10 Simple Ways to Redesign Your Kitchen on a Budget

Money is tight and you want to update your kitchen. Perhaps the flooring has not been changed in 20 years, or maybe you have wall paper that is better suited for your grandmother. Giving your kitchen a face lift does not have to break your bank account, or even send you soaring into a downward spiral of bankruptcy! With a little creativity and adventurous hunting, you can reinvent your kitchen into the one you have always wanted and not go broke trying.

1. Set out on a journey to find reclaimed materials for your floors. Wood floors are a must these days, and more so if you ever plan to sell your house. Wood panels found at home improvement centers and floor showrooms are very expensive, and it could even take weeks to get the floor boards once you get the correct measurements and place the order. With a quick search online, you can find companies who specialize in reclaimed building materials and they would be more than willing to sell you flooring for cheap! Reclaimed wood comes from numerous sources, such as old torn down barns, or even buildings, and can provide you with a very unique kitchen floor for a very little investment.

2. Give it a fresh coat of paint! Just about any space will look new again when you refresh the paint on the walls. White will open up a small kitchen and make it look bigger than it really is. Red and yellow are colors that make people hungry, so these are perfect choices for a kitchen setting where you want to invite people in to cook and dine with you.

3. Add some color to your kitchen by displaying fresh fruit and other foods. Food is one of the most inexpensive ways to add color to your kitchen and you can change these colors frequently to suit your needs at any given time. Try displaying a big bowl of fruit on the counter, or arrange some of your spices in nice clear jars throughout your kitchen.

4. Update the hardware. Door hardware is cheap at most home improvement centers and can quickly make your kitchen cupboards look fantastic once again. You can choose from traditional or modern hardware and this little touch will give your kitchen a fresh look.

5. Lighting is your best friend! Proper lighting will make your kitchen inviting to family, friends, and guests. You can find very budget friendly lights at your local thrift stores, home improvement centers, or even online for a discount. Take a look through the clearance aisles and you will be amazed at the deals you can get. Whether you are looking for hanging lights, or something that is recessed, lighting does not have to break your bank account and can have a remarkable effect on the way your kitchen appears.

6. Make your kitchen look organic with fresh herb gardens and greenery. If you have a kitchen window, try growing your own herb garden or add some potted plants in colorful containers. Not only will you reap the rewards of cleaner air from the fresh plants, but you will also have fresh herbs on hand to cook with.

7. Display your cookware. Racks for decorative pots and pans can be mounted to your ceilings or walls, and will give your kitchen an industrial feel. Choose cookware that will compliment your kitchen scheme and display it for the world to see. You will never have to dig through your cupboards looking for a sauce pan again!

8. Install glass front doors on you cupboards. These doors are great for showcasing your serveware and can be found, or custom made, much cheaper than replacing the entire cupboard. When you install glass front doors, your guests will never have to play the guessing game trying to find a cup or glass when they need it.

9. Custom make your own curtains. Sewing is an easy to learn, and a sewing machine can be picked up for a good price at your local thrift store or flea market. If you have windows in your kitchen, try custom making your own curtains instead of purchasing expensive ones from the store. Fabric stores almost always have an assortment of fabric on sale, and the sky is the limit as to what you can create when you when you sew your own curtains. Search the Internet and you will find hundreds of free patterns and instructions for custom designing your own window dressings.

10. And finally...learn how to add tiling the DIY way! Tiling is easy and there are numerous books that will guide you through the process. Tiles and back splash materials can be purchased for much less than you would pay for a contractor to come in and do the work. In a weekend, you can transform the look of your kitchen by rolling up your sleeves and setting some fresh tile and spackle! Tiles come in every color of the rainbow, so get creative and make your own patterns.

Updating your kitchen can be a fun experience for the whole family. By scouring the Internet, your local home improvement centers, thrift stores, and flea markets, you can easilly create your dream kitchen, even on a small budget. Your kitchen should be the place where your guests and family want to congregate to cook and share meals with you. With a free weekend, and a little bit of elbow grease, you can quickly have a kitchen you can be proud of!

