Refreshing a kitchen (cosmetic)

Ungnome

I'm looking to update my kitchen, it is only 3/4 years old fitted by the previous owners but not to my taste.  I dont want to replace anything as it feels a waste of money when the kitchen is absolutely fine. The main thing I thought of was taking apart the cupboards and repainting them, but some will be easier to do that others due to angles etc.

 Are there any other clever tricks to revamp a kitchen without replacing it? I have heard of of worktop layers you can fit over your existing one etc

Any ideas gratefully received, thanks!

grumbler

Ungnome said:

I have heard of of worktop layers you can fit over your existing one etc

I haven't heard of them, but am pretty sure it's a purely decorative gimmick.

lemontarts

I think you can start by replacing the knobs or handles of your cupboards to create a vibe that you'll like!

Homer_home

Change worktop, change doors , new look kitchen , job done 

ST1991

You can get worktop stickers... it's basically patterned sticky-back-plastic for lack of a better term. Easy to put down, looks ok... it was called DC Fix and i got it in a black/marble effect to cover a filthy, stained, white laminate worktop with dents and holes in it that.
I did this as a temporary fix to my kitchen when i first moved in, 4 years later it's still there, with a few marks where someone has cut directly on the countertop instead of using a chopping board. Otherwise it has held up perfectly fine. At some point i will get my kitchen re-done...
If you just want something to tide you over until you actually fully re-fit the kitchen, then i think it is a good and cheap option.

However... if it is not a temporary 'I cant stand to look at this kitchen a minute longer' fix, and you actually want to revamp, then you can get worktops for pretty cheap. From ikea some of them are around £50 for a long run.

Remove the cabinet doors, then sand and paint them. New handles, a new backsplash (or a lick of paint on the walls) and some new flooring can also make the world of difference.
Sometimes a good scrub can make all the difference too... you often don't realise how much better everything looks after a full deep clean!

gwynlas

You need to investigate what products are out there to tackle your renovations. There are companies that will come in and spray paint your kitchen or you can buy from DIY sheds and do yourself. Plenty of advice on the net, There are also companies that apply a quartz overlay to worktops but they are unlikely to be cheap.. A lot depends on what you wish to change and how long you intend to live with kitchen before total refit. Most would expect at least 20 years out of newly fitted kitchen.

in_my_wellies

My son has just had his 1982 kitchen revamped using a company which provided new doors and worktops. The original kitchen was good quality and the units were all very solid. The quote for the doors and worktop was about 1/3 the cost of new but by the time he factored in removing tiles, re-plastering, new sink + tap, new floor, new hob, cooker hood + splashback, etc, he thinks the saving was only 20% less than a new kitchen. 
I didn't say anything to him but I don't think the quality of the new doors and hinges is very high but he is delighted and that's what counts 

sol2017

in_my_wellies said:

My son has just had his 1982 kitchen revamped using a company which provided new doors and worktops. The original kitchen was good quality and the units were all very solid. The quote for the doors and worktop was about 1/3 the cost of new but by the time he factored in removing tiles, re-plastering, new sink + tap, new floor, new hob, cooker hood + splashback, etc, he thinks the saving was only 20% less than a new kitchen. 
I didn't say anything to him but I don't think the quality of the new doors and hinges is very high but he is delighted and that's what counts 

I think that's a very good point - costs will depend on how far you go with your revamp and will rise considerably if you decide to change worktops and appliances. I was thinking about an update but it doesn't work out cheap even for my small kitchen. Well, not in hundreds anyway.

A friend of mine got her kitchen spray painted. The company did a great job and it was very good value for her big kitchen. If you're happy with the rest of it and it's just the colour that's not to your taste then spraying is a good option. Add new handles and you'll have a new kitchen.

sol2017

Post some pics and I'm sure you'll get some suggestions 

kdotdotdotdot

Yes, you can paint your own kitchen cabinets.  Be very, very careful in this however.  Make sure you've got the exact right type of paint depending on what the surface is (real wood? laminate?).  Ignore any paint claims that you can just start painting: you DO need to prep the surface first (no matter what the tin says).  

You also have to be very good at painting otherwise it can look a little home-made.  

It's not for the faint-hearted and may not last more than a couple of years.

Penguin_

kdotdotdotdot said:

Yes, you can paint your own kitchen cabinets.  Be very, very careful in this however.  Make sure you've got the exact right type of paint depending on what the surface is (real wood? laminate?).  Ignore any paint claims that you can just start painting: you DO need to prep the surface first (no matter what the tin says).  

You also have to be very good at painting otherwise it can look a little home-made.  

It's not for the faint-hearted and may not last more than a couple of years.

Am I right in saying that laminates need an primer on before the paint goes on?