| All things come to him who goes after them. | | | | Purchase a ready-made island if you can find one |
| The information you just read was pulled from | | | | that will fit your kitchen's dimensions. You'll want |
| many different resources. You should continue | | | | enough clearance all the way around (generally a |
| searching for information until you believe you | | | | minimum of 30') so appliances open easily and |
| have a firm grasp of the subject. I do want to | | | | people can walk around freely. Absent any |
| thank you for visiting and good luck. | | | | ready-made options, if you're handy (or know |
| Want to decorate your kitchen but don't have a | | | | someone who is), create your own island using |
| lot of money? | | | | stock cabinets (such as a pair of wall cabinets |
| With a little persistence and time, you can find | | | | attached back to back) from a home center. It's |
| decorative items at yard sales for pennies! Of | | | | fine to go with a different finish from what's on |
| course, it will take a bit more work then just | | | | your other cabinets, too. Paint the lower part of |
| walking into your local Home Interiors store, but | | | | the island a contrasting color and top with |
| you will spend far less and end up with some | | | | laminate, butcher block, or even luxe-look granite. |
| unique items that will add interest to your home. | | | | As for color ' that's the fun part! Take your pick |
| Beauty is only skin deep, ugly goes to the bone. | | | | and go conservative with soft gold, sage green, |
| You can find items at yard sales that make over | | | | or pale blue, or get crazy and paint the walls barn |
| go with any kitchen decor. If your kitchen is | | | | red, terra cotta orange, or kiwi green. Look for |
| country style, look for old baskets and chunky old | | | | scrubbable paint in a satin or semi-gloss finish. |
| pottery bowls and pitchers. Put them above the | | | | Fast Fix: |
| cabinets for a decorative display or use them on | | | | Get rid of those boring white walls! |
| the counters to store fruits or everyday items. | | | | The good news about this project is that paint is |
| Look for old wooden boxes or silverware trays | | | | inexpensive and the walls in a kitchen are |
| that you can use as decorative items - this old | | | | generally confined to smaller areas above, |
| wood adds warmth and character to your | | | | between, and next to the cabinets. The bad |
| kitchen. | | | | news: you'll have to mask off cabinets and |
| Yard sale finds are perfect for decorating a retro | | | | countertops with blue tape and sheets of plastic |
| style kitchen. You can still find many kitchen items | | | | so drips and painting mistakes won't be an |
| from the 1970's and 60's in good condition. Some | | | | concern. |
| of these are true collectibles but many are just | | | | If you prefer a modern or contemporary kitchen, |
| fun and decorative. I always look for old bread | | | | you can find many almost new and gently used |
| boxes, canister sets, salt and pepper shakers, | | | | items to suit your tastes at every yard sale. Try |
| napkin holders, wall clocks and other bric a brac | | | | hitting the sales in the upscale section of town |
| for my retro kitchen. | | | | and you might find some very expensive items |
| If your kitchen is more of a 1940's look, you | | | | for much less than you would pay at the retail |
| might have a harder time finding vintage items of | | | | store. You may have to look around a bit to find |
| the era, but you can come up with some good | | | | exactly what you want, but your resolve can pay |
| finds if you scour the yard sales and dig into | | | | off big time! |
| those old boxes. Kitchens decorated in this era, | | | | Sometimes you can find items at yard sales that |
| beg for vintage linens to be used as tablecloths | | | | have antique or collectible value. If you find that |
| and displayed hanging from the stove and | | | | you lean towards collecting a certain kind of item |
| cupboard handles. These old linens are stamped | | | | like old pottery or vintage linens, it might be worth |
| with colorful designs and add cheer to any kitchen. | | | | your while to invest in some reference books on |
| Some of the state map tablecloths are quite | | | | the subject. That way you will be able to |
| collectible and can be very expensive in antique | | | | recognize a good piece when you see it. Who |
| shops, so if you find one of those in your travels, | | | | knows, your yard sale treasure could turn out to |
| you have a real gem on your hands! | | | | be a real winner! |
| If your kitchen is the 60's, 70's or 80's style you | | | | This could be the start of something big |
| might want to consider a few easy, inexpensive | | | | What you are about to read is the culmination of |
| fast improvements. | | | | information from many different places and |
| Fast Fix: | | | | resources. I hope you enjoy it. |