Best face

You need a face-lift.

And for nearly the exact same reasons you would undergo the procedure yourself, you can get a face-lift for your kitchen — minus eliminating any wrinkles, of course.

“A typical call comes from someone who wants to change the color of their kitchen because they’re tired of the look or they’re (cabinets) worn out,” said Paul Climer, owner of a local Kitchen Tune-Up franchise.

A face-lift for the kitchen offers several options, including a complete remodel, cabinet refacing and cabinet reconditioning.

“New cabinets are a must if a person wants to change the complete layout of the kitchen. Refacing is ideal if the client is happy with the layout of the kitchen, but does not like the look,” said Barry Newman, owner of Kitchen World in Las Vegas, a company that specializes in kitchen design.

Refacing involves replacing the cabinet doors along with drawer fronts, molding, framework and any sides that are exposed.

Refacing cabinets also allows for upgrades such as roll-out drawers, tilt-out trays, dove tail drawer boxes, crown molding, wine storage and undercabinet lighting. More extensive projects can include the addition of a matching island, Climer said.

Newman, who has 30-plus years of experience in the industry, said he asks each potential customer what it is they don’t like about the kitchen before making suggestions about what to change.

“I look at every kitchen as if it were mine,” Newman said when helping his customers make the best selections possible. “My job is to advise them about the best choices versus trying to sell a particular product.”

From there, the choices are nearly endless. There are hundreds of options regarding cabinet color, door style, molding and accessories. Sample kitchens are on display at the company’s showroom on Nevso Drive.

Kitchen Tune-Up also offers a new, free online design tool that lets anyone see what their new kitchen could look like. Available at www.ktu.seeityourway.com, the design tool allows users to select their cabinet style, color, knobs, countertop and backsplash material, and decorative accents to get an idea of what is possible.

According to Newman, resurfacing cabinets is about one-third less expensive than remodeling a kitchen. He said the major savings come in not having to bring in electricians and plumbers to make changes when altering a kitchen’s layout. Additionally, it’s not always necessary to replace the countertops.

However, depending on the quality of the materials selected, it can be less costly to replace the cabinets entirely, he said.

Climer said resurfacing also is less intrusive on the homeowners’ lives. Generally, a resurfacing job can be completed in three to five days, once all materials are obtained and prepared, and the kitchen remains operational when work crews leave at the end of each day, he said.

Both companies also offer remodeling services that may include changing the cabinets’ or appliances’ positions in the kitchen, modifying walls and replacing countertops and flooring. The process is extensive, leaving the kitchen unusable for some time, as well as more expensive than refacing. Climer said a kitchen remodel generally begins in the low $30,000s and can cost thousands more depending on material and appliance choices.

The least expensive option is reconditioning the cabinets, which costs about $1,000. Both Climer and Newman said this involves a thorough cleaning of existing cabinetry, along with waxing and polishing. Most times, hinges are replaced, as is hardware.

“It’s an inexpensive fix if you are trying to sell your home or have a very low budget,” Newman said.

Reconditioning also eliminates the several weeks prep time needed to get new doors, wood veneer and molding ordered and custom fitted to the owner’s existing cabinetry.

“We can do it virtually the next day,” Newman said.