Thinking about giving your dated kitchen a new appearance? Fortunately, there is a cost-effective alternative to replacing your cabinets completely — you can reface them. Refacing is a quick and relatively inexpensive way to achieve a refreshed aesthetic with minimal disruption to your kitchen and daily life.

Source: excelconstructiontx.com

Cabinet boxes trim

As part of a refacing project, cabinet boxes and frames are usually kept, while cabinet doors and drawer fronts are replaced. (The size and layout of your cabinets remains unchanged.) Assuming your cabinet boxes are are in good condition, the next step is to decide the look you wish them to have.

Painting the boxes is one option. If, however, you desire traditional stained wood or a smooth, glossy and modern finish, a veneer layer will need to be added. Veneers are available factory-finished or unfinished, the latter of which may be stained.

Note: Applying the veneer requires care and precision. Prefinished veneers are difficult to touch up, even if you make a minor mistake during installation. Unfinished veneers are very thin but can be touched up more easily.

Doors drawer fronts

Standard cabinet door styles and sizes will be appropriate for most cabinet openings, and the same is true of cabinet drawer fronts. To reface older or custom cabinets whose dimensions are not standard, you can always opt to have specially sized doors or drawer fronts manufactured, but doing so can significantly cut into any savings you gain by choosing to reface.

Like veneer, cabinets doors and drawer fronts are available unfinished (which you can paint or stain) or prefinished. Given the wide selection available, it should be easy to find a standard factory finish to your liking.

Source: buzzle.com

Measuring

When shopping for new cabinet doors and drawer fronts, accurate measurements are of the utmost importance, particularly when purchasing online. To minimize error, provide your cabinetmaker with an old door and drawer front in each size that you will need.

Hardware

New hardware is an important part of refacing. If possible, coordinate your choice of knobs or pulls with the hinges of your cabinet doors. Remember, because re-hanging cabinet doors can be tricky, the smart move is to use adjustable hinges, which allow for changes and fine-tuning to be done with a screwdriver.

Final thought

Refacing cabinets with new doors and drawer fronts is a straightforward project for the experienced do-it-yourselfer. But even if you decide to hire a contractor, the cost remains significantly less than a complete kitchen cabinet replacement.

Most impressive of all is the fact that you can have a new kitchen within the space of only one or two weekends!

Related:

• Cabinet Door Styles: What’s Yours?
• 5 Creative Alternatives to Kitchen Cabinetry
• Painted Cabinets: 10 Reasons to Transform Yours Now

Bob Vila is the home improvement expert widely known as host of TV’s This Old House, Bob Vila’s Home Again, and Bob Vila. Today, Bob continues his mission to help people upgrade their homes and improve their lives with advice online at BobVila.com. His video-rich site offers a full range of fresh, authoritative content – practical tips, inspirational ideas, and more than 1,000 videos from Bob Vila television.

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.

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Of course, some of the amenities have lost their novelty. A once-touted “new magnetic-impulse transmitter,” which opens a garage door from 100-feet away, now comes standard in most homes. Meanwhile, the intercom system that runs throughout the house went out of style in most single-family homes after the ’80s.

Yet, the house as a whole — with its open floor plan, large windows, heating and cooling-efficient design — is still attractive. It’s on the market for only the second time in its history, currently listed for $1.8 million.

“The engineering is extraordinary,” said real estate agent Deborah Glusker, who shares the listing with Crosby Doe of Crosby Doe Associates. “When people talk to me about changing things like the windows, as a purist, I think no, you can’t! It’s original and should be preserved as is.”

The “House of the Future” was designed in 1954 by Popular Mechanics magazine editor Thomas Stimson. In a 1955 cover story, Stimson explained his thoughts behind the prefab design.

The Brentwood home was featured in the January 1955 issue of Popular Mechanics.

“It was designed for comfort and easy maintenance … and contains striking innovations for efficient living,” Stimson wrote.

His words still ring true today, and the current owners have done little to change the house besides updating the electrical and HVAC systems.

“The present owners bought it from the architect and redid the kitchens and bathrooms, but didn’t touch anything else,” said Glusker. “They modernized everything without changing anything.”

Stimson also accurately predicted one feature of the future, declaring in his article: “About the only addition it may require in the next 50 years or so would be a solar battery to provide all light, heat and power mounted on the roof!”

Located in the heart of Brentwood, the L.A. home has 4 bedrooms, 2.75 bathrooms in a 2,362-square-foot space. The home also has an attached two-car garage and lanai.

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• House of the Week: Mid-Century Modern in Bothell, WA
• House of the Week: Austin Artist’s Retreat
• House of the Week: Home Made From a Shipping Container

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Source: IMDb

Ellen DeGeneres is well-known for her sticky trigger finger when it comes to real estate. The comedian and daytime television host goes through properties the way others go through designer shoes — listing or buying a new property nearly every year.

