Last updated : Friday, May 29, 2009

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Cut Costs on Your Kitchen Renovation

Modern kitchen

Does your kitchen lack character? Are chipped cabinets and cracked laminates driving you crazy? It doesn't matter if you're a gourmet chef or a grab-and-go kind of girl, everyone deserves a kitchen that inspires them to pick up a wisk every now and then. But let's be real, kitchen upgrades are expensive, by far the priciest room to renovate. A total kitchen renovation can cost you up to $50,000! But before you settle for a sub-par cooking situation, there are ways to update your kitchen without diving into debt. According to celebrity contractor Stephen Fanuka, it's all about focusing on the details, and splurging where it counts.

Countertops:

There are many options when it comes to redoing your counters. They can range from as little to $2 per sq. ft of material to the most expensive at $85 per sq. ft. There are essentially four grades of countertop:

Natural Stones: Approx. $85/sq. ft.
Granite: Less porous than marble, resistant to staining.
Honed Marble: Softer than stone, therefore a little less expensive.

Manmade Stone: Approx. $65-$70/sq. ft.
Concrete
Caesarstone
Silestone

Woods/Manmade Material: Approx. $35/sq. ft.
Maple Butcher Block
Teke
Solid Cherry
Corian
Stainless Steel

Economical: Approx. $2-$40/sq. ft.
Laminates
Formica
Ceramic Tile

"If you can't afford granite or honed marble, go for maple butcher block," Fanuka says. "You can stain it different colors and it has a beautiful finish." He warns, however, that if you cut on the countertop, the knife marks will show. He also says there are many interesting laminates on the market now, suggesting the Abet Laminate, an Italian company that offers a variety of finishes. Durable, laminate is much cheaper than stone.

Cabinets
Redoing the cabinets is generally the most expensive project in a kitchen renovation. Rather than completely redoing them, you can make smaller changes that can create a brand new look for your kitchen.

Change the Hardware
"Put in new knobs or pulls," Fanuka says. "There are a lot of really sleek stainless or bronze looks out there right now."

Change the Back Splash
Add a mirrored back splash, which can open up a smaller kitchen. You can also buy back splash kits at places like Home Depot."

Paint the Cabinet Faces
"Three coats of a creme color with a black umber streak on it," Fanuka says. "This looks really authentic and can completely change the look of your kitchen." You can also get really creative with it: "You can use anything for a top coat: A sponge, a broom, a pair of pants! You can get really artistic with a faux finish."

Change the Cabinet Faces
You can buy new cabinet faces, but keep the bodies. You can also keep some of the cabinets door-less. This is a great option if you have interesting dinnerware that can add to the decor of the kitchen.

Flooring
While flooring can transform the feel of a kitchen, it's important to know that new flooring can lock appliances in if you're not careful. "Take into account the thickness of the flooring you are putting in," Fanuka warns. "Make sure you can fit it underneath the dishwasher. Don't lay the flooring down alongside the appliances. You want to make sure the appliances can fit into, or get out of the spots they are in."

As for different types of flooring, Fanuka advises considering the size of the kitchen. "Wood flooring is great for a big kitchen, because it's warm and inviting," he says. "But if you have a narrow kitchen, don't get wood flooring because you tend to walk in the same place all the time." After a year or two, the wood will reflect the constant treading of people's shoes.

You should also take into account what will be walking all over the kitchen. "Don't get wood if you have a dog, because wood scratches easily." If muddy boots or sneakers will make footsteps all over the floor, consider a surface that is durable, and can be cleaned easily. "You can get ceramic tile, or a nice vinyl floor," Fanuka says. "There are some vinyls out there that look just like wood. At times they are more durable than actual wood, and you can't tell the difference by looking at them." He suggests Armstrong, or Amtico Laminate.

If you can afford to splurge on anything in the kitchen (appliances aside), Fanuka suggests going all out on the countertops. "They last the longest, and I think good countertops make the biggest difference in a kitchen." If you can't afford granite on every surface, he suggests mixing and matching. "Do the outer counters in granite, and the island in butcher block or another wood finish."

His one warning: "Your countertops are only as good as your cabinets! Before you spend money on a new car, make sure the wheels work." Translation: Make sure you are happy with your cabinets, and that they will last for at least the next five years. "Once the countertops are in, they can't be removed. Putting in new cabinets after the fact could potentially damage the surrounding area."


For more, click on to iMag's At Home section.

Stephen Fanuka works with some of the world's top designers and architects as well as celebrities such as Beyonce, Lindsay Lohan, Rosanna Scotto and Tony Bennett. Stephen is a contributor to The New York Times Magazine's "Key' section, and his work has been featured in numerous shelter publications. He has appeared on DIY Television on the DIY Network as well as on HGTV's "Top 10 Amazing Kitchen's".

 

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