How to Plan Your Children's Bedrooms

Your children spend a lot of time in their bedrooms, so it's important that they are comfortable, able to relax, and be themselves. Kids of all ages have ideas about décor, so consult with them as you plan their bedrooms. Look at pictures on the internet and in magazines, and pick out the best points of children's bedrooms that take your fancy.

Design by beth keim, owner lucy and company, photo by mekenzie france

As You Plan
• What are you child's needs? Take into consideration age, interests, color preferences, schoolwork requirements.
• Which way does the room face? A cold room needs warm colors, for example, red or yellow. A room that is hot during summer requires cool colors such as blue or green.
• How big is the room? Don't cram it full of furniture as children need adequate floor space for play.
• Do your kids have to share a room? There are plenty of delightful bunk beds available, or use room dividers like bookcases.

Safety
Choose furniture that has no sharp edges or corners at a kid's eye level. In addition, freestanding furniture should be stable so that it won't tumble over if climbed upon.
It may be obvious, but make sure that all furniture and fittings are painted with lead-free and nontoxic paint.
If your child likes to have a night light, use a dimmer switch on the central room light rather than have a trailing electrical flex to a lamp.

Floor Coverings
Kids spend a lot of time on the floor. There are many types of floor coverings on the market, and the best choice for a child's room is something that is easy to clean and will not stain.
Loose nonslip mats add warmth to tiles or vinyl. Buy a rug with a fun theme that ties in with your child's interests. If you're working to a strict budget, carpet off-cuts are ideal, especially if they are odd shapes and colors!

Furniture
A bed is a long-term investment, so ensure that you buy the best you can afford. It should be sturdy and comfortable. One that converts from a toddler bed to one that an elementary school child can sleep in is ideal. Choose a neutral color so that it will fit any décor style, and get a bed that is easy to make.
An essential in children's bedrooms is storage, so take care that there are enough cupboards, drawers and chests. A wheeled drawer that fits under the bed is a good idea as it gives easy access to toys. In addition, adjustable shelves can be moved up as your child grows.

Soft Furnishings
There is a vast array of ready-made curtains in stores, in many colors and styles. If you decide to make your own, you can keep costs down by using inexpensive fabric such as heavy-duty sheeting or plain colored cotton. You can tie-dye, decorate with fabric paint (get your children to help with this project), or trim with rick-rack or braid.

Color coordinate your curtains, duvet covers, and casual pillows in various shades and patterns. Don't skimp on curtaining as nothing looks worse than curtains that only just cover the window when they are drawn.
Enjoy planning your children's bedrooms, and use it as an opportunity for high-quality fun time with your kids!

Bathroom Renovations For A Small Budget

Renovating a bathroom can cost a fortune. Turning your embarrassingly outdated 30-year-old bathroom into a state-of-the-art restroom with luxury fixtures can cost over $20,000. Even a renovation that is much less extensive and luxurious can exceed $10,000 in expenses. If you wish to spend half of that amount or less, it's necessary to trim your expectations and target your improvements.

However, there are ways to significantly improve the look and function of your bathroom without spending a large amount of money. Here are five tips for doing a brilliant bathroom renovation on a modest budget.

1. Re-tile with restraint. If the tiles used in the bathroom floor and on the walls of the bathtub area need to be replaced, approach the project cautiously. High quality tiles are costly, as is professional installation. If at all possible, do the installation yourself. There are plenty of videos on YouTube that provide detailed instructions. Also, use low-cost tiles for most of the area, saving the expensive tiles for use as accents (singles or rows).

2. Instead of replacing your chipped and/or stained bathtub, install a new acrylic liner. This has emerged as a viable option in recent years, as the quality of the heavy gauge acrylic liners on the market has improved. The liner is installed directly on top of your existing tub, instantly covering up all the flaws and creating a clean, fresh surface. While these liners are not cheap, this project can be completed for a fraction of the cost of purchasing and installing a new bathtub.

