Here are some budget friendly ways in which you can give your existing kitchen a facelift, if a total renovation or redesign isn’t an option right now …
NEW LIGHTING FIXTURES
Against the backdrop of traditional stone craft or cabinetry, new light fixtures can help to modernise a space. Introducing under-counter or under-cabinet lighting is a sleek way to elevate a space. To give the room a total facelift, pendant light fixtures are a clever design choice and can become a central feature in your design. @oconnorsofdrumleck
TWO-TONE PAINT JOB
A fresh lick of paint will always revitalise a space. When done correctly, a two-tone kitchen is hard to beat. Cool navy and bright white are a great combination when paired together in a light-filled space. www.noeldempsey.com
REPLACE CABINET DOORS
Replacing cabinet doors will make you feel like the kitchen is brand new. Want to step it up a notch? Accent doors are a great way to personalise your kitchen or freshen up your existing space. This is a great way of incorporating further style elements, big blocks of colour or other details into your main kitchen design. The reeded glass hints at what’s inside the cabinets and adds an element of interest, and it pairs well with in-cabinet lighting for added ambience. www.ikea.com
MAXIMISE STORAGE TO ORGANISE THE SPACE
Busy kitchens can easily get cluttered. The best way to keep things feeling fresh? Keep everything organised with clever storage solutions. From pantrys and blank-space shelving to closed storage systems, see our go-to mechanisms for maximising storage space in the kitchen here. Once you remove the on-counter clutter you are automatically creating a clean minimal space for contemporary living. www.neptune.com
ADD ART OR DECORATIVE FEATURES
Quirky items will update the kitchen space – even when you’re on a budget. Big items can make an impact, like a large vase with foliage on your island but creating a feature wall with shelves filled with decorative objects and art work will also revamp your look. The minimalist design and clean lines of the chosen pieces in this kitchen make the space feel serene and sophisticated. @arenakitchens
UPDATE THE COUNTERTOP
Updating your countertop or island top alone will completely revitalise a space, without having to do a total renovation. Keep your cabinets and island in place and add a new stone or wooden countertop. Bright white quartz or Calacatta Gold by Silestone (as seen in this McNally kitchen) will create sleek, minimal lines in the room and brighten up the space. Waterfall kitchen counter islands and peninsulas will give your kitchen that contemporary feeling. www.mcnallyliving.ie
NEW FLOOR
Whether you incorporate a whole new floor, a colourful rug or a shuffle zone for your kitchen – the floor will grant you the opportunity to play around with colours and patterns and add personality to your kitchen. The beauty of this design element is that it doesn’t have to break the bank. See more on choosing your kitchen flooring here. www.newcastledesign.ie
OPEN SHELVING
Use empty spaces in the room or the wall to create a contemporary feeling. Style them up with modern artwork, cookbooks, or even create a stylish reading corner if you have the space. This is also a very convenient way of incorporating more storage – for spices or other dried, jarred goods. www.rhatiganandhick.ie
REPLACE OLD APPLIANCES
Dishwashers have a shorter lifespan than you might think. Although the machine may turn on and seemingly ‘function’ – we all know the struggle of having to rinse the plates before putting them in the dishwasher – almost to the point that you are cleaning the plate completely. A new dishwasher is something that can make your kitchen feel up to date. A fully integrated dishwasher is a great design choice for a new contemporary feel, your new cabinetry style will bring the kitchen together once it is placed over the dishwasher.
It is important to consider the style and layout of your kitchen before you invest in a dishwasher. Read here to see Siemens guide to choosing your new dishwasher.
One we recommend? The IQ700 fully-integrated dishwasher XXL. Among its many benefits is the flexComfort Pro racks – on which you can place even the most precious glasses after a dinner party and your dishwasher will protect them. You can also (like other Siemens products) connect your dishwasher to the Home Connect app so you can turn it on, off or check the cycle from wherever you are. One more thing to mention: your dishwasher will advise you on what setting to choose. It does the thinking for you. www.siemens-home.bsh-group.com
REPLACE YOUR TAP
A new tap will make a world of difference and make an older kitchen feel brand new. As one of the most used features in the kitchen, your kitchen experience will be transformed after selecting a new tap.
Quooker is a brand that offers boiling water, filtered chilled and sparkling water, and regular hot and cold all from the same tap; www.quooker.ie. Studies have shown that we always boil double what we need in a kettle so having the exact amount of boiling water that we need at our finger tips cuts down on that waste. Top tip: A sink with square corners is harder to clean, so try and get one with rounded corners if you’re looking for a time-saving hack! www.mcnallyliving.ie
