Kelly tackles the all-too-common conundrum of dealing with builder-grade kitchen cabinets and doors that just don't jive with your style. Should you return them, replace them, or transform them? Let's see what the expert from the Oak Design furniture store in Taoyuan, Manager Xu, has to say!
1. New Kitchen Set: A Hefty Price Tag Considering a total kitchen makeover? Brace yourself - for a 3.2-meter linear kitchen, you're looking at upwards of 100,000 NT$. And beware, this could mean waving goodbye to your pristine walls, as tearing out old cabinets might damage tiles and painted glass. If you're dreaming of imported appliances, make sure they fit like Cinderella’s slipper with your new setup.
2. A Little Touch-Up Goes a Long Way If it's just a matter of colors clashing with your vibe, a full replacement might be overkill. Think cosmetic surgery for cabinets: repainting doors, changing splashback materials, or just tweaking the surfaces. Opting for partial replacements (keeping appliances, swapping out cabinet bodies) could save you big time, bringing costs down to about 60,000-75,000 NT$.
3. Recycle and Reuse: The Eco-Friendly Makeover Tossing out perfectly good, brand-new cabinets feels like a Shakespearean tragedy. Why not repurpose them into shelving or storage units? It's like giving your kitchen a green thumb up for sustainability!
4. Doors: Paint at Your Own Risk Thinking of a quick paint job on the doors to match your style? Be warned - it might lead to a peeling disaster. Solid wood doors could cost you about 7,500-9,000 NT$ each. But if you're thinking of repainting, it's better to strip down to the basics and start afresh. Sometimes, a complete door and frame replacement is less headache than a botched paint job.
5. Bathroom Door Swap? Tread Carefully! Manager Xu advises against changing bathroom doors in new homes. Why? Because meddling with door frames could jeopardize the waterproofing. If you're not keen on an indoor pool (of the leaky kind), either leave the frames as is or consider a more costly hidden door solution. Sliding doors, whether wooden (around 20,000 NT$) or aluminum-framed glass (about 12,000-15,000 NT$), are an alternative, but they'll bump up your budget.
So there you have it, folks! Whether you're on Team Replace or Team Revamp, remember: a little planning and creativity can go a long way in making your home truly yours, without breaking the bank. 🛠️💡🏡
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