Granite Transformations offers handy hints for a kitchen makeover
Nothing dates a kitchen like worn worktops, damaged doors, stained grouting,
cracked tiles and burned surfaces. But renovating your kitchen and bringing
the décor bang up-to-date neednt cost the earth and could add upwards of 5%
to the value of your property. To give you an idea, home makeover experts
Granite Transformations have put together some handy hints for updating your
kitchen décor.
Layout if youre comfortable with your layout and its familiar
oven-sink-fridge work trianagle, then dont rip everything out and fit
totally new units, with all the expense and disruption that entails.
Instead, reface your work surfaces with composite granite, quartz, recycled
glass or porcelain composites that fit right over existing worktops and
replace cabinet doors with new made-to-measure fittings, leaving the
underlying carcases intact. This also means no rewiring or new pipework,
cutting installation costs by more than half.
Colours your décor is a reflection of your personality and lifestyle, so a
kitchen makeover gives an opportunity to ditch unfashionable or eccentric
finishes and explore fresh colour and style directions. Black worktops can
become white or bold colours, timbergrain cabinet doors can be transformed
into high gloss acrylic and you can add splashes of brightness with glass
mosaic panels or an island unit in a contrasting colour. Remodelling means
the choice is yours.
Storage even though youre happy with the basics, your accumulation of
gadgets and materials might make extra storage a bonus. Refaced work
surfaces and cabinetry enable a new central island unit, extra wall cabinets
or a full-height storage cupboard to be integrated seamlessly into your new
design. There is also the option of glass-fronted cabinets and drawers for
displaying prized knick-knacks or extending a run of base cabinets into a
right-angle peninsula end, complete with cantilevered worktops for a
breakfast counter.
Practicality if you have laboured in the past with resealing, sanding,
treating and polishing stone, timber and laminate worktops, then now is the
time to choose a modern, maintenance-free composite material that is
non-porous, flame-resistant and withstands stains, scratches, cuts, burns
and knocks. Todays agglomerate granite, quartz and recycled surfaces look
like luxurious natural stone, but need just an occasional wipeover to keep
their sheen and come in a wide choice of colours.
Splashbacks youd be surprised how a decorative, yet practical splashback
can enhance or transform the look of a kitchen. Choose a regular upstand in
the same material to run around the worktops, protecting against dirt and
bacteria, a half-height glass mosaic splashback that adds texture and
sparkle, or perhaps an extravagant, full wall panel in large tiles or
seamless sheeting. Modern, slimline agglomerate and polyurethane-backed
mosaics will fit over existing tiles and surfaces, making fitting a breeze.
Appliances with the saving you enjoy from a makeover rather than
installing a new fitted kitchen, you should be able to splash out on
selected appliances, sinks, taps and accessories to set off your updated
décor. The beauty of standard-sized kitchen units and white goods is that
new items can be dropped into place with little fuss. So investigate new
cooking technology like steam ovens, induction hobs, flush-mounted cookers
and built-in microwaves, as well as undermount ceramic bowls and, going back
in time, a deep butlers sink.
Granite Transformations operates a network of showrooms, each with their own
expert designers and fitters, who can carry out these kitchen makeovers and
more, often in just one day. Visit www.granitetransformations.co.uk for
further details and showroom locations or ring the customer hotline on 0800
044 5393.