Marcel Aucar
Give your kitchen a sparkling makeover without blowing the budget.
1. Show it off
Streamline storage for your often-used pantry items by decanting them into attractive containers and grouping together on display.
2. Hang art
Not just your kids’ preschool paintings either – although if they’re really great and match your kitchen decor have theme properly framed and display as art. Otherwise, consider either moving favourite pieces into the kitchen or keep an eye out for prints, wall hangings and beautifully designed kitchenwares that can double as art when given pride of place on display.
3. Bring your garden inside
Indoor plants are a wonderful way to add life to a room – literally and, as long as you have a good dose of natural light flowing in, the kitchen can house a selection of herbs to cook with, or with a little less light, varieties to simply admire and enjoy.
4. Hide away odd dinnerware
The old adage “if it’s on display it must be beautiful” never rings more true than in the kitchen. Open shelving, is a handy convenience but, without a careful edit can look cluttered and untidy. Only display your most beautiful, wares and keep others than fall more into the “useful” category behind closed doors.
5. Add a feature wall
A feature wall of timber paneling, floor to ceiling tiles or wallpaper will pack a style punch to be proud of.
6. Style a vignette
Designate a central space to create an ever-changing vignette of herbs, flowers or fruit. Choose your favourite serving dish or handmade ceramic bowl and style it together to create a display you enjoy looking at every day. Add a scented candle to cook by.
7. Change your paint colour
Often achievable in a weekend, a repaint of your kitchen walls can work wonders to lift the space and therefore your mood when spending time in the hub of your home. In such a high traffic area a regular repaint in the new season’s colours is justified. Consider the addition of a chalkboard feature wall for lists, menus and kids to play at.
8. Revamp, replace or remove cabinetry doors
Your cabinetry forms one of the largest surfaces in your kitchen so a makeover of the cupboard doors and handles can effect a complete transformation. If this is too hard, simply take them off and style up your shelves for display.
9. Modify your handles
If the expense or labor involved in changing your cupboard doors is too great, simply change the handles for new ones for a fresh look that’s on trend and gives your kitchen your own dash of style.
