The kitchen is the heart of the home and as such, you want it to be a place that you enjoy spending time in and are proud to show off. You may want a designer kitchen that could become the envy of your friends when they pop round for afternoon tea, but that doesn’t mean you can afford the designer pricetag!
To achieve the stylish look you desire, without the bank balance of a celebrity, here are 6 elements of a designer kitchen that will give you the look on a budget.
An island
An island is the centre point of many a designer kitchen – and can be included in most rooms, whatever the size. If yours is small, use a soft colour palette, which will make it feel open and spacious. The island can be created with inexpensive materials such as beadboard and painted a light colour to fit in with the room. Metal stools will add shine and texture to the room and can be bought from many homeware stores, extremely cheap. Feature a sink in the island instead of a hob and hood, to reduce the cost against the price of one against a wall.
Traditional Kitchen by San Francisco Architects & Building Designers Madson Design
Choose a laminate worktop
Technology has come so far that it is now almost impossible to tell the difference between a laminate worktop and a real wood, granite, quartz or marble worktop used in a designer kitchen.
Laminate worktops used to be extremely thick, but can now be bought as thin as 12mm, which replicates the look of ultra thin quartz for a fraction of the price. An advantage of laminate, other than the price tag, is that is is incredibly durable and highly resistant to scratching and staining.
Modern Kitchen by Seattle Architects & Building Designers BAAN design
Open shelving
Floating shelves instead of upper cabinets will open up a small kitchen as well as saving money. Incorporating stainless steel elements will also upgrade the space, which when matched to furniture and accessories in the room – such as industrial-inspired hanging lights – will make the room and its features appear far more expensive than it is.
Traditional Kitchen by Seattle Kitchen & Bath Designers Seattle Custom Cabinets
Built-in Fridge
Built-in fridges are popular in designer kitchens; they are modern, save space and give a smooth, classy look to the room. However, the downside is they are very expensive – costing two to three times more than a freestanding fridge.
However, this look can be achieved without the extra expense by designing your kitchen and cabinets, so that your regular fridge sits flush with your cabinets.
Contemporary Kitchen by London Interior Designers & Decorators APD Interiors
Light fixtures
The amount of lighting in a kitchen can change the whole ambiance of it, and a modern and designer feel can be created simply by the type of light fixture you choose. Your statement light fixture will become the main focus of your minimalist kitchen – these can cost very little, but make a huge difference to the room.
Contemporary Kitchen by Boulder Architects & Building Designers mark gerwing
Conceal your appliances
For a sleek, modern designer look you’ll want to conceal your appliances. This is easy enough to achieve by simply placing washing machines and dishwashers behind cupboard doors, for example. Plus, undermounting a cheaper stainless-steel sink into your worktop will make it look more stylish and far more expensive. Combine the elements that are right for your space, and see the designer kitchen of your dreams start to become a reality.
Modern Kitchen by Melbourne Kitchen Designers & Remodelers Urban Kitchens
If these tips have inspired you to put together the kitchen you have always dreamed of, on a budget, you can then check out home and interior titles from Magazine Direct for even more ideas!