Deal Hunters' Luxe-Look Kitchen
How do you afford stainless steel and stone on an almond-bisque-and-laminate budget? For Augie and Emmeline Harrigan of Milford, Connecticut, the answer was to preserve those elements of the existing kitchen that were still in good shape, cut out labor costs by doing the work themselves, and shop sales and Craigslist.
"To stay within the $6,000 we allotted for the project, gutting the whole kitchen was not an option," says Emmeline. By keeping the basic layout and painting the oak cabinets rather than replacing them, the couple saved big right off the bat. Augie took a carpentry course and spent many nights trying out his new skills. Emmeline trolled the Internet and roamed big-box stores in search of well-priced replacements for their tired appliances, disco-era vinyl flooring, and coordinating laminate countertops. Her first find was a one-year-old stainless-steel Bosch range on Craigslist for a third of its original price. The next biggie: granite countertops from Costco.
"The truth is, you just have to know where to look," says Augie. "See those canisters by the sink? Only five bucks."
Jurgen Frank
Before: Outdated Decor
Dingy vinyl floors, yellow laminate counters, and dark cabinets made this 1970s kitchen feel dated and gloomy
Jurgen Frank
Countertops, Dishwasher, and Faucet
Granite counters from Costco were a splurge at $3,600 (with installation), but a $200 rebate lessened the blow. Augie saved $450 on the cost of a new subway tile backsplash (just $136 for 20 square feet at Lowe's) by doing the installation himself, following a step- by-step video on thisoldhouse.com. The brushed-nickel faucet, found for $150-30 percent off its $220 retail price-is by Water Ridge. It complements a new Blanco sink and a stainless-steel LG dishwasher, which Emmeline bought with a Home Depot gift card she got by cashing in American Express Membership Rewards points.
What They Saved:
$740 on counter and backsplash
$890 on faucet and dishwasher
Jurgen Frank
Dutch Door
The wooden Dutch door, which cost just $50 on Craigslist, got a makeover with red paint. By leaving the top portion open, Augie can work in his home office and still keep an eye on his kids in the kitchen.
What They Saved: $1,045 on Dutch door
Jurgen Frank
Cart and Floor
The granite-topped cart was just $75 on Craigslist. And the sleek flooring beneath it-375 square feet of ebonized bamboo-was leftover from a local job site. Emmeline paid $750, or half what it would cost to order the boards directly from the maker, Premium Green Color Studio.
What They Saved: $775 on cart and bamboo floor
Jurgen Frank
