Don’t fear the big-box store
Doubtless, there will be some of you who feel that mass-produced cabinets from a big-box store cannot in a million years compete with custom cabinetry. I assure you that I would have loved to give the job to a local craftsman who would lovingly coax a masterpiece out of aged barn wood, but we just couldn’t afford it. So, we went to IKEA. I went classic white (STAT, if you really want to know) and most people who step into our kitchen assume it’s custom. Plus, and this is an important point – you can customize IKEA cabinets quite easily, as long as you get someone who knows how to do it. Ask your local big-box to recommend installers – that’s how we got our awesome contractor.
Don’t be afraid to go small
Though one-stop shopping can be seductive, when it comes to kitchens it’s often a better idea to diversify. While we got our cabinets from a big-box store, we went with independent retailers for several other big-tickets items, like our countertops, and scored some great deals. And a note about countertops – go quartz. It’s just as beautiful as granite but requires no sealing or special maintenance and the prices have come down dramatically in the last five years or so. We got around 12 linear feet of grey speckled quartz for $3500 (including the tap and sink), which would have been about $5000 a few years ago.
Do be flexible
I had originally planned to take out a full wall and create an eating island dividing our kitchen and living/dining area. On day one of tear-down, our contractor discovered that there was essential duct-work in the wall we’d planned on taking down. We could have moved the duct work to the outside wall to maintain the original design, but it would have meant more time and money. So, I did a 180 and rejigged the plan so that the wall could stay. It took a bit of fancy footwork, but we still got an eating island and now no one sees our dirty dishes from the dining room table. Don’t fall in love with a design, especially if you’re in an old home, and make the thriftier option work.
Do skimp when you can
Right above my expensive-looking quartz countertop are glossy white subway tiles that cost about $150, mud and grout included. They look great, but they were just plain cheap. Think a Coach bag with an H&M blouse – it’s all about the mix of low- and high-end.
