MOVE?...OR FIX UP THE KITCHEN?!

Move, or fix up the kitchen.....?.? To Sell or Renovate?

Barb Dingle, co-author of Debbie Travis’ books had the following suggestions from the House and Garden Television web site (HGTV), found in the "Decorating" Link on http://www.missbryant.com . Simply go the "Links", click on Decorating link, and you'll find a wealth of Decor Know-How from the friendly folks of HGTV.

Move, or fix up the kitchen?

Many kitchens, especially those in older homes, don’t work well with today’s busy lifestyles. Major kitchen renovation aside, there’s lots you can do to make your kitchen more comfortable and functional. And there’s no need to throw in the dishtowel and go house hunting, call a professional renovator or sizzle away your saving account.
How? By taking on smaller projects. To update or upgrade your kitchen, it’s not necessary to accomplish a full makeover all at once. Take it in stages and make one major change at a time. You’ll be amazed at how fresh and new the room feels!
Review your kitchen with a clinical eye. What’s the biggest problem? We’ve got the solutions.

No Storage:
The lack of adequate storage equals overcrowding, and makes it difficult to find supplies for cooking and tidying up afterward.
What you can do:
Edit out everything you don't use regularly, including spices, canned goods, cereals and snack foods.
Keep one set of dishes and dispose of chipped and mismatched crockery as well as your collection of coffee mugs that have seen better days.
Keep only what you have room to store.
Shop more regularly and don't buy extras other than the staples.
Build in more storage or add stock cabinetry or some open shelving for items used frequently.
An open Shaker-style dish rack is perfect over the sink.

No Surfaces:
Limited counter space is a definite problem for anyone who cooks.
What you can do:
Consider fitting in a small island on wheels.
Freestanding preparation carts and serving carts offer valuable added counter and storage space that can be tucked into a corner when not in use.
Clear off what you have.
Build in half shelves under the kitchen table or eating counter to hold the toaster and mixer when not needed.

Unattractive Cabinets:
Since cabinetry takes up most of the wall space, outdated cabinets or those in poor repair can leave the kitchen feeling depressed.
What you can do:
If budget allows, replace with new stock or custom-made cabinetry. All are designed to make the most use of your existing space.
For an affordable and practical solution, renew the cabinets with a fresh coat of paint.
Change the style by adding trim detail to flat-faced doors.
Insert glass or metal panels.
Combine open and closed storage ideas to maximize eye appeal.
Even something as minor as changing the cabinet hardware will help.

Flooring Woes:
Any surface — especially the flooring — that is worn out or stained will ruin the overall effect of the room. Your kitchen floor should be easy to clean, durable, slip-resistant, and comfortable to stand on.
What you can do:
Replacement is the best option.
Check out the variety of flooring that’s available.
Your flooring options include:
Vinyl is the least expensive, its quality increases with thickness, and there’s a wide choice of solid colour and pattern.
Linoleum is soft and warm, extremely durable and hygienic, and modern colour options have brought it back in vogue.
Prefinished wood or laminate floors are easy to install and durable.
You can design your own look by combining two colours to make border detail.
Cork floors are naturally beautiful and comfortable.
Tile and stone are both stylish and hardwearing, but the unforgiving surface is tiring and can be dangerous underfoot.

Lack of Focus :
Is your kitchen fading into the woodwork? Without a focal point, any kitchen will look like it has a bad case of the blahs.
What you can do:
Make a focal point of the kitchen backsplash by putting up some new tiles or painting it a cheery colour.
Paint your dated laminate cabinets or countertops with Melamine paint.
Paint an exuberant colour on the walls.
You'll never go wrong investing in your kitchen space. It will improve your daily outlook and, if you do decide to sell, you’ll have created an important advantage.