Modern Home Builders Issue 124 Dec | Page 18

2 . Do as much work as you can , yourself

Labor is one of the biggest costs of renovating your kitchen . Be that from installing a new kitchen to having appliances gas-certified or new electrics wired in . One of the ways you can save is by doing as much of the work as you can yourself . Paint the walls and ceilings , re-finish and re-paint or spray your handles , lay flooring and remove everything you possibly can . All of the added extras will add up quickly so by doing what you can yourself , you ’ ll instantly save your budget .
3 . Mix the old and the new
Having a new kitchen doesn ’ t mean it has to be new from the showroom , it can mean new to you . Be that by adopting a second-hand kitchen or by buying an ex-display , you will be making huge savings . Any stigma attached to a second-hand kitchen has been eroded significantly , thanks to a greater appreciation of the planet and the realization that used certainly doesn ’ t mean old . By looking at this option , you can pick up a designer kitchen for the same price or even less than a budget
DIY model . You ’ ll also be likely to get all those little extras like internal pull-out larders , pantry baskets and built-in bins and recycling drawers . Not to mention stone worktops and high-end top-of-the-range appliances .
4 . Buy thrifty
Lighting is one of the core ways to create drama and interest in your kitchen . You can have different zones of light , mood lighting , LED spots and beautiful pendants . But why pay expensive high street prices when there ’ s a world of interesting pendants and shades for sale on marketplaces and online sales sites or yard sales ? So many people sell their kitchen lights online , and who said the standard three pendants over the island need to all be the same shade ? Here ’ s where you can get adventurous and personalize your space by putting your stamp on it . From using a vintage shade but knocking the glass out so you just have the metal , to spraying a utility metal shade bright pink or bottle green . Lighting should be fun and personal , not stark and conventional .
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