There’s nothing more annoying than a cluttered kitchen with cupboards that can’t contain and shelves that won’t hold. It’s the corporate equivalent of an unkempt workstation. Modular kitchens are all the rage these days. So much that they’ve transcended from being a designer kitchen to becoming the obvious kitchen layout. The modular kitchen facilitates organization and convenience combining it with aesthetics and sophistication. But it may not qualify for a place in the good books of our finances. A standard modular 6″ by 4″ kitchen starts at somewhere close to $900. Over and above this is VAT, space availability and re modeling need that inflates this figure further.
What to do
Consequently, you should take the smarter option: Budgeting. Here are few pointers towards what you need to do to get as close as possible to that dream kitchen of yours without burning a hole in your pockets.
How to go about it
Budgeting requires thinking ahead. You can’t take the cross-the-bridge-when-we-come-to-it approach. Research the market for options and best prices. It needs pre-set limits, a mind that’s open to options and compromise and business like approach; utility based and not whimsy driven (thatâs probably the one that you need to check the most).
Determine the decoys
There are lots of alternates that look just like the original thing and cost almost half or even less. This applies to laminates, Vinyl flooring, tiles or sheets in places of counter tops and other marble surfaces or for that matter the hardwood floors as well.
Consider counter depth refrigerators that give the look of a built in, as they don’t exceed the counter depth, and cost almost half much. Choosing stock cabinets over custom ones.
Limit Lay-Out Changes
Layout changes just piles on more material, labor as well as designing costs. For example, refining your existing cabinets instead of purchasing and installing new ones altogether. Re-modeling by layout would bring with it plumbing changes, cutting through walls an increased bill payment and an up shooting timeline. It’s just unnecessary trouble and effort that can be avoided.
Worst-Case Scenario
It is always a smart idea to allocate 10% of your budget to unforeseen costs because we all know they have a way of creeping into our best laid plans, especially, the budgeted ones. It can be anything from dry rot, electrical panels, structural issues to code upgrades required by inspectors.
Fruits of Labor: DIY
Another cost-effective method would be to roll up your sleeves and jump in to the action i.e. where ever you can. Take up minor projects like painting, removing cabinet fittings etc that need no engineering or professional involvement.
Embellishments for later
Any custom designs or upgrades can be postponed till after project completion. Looking at the remodeling as a phase wise project will help you plan better and give an even better result.
Tread Careful
Here’s where we walk on thin ice. You need to make a categorical distinction between what is utterly important and what would be an indulgence. This is the toughest battle when budgeting your way in to your dream kitchen.