Revive
When you can't spend big dollars on a brand new kitchen, there are ways to give it a fresh new face.

Cupboard doors make the biggest visual impact, so consider painting them for a quick change. Ask your local paint supplier to recommend a surface preparation to suit your cupboards. Two colours, painted one on top of the other with edges lightly sanded, creates a distressed country look. Experiment on the inside of a door before tackling an entire kitchen. And be sure to cover acrylic paints with several coats of clear varnish to improve surface durability.

Alternatively, take the emphasis away from cupboards by painting walls a vibrant colour. Shift the focus with wall-mounted accessories like wicker baskets, shelves, plates or prints.

Door handles come in a wide range of materials: porcelain, brass, stainless steel. They can radically change the look of a kitchen and are easy to add.

Fluorescent lighting can be too bright. Hire an electrician to replace the light with a pendant fitting or halogen lights which give a lovely ambient glow. For a cheaper alternative, attach plug in or clip-on lights to shelves.

Replace benchtops with new laminate. Other options include recycled timber or stainless steel counter tops cut to size. Both can be smart and less costly alternatives to brand new benchtops.

Key points

• Paint provides an instant and economical revamp for just about every kitchen surface. ESP surface preparation is a product that allows you to paint almost anything, from the enamel on whitegoods to the laminates on kitchen cupboards.
  Painted effects on the walls in formulas like Porter's Paints Interno, Murobond's Murowash, or Wattyl's Colourwash give a satisfying texture in a brilliant range of colours.
  Replace benchtops or splashbacks or remove doors completely.

Revamp
Whether your kitchen has features you'd like to keep, or you have the money for a new low-cost kitchen, you'll be using it, so be sure to take the time to consider changes carefully.

You have a few alternatives when you want to replace the kitchen and your budget is tight. Most kitchen cabinets are made up of carcasses and cupboard and drawer fronts. If your kitchen layout works and the cabinet carcasses are in good nick, investigate changing door and drawer fronts only. Laminex has many door profiles in the ColourTech range. To obtain a brochure, call 1800 803165, or speak to a consultant at a local Laminex branch, phone 132 136.

You can also take kitchen measurements to a kitchen supplier who sells flat-packed or modular units. Suppliers rely on the accuracy of your kitchen measurements, so take care to be precise. The kitchen is delivered in boxes for you or a contractor to install.

Modular units are available from large hardware stores and shops like IKEA and Freedom Furniture. A quick look at the Yellow Pages Kitchen Suppliers section will show you the diverse mix of suppliers in this field.

Key points

• When you change a kitchen from old to new, locating plumbing and electrical outlets in the same place is a real money saver.

Replace only certain elements of the kitchen depending on their condition. Assess cupboard doors, benchtops and splashbacks.

• Appliances date a kitchen so an upgrade to newer sleeker designs may be all you need.
  Improve an existing kitchen by rethinking the layout and, using the same modules, rearrange the food preparation and cooking spaces. Complete the look with new sections of benchtop. And if doors are in good nick, have them professionally refinished.

Renew
When you have the money to do the job properly, there are many things you need to know to ensure you get what you want for the budget you've set. To get it right, put together a checklist of all your desires and needs.

Needs should take priority while desires are negotiable. For instance, if you love the look of stone, you can offset the cost of granite benchtops by using laminate doors. Laminate benchtops and doors will free-up money for a tiled splashback, perhaps with handpainted tiles. Expensive fittings and fixtures don't always guarantee a great outcome, it's the details that will set your kitchen apart.

Questions to ask: How do you entertain? Do you often spend an evening with friends in the kitchen or do you have formal dinner parties? What are your family's eating habits? Does your family eat together or does everyone prepare their own meals at different times of the day? What kind of cook are you? A marble insert is great for bakers, while a wok element is great for lovers of Asian food. Where will it go? It's no use having a spartan kitchen if you love to collect china. Plan more food storage than you need to cater for extravaganzas like Christmas.

Key points

• If your kitchen has enough room for a decent sized dining table and chairs, you'll enjoy the change to an eat-in kitchen.
  Use cupboard fronts to disguise whitegoods and you'll create a cleaner look. This helps to diffuse the cluttered feel of a country kitchen.
  Allocating some shelf space for display purposes gives you ample opportunity to dress-up the kitchen while keeping benchtops and the space above cupboards clear.
  Mix different finishes and materials to add interest to your kitchen. For example, stainless steel benchtops for food preparation will work superbly with timber cupboards.