Your New Kitchen
Switch up your cooking space with one—or all—of these updates. Total cost = under $12K!
Cabinets
Update your kitchen with white, streamlined cabinets. For a cool tool to map it out, go to ikea.com, click on “IKEA planning tools” in the Kitchen tab and go to “Kitchen planner.” When installing cabinets, leave room to clear your dishwasher and oven door handles.
Get It: Akurum enamel cabinets, $850 (8 upper/5 lower); Lansa stainless steel handles, $112 (28 handles)
Where: IKEA stores
Appliances
Harvest gold and avocado (blech!) may have been in style when your kitchen was designed, but stainless steel, white or black are all the rage now.
Get It: Fridge, $618; cooktop, $280; wall oven, $1,000; dishwasher, $350
Where: Sears.com
Flooring
Today's homeowners are choosing sustainable materials, like bamboo or cork, for kitchen floors. Worried about wood in a high-traffic area? Throw down a brightly patterned rug and you're good to go.
Get It: Bamboo flooring, $8/sq. ft.
Where: The Home Depot (special order; select hand-scraped bamboo in Toast)
Paint
A new coat of paint livens up your space. Want color? Go for food-inspired hues.
Get It: Tangerine Melt, Mint Julep, Lemon Souffle, Shy Cherry, from $29 per gallon
Where: Benjaminmoore.com
Lighting
Industrial-mod light fixtures instantly enhance the look of your kitchen.
Get It: Portfolio pendant lights, $49 each
Where: Lowe's stores
Faucet and Sink
Try a sleek-looking, gooseneck faucet along with an undermount sink in stainless steel.
Get It: Bagvik chrome-plated brass faucet, $90; Boholmen undermount sink, $65
Where: IKEA stores
Countertop and Backsplash
Marble makes your kitchen look high-end. A marble tile backsplash costs a fraction of the counter but has the same luxe look.
Get It: Marble countertop, $100/sq. ft.; marble tile backsplash, $25/sq. ft.
Where: The Home Depot (special order for countertop; tiles must be cut for backsplash)