Written by: K+B Insiders Brian Patrick Flynn, Flynnside Out Productions and Karl Champley.
Setting a budget for a kitchen or bathroom remodel sounds easy in theory, but quickly becomes easier said than done (there’s a reason why building in a 20 percent cushion is a common rule of thumb!). Even projects with tight budgets can get a finished, high-end look—it’s just a matter of helping homeowners spend smartly to create a stunning space.
NKBA K+B Insiders Brian Patrick Flynn and Karl Champley share their expert tips and tricks on how to create a high-end design look at the price you can afford.
1. Don’t Replace, Repaint
Wooden cabinetry in kitchens can be costly to replace. Instead, NKBA K+B Insider Brian Patrick Flynn advises updating with paint: “I am a huge fan of painting dated wooden cabinetry with a crisp white, like Benjamin Moore China White ” he says. “The money saved can be spent on new cabinetry hardware and countertops.” In addition to cabinetry, Flynn says flooring can also be updated with a fresh coat of paint: “It’s amazing the difference a new finish can make to both your budget and space.”
2. Work with the footprint
“Whenever possible, avoid moving plumbing and electric placement in bathrooms, unless the existing footprint is completely impractical and dated,” says Flynn. If budget doesn’t allow swapping out retro fixtures, find ways to shift focus: “Update smaller bathrooms with wallpaper in an undersized pattern—this affordable update distracts from what you don’t love aesthetically but works functionally.” With the money saved, Flynn suggests splurging on a new faucet and coordinating hardware and towel bars. Light and cool colors are great for accenting chrome and nickel faucets, and warmer tones like brass or bronze work great with earth toned wallpaper.
3. What’s Old is New
“Repurposing old pieces is a great way to save money,” says NKBA K+B Insider and Master Builder Karl Champley. “In a recent bathroom remodel, my client purchased an old sewing table on Craigslist for $100 that we converted into a vanity by adding an Ikea basin for $85. The sewing table (after some TLC) not only became a focal point but a talking point too,” Champley adds. “From what we saved in cost on the vanity, we then gave back to the rest of the space by adding subway tile and unique light fixtures.”
4. If you must splurge, save elsewhere.
In both kitchens and bathrooms you can achieve a high-end aesthetic by mixing higher and lower priced items. “I recently worked with a client whose must-have item was Kohler’s most high-tech toilet,” Karl says. “While its purchase and installation left very little room in the remainder of the budget, I was able to balance it by only tiling two wall surfaces. When designing a space focused on one high-ticket item, less is more.
Throughout 2016, the NKBA K+B Insiders will report on the latest industry trends from across the globe, must-attend events and top industry trade shows. Stay up-to-date on the latest trends with #KBInsider on Twitter and Facebook, and through the K+B Insider’s guest blog posts on the NKBA blog.
