Each Monday on the DesignQuotient™ blog, DesignCoach™ Los Angeles interior designer James Swan answers readers’ questions. Post your design dilemma. DesignCoach™ can help you find the solution.

This week on the DesignCoach: No Money and an Ugly Kitchen; What To Do?

Q. I have the worlds ugliest kitchen and I can’t stand it any longer. I’ve got a little money set aside but not enough to remodel the way I’d like. What can I do that will help me enjoy my kitchen and not require that I sell one of my children?

Quincy Kitchen Sink

A. Selling one of the children is never a good solution to an ugly room. It may resolve other issues for you…but not this design delima.

Kitchens are challenging even when there is lots of money to spend so your delima raises the bar considerably. But don’t loose hope. There are always ways to make a proverbial “sows ear” turn into a “silk purse”.

Here are four areas to consider:

1. Cabinetry. If you can’t rip it all down then you are faced with one of three choices all of which have there strengths and weaknesses. First you can paint over the existing cabinet surface. Add new hardware and you have a very refreshed kitchen. Second you can paper over the existing cabinet surface. Think about some of the great vinyl textured products on the market and the sky’s the limit a very dramatic look for your kitchen. This type of installation is not for amatures so this won’t be “free” but it is an option. Last you can re-surface the cabinets using a fresh application of laminate. This works best when your existing cabinets are laminated. Again, not something to do yourself but always a fraction of what new cabinets would cost.

2. Back splash. One of my favorite quick kitchen tricks is to pull out the existing back splash and replace is with plate mirror. The surface is easy to clean (amonia and water), heat resistant and can add a layer of drama and interest quickly and inexpensively.

3. Counter Top. Maybe all you need to do is replace the existing counter top to move your kitchen from the drab to the fab. Check out cost effective options and sit back and imagine how a simple clean stone counter might look instead of the old, chipped tile you currently look at each day.

4. Floors. You may not be able to replace the existing flooring material but you can add bold splashes of color and texture by laying down fun interesting area rugs. Focus on todays great solution dyed acrylic products. You will be suprised by the beautiful patterns you can find that are designed to function both indoor and out. Not your Mother’s Astro-turf by any means. Have fun with color and pattern and give a sad kitchen floor a shot in the arm.

Readers, I would love to hear your ideas or see the results of your creative ideas. Send me your thoughs or pictures of your solutions to kitchen delimas.

Let us know if we can help with your design dilemma. Send us your questions.