So it’s no surprise to hear a report from TMZ that DeGeneres, along with wife Portia de Rossi, picked up a new property in Montecito, CA for $26.5 million — a gorgeous, bluff-front estate called the Saladino Villa. Although DeGeneres likes to pick up “projects,” admitting to Elle Decor recently that she’s always ready to move, this home looks pretty move-in ready.

“Indeed, there’s nothing the television star and comedian loves more than designing a house,” the article stated, and quoted Los Angeles designer Cliff Fong, who quipped: ”Ellen has moved more times than any person I know.”

Although the home boasts everything “streamlined and modern for easy living,” expect an overhaul of the 1928 home from DeGeneres.

Designed by architect Wallace Frost, the home was redone by designer John Saladino around 2009. Offering 6 bedrooms, 9 fireplaces and 7 baths, the home sits on 13 acres with ocean views. The two-parcel property is, of course, incredibly private, with luscious landscaping and gracious indoor and outdoor living areas.

Now that DeGeneres and de Rossi have a new “project” on their hands, will they dump their enormous horse ranch? While it seems DeGeneres wouldn’t mind listing, it’s de Rossi, an avid horseback rider, who likely wants to keep the property. But with a feature in Elle Decor, the home may end up on the market regardless. Besides, this new home in Montecito does have room for stables and barns.

Related: 

• Ellen and Portia Sell Malibu Home a Year After Buying
• Drew Barrymore Lists in Montecito
• Katy Perry Buys Mid-Century in Hollywood Hills

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Motorcycle showroom

A classic car and motorcycle restoration and display area offers floor space for up to six cars and 30 motorcycles. An attached limo garage also shows off special-occasion vehicles.

High gloss

With 8,500 square feet of raw horsepower eye candy, this freshly polished showroom is a worthy home for even the rarest automobile collections.

Custom car lift

A hot rod lover’s dream, this garage by Zillow Digs Designer Remodeling Guys features Viking flooring and a custom organization system on the walls to keep everything sleek and tidy.

Secret lair

For your inner secret agent, a hydrolic car lift turns this Mediterranean home into a hidden underground parking garage.

Throwback

Keep vintage vehicles at their prime with a high-tech work space that includes air conditioning for precise climate control.

Fill ‘er up

What do you give to the man who has it all? A custom man cave complete with a deionized-water car wash and gas station that’s sure to be the envy of the neighborhood.

Lights, cars, action

Neon wall hangings pack a flashy punch  in this custom-heated and cooled garage.

Sports car palace

With a dedicated turntable accommodating up to 15 roadsters, a European-esque mansion creates the ultimate showroom for luxury vehicles of every make and model.

See more fast and furious garages on Zillow Digs!

Related:

• Bomb Shelter or Ultimate Man Cave?
• Houses for the Price of a Car
• Design the Driveway of Your Dreams

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To fan the flames of your real estate eye candy lust, we’re taking a closer look at the six nominees in this year’s City Stunners category. Prepare yourself for an urban home lover’s paradise.

Mod apartment in Denver

Enjoy the mountain and city views from three fabulous outdoor spaces, including a 14,000-square-foot patio that can easily accommodate 200 people.

Drawing inspiration from the kitchen’s bold red hue, the dining room relies on red leather chairs as an accent piece for the space.

High-style high-rise in Las Vegas

Floor-to-ceiling windows and a huge, 32-foot terrace showcase sweeping views of desert mountains and the glittering Las Vegas Strip.

Wool and silk carpets, lacquered finishes and sparkling metals line this chic 3-bedroom residence.

Garden-view mansion in Boston

Overlooking the Boston Public Garden, this urban mansion was built in 1846 and still boasts many original details: stained-glass transoms, a dramatic staircase and wood paneling.

The bathroom’s simple and fresh design incorporates traditional marble countertops and a patterned floor design to provide a bit of texture.

Waterfront penthouse in Miami Beach

Filled with custom furnishings and appointments, this entire penthouse offers dazzling vistas of South Beach and the Miami skyline.

The best place to admire the surrounding scenery is the 2,000-square-foot rooftop terrace, complete with plunge pool and built-in seating.

Classic contemporary in San Francisco

Accessible by elevator, the dramatic great room is flooded with light, thanks to skylights and a cathedral ceiling.

Kick back and relax or do some work in the home office nook while surrounded by bright light from the mezzanine’s windows.

Prewar penthouse in New York

This magnificent penthouse has a lot going for it: gorgeous prewar details, grand-scale rooms and a great location on Fifth Avenue.

Sometimes, the view from the top just can’t be beat. Take in the city skyline on your very own rooftop deck.

Don’t forget to pick your favorites and enter to win $2,000 cash here!

Related:

• NASCAR Driver Jeff Gordon Lists NYC Penthouse for $30 Million
• Sky-High Living: America’s Most Over-the-Top Condo Amenities
• Manhattan’s Most Expensive Listing Hits the Market at $125 Million

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