Paula McCooey
Sun
Renovating the kitchen can bring new vitality to your house as well as add to its value — as long as the renovations are done well.
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 a 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 undercounter 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 standing 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, [it’s] to make your life easier to store your food, cook your food, wash your dishes,” says MacDonald.
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