NEW LOOK IN A HEARTBEAT

REPLACING A KITCHEN IS EXPENSIVE. UPDATE YOURS WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK.

The kitchen is often called the heart of the home, and that has a lot to do with the fact that we spend a lot of our time in there, not only preparing food but also reflecting on the events of the day with our loved ones. Here’s how to give the heart of the home a quick update that won’t cause a huge dent in your bank balance.

1. REPLACE THE BENCHTOP

Replacing a rounded-edge laminate benchtop with a square-edge stone will instantly update a kitchen. A 20mm thick benchtop is all you need for a quick facelift and it will also help keep the cost down. Look for a quartz product rather than more expensive natural stone options. 2. INSTALL A NEW SPLASHBACK Patterned tiles were very popular in the ’70s and ’80s and are one of the first things to date a kitchen. Tiles are still the cheapest splashback option so either replace the old tiles with new modern ones or paint over them with tile paint following a thorough clean and application of primer.

3. PAINT OR REMOVE CABINETS

Give an all-white kitchen a modern makeover by painting bottom cabinets and the front of the island bench in a contrasting darker colour like charcoal or black. If the kitchen looks all too cabinet heavy, another trick is to remove some of the upper cabinet doors to open up the look of the space. These open spaces can be used to display nice crockery or decorator items. Don’t forget to fill and paint the hinge holes.

4. REPLACE HANDLES AND ACCESSORIES By far the cheapest trick is to replace dated, plastic or broken handles with new modern ones. If you choose stainless steel then think about other stainless steel accessories, like small appliances or a utensil holder, which will add to the look. New lighting can also make a huge difference and help extend a theme developed through all the accessories. For more lifestyle advice, go to lifestyle.com.au.