Remodeling
Savvy: Affordable Luxuries for Your Home
Whether you are remodeling your
kitchen, bathroom, basement or even considering an addition,
architects and interior designers have the insider tips to
making those remodeling luxuries more affordable. Read on so you
can, too.
Affordable Kitchen Luxuries
- Granite countertops:
Natural stone countertops, such as granite, marble and
soapstone, are considered to be the height of elegance and
will last longer than most kitchens. While natural stone
looks very attractive, when installed in solid pieces it is
the most expensive countertop option.
Make it more affordable:
A less expensive option that will offer the same appearance
is to have the stone installed in pieces. Once the stone is
cut into squares it can be applied like ceramic tiles with
grout. An added bonus: the individual squares can be easily
replaced if severely damaged. Or consider a granite overlay
on your existing countertops.
- Stone tile backsplash:
Whether it be granite, marble or other natural stone, if you
have a stone countertop, you'll want to finish it off with a
stone tile backsplash to protect your wall. But, as always
natural stone is expensive.
Make it more affordable:
Rather than adding the usual horizontal backsplash, consider
turning those tiles sideways (like a diamond). This provides
a unique look and also saves on the number of tiles you will
need.
- Custom cabinets:
With a seemingly unending selection of finish options, trims
and cabinet configurations designed specifically to fit your
kitchen, custom-built cabinets can truly personalize a
kitchen in a way that standard cabinets do not.
Make it more affordable:
Get the look of custom-built cabinets at a lower cost by
ordering semi-custom cabinets. Simple modifications such as
height, depth and width can provide a more finished look.
Mixing cabinet heights throughout the kitchen creates a
further customized appearance.
- Wood flooring: Wood
flooring is a beautiful option throughout a home, but it may
be out of your budget.
Make it more affordable:
Consider laminate. Laminate wood flooring, such as Pergo(TM),
is much less expensive and available in a variety of wood
grain patterns. Even more important, the average eye will
not be able to discern the difference.
- Ornate crown moldings:
Crown molding is a great way to add architectural elements
and interest to an ordinary room. The more ornate the
molding, however, the higher the cost.
Make it more affordable:
Rather than using large, expensive moldings, try purchasing
smaller molding that can stack together to create the
illusion of the larger, more ornate pieces.
Affordable Bathroom Luxuries
- Brass bathroom fixtures:
Brass and nickel are at the top of the line when it comes to
bathroom fixtures, but they also come with a top-of-the-line
price tag.
Make it more affordable:
Yes, brass or nickel bathroom fixtures are more expensive,
but combining one of these finishes with chrome creates a
popular, two-tone look which can stretch your budget
further.
- Jetted tub:
Bathrooms have become a haven from the rest of the world and
there's no better way to relax than to soak away your stress
in a jetted tub.
Make it more affordable:
Consider installing a one-person whirlpool tub. Not only
does this cost less than the traditional two-person, but it
can also fit in the footprint of standard bathtub so you
will not need to do additional construction on your bathroom
to create space.
- Radiant floor heating:
Waking up to a warm bathroom on a chilly morning is
certainly a luxury. Radiant floor heating is installed
underneath your bathroom tile to heat up the floor and keep
the room warm, helping you ease into the day on the coldest
of mornings.
Make it more affordable:
For a less expensive option to heating up that bathroom, try
recessed infrared heat lamps to beat the cold.
Affordable Basement Luxuries
- Fireplace: A
fireplace can do wonders to cozy up a basement, but
installing a traditional brick fireplace after a home is
built can be very costly not to mention difficult. A gas
fireplace will cost less, but also requires the proper
ventilation which may be difficult to install later. And, a
difficult job always costs more money.
Make it more affordable:
A simulated fireplace is all electric and requires no
ventilation. Though not providing a real fire, the fireplace
does provide the illusion of flames as well as some heat,
offering a nice spot to cozy up in front of.
- Natural stone flooring:
Natural stone flooring, such as granite, marble, or slate is
very hot right now, but also expensive.
Make it more affordable:
Install ceramic tile reproductions for the same look at a
lower cost. These reproductions are a great alternative at a
lower cost and many homeowners can't tell the difference by
looking at them.
- Expensive wall treatments:
Adding texture to walls has become a popular way to finish
them. Walls can be covered in wood, fabric, heavy natural
papers (not wallpaper) and other materials, but the cost of
these materials, not to mention the labor, can add up.
Make it more affordable:
If you can't afford it, faux it. Faux painting can mimic
nearly every texture that exists and some you've never
thought of putting on your walls. Faux painting incorporates
decorative and special paint finishes, such as glazing,
sponging, ragging, wood graining and even freehand designs.
Textured products can also create three-dimensional effects.
Products can look and feel like real stone, crumbling
masonry, or peeling paint for a European country look.
Textured paints containing solid materials like silica can
make walls resemble suede. Other popular finishes include
linen, grass cloth or denim.
Related Articles:
|
