Mission Kitchen

Posted on: February 10, 2010

Mission Kitchen

Nine affordable, easy ways to upgrade the kitchen this weekend

By Danielle Robinson
CTW Features

Image courtesy Image courtesy of KitchenAid

Mellow yellow: Opt for warm paint colors, natural light and glass panels on

cabinet doors to open up the kitchen and create an inviting atmosphere.

Hangin’ tough: Take advantage of unused space by hanging a ceiling rack to display your pots, pans and the appropriate utensils.

Want to update the kitchen but don’t think you have enough time or money? Well, think again. Follow these designer tips for a quick kitchen facelift. You won’t believe your eyes (or your wallet).

1. Plan and de-clutter

First things first: You only have one weekend, so develop a strategy. “Plan ahead so everything is on-site at your fingertips,” says Lou Ann Bauer, owner of Bauer Design, San Francisco. “Collect design ideas, make selections and get them to your house so they’re ready to go.”

Once you’ve done that, tidy up. “Clean all the clutter off the countertops,” Bauer says. “Take everything out of the kitchen and just bring back essentials. The rest goes to the next garage sale.”

2. Get organized

There are a host of kitchen organization accessories that can instantly and effortlessly update your space, says Mark White, owner of Kitchen Encounters, Annapolis, Md. He recommends utensil organizers, under-the-sink cleaning caddies to store cleaning supplies and racks or a rotating carousel for spices. One of his favorites is the appliance garage – a retractable door installed beneath upper cabinets to cover up countertop appliances – which can be purchased from most cabinet companies. “It’s a great place to conceal a toaster, a blender or a food processor,” White says. “You don’t have to store them in a closet or pantry, but they’re out of sight.”

3. add some color

“Don’t overlook the power of paint,” says Kate Hart, owner of Hart & Associates Staging and Design, Wayne, Pa. If the kitchen is wallpapered, tear it down; Hart says it makes the room feel like it’s stuck in a “time warp.” She suggests a bright, fun color to make the space livelier, like yellow or orange.

4. Lighten up

Lighting is one of the easiest ways to make a big impact on a tight schedule, White says. “There are lots of very stylish fixtures available that can give you a really great accent.” He suggests hanging pendant lights for a contemporary look. Mount task lights on the underside of cabinets, he says, to shed additional light on food preparation.

5. Make a splash

Let your creativity run wild by adding a fun backsplash, but skip the expensive tiles. “Consider alternatives like applying plates to the space between the bottom of the cabinets and the counters or tin tiles for a vintage feel,” Hart says. “Be creative. Use wine corks or matchbook covers to fill in the space, or paint a favorite quote.”

6. Hang out

“Show off pots and pans” says Sam Beall, resort owner and author of “The Blackberry Farm Cookbook: Four Seasons of Great Food and the Good Life” (Clarkson Potter, 2009). A hanging rack will provide extra cabinet space and give a modern look to any kitchen. An added bonus: it’s a great excuse to invest in some high-quality cookware.

7. Roll out

Add rollout shelves, White suggests. “Any lower cabinet that has just a shelf behind the door is made much more functional if you put in a shelf that rolls out like a door.” For ambitious do-it-yourselfers who are handy with power tools, White suggests giving the outside of at least one cabinet a makeover. A glass-front can help open up a kitchen and provide a focal point for the display of special glassware, dinnerware and accessories. Cut out the center panel of each door and replace it with a glass insert. Use frosted or reeded glass as classic alternatives to clear, standard glass. For a rustic look, try chicken wire or punched tin metal inserts.

8. Color in cabinets

While a fresh coat on the walls is a quick way to give your space a facelift, don’t forget about other surfaces that could use a new hue. “A new cabinet color can brighten the kitchen and make the entire space look more attractive and appealing,” says Erica Woelfel, director of color at BEHR Paints. She suggests a peach shade for a soft look or cornflower blue for a lighthearted feel. Warm yellows will bring a sense of comfort to the room.

9. Show it off

Now that you’ve transformed your space, throw a dinner party to enjoy the fruits of your labor with friends and family. “Create a menu for the evening that can involve guests in some of the prep work and cooking,” Beall says. “Enjoy an appetizer or first course just standing around the beautiful new kitchen with a great wine.”

Blackberry Cobbler

8 cups fresh blackberries

1 1/4 cups sugar

zest and juice of 1/2 lime

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt

6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, cut into small cubes and chilled

1/4 cup buttermilk

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. In a large bowl, toss together the blackberries, 1 cup of the sugar and the lime zest. In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice and the cornstarch until smooth. Drizzle the lime juice mixture over the blackberry mixture and toss to combine. Scrape the blackberry mixture into a 10-inch cast-iron skillet and set aside.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and the remaining1/4 cup sugar. Use your fingertips to rub the butter into the flour mixture until it is the texture of coarse meal. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour the buttermilk into the well and stir with a fork until the mixture comes together. Crumble the dough evenly over the top of the blackberry mixture.

4. Bake the cobbler for 40 minutes, or until the blackberry filling is bubbling and the topping is golden brown. Let the cobbler rest for 10 minutes before serving. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Serves 8.

Reprinted from the book “The Blackberry Farm Cookbook: Four Seasons of Great Food and the Good Life” by Sam Beall. Copyright © 2009 by Sam Beall. Published by Clarkson Potter, a division of Random House, Inc.