Kitchen Upgrades from No Budget to Full Reno

Any realtor or home designer will say that time and money used for upgrading a kitchen is well spent, but what if there’s not much money or it’s spent on the wrong things? Kitchens not only impact your home’s resale value, they impact your everyday life, from your first cup of coffee to the last dish put away in the evening. With countless components to invest in, the kitchen can be an intimidating — and costly — room to upgrade. Whether you have no budget, a modest amount saved or funds for a full renovation, many upgrade options are available.

“Kitchens can sometimes be harsh with hard materials, and bringing in soft textiles softens the space and brings pattern and comfort.” Replace your cabinet pulls and knobs with those that fit your new or more modern aesthetic.

Low Cost/DIY

While many home design professionals recommend calling in the experts for kitchen upgrades, there’s at least one do-it-yourself task where you can’t go wrong — cleaning.

“I call it de-junk,” says Gigi Shinn, general manager at Cabinet Time, formerly Live Oak Cabinets. According to Shinn, a good cabinet and drawer clean out is the first place to start. She recommends removing all contents, cleaning the interior spaces and adding organizers to your drawers, shelves and cabinets. Then, she suggests wiping down the doors and drawer faces using an oil-based cleaner or a wiping stain (if you don’t mind going darker). For painted cabinets, touch up paint where needed. Remove extras from atop your countertop and wall cabinets for a clean and organized look.

Another DIY upgrade is replacing your cabinet pulls and knobs with those that fit your new or more modern aesthetic. Consider contrasting the metals with your plumbing fixtures for a statement look.

Items such as new cutlery, cookware and dishes can also improve your day-to-day life, whether they’re brand new or “new to you.” Don’t underestimate the joy that a good estate sale or thrift store find can bring to your dining or cooking experience. Replacing island seating is another upgrade idea, and you can often sell or donate your old chairs or stools.

“Add a vase of fresh flowers, a collection of herbs, or a bowl of fruit,” says Tanya Zaunbrecher, ASID, LA registered interior designer at Zaunbrecher Design. “These items are useful and smell nice. My favorites are rosemary, basil, flowers from my yard and a bowl of citrus.”

A good cabinet and drawer clean out is the first place to start.

Decorative items such as confit jars, blue and white vases and cachepots for flowers and indoor plants extend the living space into the kitchen, brightening the room with color and foliage. Another low-cost option for softening the kitchen is placing runners and rugs in the room.

“Kitchens can sometimes be harsh with hard materials, and bringing in soft textiles softens the space and brings pattern and comfort,” says Justine Hebert, NCIDQ, owner and principal designer at J Design Interiors. Examples include an antique runner between the island and cabinets or a decorative entry mat at a kitchen doorway.

Hebert’s biggest tip echoes Shinn’s decluttering advice — remove countertop appliances from sight if possible. If space allows in your pantry, relocating toasters and coffeemakers — even microwaves — will make the room feel more spacious and clear.

“Ambient soft lighting is both beautiful and helps you to see when you cook.Adding layers of lighting is always key to a kitchen.”

Moderate Budget

For homeowners with a more focused budget, one top-choice upgrade recommended by area designers is lighting. Hebert specifically recommends the addition of wired undercabinet lighting, an expense she says you’ll enjoy.

“Ambient soft lighting is both beautiful and helps you to see when you cook,” she says. “Adding layers of lighting is always key to a kitchen.” Hebert suggests low-voltage, warm-tone LED lighting that an electrician can install and that matches the color temperature of the room. She warns against battery-powered lights, which don’t provide consistent lighting.

She and Zaunbrecher recommend upgrading your decorative lighting as well — such as a new pendant light over the island or sink — and replacing old fluorescent lighting or recessed cans with newer LED fixtures. Finally, add dimmers to all of your lighting.

From a decorative standpoint, additional moderate upgrades include changing out your window treatments and art. Whether a new bistro curtain or shade over the kitchen sink window, textiles add pattern, texture and color. Similarly, art brings out personality in a space.

“Induction cooking surfaces heat much faster and cool off quickly as well. It is very safe because it doesn’t burn gases for heat, and it shuts off automatically if the pot is not on the cooking surface.”

“Maybe you frame some neat recipes on antique paper or find something kitchen related at an estate sale or antique store,” says Hebert. “Or, bring in heirlooms or treasures from the family. I love hanging small pieces on the ends or sides of cabinetry —people are often scared to hang things in the kitchen, but it brings more character to the room.”

Another tip for homeowners on a modest budget, according to Zaunbrecher, is to check the age and condition of current appliances and make a plan to replace older ones that may not work well.

“Changing out all appliances at once is expensive, so it may be helpful to change out appliances once a year or every couple of years until they are all in working condition,” she says.

