Dec 9, 2018 3 min read

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Q. Our kitchen is desperate for a reno, but our budget is limited. Lots of action with a young family. We replaced the fridge and stove with white ones. I want a bright, happy space. Where would you start? – Eva

A. As is my mantra, paint is the most economical renovation tool there is. You can take your kitchen anywhere with color, and done carefully, it will have a professional look that you will be proud of. Kids and color are a natural fit, so take advantage of these years with your young family and have some fun. The biggest job will be refreshing the cabinetry. Why not add color to the lower cabinets and keep the uppers white, or a very pale yellow? Remove the doors and drawers and the hardware so that you have unobstructed surfaces. I chose a milky shade of tangerine to liven up a budget kitchen do-over, and the results were cheerful and charming. (Kids love “orn-age,” even after they learn how to pronounce it.) Prepare your surface and apply a high-adhesive primer, then two coats of acrylic paint. Choose paint with some sheen, as it’ll be more durable and easier to clean. Replace dated or worn hardware with new handles, and you will be amazed at the instant transformation.

Elsewhere in the kitchen, the backsplash is a good place to change it up. Tiles are available in many colors and patterns, and you can create a design that incorporates a few high-end tiles with standard ones. Plain white would be fine with an orange grout to connect with the cabinets.

Kitchen stools and chairs can be painted and will brighten up any space. There are specialty paints that are designed to cover plastic, melamine and other shiny surfaces. And you can add seat cushions in funky designs to fit your new mood.

Q. We recently painted our kitchen walls a warm white. Unusual to commence improvements with wall color, but I seem to be working backward. I am now thinking of painting the cabinets in a dark color. (See attached photos). Have you any suggestions? – Jocelyn

A. Your photos show that the cabinets are now a caramel shade with the groove around the inset panels highlighted in a light beige. Your appliances are steel. The cabinet color you are thinking of moving to is a dark gray. This will make a dramatic change, but an exciting one if you are looking to update. Paint the cabinetry all one color; don’t highlight the panels. This will afford a very clean, contemporary line. Then add a few color pops to energize what will essentially be a black and white space. Orange, red or turquoise mixing bowls, or a brightly hued mixer, multi-colored measuring cups, or art on the wall is all you need. Tip: If you are painting the cabinets yourself, remove the doors and drawers first so that your work will have a professional finish.

Email your questions to house2home@debbietravis.com.