[p]At last, here is my final post on DIY Kitchen updates!  Now my sister (and you!) can refresh her dated Kitchen with options that are 1) cost effective, 2) attractive and 3) won’t make her family feel like they’ve wasted their money when they tear it all out for a remodel in a few years:[/p]

[p]1) Counter options are endless, but…  Short of replacing the whole thing, which can be quite costly, let’s focus on simple DIY fixes like edge-banding and painting:[/p]

[p]Metal Edge-banding     natural-accents-5

Metal edge-banding gives a cool 50’s vibe…                               Stone looks can be achieved with special paints…[/p]

[p]Edge Banding     Moorish Chest

                         Contrasting PVC edge-banding…                                       A hand-painted edge-band can mimic this look…[/p]

[p]Wooden Island Top     Wooden Counter

Replace island/peninsula top with butcher block…                                 Or replace the whole counter![/p]

[p]2) Lights! Cooking! Action!  There are endless possibilities for light fixtures, so I’ll just show you a few of my favorites.  These Kitchens get a great visual impact from just one or two fixtures:[/p]

[p]Kitchen Lighting     Kitchen Lighting-1

     Fabric pendants add color to a space…                            Colored glass pendants in a monochromatic space…[/p]

[p]Kitchen Lighting-2     Kitchen Lighting-3

Clear glass pendants add sparkle in this all white kitchen…               Geometric patterns are a great addition…[/p]

[p]So that covers all the elements of a Kitchen that can be easily updated by the homeowner.  Let me know if you implement any of them, and how it looks in YOUR home![/p]