By Stacey Riley
Many of us have kitchen dreams that go unrealized. I want to give you some tips that are relatively inexpensive, pain-free and worth the time and small financial investment. Because this plan assumes no designer assistance, I suggest keeping colors soft to keep your nerves at bay.

Cabinets: Generally it isn’t the architecture of the doors but the finish that dates the kitchen, so paint is a great option. Rent a sprayer and if you are color challenged, select an antique white to keep it simple. Find some new hinges and handles to finish the update—make sure the finish matches your other hardware. If you have glass inserts, they can also be easily replaced (www.bendheimcabinetglass.com).

Countertops: Formica is an unpopular choice in these days of granite. But, Formica is an inexpensive way to get solid surfacing when funds are limited. Pop the countertop with something like apple green, gray/blue or a rusty orange. Choose a rounded profile; not a squared one.

Backsplash: Find something in a smaller scale and consider the colors you are using for the countertop, walls and cabinets. If you need help, visit a tile store instead of a general home store. They can help you with combining tiles. I like Statements ( HYPERLINK "http://www.statements.com" www.statementstile.com) or Ann Sacks ( HYPERLINK "http://www.annsacks.com" www.annsacks.com).

Flooring: If you have wood floors, keep them. But if your tile needs an update select something large-16” x 16” minimum. Something darker will help the space feel grounded. Pair with a dark grout as well. Keep it simple—no faux markings or chaotic patterns. Slate or ceramics are a good choice to keep costs down.

Final touches: select a non-competing wall color, new sink, faucet, lighting and a few new kitchen accessories. Consider new stainless steel fronts for your appliances and a new stainless hood if necessary to finish the look. Depending on the size of your kitchen, you should be able to complete this facelift for well under $2K.

Design questions? Need help with making a room work? Want to re-do your living room? Stacey Riley can be reached through her website www.staceyrileyinteriors.com