Home Garden l Kitchens & baths l Remodeling l Kitchen Facelifts

Before: Dark and dated.

An inexpensive way to freshen up dark cabinets is with a new coat of paint. A two-tone color scheme awakened the mock tongue-and-groove cabinets in the kitchen shown on this page. Oil-based paint best resists wear and tear, but some manufacturers produce a hard-wearing latex paint suitable for kitchens.

After: Bright and fresh.

Removing some cabinet doors and tucking collectibles above the cabinets creates fuss-free and colorful displays. For a garden-fresh mood, add shutters and a hanging plant shelf. Washable throw rugs are an easy way to add a touch of color; just be sure to choose one with a non-skid backing.

The style of these pulls fits the room.

Replacing hardware is an easy way to update the look of old cabinetry. When looking for new pulls and knobs, choose a style that will complement your kitchen's look or era. The large pulls added in this kitchen (see detail photo) suit the casual feel of the paneled cabinet doors.

Before: Plain Jane.

Color splashed
Bright color is the first noticeable change, but a touch of architectural interest is another new addition to the kitchen on this page. The flat-front cabinets now sport trim that mimics the paneled doors in the rest of the house. To achieve the raised-panel look, screen molding was cut to size, then glued into place and tacked with brads. Make sure to square off corners when making cuts.

After: Highlighted with color.

With the addition of wide-slat wood blinds, a retro light fixture over the sink, and flower-shaped knobs, this kitchen echoes the high notes of memorable kitchen designs from the past 50 years.

Before: Sedate and unstylish.

Mixed fruit
In the original decor of the kitchen on this page, dark and drab cabinets masked the airy feel and weighed down its cheery personality. In the dramatically different "after" photo, white latex paint lightens the load and glass-bead molding gives the cabinet doors definition and character.

After: Fun and lively.

For fun and a finished look, stamped checks on the cabinets echo the wallpaper pattern. To replicate the look: Measure and mark a rectangle an inch or two inside the edges of drawer fronts and doors. Divide rectangles into even checkerboards. Cut cellulose sponges to the size of the checkerboard squares. Dip sponge in paint, blot on kraft paper, and press to door or drawer surface, alternating colors to form a checkerboard pattern. Let dry. Apply a smattering of cutouts from the border paper onto the doors and drawer fronts, using wallpaper paste.

For the final touch, cut glass-bead molding to frame the checkerboard pattern. Miter corners, and paint to match cabinets. Attach with wood glue and small brads. Coat the entire surface with two coats of clear sealer.