A decent kitchen used to require a decent amount of money. And before the free-fall in housing, incomes and spare cash, quality was the goal, with materials, finishes and appliances becoming more and more high-end.
These days, it's all about cost savings. That might mean hinting for budget cabinets, it may mean considering finishes or materials you may not have considered in the past, or it may mean a lot of DIY.
Remodeling on a budget of $10,000 or $15,000 means "doing as much work as possible yourself," says Michael O'Brien, co-owner of Arizona Designs Kitchens and Baths.
Architect Bob Lanning and designer Kate Hiller saved money by being their own contractors when they built two duplex apartments in the historic district of Armory Park.
But they also knew that, to stick to their tight budget, they'd have to do a lot of secondhand shopping.
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Their best buy was from Habistore: a set of cherry-wood cabinets for $2,500 that they split between the two apartments and their own art studio, then sold the rest.
A free-standing glass-front cabinet, also from Habistore, lends a custom look to the room, and the couple chose galvanized metal countertops for a look of stainless steel for a fraction of the price.
"You have to be a scrounger, you have to be scrappy, and look and push," says Hiller of secondhand shopping. "But certain things you have to have new, like plumbing and our light fixtures, from IKEA." (See box for details of what they spent).
Stephanie and David Rainie say they cut their kitchen budget in half by using IKEA cabinets and their existing appliances and installing a tile countertop.
"Once we saw how much the big-box places charged and what the components were, we didn't even follow through with a quote," says Stephanie, who estimates their total bill for the new kitchen - to be finished next month - will be between $10,000 and $15,000.
7 kitchen shortcuts that will pep up your space
• Switch out your backsplash. Three inexpensive options: tin (get it in large tiles and screw to the wall); corrugated iron from a salvage yard; chalkboard paint (use a magnetic latex primer and it becomes a notice board, too).
• Paint your appliances. Use Rust-Oleum High Performance Spray Enamel, $9 per quart. Apply a number of thin coats and make sure the last coat is from a spray can for an even finish.
• Paint your cabinets. Whites and off-whites are set to be the most popular kitchen colors in 2010, according to the National Kitchen & Bath Association. If your cabinets are in good condition, sand them down, paint and buy new knobs and pulls for a whole new look.
• Tile. For a custom look on the backsplash, intersperse plain, inexpensive tile such as subway style with some smaller, high-end pieces. Tile remains one of the cheapest flooring options, too.
• IKEA. "They're the only guys (to go to) for the least expensive cabinets," says Scott Bacon, president of Catalina Contracting Services. And if you don't like the IKEA look, use their cabinetry for the bones of the kitchen and have custom doors made. Another plus, say Stephanie and David Rainie: the doors are solid wood, and have a quiet-close mechanism.
• Reduce your cabinets. Do you need upper cabinets? Some homeowners are going for base cabinets only and using open shelving up top, or leaving the top space blank for a less cluttered, more contemporary look.
• Laminate the counter. A bit like linoleum, laminate still gets a bad rap, despite huge leaps in technology and design. Wilsonart HD, for example - a laminate product that uses some of the same technologies as laminate flooring - promises three times the wear of the industry standard.
• Cabinet refacing. Refacing can cut your cabinet costs by half, compared with getting new ones, but it's not always the budget option people think. Doors and drawer fronts are replaced and a veneer is installed on the facing frames of the cabinets. For solid wood, the cost can be as much as $200 per opening. On the upside, it's a quicker job (taking around three days to complete) and it doesn't mean demolishing your countertop. Many of Kitchen Solvers' clients have a high-end counter already and are bringing their cabinets up to scratch, says franchise owner Jim Busche.
Kate & Bob's bill for one of the duplex kitchens
• Cherry cabinets plus materials, including $1,000 for cabinets from Habistore: $2,100.
• Cabinet installation: $500.
• Galvanized metal countertops plus installation: $500 for 30 square feet.
• Scored concrete floor: $1,000.
• Cast iron double sink from St Vincent de Paul thrift store: $25.
• Free-standing glass-front cabinet from Habistore, re-painted on inside
and bolted to wall: $100.
• Refrigerator and stove from Tucson Appliance: $900.
• Painting: $200.
• Electricity and light fixtures: $750.
• Plumbing and faucet: $950.
• Drywall: $500.
• Total: $7,525.
What's new?
Shades of white and off-white, hardwood floors, under-counter fridges and drawer dishwashers are some of the upcoming kitchen trends for 2010, according to a recent survey of designers conducted by the National Kitchen & Bath Association.
Check out remodeling projects at tour
Michael O'Brien and Scott Bacon are both taking part in the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association's Remodeler's Parade of Homes, March 12, 13 and 14. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at SAHBA, 2840 N. Country Club Road, 795-5114 or online at www.sahba.org
Resources:
• Lanning Architecture, 792-0265 or www.lanningarchitecture.com
• Arizona Designs Kitchens and Baths, 325-6050 or www.arizonadesigns.net
• National Kitchen & Bath Association, 1-800-THE-NKBA
• Catalina Contracting Services, 730-2529 or www.catalinacontracting.com
• Wilsonart International, 1-800-433-3222 or www.Wilsonart.com
• Kitchen Solvers, 760-4482.
IKEA has discounts on kitchens and workshops on kitchen remodeling begining March 12. Go to the website for details: www.IKEA.com
Contact Gillian Drummond at gcdrummond@aol.com or visit her blog at www.gilliandrummond.net