LUXE IT UP
SUMPTUOUS STYLE AND QUALITY MATERIALS IN THE KITCHEN CAN COME AT A PRICE. WE REVEAL THE INDUSTRY SECRETS TO CUTTING COSTS WITHOUT LOSING THE LUXURY
The heart of your home deserves to be treated like royalty – adorned with opulent materials and decked out in the finest finishes (as seen in this GIA Renovations designed glamour). But how do you give your kitchen the grandiose treatment when a tight budget is top of the list? We chat to renovation experts and interior designers to discover their insider secrets to achieving a lavish, yet cost-effective kitchen.
THINK THRIFTY
A little patience and lots of research goes a long way in finding luxe pieces at half the price. “My advice is to shop around and keep an eye on sales, with a certain style in mind,” suggests interior designer Olivia Cirocco of GIA Renovations. Don’t be afraid to embrace second-hand treasures for a glittering result, either. “You can purchase luxury items such as furniture and lighting second hand from auctions,” she adds. Appliances are big-ticket items that can also be found at discounted prices without forgoing quality, says interior architect Sally Rhys-Jones. “Save on appliances by looking at places like Seconds World, where the side of an oven might have a dint, but you won’t even see it once the oven is in place,” she says.
CHOOSE A POWER PALETTE
The perfect colour combination can be the key to nailing a luxurious kitchen, sans costly high-end materials. “Sometimes it’s just about getting the colour palette right,” says interior designer Annie Bowen of Annie Bowen Design. “For example, a beautiful ocean blue offers a sharp contrast to a crisp white benchtop. This strong pop of colour creates a wow-factor without going over the top with money.” (See example, right.) Bringing this look to life could be as simple as a lick of paint on your cabinetry. To design an eye-catching colour scheme, Annie advises placing paint samples “on your floor and table, and if they all look like one story you know you’ve got a good palette.” >
“HAND-PAINTED CUPBOARDS ARE COSTLY DUE TO THE LABOUR – IT’S cheaper TO HAVE THEM SPRAYED IN SATIN POLYURETHANE BY A cabinet maker” ~ Sally Rhys-Jones, interior architect
SAVE ON NATURAL STONE
“Your choice of stone is a big factor in the cost of your kitchen,” says interior designer Annie Bowen – the colour, size and style of stone will influence the final figure. “There are multiple variations of natural stone,” adds renovation expert and House Rules alumna Carly Schulz, with granite being more affordable than marble, and paler colours often cheaper than darker hues. “If you stick with the cheapest option you can find, you’ve still got a classy stone for your benchtop, you just don’t have the most expensive kind,” she adds. The thickness of your benchtop can also sway the price point, as a thinner edge exudes elegance at a lighter cost.
SPLASH IN SMALL SPACES
Your must-have luxury material doesn’t have to blow the budget, as splurging in a smaller zone is a simple way to cut costs. “Don’t use handles on every cabinet as that can get really expensive,” explains interior architect Sally Rhys-Jones. Instead, “use feature handles only on full-length doors and opt for a shadowline on lower cabinets.” While detailed joinery showcases your personality, marble (seen left) is a fast route to opulence. “My best tip for people who want marble is to use it just on the splashback,” says Sally (such as in this kitchen, opposite). “The splashback is always a smaller square metreage than the benchtop and is on the vertical surface, so you actually see it more often. It’s a great place to use a more expensive material.”
“KEEP THE MATERIALS REALLY simple AND FOCUS ON GETTING THE right COMBINATION OF COLOURS FOR WOW-FACTOR” ~ Annie Bowen, interior designer
“THERE ARE PLENTY OF BEAUTIFUL pendants OUT THERE THAT WON’T BREAK THE BANK, AND TO save money YOU COULD GO FOR ONE LARGE PENDANT INSTEAD OF A TRADITIONAL TRIO” ~ Annie Bowen, interior designer