Help For Tired, Not Yet Exhausted, Kitchens

(Saturday, April 15, 2006) - Much can be done to spiff up a kitchen short of replacing all cabinetry and countertops, according to Karin Moughler of Kitchen Tune-Up, a ''cabinet store that comes to your door,'' as their byline says. ''Changing your pulls or knobs can make a world of difference and that's an inexpensive thing to do. If you have pulls, you need to measure the distance between the screw on either side to make sure those you choose for replacements will fit. Today's standards are 3-inch but older cabinetry may have a 3½- to 4-inch spread between those screws,'' she said. Moughler says homeowners who like the layout of their kitchen, their cabinets and countertops but who find their kitchen looking tired may want to recondition the cabinetry. ''We provide a one-day service that adds new life to a kitchen simply by reconditioning the existing cabinetry. Cabinets do not need to be emptied. We work with the existing stain to rejuvenate it. We can change hardware as part of that process,'' she said. The one-day reconditioning works only for stained-wood cabinets. Painted cabinetry requires a painter, though hardware can be changed to add new life, according to Moughler. For those kitchens that need more than reconditioning, new cabinet doors, drawer fronts and panels may be the answer. Again, no need to empty the cabinets, says the kitchen expert. In such a scenario, all cabinetry surfaces can be replaced, providing a new look from crown molding to the shoe kick, according to Moughler. ''This is a great alternative for people who like the layout and design of their kitchen but who need more than simple reconditioning,'' she said. For those who want to make their kitchen a bit more functional, she suggests adding roll-out trays and tip-outs for better storage. ''You can add those things yourself; they are inexpensive, easy to install and make an old kitchen more functional,'' she said. Reconditioning generally ranges from $600 and up; resurfacing, or replacing doors, drawer fronts and panels from $3,000 and up, and an entire new kitchen from scratch is dependent, of course, on the cabinetry and countertops chosen, according to Moughlin. Kitchen Tune-Up offers free consultation, estimates and advice on rejuvenating a kitchen. For more information, call 595-0753 or visit www.kitchentuneup.com.

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