3. Focus on minor fixtures. Replacing ugly or damaged light fixtures, towel racks, and drawer pulls with stylish contemporary items can improve the overall look of your bathroom for a relatively small cost. Find top quality fixtures that look great and will stay that way for many years.

4. Purchase a granite countertop with imperfections. Granite countertops are currently very popular, but they are also very expensive - especially if the counter area in your bathroom is large. One way to save money is to hunt for a granite slab that has imperfections. Remember that the imperfections may be a non-issue of they're located in areas that will be cut out for the basin or dispensers. You can also reduce the overall cost of a granite slab by choosing a color that is not in high demand.

5. Apply a new coat of paint. This basic improvement is often overlooked when the room in question is the bathroom. Here, just as with any other part of the house, painting is a great way to quickly and inexpensively improve the appearance of the room. Choose a high quality paint with a satin finish, and be very careful when painting around the many fixtures.

You don't need to set aside a huge amount of money to renovate your bathroom. A modest budget, if spent on targeted improvements, can result in a stylish new look. Be sure to do extensive research before deciding what to replace or update, and where possible do the actual renovation work yourself.

Beautiful Craft Workshop Room Design Idea

Be thankful if you're having a spacious house with workshop or craft room. It's a magical creative-room with craft tools, paper, fabric, and many more that inspire you to create something. Do you want to turn your messy and awful craft room to beautiful and neat creative room? Remember that putting function of room most important, then also make it pretty. Combine a cabinet, shelf, and organizer with a creative decoration to get organized and beautiful purpose. Here are some workshop and crat room design ideas.

Tilt Down Paper Organizer Idea
The Tamarisk Plan at Villages at Val Vista by Meritage Homes
Paint Color : Frazee Paint #CL 3043W Topographic
Paper Organizer : Madison Wall-Mounted Laundry Drying Rack
Small Craft Organize : Martha Stewart Living™ Craft Space Center Cubby Organizer From Home Decorator's Collection
Basket Chandelier : From Creativeco-op. Basket Chandelier: Style # DE6135
Craft Space 42"W Storage Console : Martha Stewart Living™ Craft Space 42"W Storage Console From Home Decorator's Collection

Grid Wall Organizer
Wall-mounted, rubberized wire grids , perfect for organizing misc items. Also make all items easy to see.

Glass Cabinet and Craft Island
This is  more like kitchen looks craft room with glass cabinet for misc items and island for crafting.

Hanging Shelf and Cabinet Storage

Full Cabinet

Cabinet and Wall Color Combination
To gain function and pretty purpose, this craft room combine yellow wall paint and dark brown cabinetry.

Dressing Up A Plain Hallway In Your House

Another wasted space in house, beside space under stairs, is a hallway. Most hallway that connect living room, bed room, to the exterior of home, left plain like an empty tunnel. Don't let your hallway being drab with no decoration. You can make this space as special as another rooms by a simple working. Whether you're having short or spacious hallway, you can dress it up with rug, lamp, painting, and many more.

A Picture Gallery
Put a row of family portraits and painting,  hanging on hallway wall. You just turn an empty bored space to art gallery. Use various design and size of picture frame to give a warmth ambiance. This is hall of Porch House designed by Michael Abrams Limited.

Pendant Lighting
Try adding beautiful pendant lighting instead of ordinary mounted lighting. Most hallways don't have high ceilings then choose a right pendant size to get a comfort zone. Placing right pendant not only light up your hallway but also add desiggn flair.

Bookshelves
Use a magic wand to your drab hallway by adding bookshelves/bookcases then get an extra library. Built-in bookcase is better to save a precious space of hallway and get an extra storage for your beloved books. Here is beautiful and functional hallway designed by Tim Barber LTD Architecture & Interior Design. Don't you impressed by the gorgeus pendant lighting too?

