COST-EFFECTIVE KITCHENS
How to minimize costs without minimizing your renovation
WORK WITH WHAT YOU HAVE. Abigail achieved this look without altering major elements in the kitchen. She took down two walls after confirming neither were structural and decided to leave the plumbing as is. “We left the sink in the original location because it had a really nice view out the window,” she says.
DON’T UPDATE WHAT YOU DON’T NEED. Make sure you’ve lived in the space long enough to know what functional elements you need to change. Abigail reduced the budget by eliminating unnecessary features. “There was heating and air that had to be reworked but the heating portion wasn’t being used, so we were able to take that out,” she says.
LEAVE PARTS UNTOUCHED. “We also left some of the wood tones in the home just as a nod to what used to exist,” Abigail says. “It adds an element of history, texture and warmth, so it’s good to leave a bit of character.” The key is to renovate your kitchen without replacing the entire space—your wallet will thank you for it and so will your home.
PRIORITIZE FOCAL POINTS. When Abigail tackles a new project, she picks one or two focal points to invest in. “I think it’s good to pick a couple of nice elements to focus on and then if budget allows, go for hardware and lighting,” she says. “But if not, it’s okay to choose simple things and let the other elements of the design shine.”