Where To Spend And Where To Splurge On A Kitchen Remodel

Maximizing The Value Of A Kitchen Remodel

When it comes to adding functionality, home equity, and enjoyment, nothing beats a kitchen remodel. After all, the kitchen is the heart of the home. It's the room where your family gathers in the morning to start their day, where the kids sit and do their homework after school, and where your guests congregate as you prepare holiday meals. Your kitchen's style and design can set the tone for your entire home.

Kitchen remodeling can be expensive. An upscale kitchen can cost well over $100,000 depending on the scope of work, the size of the kitchen, and the materials, fixtures, and finishes you choose. An excellent design-build contractor will work with you to design a kitchen that meets both your aesthetic and functional needs and still fits within your budget.

The key to value in kitchen remodeling is knowing where to spend, where to save, and where to splurge!

Today, many manufacturers are creating high-end luxury products that are affordable, durable, and functional. A good design-build firm will be aware of the latest materials, fixtures, and finishes available. They can offer alternatives and options to free up your budget for those "must-have," splurge-worthy items that can take your kitchen remodel to the next level.

Where to Save When Remodeling Your Kitchen

Saving starts by understanding your options and formulating a plan before you start construction, or even begin speaking with contractors. Educate yourself. Set-up, an online portfolio on Houzz, clip, and save photos from home magazines. Stop by local showrooms to see and touch cabinets and countertops. Look at how different materials combine. Explore lighting, flooring, and tile options. By defining your style early in the process, you can get a sense of the cost of different options.

All of this information is invaluable when interviewing and hiring a design-build firm. It can help them to understand your style and your needs. If you have a particular style you're interested in, an excellent design-build firm can help you to understand your options for materials. If you love the look of marble, they can show you options like solid surface, or porcelain tile that has the look of natural marble at a more affordable price point.

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One major way to significantly save on your kitchen remodel is by keeping the infrastructure in the same place. Moving plumbing, gas, and electrical is expensive. By not moving utilities, you'll save on construction costs and free up your budget to include those natural marble countertops you're coveting!

Here are some additional ideas for cost savings.

Appliances

Look closely at the refrigerator at left. it looks built-in like a countertop depth refrigerator. In reality, through careful planning of the cabinets, extra large pantry cabinets give this a built-in feeling at a standard budget.

It's often not necessary to splurge for top of the line appliances or designer names like SubZero or Wolf. There are many mid and upper range appliances by manufacturers like Bosch, GE, Jenn Air, and Fisher that are very functional, beautiful, and more affordable than the luxury brands. Don't be tempted by the bells and whistles. They can add unnecessary costs. Remember, the best isn't the best if it doesn't meet your needs.

Cabinetry

Cabinets are a significant element of any kitchen remodel, taking 75% of the kitchen space, and creating a major focal point in your design. And while there is a case to be made for investing in the best cabinets you can afford, cabinets potentially offer the most significant savings of any element in the kitchen. Custom cabinetry for a standard-sized kitchen can cost over $40,000, while semi-custom or standard cabinetry looks and functions great and can cost thousands of dollars less.

Green Flooring

Flooring is another area where you can save and still maintain a luxurious look in your kitchen. Materials like bamboo, cork, reclaimed wood, or porcelain are beautiful and affordable. Bamboo and cork are both renewable, eco-friendly materials that are durable, comfortable to stand on when working, and affordable. If you love the look of natural wood or stone, today's porcelain tile comes in a wide variety of styles that mimic hardwood or natural stone and are easy to install, affordable, and absolutely gorgeous.

Cabinet Accessories

Accessories like soft-close drawers and doors are a nice extra; however, we've been closing cabinets doors without them for 100 years. If you don't have them, you'll never really need them — if you’re on a tight budget and every last $100 in project costs or savings adds up. As for inserts, custom cabinetry inserts like cutlery trays, under shelf racks, and other accessories can be expensive. Consider adding store-bought options later. It's an easy install, much more affordable, and you can always change your accessories as your needs change.

PRO TIP: Even though we just said that you can save money on soft-close hardware, don’t cheap out on the drawer glides themselves. Only choose heavy duty, ball-bearing, full-extension drawer glides. They will last longer and make the drawer space you have more functional and accessible.

By making some small adjustments that will not impact the functionality of your kitchen, you can save significantly. These simple changes can free up money for materials and finishes that will add plenty of wow factor to your kitchen remodel.

Where to Splurge

Here are some examples of the best places to splurge on your new kitchen, to give the greatest impact and first impression.

Upgraded Exotic Stone Countertops

Many designers and contractors believe that the number one place to splurge when remodeling your kitchen is on the countertops. Your kitchen countertops are a major visual element of its design. Exotic surfaces can make a big first impression and even set the tone for the entire space. If you have a limited budget, consider splurging on the island countertop. The kitchen island is a gathering space and entertainment hub in most kitchens. It's highly visible and utilized, especially in an open concept home. Try topping it with something special like Calacatta marble, gorgeous lava stone, or natural quartzite, for example. 

Spring for the Bling!

Your cabinet hardware and fixtures are the jewelry of your kitchen. Adding a few high-quality pieces is the perfect finishing touch. You're going to put your hands on your cabinet hardware every day, so look for materials that have a nice touch like polished nickel or soft satin brass. Both finishes can fit into any kitchen style from traditional to contemporary. Splurge for the best hardware you can find. It will stand up to daily use and abuse and keep looking great for years.

click the photo above if you’d like more ideas on backsplash tile options

Splurge on Your Backsplash

Like your countertops, your kitchen backsplash is another excellent design splurge. There are so many beautiful tile options available today, and your backsplash is another major focal point in your kitchen design. Today, manufacturers are creating sheet porcelain that looks precisely like marble or other natural stone that can give your backsplash a seamless look.

Add Windows

using huge windows in a kitchen is the best way to make it bright and dramatic. you will never regret having a beautiful view and plenty of light.

If you're going for a down-to-the-studs remodeling, put some money into your budget for additional windows. Nothing adds warmth and beauty to a room like natural light. If you have the room in your design, adding windows is always an excellent investment worth splurging on.

Don't Skimp on the Ventilation

It's not fancy, and your guests will never see it, but one place to splurge that is purely functional is with your kitchen's ventilation. Nothing is worse than a home filled with food odors, airborne particles, and other cooking debris. Many homeowners try to save money by not running a direct vent to the outside of their home, settling instead on a filtering ductless model that recirculates the air back into the house. If you have space and ability to install an external exhaust fan, always spend the extra money to ventilate your kitchen properly.

Include Under-Cabinet Task Lighting

While beautiful dangling fixtures are an excellent option, under-cabinet lighting is often overlooked. Proper task lighting is essential in the kitchen. Illuminating counter-prep areas is necessary, and you'll use it every day. However, under-cabinet task lighting requires extensive electrical work. It's not easy to add later, so definitely make sure to include it in your electrical budget.

When it comes to kitchen remodeling, you have a wide range of options available to achieve the aesthetics and functionality you need. Your design-build contractor can help to educate you about the many opportunities for savings available to you. They can even show you how to stretch your budget to accommodate those "must-have" luxury items you've been dreaming about for years!

This article was updated by Abe J Degnan on 3/22/21.

If you live in the greater Madison, Wisconsin area and are planning a kitchen remodel, give the experts at Degnan Design Build Remodel a call at (608) 846-5963. Our award-winning design team is always here to answer your home improvement and remodeling questions.