Cabinetry
A spacious hallway give an advantage of extra space for cabinetry. Choose cabinet with drawer storage and display space for maximum use. Put your a vase of flower or beloved collection item on display space. Adding a hanging artwork above cabinet is a good idea too.

Colorful Rug
Add a colorful tones to hallway floor by placing a stripe pattern rug. A stripe runner help a narrow hallway look wider too. Here is an ecletic hallway combine with colorful rug, designed by HBF Plus Design

Beautiful Built-In Storage Bed For Kids

For not so big kids bedroom, built-in storage bed is a great space saver. Put toys or clothes plastic basket is not so good idea. Say good to bye to toys, blankets, or books mess on the floor and store it neatly in to the built-in storage underneath the bed.
I really like this Lea Hannah Daybed and Bookcase Bunk Bed design. It is sure to look great in any girl's room with its soft curves, shaped pilasters, finessed lines, scalloped details, and casual hardware. This collection is offered in a crisp White finish and is crafted from solid hardwoods and painted wood products. The Hannah Collection offers many different storage that are perfect for any size room.

Here are some built-in storage design idea for kids bedroom.

How To Make Small Bedroom Look Bigger And Work Better

Sleeping supposed to be a relaxing and comforting activity. That's why having a comfort bedroom is a priority. Lack of color, light, and furniture selection, will make a bedroom uncomfortable. Keep maximum out on comfort and function in a minimum space by decorating and coloring tricks.With the right techniques, you can turn a cramped bedroom to be much more comfortable and functional. Here are some tips to make a small bedroom look bigger and work better.

Below is a perfect example of small bedroom by Shor Home Interior Designer. It is an L-shaped room. Approximately 8' wide x 12'. Benjamin Moore- Collingwood applied to the wall and ceiling.

Color Selection
Color plays an important role in making a small room look bigger. White or light color will give an infinity space looks. Painting ceiling, wall, and furniture with the same color will give no limit looks and blend perfectly. Even a low ceiling room can be transformed to a comfortable bedroom.

Natural Light
Let the sunlight in and avoid blocking it. Lack of natural light will cramp your bedroom. Place a window beside bed or above headboard.

Custom Daybed
Daybed can give an impression that the room is a nook area, instead of a small bedroom. Build a drawer underneath the bed for maximum function of small area. For unusual room size, design the trundle bed to fit the small space.

Wall Mounted Bedside Table and Lighting
Small but functional bedside table. Floating wall mounted table and lighting can give a small bedroom a more open feeling and extra floor space.

Built-In Shelving
If you have an enough space to build a shelving for more storage function, choose a built-in wall shelving. Built-in shelving give you an extra storage while maintain floor space. Shelving also can act as bedside table, eliminating the need of extra furniture.

Aquamarine Livingroom Design Idea

Bring fresh and relaxing ambiance to your home by applying one bright color to wall, cabinet, or furniture. Try aquamarine color, the paler shade of turquoise, that naturally refreshing your livingroom. Combine aquamarine color with color tones of white, gray, or silver then apply in some spot, because just a small dose of aquamarine accent color is enough to bring airy feel.

Spencer Avenue By Digs Design Company
The designer apply Farrow and Ball Borrowed Light color for the wall combine it with white color. White table combine with aquamarine chair by Mitchell Gold and custom pillows bring a refreshing muse. These draperies are custom made using a hand blocked fabric from Galbraith and Paul. Complete this airy livingroom with Pattern rug from Prestige Mills. What a great combination.

Living room by Harrell Remodeling
White low ceiling and brick combine with aquamarine wall. Try Tidewater 6477 by Sherwin-Williams color for the wall. The designer give a magic touch by adding brown sofa and red colored pillow. Get a surprisingly warm and fresh from this perfect incorporation.

Bella Fiore by Studi V Interior Design
Aquamarine color, not only suitable for contemporary and modern design, but also for traditional living room design. The designer combine natural wood floor with aqua wall color. This is beautiful combination of white, brown, and aquamarine tones.

