Talk to any real estate agent, builder or designer, and they'll tell you one of the best rooms to upgrade if you are going to inject new life -- and more value -- into your home, is the kitchen.
The hub of most homes, it is also one of the most expensive rooms to renovate.
Since most people have to work within a budget, it's important to know where to scrimp and where to splurge before you take the renovation plunge.
Canadian design expert William MacDonald, who has appeared as a featured designer on HGTV's This Small Space and House & Home TV and is a regular contributor to Canadian House & Home magazine, has beautified many houses and condos over the past decade. He offers this sage advice for pulling together an affordable kitchen.
Accents
Use dishes as art by mounting them to the wall, or placing bowls on exposed display shelves to add a punch of colour. Also, spend less on smaller appliances. You can always buy a high-end coffee maker down the road.
Wall colour
Paint gives the cheapest bang for your buck. But if you're trying to cut costs to stay on budget, buy a lower-end paint. It can easily be changed later.
Backsplash
If glass or marble backsplash is going to leave you cash-strapped, go for a more affordable, temporary solution such as vinyl. It may not last 20 years, but it'll do until you can afford what you really want.
Details
Spend less on things you can change yourself. This includes under-counter lighting, dimmers on light switches and hanging lights. Home Depot, RONA and Canadian Tire are a gold mine for penny-pinching renovators.
DIY
On a new $40,000 kitchen, MacDonald says "a good third" of that cost is labour. Costs add up quickly when you have to hire a plumber, electrician, contractor, plasterer or painter. For handy do-it-yourselfers, picking up a hammer or paintbrush can significantly slash the bill.
Taps
As far as MacDonald is concerned, faucets aren't something to scrimp on. Quality is key to stand up to daily wear and tear.
Cabinets
Buy good-quality cabinetry. It will last longer and can be easily updated or given a fresh look by changing the hardware or painting/staining the doors and drawer fronts.
Countertops
MacDonald says sometimes people lean toward less expensive surfaces such as laminate to save a few bucks. But for longer wear and tear and a better-quality investment that's also kinder to the environment, he urges clients to go for natural stone such as granite, marble, slate or quartz.
Appliances
You get what you pay for. Good appliances are going to last 10 to 20 years. "It's key -- I mean that's what your kitchen is there for is to make your life easier to store your food, cook your food, wash your dishes," says MacDonald.
-- Canwest News Service
Anyone who has undertaken a renovation knows careful planning is key. That's where the 2009 ConsumerReports Kitchen and Planning Guide ($7.99) is an invaluable source. Full of money-saving tips, smart buying advice and inspiring designs, the special annual issue serves up a smorgasbord of practical and savvy information to help tackle even the most modest kitchen makeover. Close to 500 products -- from high-end gas ranges to coffee makers, countertops and pullout trash cans -- are rated from best to worst to help narrow buying options.
Retailers' websites offer tips for saving
Whether you're dreaming of a culinary boudoir or planning a modest kitchen renovation, many top kitchen retailers want to help bring your dreams to reality by providing inspiration and practical planning resources.
Here are three sites that offer free money-saving tips:
GrowAGreenKitchen.com
Designed by high-end appliance-maker Sub-Zero, this website is very much like a glossy kitchen magazine with pages and pages of professionally designed kitchens. Not only does this site offer the reno-dreamer many inspirational pictures, it also has helpful articles on kitchen trends, interviews with top chefs and tips on how to create a green kitchen. The Interactive Kitchen Vignettes section enables you to select the kitchen picture that most accurately reflects your style and play with appliance and cabinet finishes, countertops, wall and trim colours and flooring. A good site for the kitchen dreamer with a big -- real or virtual -- budget.
www.ikea.com
The Swedish giant understands that you don't need to live in a palace to have a luxurious kitchen. Their new 2009 IKEA Home Planner allows you to enter the dimensions of your existing kitchen, add doors and windows and lay out IKEA cabinetry in the finishes of your choice. The software allows you to play with different layouts, mix and match door styles and finishes, and select different flooring and countertop options. Throughout the process, you can move between two- and three-dimensional views to see if your culinary masterpiece meets your aesthetic and functional needs. Designed for practical homeowners looking to design their own kitchen.
www.us.kohler.com
If you're just thinking about updating your kitchen sink or faucet, check out kitchen and bath giant Kohler's site. Their Kitchen Sink Planner tool allows you to combine the sink, faucet and countertop to create a perfect washing centre. The sink and faucet selections aren't restricted to standard box-store selections. See how an oval sink with a pull-down faucet and a pale green countertop would look together. Ideal for the homeowner looking to do a quick makeover.
For more kitchen and bath planning resources, visit:
www.rona.ca
www.thermador.com
