Splurging on Your Kitchen Renovation

Q. If there’s one thing we should splurge on when we renovate our kitchen, what should it be?

A. Your kitchen is one of the rooms that can reflect your lifestyle the most. There is no set rule on where the money must be spent in your kitchen, but how you splurge will depend on what the most important feature is. Think about how you use your kitchen and then plan your budget. For example, a cook might prefer splurging on appliances, while a large family might splurge on storage space and a large table. Here is some general advice about different areas of the kitchen you can choose to splurge:

Appliances: You’ll use appliances more than anything else in your kitchen; therefore looking for energy-efficient appliances will help you save on future bills. As far as design, stainless steel is one of the most popular choices among homeowners for buying appliances, but can also be the most expensive.

Countertops: If the countertop is the focal point of your kitchen, you can very well splurge on it. Although a stone or granite countertop is more expensive than a laminate one, they will enhance the beauty and value of your home. If you are in the mood to splurge on countertops, choose a beautiful patterned granite or quartz piece for the island.

Cabinets: If you have plans of living in the same house for years to come, you might want to splurge on custom cabinetry. Consider a cabinet designer to help you with options in colors and styles that are most suitable to your needs and thus make you feel worth the splurge. Functionality in custom cabinetry is key, and your choices could be endless.

Flooring: If you have laminate flooring, we recommend that you replace it because of the infiltrating water in flooring joints and edges that could destroy the laminate floor from underneath. Instead, upgrade to a high quality hardwood floor which will add beauty and low-maintenance. If you are worried about harming the environment with wood flooring, you can then splurge on renewable materials like bamboo or cork.