Building a gourmet kitchen on a budget
Photo credit: Home Depot
Gourmet kitchens have become staples of modern day living. Whether in celebrity homes up in the Hollywood Hills, or in your own cozy bungalow in the suburbs, these kitchens can bring style and functionality to the heart of any home. And best of all, investing in a gourmet kitchen is one of the smartest decisions you can make for your home.
Buyers not only love the sophisticated design, they also love the idea of themselves preparing delicious, healthy meals at home, or even entertaining guests and hosting dinner parties. And why wouldn’t they? With state-of-the-art appliances, beautiful surfaces, abundant storage space, and upgraded ambient, accent, and task lighting, it’s enough to make anyone want to spend more time at home.
If you’re thinking this all sounds too expensive to even consider, we will let you in on a little secret. Many of these fancy kitchens use products from places like Ikea and Home Depot. Yep, game changer.
Here’s how you can build the gourmet kitchen of your dreams on a sensible budget.
Cabinetry
Cabinets are an essential part of any gourmet kitchen. Try choosing deep and tall cabinets that provide abundant storage space. This will help achieve a clean and uncluttered look. You want to make sure your cabinets are strategically placed so that you can have easy access to all of your ingredients and tools while cooking.
Home Depot offers free kitchen design advice based on your needs and budget with no obligation to buy. You can also download the free IKEA Kitchen Planner to virtually design your kitchen from home. While you’re at it, look for popular pull out faucets and deep sinks which are very common in gourmet kitchen designs.
Appliances
Photo credit: Bosch
Gourmet kitchens are known for their top-notch appliances. Professional gas ranges are preferred over electric stoves for better temperature control. Walk-in or pull-out refrigerators are great for storing large amounts of food. Convection microwaves have the added benefit of allowing for baking and roasting. And dishwashers save lots of sink and countertop space for a cleaner look.
But a Miele brand professional-grade gas range with double ovens can cost at least $14,000. A Thermador refrigerator can range from $7,000 to $20,000. A Viking convection microwave can cost anywhere from $500 to $3,000. And a Bertazzoni dishwasher can start at $850. Yikes.
The great news is that you don’t have to shop for any of those high-end brands to get quality appliances. Look for great low-cost alternatives—from Whirlpool, Bosch, Kenmore, and Frigidaire. At Lowes and BestBuy, you can get all of these stainless steel appliances in a package for well under $10,000. Score.
Countertops
When it comes to luxurious countertop surfaces, marble is always at the top of the list. But with costs ranging from $40 to $100 per square foot, it’s not a bad idea to expand your options—especially when there are so many alternatives that can give you a similar look. Take, for example, granite—which is durable, stain-, scratch-, and heat resistant. The cost of granite can range from $35 to $75 per square foot. If you want an even more affordable option, you can find faux marble laminate countertops at Ikea, Home Depot, and Lowes.
Lighting
Gourmet kitchens are known for being very well lit. Installing recess lighting can maximize visibility when preparing meals and also highlight your kitchen’s beautiful new look. Placing lighting under your cabinets can help brighten up your countertops, and hanging pendant lights over your island spotlights this focal area. West Elm and Crate and Barrel have some very stylish pendant light fixtures that can help make your new kitchen pop.
The gist
You don’t have to be an actual gourmet chef or a millionaire to enjoy the perks of a functional gourmet kitchen. For a fraction of the cost, you can transform the heart of your home into a beautiful modern gathering space where you can entertain guests or spend some quality time with the family. You also have home renovation loan options to finance a kitchen upgrade. And if selling is your objective, a nice kitchen can sway just about anyone toward buying your home. It’s a win win.
