Does your kitchen need a facelift?

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The kitchen is one of the hardest-working rooms in the house. It also needs to look good. After all, many kitchens, especially in condos, are open to the living area. If your kitchen is getting up there in age, it might be time to give the grand dame a splashy facelift.

From a full frontal operation to simple makeup, here are three ways to ensure your culinary domain is as stylish as can be.

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The facelift

Painting outdated wood or laminate cabinets is one of the easiest ways to update a kitchen — but there are other options. If you like wood but you’re tired of your outdated, glossy golden oak, I’ve got just the replacement for you. I recently discovered BoKEA, a Quebec-based manufacturer that offers high-end door and drawer-front replacements for IKEA’s Sektion kitchen line. You can order the door and drawer fronts online. I like BoKEA’s walnut-wood doors for their trendy mid-century-modern vibe. BoKEA ships within Canada in 40 days — which means your kitchen can have a new look before Christmas — and this affordable, quality option also saves your perfectly good cabinetry boxes from the landfill.

The fillers

Modernize your kitchen by upgrading the appliances. If the major ones — that trusty oven, your never-on-the-blink fridge — are still working fine, keep them until you do that massive, full kitchen renovation. Instead, update your smaller, countertop appliances. My advice is to go one of two routes: either choose a countertop appliance collection in a colour you love, such as red, black or blue, and invest in two or three of them to get a big impact. Alternatively, choose a professional kitchen look by adding in stainless steel countertop appliances.

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Tip: Only invest in the gadgets that get daily use, such as a toaster, coffee maker or kettle. They tend to stay on the counter more than a stand mixer, bread oven or blender.

The makeup

Swapping out the knobs, pulls and handles to drawers and doors is like changing the jewelry in your wardrobe. If you have a relatively neutral kitchen design, replace your old hardware with some bling. A new metallic finish or colour creates interest and personality. My designer rule is that you put knobs on doors and pulls on drawers (say that three times, fast). This way, you can mix up the hardware style for a more interesting look throughout the kitchen. Got a special desk or island that stands alone in the kitchen? Add some unique artistic knobs just for that piece to make it stand out and look extra special in the kitchen.

Do you have a decor dilemma or want more decor inspiration? Follow Karl on Instagram at @Karl_ Lohnes.

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