Just recently, I was approached by Mike Cahill, of Redfin.com who asked me to contribute to a blog article on their site about affordable ways to make your kitchen look more expensive. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Redfin, it is a real estate company that uses powerful technology and local agents to help clients buy and sell homes whilst saving them thousands of dollars in fees. It’s a pretty cool concept that I have seen work all over my area. The following article is the result and is featured on their blog. I am happy to share it with you here today. It’s filled with great ideas that I think you will enjoy (and one from me that you can be the judge on) .
From Redfin.com, September 21, 2021
The kitchen is often referred to as the heart of the home. A place where bellies are filled and
memories are made. However, sometimes our kitchens aren’t all that enjoyable of a place to
spend time. Dim lighting, dated appliances, and dirty countertops make it a place to avoid rather
than to congregate. That’s why we reached out to experts from Dallas to Vancouver to help you
achieve a high-end look without the high-end price tag.
Take advantage of vinyl flooring
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) has authentic porcelain or marble tile appearance and is even available
in a groutable option. If you want your kitchen to have a designer tile look, without the high cost,
LVT will be right for your kitchen. If you would like flooring that is scratch-proof and
waterproof, LVT and LVP are the perfect options to make your kitchen brand new again. – Bert
Vis Flooring
Transform your kitchen on a budget with Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring! Imagine a flooring
solution that is waterproof, durable, won’t feel cold to the touch, is affordable and comes in
thousands of styles. Yes, all of this can be achieved with a luxury vinyl plank or tile flooring. It
has been voted the best flooring option for kitchens, bathrooms and basements and is the
personal recommendation from Simple Flooring! – Simple Flooring
Add an island
I want my own island – I’m not talking about the tropical kind, although that would be lovely –
I’m talking kitchen island. Many starter homes don’t have islands, but you can easily add one to
make your kitchen look more expensive using a variety of commonly found items and a set of 4
casters (to bump up the height and make it mobile). Great islands can be made from console
tables, small farm tables, even old standing sinks (by adding a top)! It’s a reasonable way to
make your kitchen look like a more expensive stand-out. – Marianne’s Consignment Confessions
Cabinetry is key
With cabinetry, we often create that “wow” factor with either a standout island or beverage
center wall. By using neutral colors throughout the core parts of the kitchen, and then adding
bolder finishes like walnut, black, or navy on either an island or feature wall, we can honor a
client’s budget but still give them a custom look. Hardware is another inexpensive way to
elevate a kitchen design. For example, adding a rich cabinetry hardware finish like aged brass
gives dimension to otherwise stock cabinetry. – Severna Park Kitchen and Bath
Choose your appliances wisely
Appliances are the baseline when it comes to functionality in your kitchen. Upgrade appliances
to feature a professional look with a brand like ZLINE Kitchen and Bath. ZLINE offers high-end
professionally styled options for a fraction of the cost of competitors, even including features
like various finishes, great warranties, and more. – DRS Worldwide
Going with entry-level stainless steel appliances is a great way to give your kitchen the high-end
look without the high-end price tag. Badge swapping stainless appliances offers another
affordable way to give your kitchen’s centerpiece that boutique appliance looks with the cost.
Simply purchase the desired brand badge, remove your old badge with a plastic scraper and a
gentle adhesive remover, then apply your new badge! – Richard Appliance
Try incorporating a farmhouse sink
Farmhouse sinks are beautiful, spacious, and timeless. Koozzo sinks are one of the best options
in the market to add a distinctive look to your kitchen. Koozzo sinks feature multi-layer glazing
that smooths the surface of the sink for easy cleaning. Its advanced technology also significantly
reduces odors in the kitchen. – Koozzo
Give your backsplash a makeover
Replacing your backsplash with a chevron pattern subway tile is an inexpensive and fairly simple
way to brighten up your kitchen and bring a modern touch without an entire kitchen renovation.
The chevron design is very current and a glossy white is wipeable and easy to clean, as well as
room lighting. – Georgia Coast Homes
Consult with the pros
Bring in a kitchen designer! Each kitchen has its strengths and weaknesses. The folks who live
in these kitchens are unique with their own thoughts on how to make a statement or add the
functionality they desire. Enhancing a kitchen can take shape in many forms. Kitchen designers
have the product knowledge and expertise to make economical suggestions for wow factors and
practical solutions. They also know how to execute the changes as painlessly as possible. A
small investment in an expert can go a long way in adding that kitchen joy we all crave! – Jarrett
Design
Originally published on Redfin
A Final Thought…
I hope you enjoyed this article as much as I did? I’m glad for the opportunity to contribute with my fellow designers across the country. Have any ideas of your own on the topic? I’d love to hear from you. As always… stay safe out there, my friends… and have fun!
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