12 Ways to Save Money on Your Kitchen Remodel
The average kitchen
renovation runs between about $20,000-$50,000, depending on how serious
an overhaul it is. But you really can get more bang for less buck if you
take down a few tips from the experts on ways to save money during a
kitchen remodel.
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By:
Alyson McNutt English
©iStockphoto.com/Pali Rao
Have a Grand Plan
If
you’re doing more than just painting the cabinets or replacing the
countertops during your kitchen remodel, don’t try to save money out of
the gate by not hiring a professional to create a design plan. “Hiring a
designer saves you time and money in the long run, so you don’t make
expensive errors,” says south Florida-based designer Meredith Marlow.
©iStockphoto.com/BartCo
Be Prepared Before You Start
After
choosing a professional to work with and coming up with a plan for your
kitchen remodel, decide on absolutely everything you want in the
kitchen, and have it on-site before a single inch of space sees the
sledgehammer, says Robin Siegerman, Chief Design and Renovation Officer
at Sieguzi Kitchen & Home Inc. in Toronto, Canada. “One of the
factors that sends a budget spiraling out of control is a homeowner
picking products during the renovation,” she says. If a product
is backordered, the homeowner is often faced with a choice: pick a
different item that is often pricier, or wait for their original choice,
when their trades people may have other jobs scheduled and the
homeowner may be charged extra for the work.
Bright White Can Hide Outdated Cabinet Design
One of
the biggest expenses in any kitchen renovation is new cabinets. If
yours are in good shape, though, consider keeping them and just giving
them a new look. Designer Justin Riordan recommends
going bright white when painting cabinets in a kitchen remodel. “White
paint does wonders for outdated cabinets and can save you money,” he
says. He recommends washing, then priming and painting cabinets with
high-quality white semi-gloss. Adding new hardware will enhance the
bright white effect.
Andrew D Myers
Doors Conceal Outdated Cabinets
If
your cabinets are too outdated to be salvaged even by the snazziest coat
of paint, consider if they could be spruced up with some new doors. If
the structure is sound, you don’t have to toss out the whole cabinet:
just get good measurements and find a style of door you like, and order
it online, says John Gerard, author of Renovate Your Kitchen the Smart Way: How to Plan, Execute and Save Money During Your Kitchen Remodel. It’s a whole new look for a fraction of the price.
©iStockphoto.com/TimAbramowitz
Cut Corners, Literally
Your
backsplash may technically be functional and keep food and oils off the
walls behind the stove, but let’s be honest: in a kitchen renovation,
the backsplash is a style leader. It can be a cost driver, as well. But
Mary Elizabeth Hulsey founder of Mission Stone & Tile
in Nashville, Tenn., says it doesn’t have to be. She says rather than
turning the corners with your backsplash and carrying it all along the
kitchen wall, just finish the tile where the walls meet. “That ensures
you have the tile where it’s most visually and functionally important,”
she says. Then you can budget for some really mind-blowing tile in the
area behind the sink or stove, and go budget in the other areas around
it.
Jupiterimages
Light It Up
Bringing
in more and better lighting is a smart move in any renovation, but
that’s especially true in the kitchen. Hang well-designed pendants for
style and light, and make sure overhead lighting is bright and
concentrated in areas where the cook will be working. Don’t forget the
details: adding under-cabinet lighting won’t bust your budget but will make a big impact, says Interior Designer Robin Wilson.
©iStockphoto.com/George Pchemyan
Keep Plumbing Where It Is
Another
reason to work with a designer on your kitchen renovation: using the
existing piping and utility layout will save you big bucks. Justin Riordan says it costs about $5,000 each time you move appliances like a dishwasher, sink or a gas stove.
©iStockphoto.com/imagedepotpro
They'll Never Know It’s Remnant Stone
Granite
and solid-surface counters don’t have to break your bank: Go to granite
supply yards and check out their remnants. Especially if you don’t have
huge swaths of countertop to cover, you may find yourself a very good
deal, says John Gerard, author of Renovate Your Kitchen the Smart Way: How to Plan, Execute and Save Money During Your Kitchen Remodel.
©iStockphoto.com/TommL
You Paid for It … Use It!
Don’t let the end pieces and remnants of your own materials go to waste either. Jared R. Fabac, President of 5 Day Kitchens of Hampton Roads
in Virginia Beach, Va., says the average project wastes between 5-15%
of its material. If you’re conscientious, however, you can create
high-end features like cutting boards from granite pieces or rollout
inserts in cabinets from leftover lumber from cabinets, moldings and
countertops.
©iStockphoto.com/Juanmonino
Scratch and Dent Can Be Your Friend
If you have an area Habitat for Humanity ReStore,
make sure you check it out for anything you might be using in your
remodel. Ask around locally about other similar reuse places where
contractors and builders donate or sell their overstock at a discount.
It’s a little bit timing and a lot luck, but if you are there at the
right time, you never know what you might find: a woman recently scored a
Viking double oven, which retails new for over $5,000, for only $190 at
a Traverse City, Mich., ReStore.
DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen
Add Architectural Interest
You
can get a high-end look with impact details small and large: try adding
bun feet to free-standing cabinetry to give it a furniture-feel, or add
some beadboard paneling to spruce up an island. Or you can get really
creative with a focal point that is less expensive than mosaic tile but
packs a big punch, like stacked stone on the back of your kitchen
island, like this one from Bill and Jayne Wolf of DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen in Grand Rapids, Mich.
©iStockphoto.com/jferrer
Go Low on Your Floors
If you have wood floors currently, just refinish them; even if you’re knocking down a wall, you can simply place boards in where the wall was, then sand the existing and new pieces down and stain them together, says Jennifer Gilmer, a kitchen and bath designer in Chevy Chase, Md.If replacing tile or vinyl floors, less-expensive options like sealed cork can be a good choice not only for price, but because they are easier on the feet and back than hard tiles and woods.
