Quick: In which room of the house does your family spend most of its waking hours?
If you guessed the kitchen, you’re in good company. According to a 2002 study done by the Swedish-based appliance giant Electrolux Group, during a month, the typical family of five spends 175 hours in the kitchen–and only 31 hours in the living room. It’s often the hub of the home where families eat, gather, gab and spend most of their waking hours.
Given that, it’s not surprising that so many U.S. homeowners are willing to pour thousands into getting the kitchen of their dreams. In fact, according to Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, the average cost for a kitchen overhaul in the Chicago area was $47,561 in 2002.That’s a huge outlay, and because kitchen redos can be so costly, many of us are willing to turn a blind eye to ghastly cabinets, torn vinyl floors or avocado countertops installed when the Captain & Tenille topped the charts and Jell-O was a dinnertime staple. But there are compromises between doing nothing and spending a fortune. Here are some strategies for updating a kitchen to get the most bang for your buck.
Cabinet fever
Cabinets accounted for 36 percent of the budget in kitchen remodels, according to the 2002 Design Trend Survey done by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). Yet it is possible to economize without scrimping on substance or style.Chicago architect Madeleine Boos, who specializes in kitchen remodeling, points out that some stores carry affordable, quality products that can be mixed-and-matched with costlier elements. Her favorite case in point: Ikea.
“They have a great design sensibility, and their cabinets are good quality, but you have to put them together yourself, and this can be a problem unless you really know what you’re doing,” she explains.
She suggests hiring a professional to install the cabinets, then splurging on a lavish material for the countertops.
Another way to economize is to use Ikea upper cabinets with glass fronts and mix them with more expensive base cabinets and countertops, she notes.
For a high-end look on a mid-range budget, Chicago interior designer Lisa Ewing hit on a novel tack that she tried out on her own place and has used in many jobs since then: She had her own laminate cabinets and countertops slipcovered in stainless steel by Stainless Steel Kitchens in Mishawaka, Ind. (www.stainlesssteelkitchen.com).
She also bought a stainless-steel sink and had it welded to her newly covered countertop for a sleek, built-in, custom look. The total cost to remodel her early 1980s kitchen was about $15,000.
She then invested in new stainless-steel-faced appliances to match her kitchen’s new look.
Counter moves
“Countertops can provide a look that permeates the whole space and gives it a very specific demeanor, and they aren’t that hard to replace,” says Highland Park interior designer Carol Helbraun.
Granite can be sumptuous, limestone refined, stainless steel sleek and concrete funky or edgy. Yet, like cabinets, new countertops can add up to big bucks.
According to the NKBA’s 2002 Design Trend Survey, they account for 14 percent of the budget in the average kitchen job.
Also, there are a wide variety of materials from which to choose, all with pros and cons and varying price tags.
“Marble, limestone and slate are more porous and not as durable as other surfaces such as granite and stainless steel, while man-made stone surfaces that use quartz as the major component are extremely strong and durable,” notes Jeff Cannata, president of Designer Showcase Kitchens & Baths in Carol Stream and NKBA president-elect.
To get an idea of just how sturdy the newest engineered counters are, Cannata points out that quartz is the strongest component in granite, and most granites are about 3 percent quartz. But the man-made surfaces are aggregates that contain about 90 percent quartz.
Care is another consideration. All stone surfaces require maintenance and have to re-sealed once or twice a year, depending on what type of stone it is, explains Boos.
For that reason, she’s a fan of the man-made stone substitutes. Also, man-made materials come with warranties, Boos adds, and can be ordered in any thickness, color and edging you wish, Cannata notes.
However, man-made stone isn’t a budget saver; prices are comparable to granite. Silestone quartz, for example, can start at $38 a square foot installed.
For a less expensive alternative, laminate countertops now come in premium finishes that look more like stone. Edges can be special ordered with bevels and bull noses, and beveled edges can be done in a contrasting color.
Plugging in
Your choice of an appliance should depend on how serious you are about using it–if you’re more likely to count Colonel Sanders over Julia Child among your idols, maybe a professional-grade oven isn’t for you, despite its potential resale value and designer looks.
For many consumers, more practical choices are the “faux pro” appliances, new mainstream models that deliver the industrial looks and comparable performance of costly pro-style appliances at mid-range prices.
A Viking or Wolfe commercial range with four burners and a self-cleaning convection oven, or a shallow depth built-in refrigerator by Sub-Zero, can cost about $4,000 each.
But you can get the same aesthetic for less with a commercial-look, stainless-steel, four-burner range with a self-cleaning convection oven by Frigidaire for $1,050 or a shallow-depth refrigerator by GE, Amana or Kitchen Aid for $2,000, says Bob Taylor, a sales manager at Abt Electronics in Glenview.
When shopping for appliances, keep in mind that quality and price are not always commensurate, so check the ratings and repair reports on appliances reviewed by consumer groups.
Also, calculate the costs of other upgrades when purchasing appliances. Commercial appliances sometimes require additional floor supports and ventilation, says Nina Patel, senior editor at “Remodeling” magazine.
Because appliances can be big-ticket items, it can pay to shop several places for the best quote–and to haggle. And if you’re buying a set of appliances rather than just one, ask for discounts.
Ground level
Choosing the flooring that’s best for your kitchen shouldn’t be a matter of aesthetics alone. For instance, tile and stone can be slippery, tough on knees and lethal when you drop anything breakable. Wood requires maintenance and periodic refinishing.
Each material has its pros and cons. But if you’re looking for a smart look that isn’t a budget buster, Boos says porcelain tile is durable, easy to maintain (it doesn’t require sealing) and consistent in color all the way though, so if you nick a tile, there won’t be a noticeable color difference.
Linoleum and vinyl tiles also are a great option, because they’re durable, available in a huge range of vibrant colors and interesting textures and are easy to install. They’re also economical and can be used to make interesting patterns, she adds.
Cannata favors wood plank floors because they come in myriad styles, hues and finishes. They also are available in a wide range of price points (ranging from $1 to $20 per square foot, depending on mill and quality) and “will command a good resale value,” he says.