Chic City by Gacek Design Group, Inc.
Georgeus livingroom of city apartment, looks chic and airy.
Wall paint color : Cloudburst, Sherwin-William
Pillar paint color : SW 7696 Toasted Pine Nut
Drawer : Worlds Away Werstler White Lacquer 4 Drawer Dresser
Pillow : Pillow and Dining Chairs fabric by Robert Allen - Velvet Maze shown in Aquamarine
Rug : Creative Touch rug

Tips To Make A Small Bathroom Look Bigger and Feel Better

Limited space is not a reason to reduce comfort by make use of every inch wisely. Ensure your small bathroom give you comfort, function, and design simultanously. Space constraint need more creativity to configuring toilet, sink, shower, bathtub appropriately. Here are tips to make a small bathroom look bigger and feel better.

White/Light Color Selection
Apply similiar color of appliances, cabinetry, and wall. White or light color will give a larger and bigger looks as if there's no boundary. White walls are great but maintaining them is a task then you have to clean them frequently. Here is small bathroom design by DVRasmussen.

Apply A Corner Sink
A small corner sink won't disrupt traffic lane in a bathroom and doesn't leave a wasted space. Put a cabinet unerneath vanity for maximum function.

Glass Partition As Shower Door
Instead of shower curtain, a glass partition that visually incorporates the tub or shower area make a tiny bathroom looks so much larger.

Right Placement
If you only have very limited space, skip the shower door and replace it with glass partition. It's enough to keep water splash. Avoid unnecessary space between bathtub, sink, and toilet.

Mounted Wall Towel Hanger
Instead of a big cabinet, consider install mounter wall towel hanger and shelf. It's simple and doesn't need large space.

Maximize Space Under Stair

People who living in small house know how precious space is. But it doesn't mean that a big house can't apply this idea. Under stairs spaces are the most wasted area because most people don't know how to make use of it. Maximize every inch of space in this area by applying some of these great design idea.

Storage Under Stairs
Frame door style storage under the stair blend perfectly with the stair design. Design by Tom Stringer Design.

Reading Nook and Cubbies Cabinetry
Many times under staircase area is wasted space or relegated to storage, but a bright bench and lots of soft pillows turn it into the perfect nook. This under-the-staircase reading nook is a perfect hideaway. A light color palette keeps a potentially dark little space airy and bright. Retain some of the storage functionality with built-in drawers underneath for storing extra blankets and books. Combine reading nook and cubbies, is the best idea to maximize every inch of this space. Very creative idea from Case Design/Remodeling, Inc.

Bookshelf Staircase
Place shelves under staircase and turn empty space to books heaven. This is best simple idea because shelf doesn't need any complicated details so do not worry about the budget. Don't have many books? Turn this to picture or wares shelf. Elegant bookshelf design by Soorikian Architecture.

Popular Kitchen Cabinet Door Styles

Kitchen cabinet is one of the most important factors in kitchen design theme. Picking color, style, and material can be so confusing. Don't mess around picking kitchen cabinet, start with knowing kitchen cabinet door style. Cabinet door is one of the most visible elements that will give first impression. Take a look at some popular kitchen cabinet door style and pick which one that will suits your kitchen style and budget.

Flat Cabinet Door Style
Simple and minimalist design with no ornament or carving detail that fit for contemporary or modern kitchen design. The essence of minimalist style is about minimal embellishment and letting the natural materials speak for themselves. No decorative detail means reduce the budget too. Here is an example, Cambridge Contemporary Kitchen by LDa Architecture & Interiors.

Louvered Cabinet Door Style
Horizontal wood slats are typically used on windows, furniture pieces and interior doors, but they add a distinct architectural style to kitchen cabinetry. However, be aware that these design come with a heavy price tag. Watch your budget. Check this cabinet style from Georgetown Development.

