Kitchen makeovers for less

(NC)—Does your kitchen need a total overhaul or perhaps just a few easy updates to modernize its look? Whether you are looking to increase your home's value or enhance the appearance of the most popular room in your home a kitchen makeover may be just what you need. This year, Home Hardware is encouraging everyone to update their kitchen's look by offering the $50,000 Dream Kitchen Makeover Contest. One lucky winner will be awarded a kitchen makeover complete with renovations, appliances and products totaling $50,000.

“The kitchen is the heart of the home,” says Mark Nykamp, kitchen cabinetry and flooring product manager, Home Hardware Stores Limited. “It is the place where family and friends come together to socialize and eat. Creating a functional yet stylish space encourages conversation and helps bring the family together in one central place.”

Mark offers the latest tips and trends when considering a kitchen update:

• Rift-cut wood is the new look with its bold linear grain providing options for whatever your style may be, whether it's historic or modern.

• The hottest colours today are warm greys with brown undertones matching a one-of-a-kind look with soft neutral finishes, such as the subtle tones of Portobello mushrooms.

• Incorporate lots of hand-painted and glazed finishes in rich creams and not-quite-white tones.

• When renovating your kitchen, consider the appliances you choose. Some appliances can enhance the aesthetic quality of the room as well as provide functional applications.

• Metallics, such as stainless steel, copper, and oil-rubbed bronze, can be used to embellish and create a more architectural, streamlined look.

The $50,000 Dream Kitchen Makeover Contest will run across Canada from September 27 until December 8, 2008 and the winners will be announced after a draw on January 6, 2009. To enter, Canadians are encouraged to submit a ballot by mail, in-store or online at www.homehardware.ca before December 8, 2008. In addition to the grand prize of $50,000 towards a kitchen makeover, there are an additional 50 prizes to be won just by entering.

You can find more product information or enter the $50,000 Dream Kitchen Makeover Contest online at www.homehardware.ca.

- News Canada