Kitchen Remodeling…Ways To Save!

I am so excited to remodel my kitchen. We have been saving for a few years because it is such a big investment. That being said, the sky is not the limit when it comes to our budget. We are still making some tough decisions on what to keep, what to trash and what to restore or upgrade. It can be really easy to get carried away, so our goal is to stay grounded and let our budget and some good old fashioned ingenuity lead the way.

My Kitchen Remodeling Goals

My kitchen is original to my home and my home was built in the 1940’s…yikes! That being said, I love the old-school charm. I love that the wood is strong, sturdy and weathered. I love that I have custom built in cabinets on my landing. What I don’t love is that I have six square feet of counter top. I am not kidding…every apartment I have ever lived in had a better kitchen than my home! So, my kitchen remodel needs to be functional and efficient. It should be a space I want to cook in and share in and try new recipes. Right now I lack storage as well, so I need to have more cabinets. Decide what objectives are most important to you and make sure those are the things you do not compromise or cut corners on.

Ways To Save On Your Kitchen Remodel

I hope you have a handy family member…unfortunately, I do not. So we have hired a contractor after getting four bids. Considering our budget, we are making sure that our chosen contractor handles the things that we cannot handle ourselves. Some things we have told them to leave off of the bid are appliances, light fixtures and painting, because we can handle choosing and installing these things ourselves.

Second, when our contractor presented the plans, we asked for several options…and guess what? There were LOTS of them. Here are a few you should address:

• Whether or not you use any of your existing cabinets
• Fitting in existing appliances vs purchasing new ones
• Including extras like a back splash, fancy faucet, new light fixtures etc.
• If you are purchasing a stone or granite counter top, you can choose the thickness…1.2, 2 or 3 cm thick
• Finishing the kitchen in phases

In Closing

Always keep in the forefront of your mind that this is YOUR project and your investment. Do not be afraid to ask questions or explore all of the options. Last but not least, do not get starry eyed…invest in the things that are important to you and that you choose to afford. Do not be pressured into upgrades you are not comfortable with.