When changing out appliances, Designers Melanie Blasingame and Kim Harman at Top’s Appliances and Cabinetry emphasize the need to consider quality, longevity and ability to get service and parts. Incorporated technologies are now the norm, even in basic models. Beware trendy colored appliances, they say — stainless is still classic.

“We are seeing more people interested in induction [ranges], especially when they have the opportunity to use it or know someone who uses it,” says Harman. Priced slightly higher than gas ranges, these cooktops offer a faster, cleaner and safer alternative to gas. Induction uses electric power but heats the pot or pan using magnetic technology.

“Induction cooking surfaces heat much faster and cool off quickly as well,” she Harman. “It is very safe because it doesn’t burn gases for heat, and it shuts off automatically if the pot is not on the cooking surface. For those reasons, it is especially great for aging clients or anyone with cognitive issues.”

Work surface upgrades are another option for a focused budget. Solid surfaces such as granite, marble, quartz and quartzite or wood butcher block continue to be popular.

At Lafayette Marble & Granite, Stone Manager Robyn Albarado is seeing growing interest in quartzite over quartz, though both are highly sought for their durability and offerings in white and light colors. However, she says, Acadiana homes are often warmer in color than other regions, which is why quartzite has the edge. Light, white stones are gradually giving way to midcentury modern darker tones, and there’s a notable — and welcome — new interest in soapstone and other exotic stones, she says.

“While the design can be beautiful, quality ventilation is a very important part of the kitchen — be sure to consider the power, quietness and ease of maintenance.”

The Sky’s the Limit

If the sky’s the limit with your kitchen renovation budget, it would be easy to say to change/upgrade all of the above — your countertops, appliances, lighting, cabinetry and décor. But one thing is certain if you’re undergoing a complete redo — hire a design professional.

“Designers’ jobs are to help guide you and design for your tastes,” says Krysten Ledet, principal of Krysten Ledet Interiors. “They also have a Rolodex of vendors that are experts in their industries so that you can rest assured you are in good hands. This saves you time and money in the long run because it is done exactly how you want correctly the first time.”

Ledet says the most common mistake she sees with kitchen renovations is the lack of a plan. With infinite design choices, the average person doesn’t have the time or know-how to lead a full-scale project, and mistakes and miscommunications will result in time and money wasted.

Hebert echoes this sentiment and says that hiring a designer skilled in kitchen renovation or design will help you determine if function can be improved and spatial layout changed to suit your needs. Even with new construction, it’s important to know how you function and what works for you now. She recommends taking a look at what season of life you’re in. Do you have kids? Are you retired? Is this a five-year or 10-year home, or is this your forever home? How do your personality and preferences come in to play?

“Color, color, color. In the more recent past, gray and white were all the rage. We are seeing maximalism return, and we are in love with this trend.”

Some additional considerations for a full kitchen remodel not yet touched on include cabinetry and vent hoods. Complete renovations often call for new cabinetry, and area designers recommend full overlay or inset cabinets over partial overlay. Shaker style is in, and raised panel is out. Ledet recommends custom cabinetry, which ensures your storage solutions work for you. Gigi Shinn says that while white is still popular, cabinet colors such as black, charcoal and cedar are trending upward. One common mistake she sees is an insistence on wall cabinets touching the ceiling. While it looks great in some instances, it can make the kitchen look smaller in others.

Also, consider your vent hood. According to the designers at Top’s Appliances and Cabinetry, the hood is the most impactful appliance update in regards to appearance.

“Mixing painted finishes with metal or wood accents or contrasting metals together creates a textured point of interest,” they say. “While the design can be beautiful, quality ventilation is a very important part of the kitchen — be sure to consider the power, quietness and ease of maintenance.”

And a final big-picture kitchen renovation note from Ledet (and echoed by others): “Color, color, color. In the more recent past, gray and white were all the rage. We are seeing maximalism return, and we are in love with this trend.”

Whether you go bold or timeless with your upgrades, the reintroduction of color is welcomed across the industry — small doses for some and big splashes for others. What’s most important is that your kitchen reflect your style and fit your needs — perhaps your budget, too.

Things to consider before starting a kitchen renovation:

What is your budget? Figure out the maximum amount you can spend and then add a bit because it’s almost always more.

What style would you like? Think about whether that style blends with the rest of your home.

What’s your aesthetic (minimalist/maximalist/something in between)? That might mean hidden appliances or, on the other end of the spectrum, lots of shelves for art and plants.

What purpose will the kitchen serve? The space may just be a spot to cook or it might be a hang out for your kids or a hub for when you entertain.

What are your/your family’s needs? This is something often overlooked but is so important. For example, if you use more glasses/cups than anything else, buy a dishwasher that accommodates that need.