Do It Yourself: Kitchens: Stunning Spaces on a Shoestring Budget

Content: A $1,000 BUDGET   8 A Miracle Makeover  It took only two weekends and $500 to transform this bachelor pad kitchen into a gathering spot.  14 White and Bright  Oak cabinets stand for quality. But after two decades of brown, this family wanted to lighten up.  18 Salvage Fresh Style  Don't let a tight budget cramp your style. Shop salvage stores to save money and fl ex creativity.  24 Creativity over Cash  In three weeks and for $1,000, one inventive woman whips up a cool kitchen.  30 Little Ideas, Big Results  Update your kitchen without picking up a power tool.  A $2,500 BUDGET   42 Dowdy to Party-Ready  Facing a modest budget and a kitchen with one foot in the '80s only inspired this creative couple.  48 Black Is the New Black  By keeping most of their 1950s ranch kitchen intact, this couple came up with a fresh, new style.  54 A Cosmetic Cover-Up  By tackling its humdrum surfaces, this style expert gave her kitchen a sparkling new personality.  62 Old Stuff, New Style  Clever recycling and hands-on ideas give this kitchen a fresh and natural outlook.  68 White Warms Up  Clever do-it-yourself upgrades give a basic kitchen more personality and effi ciency.  A $5,000 BUDGET   82 Big Savings, Big Style  In the wake of a hurricane, a new style emerged in this coastal kitchen.  88 Color It Refreshing  A healthy dose of bright hues puts a fresh face on a tiny space.  94 Sweet and Creamy  Resourceful redos and a simple layout re-create farmhouse chic.  100 Beyond the Woods  This 30-year-old kitchen had oak fl oors and cabinets. Then it stepped into the light.  108 It's All About the Blue  This galley kitchen was once a black hole, until new lighting and clean color brightened its style.  114 Style with a Purpose  A sunshine palette woke up this tiny lake house kitchen.  A $10,000 BUDGET   128 Country Cleans Up  With clean, retro lines, this country kitchen goes a little bit rock 'n' roll.  134 An Instant Classic  DIY skills take this kitchen from builder bland to custom elegant.  140 Break Out of the Box  This small, square kitchen was top-heavy until easy ideas put it back in balance.  146 So Chic, So Simple  This cost-conscious kitchen is efficient enough for serious cooking and elegant enough for entertaining.  154 Make Your Best Move  Moving one door made room for more fun and function in this space.  160 Pouring On the Charm  This Cape Cod house now has a kitchen as charming as its exterior.  166 Look on the Bright Side  This suburban kitchen gets a one-of-a kind personality.  IDEAS TO INSPIRE   34 How to Choose Your Hues  Looking for fresh color in your kitchen? We serve up a few of our favorite kitchen paint palettes to toss into the mix.  72 How to Make a Splash  Replacing a kitchen backsplash is a big deal. But dressing it up a bit? That's no trouble at all.  118 How to Create Savvy Storage  The secret to an effi cient kitchen is storage. But there's no reason not to store your tools in style.  174 How to Reinvent Your Cabinets  When you need big impact on a small budget, these cabinet makeovers are a perfect fit.  181 DIY KITCHEN PLANNING GUIDE   191 EDITORS' FAVORITE RESOURCES  Watch for our DIY 101 projects for step-by-step instructions on the following kitchen facelifts:  LIGHTING  Install a Pendant Light 72  STORAGE  Install Open Shelves 47 Install Pullout Shelves 144  STYLE  Sew a Roman Shade 29 Plan the Perfect Layout 99  SURFACES  Laminate a Countertop 12 Tile a Backsplash 60 Make a Concrete Counter 66 Install Laminate Plank Flooring 86 Install Laminate Tile Flooring 133 Paint Cabinets 172  SERVICES  Find the Right Contractor 113