Design Connection, Inc. Interior Design

Countertops can make a huge difference in updating your kitchen. There are many materials besides granite that still give a rich look. When you change out the countertops you will also be required to replace the sink to an under mount style and often change out the faucet. You may use a tile backsplash or like I choose to do in my office a solid slab backsplash to give a more integrated look.

Another instant upgrade is to change out the appliances. I love stainless appliances and I have them in my own home, but they are a lot of upkeep. I still specify black appliances, but I have not used white in about eight years. The new colored appliances are fun, but are they going to look like the avocado and harvest gold of the the seventies.

Paint is about the least expensive of the remodeling and redecorating tips I can recommend. I am always amazed when we change the trim color and the wall color to deeper tones how cozy and wonderful my client’s home will feel. We have also been refinishing the floors to a much deeper tone and that sets off the new deep tones on the walls,

What I love most about my job is that each client’s home is different and every new decorating challenge is fun and certainly not like the last project. Our client’s have all sized budgets and we can accomplish a new look using many of these decorating tips.

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Arlene

Arlene Ladegaard IIDA

Allied Member ASID

Certified Interior Designer

Design Connection, Inc.

www.designconnectioninc.com

Office  913 851 8776

Mobile 913 593 6919

Upgrade your staircase by adding new iron spindles. They come in bronze, pewter and black. I myself had the white wood spindles with a light stained hand rail. I had black iron spindles installed and faux painted my hand rail to a dark walnut stain and it looks beautiful. In my client’s home’s I often remove the carpeting from the bottom step and add one wood tread and it gives a new look.  Another thing you often see on the stairs is an oriental runner or flat cut loop carpet with a pattern.

I receive calls almost weekly around outdated cabinet color. I suggest adding a molding top and bottom and faux painting the cabinets to give a great new look. I do have a kitchen in my portfolio section that we kept the cabinets, faux painted them, added new countertops, tile backsplash and added a new island with additional storage and the right size for the kitchen. The clients were thrilled and we saved about $30,000 in the kitchen itself.

Replacing all your cabinet hardware throughout could cost less than $1000.00 and make a big hit in updating your home. I also find by  changing  out the door hardware is something that by clients often can install themselves and cost less than $1500.00 depending on the size of their home.

I am on vacation at Lake of the Ozarks. It is hot and I am off to the water. I will have more about inexpensive remodeling tips soon.

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Arlene