are now costly to replace.

Small kitchen makeover at budget	Kitchen fix ups
Making a small kitchen look larger - 10 ways	An organized kitchen- 10 ways to do it
Kind of kitchen for you

 

• Create more storage space. For better storage and to save space, install a base cabinet that has the cabinet door attached to rollout shelves instead of swinging open on hinges.
• Re-do cabinets. Add glass fronts on wall cabinets or you can also replace solid cabinet doors with glass fronts along one wall. It gives an open feeling to the room.
• Add more light. Consider under-the-counter lighting and the kitchen will appear larger. Also, use light colors while decorating and lighten cabinets and counter-tops.
• Create height with taller wall cabinets. Remove soffits and install cabinets to the ceiling or you can also "stair step" the cabinets.
• Bring the outdoors in. Enlarge the windows or replace one with a garden window installed at counter top height. Add a skylight or sky pipe.
• Streamline your kitchen. Just as you go through your clothes closets once or twice a year and shed away items you no longer need, you must try the same for your kitchen.
• Install storage trays. Apply this on the back of false drawer fronts at the sink and cook top with specially made trays (they are very narrow) available at hardware stores and home centers.
• Free up counter space. You can install an under-the-counter microwave, can opener, spice rack or toaster.
• Open up walls. If your kitchen has an adjoining dining room, consider opening the wall between them. You can do it yourself.
• Create open shelving. Design a kitchen with open shelves, especially if you have colorful plates and glasses, teapots or other collectibles kept.