How can you remodel your kitchen or bathroom without breaking the bank? The key to renovating on a budget is the choices you make in terms of the design, the materials and the building techniques. A resourceful and experienced builder can help you with this complex set of decisions which otherwise can be totally overwhelming! There is no substitute for experience when it comes to optimizing a budget.
It’s helpful to choose a builder early on in the design process, because he or she can identify items in the design that might be less costly if done another way. Then, as the design develops, the builder, who keeps up to date on what things cost, can continue to advise you on decisions that will enhance the design while saving money.
One way to simply your life when remodeling on a budget is to choose a builder that also has design skills, which means that you can deal with one person rather than two when making your choices.
Cooking Up a New Kitchen
When I was growing up, Laminate countertops (a.k.a. Formica) got a bad name because the patterns were not very attractive and it looked like a bad imitation of marble. This is no longer the case. Modern Laminate countertops come in a dizzying range of colors and textures. If you are looking to save some money this can be an attractive, high performance option.
Cabinets are usually the hardest thing to choose and the most expensive line item. Many people think that to maximize value and get the highest quality, they need to buy cabinets from a large manufacturer. We have found that there are many excellent local cabinetmakers who can give homeowners the quality of factory cabinets with service that the big guys just can’t match. On the other hand, sometimes just a good paint job with new pulls is all the existing cabinets need to look like a million bucks!
Lighting is another aspect of the project that can make your head spin. A myriad of choices and new California Energy Codes make lighting one of the hardest things to select. Having a knowledgeable designer/builder in the loop early on can help avoid costly surprises later on.
Flooring is something that some people don’t think too much about, but can make a huge difference in the feeling the room creates. The range of cost of the various choices is very wide — from inexpensive but attractive Laminate (a.k.a. Pergo) to affordable ceramic tile to pre-finished laminated wood to solid wood to expensive and beautiful tile or stone. Each material has aesthetic and performance characteristics that need to be considered and it’s virtually impossible for the average homeowner to keep up with all the choices out there. Look to your builder to learn about your choices and their costs.
Here is a list of things to think about when planning your kitchen remodel:
- What don’t you like about your kitchen now?
- What floor plan will best serve you?
- How much counter space do you need?
- What activities will be taking place?
- Where do the important appliances get used?
- Which sink configuration do you prefer?
- When are the counters in use? (Morning and evening sun in your eyes as you work can be annoying.)
Updating Your Bathroom
All the same issues in the kitchen are in the bathroom, and more questions to think about?
- Do you want a tub or shower or both?
- Will a curtain work, or a door?
- What plumbing fixtures?
- One sink or two?
- Where and how to hang towels?
These are all things to think about at the onset that will affect the budget. Tile work is expensive. So is heavy, trimless glass. To save money, keep the square footage of these materials down. The cool stuff in magazines is generally expensive so watch what you fall in love with!
To sum up, if you are trying to get the most from your money for any renovation project, I highly recommend enlisting the help of a professional designer and an experienced builder or a firm that offers both, as early in the process as possible. This will help you navigate through all the decisions required, create the finished space that is just right for you, and save you money in the long run.
