So, you’ve finally decide to remodel your kitchen. We’ve all been there. You spend every waking minute scrolling through Pinterest, cataloging everything from the perfect farmhouse sink to beautifully modern hardware. You watch endless clips of the Fixer Upper and spend dozens of hours combing through the aisles at your local hardware store. You’ve spent so many hours curating your dream kitchen and don’t want the final project to look piecemeal so you decide to splurge a little here and elaborate over there. After all, you’ve already spent all of this time designing a kitchen you are in love with and can’t imagine parting with that handmade Italian tile backsplash. This is a story I hear all too often. I am sick and tired of hearing about friends and colleagues that pay way too much to remodel their kitchen simply because they didn’t do enough research in the beginning. My advice, is threefold. 1. Have a Plan, 2. Research your Options 3. Don’t settle.
1. HAVE A PLAN
Pinterest can be an excellent place to start. A major kitchen remodel is going to take a lot of time, but if you have a plan and a clear budget, you can ensure you get the kitchen of your dreams, without BREAKING THE BANK! My philosophy is to invest a little more in some areas, like countertops that will last and energy efficient appliances that will help you save money in the long run, while saving money on things like RTA cabinets, and DO-IT Yourself Backsplashes. By planning where you will save and where you will splurge, you are sure to shop smarter and not just jump at that shiny new copper hood just because it’s pretty. Have a plan and stick to it.
2. RESEARCH YOUR OPTIONS:
When most people decide to start their kitchen remodel they assume they need to start removing walls with a sledge hammer or pull up that dated flooring. My advice is always “Research before you Renovate”. Researching your options can save you a lot of money in the long run. I mentioned RTA (Ready-To-Assemble) cabinets for a reason. This is one of the biggest areas renovators can save THOUSANDS, that’s right, I said thousands! My friend just redid her kitchen, after visiting a national, very well-known, Hardware Chain, they found out their kitchen cabinets alone would cost them around $50,000. Most people figure you either have to custom order cabinets (because nearly every kitchen is different) or have an ultra-handy spouse with the right routers, jigs, saws and time away from work to build your own. The answer my friends is Ready-To-Assemble Cabinets, which cost a FRACTION and look the same as their custom counterparts. These are not cheap looking cabinets, trust me you wouldn’t know the difference if someone pointed it out to you. Did I mention that they are easy to assemble and don’t require routers, jigs or a table saw. You decide, would you rather have custom cabinets, or a new car?
3. DON’T SETTLE:
Most people think that a DIY project will end up looking cheap and not like the Parade of Homes look they’ve been dreaming of. I am here to tell you there are thousands of options out there to help even novice DIYers build their dream kitchens. Look, I love Ikea as much as the next mom, and don’t even get me started on their meatballs, but saving money doesn’t mean you have to end up with a kitchen that looks like you are still in college. There are plenty of companies out there that sell HIGH QUALITY, CUSTOM LOOKING alternatives to cabinets, appliances, islands, backsplashes, flooring, etc. Not settling also doesn’t mean you have to break the bank either.
You deserve the kitchen and home of your dreams, but you also deserve to keep some of that hard earned money you’ve been saving for years. Don’t go into debt or spend next year’s European Vacation money on your dream kitchen. You deserve that money as much as you deserve a brand new, beautiful kitchen.
