Here are 7 quick tips to cut your kitchen remodeling costs while still achieving the look of the kitchen you always wanted...or to get your house ready for resale on a budget.

This is the final installment of how we installed our free standing gas range. First, I had to tap into my existing gas supply line in the basement because our former range was electric and there was not a gas valve behind the oven. Second, I had to cut away part of the counter to make room for the free standing range because previously we had a drop-in electric model that was suspended on the counter on the sides and back.

Now for the final piece of the puzzle, converting the 220V hard-wired connection into a standard 110V plug and the actual delivery of the Kenmore range we picked out. Unfortunately, I had a couple of setbacks.

Our hard-wired, 18 year old, electric drop-in Kenmore range/oven has seen better days. It was builder-installed when we bought the house new back in the late-80's and it's been a good little oven and range...up until the past few months.

Something had to be done!

Here's why we went with a natural gas range...

Are you considering installing a natural gas range in your home?

I did it myself and I have some great practical advice for installing a natural gas stove in your home. I also had to add onto the existing natural gas supply line in my home to make this work.

It's been quite an ambitious learning experience for me but it's also been a rewarding one, as well.
Why? Because it was easier than I thought and I saved a wad of cash.

We switched out our old electric coil range with a natural gas stove. If you're thinking about doing the same or possibly want to extend your existing natural gas lines to a new outdoor grill, for instance, I invite you to get comfortable and heed my advice. The same principles will apply in dealing with cast iron pipe.

Put your common sense on overdrive and read on.