Inset Cabinet Doorstyle
This is classic look cabinet door style, set inside of the cabinet frame — typical cabinet doors rest on the outside of the frame. The inset frame detail made this style require more budget. Here is kitchen design by Home Dresser. Take a look beautiful white cabinet style.

Beadboard Cabinet Door Style
Beadboard door style give a cottage look. The center panel of the cabinet doors are made to look like traditional beadboard paneling. Design by Pinto Designs and Associates.

Glass Cabinet Door Style
Transparent glass door style usually applied for glassware or china storage. It will show off beauties inside. More materials mean more budget too.
.

Can't find any cabinet door style that suits your interest? You can discuss with your designer for custom personal unique design.

Where Should I Put Knife In The Kitchen?

Knife is the most frequently used tool for cooking. Cut the meat, chop the vegetable. Mostly, people put knife on the block and place it any free space such in cabinet or on countertop under cabinet.

There are some ideas to place knives in hidden storage or mounted wall rack to keep your kitchen neat and also for safety reason.

Pullout Rack
Pullout knife rack design idea by Signature Design & Cabinetry LLC, it's only need a small space of cabinet while keep its essential function. Move storage to unreachable place such a upper cabinet or just buy kiddy lock for safer reason.

Drawer Storage
Cottage Kitchen personal touch drawer storage from Dura Supreme Cabinetry. Not only an ordinary drawer, added a partition divides a wide drawer to accommodate the carved knife block. If you put on low position, consider to add knife drawer lock concern to safety.

Countertop Knife Block
Another option for keeping knives close at hand is a built-in countertop knife block

Cute Bookshelf For Kids Room

Does your kids love reading books? Jazz up your kids' room while encourage kids to love their hobby with these cute bookshelf idea. Kids love color, character, graphic, and pattern. They and their room wall deserve to get this spirit and passion. You don't have to put a high value art or an expensive painting art to decorate your children bedroom wall. The key is be creative. A cute wall stickers can be combined with bookshelf or book cabinet. Here some creative suggestion for personalizing kids' bedroom with creative bookshelf.

Colorful Tree Bookshelf
Grow your own book tree design by Pepperdesignblog. This cute tree design combines wall sticker and bookshelf. Add shelves that fitted into the branches, so it doubles as storage, too. Tree wall stickers are widely available. If you can't find the suitable wall sticker, painting tree and owl graphic. Locate on room corner then add some chairs and table under the tree.

Handpainted Bookshelf
Desigend by Alicia Ventura, this tree is hand-painted, with shelves incorporated onto the branches for a children's reading area. Combine chocolate truffle tree color with soft green and pink for leaf and flower. Add birds or cloud for more cheerful muse.

Here some tree wall stickers and decals that can be incorporated with wood shelf.


Skip Hop Wall Decals Treetop Friends from Target.com
Price : $19.99

Book Shelf Tree Wall Decal - Birdhouse, Squirrels, Bunniesfrom Amazon.com

Cheer Up Your Kitchen Cabinet Interiors

Nowadays white clean kitchen with light color of cabinet, countertop, and floor are everywhere. Most people choose white kitchen theme because white color makes a space look bigger and enhances other elements. But overly white kitchen seems so boring and plain. Cheer up your kitchen with a lovely color and character inside cabinet interior. Show off your cabinet interior and wares through a glass door cabinet. No glass door cabinet? Don't worry, a cheerful color and graphics will make you smile each time to see it.

Laneway House by Janis Nicolay

Coffee Zone by Renewal Design

A bright accent color will enhances your wares. Ensure that the color will match to entire kitchen theme. Not only plain color, graphic pattern or character can be a good idea. As long as the items inside won't compete with it. What about the material? You can paint the cabinet interior but it needs deep thinking before you execute the idea. Because it will be little bit difficult when you want to change the color. Wallpaper or fabric can be your alternative. If you don’t want to permanently adhere it to the cabinet, you can change it easily.