With a little flair and imagination, you can create a kitchen of great charm and character, and for relatively little cost. Give your cabinets a face-lift with a new coat of paint or stain (don't forget to sand off the varnish first). Have a little fun by buying new (or salvaging secondhand) knobs and handles. Use sheets or a table cloth as curtains. Hang some baskets for fruit.
Or make your kitchen multi-use: Add a workspace, with a small desk from another room where you can drop mail and do bills later on. Make your kitchen more sociable by adding an arm chair, which will free up space from another room. Section off part of the kitchen (or an attached room like a breakfast nook) as a play area for kids. Even if you have a large living room, chances are that children will end up around your feet when you're in the kitchen.
Source: The Little Book of Thrifty Fixes for the Home by Bridget Bodoano.
By Courtney from Philadelphia
