26 Apr 2010 Finishing touches
1 Pull it together
Use your accessories to polish the look you want. New canisters, spoon rests, fruit bowls and green plants will help to accent the improvements you have already made or they can change the look of that green or yellow from the 1980s. If you are stuck with a certain element or color, jump on the computer and research new ways your problem element is being used. Then you can make your kitchen work through a simple manipulation of accessories.
Kitchen canisters
Clover Alley Gifts
203 N. Moose St.
Morrilton
501.354.0266
2 Paint a picture
Painting is probably the first thing we all think about when we are changing the look of our home. Take painting to the next level and apply it to your cabinets as well as your walls. By painting or refinishing the cabinets in a kitchen, the home owner is able to save on buying new cabinets while still creating an updated effect.
Eggshell E-Z Kare True Value Paint – $22.99/gallon
Paint supplies – $3.79 – $16.99
Quart of Minwax Wood Finish Stain – $8.99
Hiegel Supply
1310 Bruce St.
Conway
501.327.7755
3 Make a splash
Trading out that old faucet from the 1970s for a newer model is an easy way to update the look of your kitchen without a lot of work.
To finish off the look, update the other metal finishes in your kitchen by replacing your cabinet hardware too. You can coordinate these with the metal of your new faucet or use a different metal.
There is no rule about mixing metallic tones in your home.
Delta 470 kitchen faucet – $175
Kitchen cabinet hardware – $2.49-$6.49
Hiegel Supply
4 Back it up
The more expensive and involved option for updating your kitchen is to overhaul your finishes. Choose an adventurous backsplash and go more neutral with your countertop and flooring.
When thinking about flooring, there are a lot of unconventional options to set your kitchen apart from the rest. Hardwood flooring, bamboo, cork and tile are just a few of the selections available.
18×18 Peacock slate porcelain tile
12×12 mounted mesh stone and glass backsplash
The Carpet Center
810 Third St.
Conway
501.327.0924
Specialty tile backsplash selections
Fire-cracked glass tile backsplash
Cork flooring
Interiors Only
4035 McDowell Drive
Conway
501.329.1680
5 Have a seat
Barstools are in almost every kitchen now. We spend a lot of time interacting in our kitchens so why not change out the dated seats our guests sit on during dinner parties? Sometimes this can be accomplished just by re-upholstering the seat fabric, but sometimes a new stool is in order.
You’ll be pleased at how fast this element will set the atmosphere you want in your kitchen.
Luxury wooden barstool
Hambuchen Home Furnishings
Harkrider and Second streets
Conway
501.327.6523
PLUS 1: Shed some light
Install under-cabinet lighting and new can lights for a brighter kitchen. Ditch the large fluorescent lights and opt for 6-inch canned lights. This lighting technique will be less harsh on your eyes and will help to eliminate the dark outer rim on the edges of the room that are created by a large center light. Pair the can lights with under-cabinet fluorescent lighting and you will be amazed at how much bigger your kitchen seems.
There are many new options in lighting now, so there won’t be any need to lose the energy efficient qualities of the large fluorescent light, nor any reason to lose the golden color incandescent lights give off. Canned lights can be made in fluorescent bulbs and all fluorescent lights come with a warm tone option.
