Big Impact, Small Budget

If you’re a homeowner who has put off a repair or home project, you are not alone. In fact, one  of the most common reasons people postpone selling their home is because of the time and financial investment it will take them to make updates to put it on the market. At City Home Center, we see customers daily who have a home improvement list a mile long, and we love to help them determine which projects will give them the most bang for their buck in the long run.

Cabinets are one of the best and easiest ways to make a big impact to the look of your home without a major expense. A simple change of paint and hardware can give a kitchen or bathroom an entirely new look. As a first and most important step, the condition of existing cabinets needs to be considered, ensuring the wood is in good shape before making any changes. If the wood isn’t in good shape, you can visit City Home Center or your local hardware store to discuss options for replacing damaged cabinets. Once the condition of those cabinets is in check, you’re free to have fun taking on any of these easy weekend projects to transform your kitchen or bathroom.

Paint
For paint updates, there so many great options. You can choose a single, simple neutral color for all cabinets. Or, you could opt for one of our favorite cabinet paint trends which is choosing two colors – one for top and one for bottom. We love a dark/light contrast to really make a statement. Another great trend is going with a neutral top and bottom cabinet with a nice, rich color on the island. Any way you choose to update with paint is sure to provide a great return on investment.

Hardware
One thing that’s a sure as the setting sun is that the trends in cabinet hardware will change. While traditional gold and silver always are a good choice, styles change. An update to hardware can make a whole room look different. Right now, brass is very popular, along with glass or colored knobs. We also love the look of these Jeffrey Alexander drawer pulls to add some variety to the look of your cabinets. So, if you’re not up the task for paint, a simple change in hardware may be your best bet to freshen up your space.

Cabinet Facings
If the design on your cabinets dates your kitchen back to the 50s, 60s or 70s, and there’s no paint powerful enough to cover the outdated design, replacing your cabinet facings is just what the doctor ordered. An update to you cabinet facings is comparable to the best facial you’ve ever had, taking years off your kitchen in no time. Choosing something flat and simple is the best way to ensure you won’t be making this update again in the near future.

Another option is to remove the top cabinet facings altogether and keep things open, or even removing the center portion of your existing cabinets too glass or another transparent material.  This is especially beneficial for small kitchens that need to look bigger. However, we warn packrats with messy kitchen cabinets to stay away from open cabinets. The look is definitely compromised when those open cabinets are a mess.

Whether you are completely remodeling or simply freshening things up, cabinets are a great place to start. And we’d love to help you explore options at City Home Center. We often offer specials for cabinet makeovers, so be sure to join our mailing list to stay in the loop and get discounts from us!

Downtown Dreams but Reality Sings – The Laurel Renovation Story of Kaitlyn Smith

When Kaitlyn Smith started house hunting in Laurel, she had a downtown mindset. The charming, craftsman-style home was what she hoped for, and she knew that the perfect one was calling her name. But when she started crunching numbers, she began to realize that the homes she was interested in buying needed more work than her budget allowed. So, it was time to think outside the box. “My realtor called and suggested I look at a house located off of Highway 84,” said Kaitlyn. "While I wasn’t particularly interested in that location, I decided to go since my downtown search wasn’t proving to be as successful as I had hoped,” she said. 

Kaitlyn’s mother, Kim Smith, and aunt Karlyn Pugh are owners of Rubies Home Furnishings and City Home Center. With over a decade in the renovation and décor industry, Kim and Karlyn have eyes to see beyond what a few decades can do to the cosmetic surfaces of homes. When Kaitlyn walked into the home for the first time, the green bathroom, wood paneling and general style of the home made it challenging to see the vision. The house, while outdated, would not require any major restructuring, and the neighborhood was great. “Thankfully, my mom and aunt Karlyn know the importance of a well-structured home because I couldn’t see past the brick on the front of the house” she said.

What to Keep
Once Kaitlyn purchased the home, she, Kim and Karlyn went to work. City Home Center supplied the majority of the renovation supplies, and the Rubies Home Furnishings team helped piece the furniture and décor together. “The most important step was not to see what should be changed but what should be kept,” said Kim. “Most of the house had sheetrock underneath the paneling and the cabinets were in good shape, they just needed refacing.” Morgan Brothers Millwork helped Kaitlyn get the cabinets looking like new.

What to Change
There were obvious minor changes like light fixtures and cabinet hardware. One unexpected change was the kitchen floor. While Kaitlyn had planned to use laminate wood flooring for the majority of the house with carpet in the bedrooms, the kitchen floor was going to remain as it was. But when they pulled up the baseboards, the floor came with them. In an effort to keep things in budget, Kaitlyn chose a patterned linoleum for her kitchen. “It was one of the most fun, unexpected surprises of the renovation,” said Kaitlyn. “The countertops and backsplash were neutral, so a patterned floor really added some personality to the room.” 

Donna Jones at Jerry Ford Real Estate in Ellisville was the realtor for Kaitlyn’s first home. “Donna was so much more than just a realtor and walked through the entire process with me,” said Kim. Donna gave Kaitlyn the name of Marletta Ford from Taylorsville who owns Perma Bright, a business that specializes in bathtub refinishing. “Marletta change the color of the outdated tile in the bathrooms, and saved us so much money,” said Kaitlyn. “We were thrilled with the results.”

As with any project, painting takes up a considerable part of the budget. However, it is arguably one of the most impactful investments in a home renovation. Kaitlyn was having the interior and exterior of the home painted, and she commends painter Randy Rayner for his work. “They say never judge a book by its cover, but the brick outside the home was the first thing that made me question buying it,” said Kaitlyn. “When I saw the finished product, I knew I had made the right decision.” 

Decorating
While sometimes decorating a home can seem daunting, Kaitlyn comes from a lineage of skilled decorators, so she was prepared for the task. Karlyn took on the job of head designer and helped Kaitlyn and Kim piece things together. The convenience of City Home Center and Rubies Home Furnishings being next door to one another was key. “We probably walked 100 miles going back and forth between City Home Center and Rubies,” Karlyn said. “But I think the end result proves that we did have a method to our madness.” 

Karlyn’s tip for decorating any home is to pick one thing in each room for inspiration. “Whether it was a pillow or fabric swatch, taking something and building a room around it can make a home renovation so much less overwhelming,” Karlyn advises. Kaitlyn added some finishing touches of prints framed by Frames Unlimited in Laurel. One of the final pieces of artwork was the painting of a mermaid in the bathroom by artist, Katherine Ezell. “Kaitlyn has always loved mermaids since she looks like Ariel on The Little Mermaid, and Karlyn and I knew we wanted to give her something special to inspire her and remind her that she is loved,” said Kim. “Your first home is a big deal, and the memories Kaitlyn already has from the remodel and will continue to have as she entertains friends and family will last her forever.” Karlyn added, “We have done a lot of projects together, but this was by far my favorite.”