50 cheap and chic kitchen perk-ups

21 Add French flair: opt for a rustic table and chairs in the centre of your kitchen rather than an island.

22 Wallpaper the ceiling.

23 Tall ceilings? Install a large nontypical central light, like a chandelier, lantern or industrial pendant.

24 Cook up some natural air freshener: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of apple cider to a simmer. Add a few slices of lemon, cinnamon sticks and 1 tsp whole cloves. Simmer for a couple of hours, adding more cider as it evaporates.

25 Hang a fabric blind with an elegant swag for a touch of grandeur.

26 A potted orchid in a white ceramic pot is a sophisticated living accessory that lasts longer than cut stems.

27 Install a new faucet.

28 Use a shallow baking dish to store cooking essentials by the cooktop or stove. It will keep everything exactly where you need it and save your counter from oil rings and pepper grinder debris. Decant olive oil into an opaque or dark glass bottle to protect it from light.

29 Treat yourself to a new set of canisters.

30 Say no to paper napkins and switch to a colourful fabric set.

31 Switch out your dated kitchen chairs for black Windsor chairs. They're a design classic – great with mod or trad tables.

32 Remove a pair of cupboard doors and style the open shelves with your prettiest things.

33 Install invisible touch-latch hardware for a sleek, modern look.

34 Hang wallpaper as a backsplash. Protect it with acrylic or glass panels custom cut and installed by a glazier.

35 Leave only your chicest small appliances on the counter.

36 Conceal an ugly backsplash behind peel-andstick Smart Tiles.

37 Banish old knobs in favour of sexy new ones.

38 Conquer the junk drawer.

39 Get a handsome mortar and pestle. When you aren't using it to muddle mint for a mojito, press it into service as a bookend for cookbooks.

40 Paint your cabinets nature's neutral – green. It will look great with all your fruits and veg.

41 Display a pineapple when you're expecting guests – it's the universal symbol of welcome.

42 Make a pretty message board by placing fabric or decorative paper behind the glass of a large frame. Then use a dry erase marker to write on the front.

43 Add shaped brackets along the toe kick to make your cabinets look like fine furniture.

44 Install decorative casing trim around your pass-through.

45 Banish the smelly dishcloth hanging over the faucet! Organize your sinkside essentials on a rectangular dish or tray. The must-haves: dish soap in a pretty container (or decant some into a translucent white squeeze bottle), an all-natural cellulose sponge for dishwashing, a scrub brush and a plastic scrubber for pots.

46 Install a plate rack. Use it to display a collection of platters or cookbooks.

47 Splurge on a marble-top dining table for your best friend.

48 Keep utensils contained and at the ready in a plain white pitcher – it goes with any kitchen.

49 Perk up a family table with cheerful oilcloth that you can wipe clean in a flash.

50 The next time you buy groceries, bring home a bunch of daisies for the kitchen table.

Photo courtesy of IKEA. 

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