Remodeling Savvy: Affordable Luxuries for Your Home

Even if you’re remodeling on a budget, you can have those luxuries that seem out of reach. 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: 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™, 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.

• 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 applied in 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.

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