Big bling on little bucks

Creating an 'off-the-rack bespoke' kitchen for homeowners who used all their savings to buy the house  

SARAH RICHARDSON

From Friday's Globe and Mail

February 15, 2008 at 12:00 AM EST

In a housing market where prices remain high, design-savvy buyers are trying to "get the look for less." After blowing their savings and tipping their debt/income ratio to the negative side, they often have little money left to turn their dream house into the true home of their dreams.

Remodelling budgets are scaled back after bidding wars and unforeseen expenses gobble up funds that were originally earmarked for the "fun stuff," such as decor, and kitchen and bathroom renos.

In my business, I am always trying to maintain a fine "high/low" balance and achieve winning results without pushing my clients into serious debt.

These considerations came into play when I accepted the challenge of creating a dramatic, modern kitchen on a limited budget for a design-savvy couple. I went into the project with a long-held belief that you must save throughout the process in order to be able to splurge at the end. If you are frugal and practical at the outset, you are far less likely to end up overextended, with the redesign incomplete.

If you are on a tight budget and want some high-end finishes, forget about a custom kitchen. Head to your local big-box store or Swedish home outfitter for solutions that are fashion-forward and kind to your pocketbook.

Keep in mind that buying a ready-to-go kitchen doesn't mean you can't customize it to make it your very own.

There are oodles of cabinet door profiles, sizes and configurations that can be manipulated to stunning effect. While the quality may not be quite on par with what you would get in a custom-built kitchen, the price of the cabinetry is about a quarter of what the more expensive ones cost. And what you save on the cabinets you can spend on all the other aspects of your kitchen reno.

Don't get me wrong: Off the rack is not for every project, and I wouldn't take that approach in a multimillion-dollar home. But for first-time buyers and those who need to carefully watch their overall investment, it's a great solution.

Think like a European

To get the best overall look from your installation, try to create interesting configurations with your cabinetry and keep the layout symmetrical. If you look at European kitchens in magazines, you'll notice a uniformity and use of repetition in many of the layouts. (European designers tend to favour lower cabinets created entirely of wide "pot and pan"-style drawers, full-height pantries with ample storage, minimal upper cabinets to allow for display, and horizontally mounted cabinets often made of a contrasting material.)

Instead of chopping up the layout with all sorts of tiny door/drawer combinations and finicky small cabinets, it's best to opt for large banks of doors and drawers that offer maximum flexibility.

Better safe than sorry

I know that suggesting a white kitchen isn't exactly groundbreaking design advice, but I can tell you from experience that it's hard to go wrong with white, and much easier to err with colour.

Dressed up properly, an inexpensive white kitchen can look quite similar to an expensive white kitchen, but the same cannot be said for a red one.

Some of the more fashion-forward colours, door styles and designs may look trendy and cheap when they're in place, so I'd recommend playing it safe. There's plenty of room to make your mark when it comes to accents and accessories, and you are far less likely to wake up regretting your choice of a bold red vase than an all-red kitchen. (Besides, red is a an appetite stimulant and it might not be good for your waistline either!)

Know your limits

Tackling the high/low balance successfully means knowing where to cut back and where to invest. My clients loved the idea of concrete, hardwood or stone floors, but none of these options were really in their budget, so I encouraged them to focus on what is seen at eye level and let the floors be a neutral backdrop. For my money, I'd far prefer to have a dynamite marble mosaic backsplash and custom-fabricated quartz countertops over a pricey floor.

We were able to install a durable Marmoleum floor (with radiant electric heat) for a fraction of the price of the other options, and it was done in a day! Good for the budget and kind to the ever-stressful timeline of any renovation.

Dress it up

The all-important key to success in taking what I call the "off-the-rack bespoke" approach is to avoid making it a one-stop shopping adventure. It's tempting to just get it all done at once, but sourcing a few elements from other retailers will give your kitchen a signature look.

Designer hardware, lighting and accessories will dress up your kitchen and help you achieve that high-end look. The fashion gurus will tell you that it's fine to have some basics from H&M or Gap as long as you have a hint of "label" that really catches the eye and makes a statement.

In this case, we opted for a George Nelson "bubble" lamp over the dining table, hand-screened fabric from local designer Virginia Johnson, Italian cabinetry hardware, and a Blanco sink and faucet. Amid a sea of white, these are the elements that catch the eye and make the right statement.

Have some fun

Feeling conflicted about committing to an all-white decor, my clients requested an injection of light-hearted fun and happy colour to reflect the energy of their young family.

After talking them out of red cabinetry, red walls and any hint of a red backsplash, we settled on a few high-impact, low-investment ways to satiate their desire for a bold hue. Existing kitchen chairs were treated to a fresh coat of in-your-face cherry red, and steel counter stools and bench were covered in wipeable and indestructible vinyl.

Table settings and kitchen accoutrements introduced graphic patterns and whimsical energy, all without causing heart palpitations when the bill was tallied. If the whim for blue, green, yellow or orange should strike in the future, it's quick and easy to change these details.