At Atherton Appliance & Kitchens and BSC Culinary, we take pride in providing our customers with the products they need to design beautiful, luxurious kitchens. But luxury doesn’t have to come at a steep price. There are many ways to pick and choose what you splurge on so that your overall plans don’t break the bank. Here are a few ideas to help you create the lavish kitchen you desire on a smart budget.
Keep the Walls
When renovating an older kitchen, consider keeping the basic shape and avoiding the cost of tearing down or building walls. You can make plenty of changes that go beyond a fresh coat of paint (such as relocating windows, altering plumbing, and re-wiring, for example) without going to the expense of constructing an entirely new space.
Splurge on Important Appliances
Depending on your cooking style and family needs, certain appliances will be more important to your kitchen than others. If you’re a master baker, don’t skimp on the oven! But if you rarely use your oven for cooking and tend to create stovetop meals such as pasta or stir fry, choose a cooktop that will provide everything you need.
Refrigerators are critical in any kitchen, regardless of your family’s culinary preferences. If you’re picking and choosing which appliances to spend on, we recommend that you allocate a good amount to the refrigerator. On the other hand, you might not need a top-dollar microwave oven or dishwasher; we offer plenty of wonderful models that will do all that you need without breaking the proverbial bank. And the coffeemaker? Only budget for the high-end models if they meet your design needs and your requirements for a gourmet cup in the mornings.
Consider Cabinetry Carefully
There’s no doubt that custom cabinetry is the most flexible and unique option for your luxury kitchen. Custom cabinets do come at a price; however, we offer four distinct cabinetry lines to satisfy a variety of needs and budgets. Within these brands –– Downsview Kitchens, Dura Supreme, and Wood Harbor ––we are able to design traditional, transitional, and contemporary looks for any kitchen, or your whole home.
Cabinetry hardware is another way that you can save some money. There are many beautiful knob and handle options that will allow you to save finances for splurging elsewhere.
Photo: Oahu Kitchen by Designers Rick and Tiare Cowan using Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances
Add Luxurious Touches Sparingly
Don’t worry about too much ornamentation or too many details that can make your design look fussy (and over-priced). Simple, spare ornamentation is often the most elegant and cost effective way to go.
In addition, expensive isn’t always best. Fancy back splashes can add up in cost, while tiling your own back splash can take up a weekend of your time and cost as little as $5 per square foot. If you want to leave the installation to the experts even, there are many creative back splash ideas from recycled glass to faux tin tile.
Decide What’s Actually Important
You might fall in love with expensive lighting fixtures or a fabulous faucet, but think twice before you make these purchases. Do you really need them? Will they truly add to the function or form of your kitchen design? You might find a beautiful hanging pendant for much less or a faucet that looks just as elegant but doesn’t cost as much money. On the other hand, when it comes to a part of the kitchen that has an important function (the kitchen sink, for example) you might want to spend your money on a model you really want. Quality sinks not only look and perform great, but they are also a good investment in the long run due to their durability.
With discerning decision-making, you can have the luxury kitchen you desire without spending your life savings on your project. Remember, too, that Atherton Appliance & Kitchens offers design services throughout our showroom. Call us at (877) 662-7196 today for more information.