How to Get a Stylish Kitchen Without Breaking the Bank!
When you buy a ready-made kitchen, you buy the cabinets and the bench-top But if you already have a kitchen, it is totally unnecessary to take everything out. Look at the fronts: if they are made from wood, perhaps all it need is a coat of paint. These days an off-white is trendy. The modern acrylic paints will dry exactly like the old enamel-paints, but don’t smell. You might want to stain them, if they are real wood. Before you do all this you’ll have to remove all the old paint though. If they are not worth salving, just buy some new fronts. And if you think your kitchen is fine the way it is, all it might need are new handles!
The bench-top: this might need replacing by an expert. If you are not sure of your measurements, let them do it; it must fit exactly, or else you can throw it away. An alternative could be tiling the bench-top. If you choose a square tile in a contrasting color from the cabinets, this will work.It is not advisable to glue tiles over the laminate top. A cheap alternative would be a completely wooden bench-top. But you will need to varnish a wooden bench-top a couple of times, to make it absolutely water-proof. For these two options you could make a wooden so-called MDF bench-top first.
If your tiles look like “That 70’s “show, it is time to replace them. You cannot go over the old ones unfortunately, you’ll need to take them all off. Go to a cheap do-it-yourself store and start looking around. Since these are not floor-tiles, but for your walls, they can’t be too big. The cheap ones are not necessarily the least stylish ones, so go for the cheap ones first. It helps if you can take the color of your cabinets with you. Most people will go for an “easy and neutral” combination like cream and cream. But a contrast is better, believe me. I have a maple kitchen and black oblong tiles and I think it looks somewhat Art Deco and very stylish.So if you choose cream cabinets, perhaps navy blue tiles; light green cabinets with cream tiles; black cabinets with white tiles. These are just suggestions, I’m sure you have your own taste.
Tiles come in different shapes: square, and oblong.They can have ordinary edgings or beveled edges. Sometimes they come in “mats” with tiny mosaics on them.But basically the tiling itself is not really that difficult. You will need: tiles, special tile-glue (buy the ready-made) , a special scraper to get the glue on evenly,grouting, and a grinder with a special blade, if you have to cut out a shape.
For the walls: Make sure your bench-top is absolutely level. This is where your first tiles will “sit “on. Don’t leave any space here, later on you can seal it off with special clear sealant.You might have to look at them for a long time so better to get this right. Take the special scraper and dip this in the glue. Put it on the wall. Be generous with the glue on the wall, go over the intended edges of the tiles.Take the tile and make sure it sits right. Take the second tile and glue next to the first one. If the tile has beveled edges it looks better if there is no space between the tiles.Otherwise leave a tiny bit in between. If you have oblongs, like I have, a “brick”-like pattern looks expensive. However you cannot do that with square tiles. If you bought the “mats” make sure all the tiny tiles are straight.
It is advisable to go around the whole kitchen first doing the first row and then the second row etc, depending how high you want to go. The excess glue can be wiped off the wall with a cloth and a bit of water, but don’t leave it too long as it is drying.
If you take all the fronts off the electrical outlets your work will be easier. I can not recommend going around electrical outlets. When you encounter one of these, it depends how you are situated with your tiles; you might have to use the grinder now. Make a template of card-board, and from this make a drawing on the front of the tile. If you have a very dark tile, turn the template around and make the drawing on the back of the tile. You might have some frustrating moments where it doesn’t fit. However you will get the knack of it!
Once all the glue is dry after a day or so, it is time to wash them in with grouting. This will be the finishing touch and by now your “new” kitchen should be looking a lot better. I would buy the ready-made grouting, because mixing it yourself is difficult. It needs to have a certain consistency and unless you are a tiler this is almost impossible for the average handy-man to get it right. You can buy grouting in different colors, depending on your taste. Grey is the most common.White is okay with white tiles. Now take a sponge and dip this in the grouting. Wipe over the tiles in one go. Don’t be thrifty with it; it will”sink” in between the tiles. Leave this mess to dry. Don’t do what I did: trying to make it “clean” and start wiping with water! You’ll end up taking the grout out again and you have to start all over.Take some grout with your finger to smooth over the top row of the tiles, at a slant.This will give it a nice finished look.The next day you’ll see a “film” over the tiles. This can be easily removed with vinegar (if I had only known!) It will take a couple of wipings, but vinegar is a natural acid and will take it off eventually.
Now the “fluffing up bit”. I like this the most. A lot depends on your budget of course. But I find that even cheap chrome appliances have that “look” about them.So think chrome and glass and enjoy your stylish kitchen, designed by YOU.
