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