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Anatomy of a Budget Kitchen
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Surprises, like a sheet metal countertop, abound in this cost-conscious remodel.
Island Guyer scored this counter for $200 from a hardware store that was going out of business. She then hired a metalsmith to top it with galvanized sheet metal, which delivers a surprisingly refined matte finish—and set her back only $120. A simple muslin skirt provides concealed storage. 1
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PHOTOGR APHS BY KEITH SCOTT MORTON; ST YLING BY PAMEL A ABR AHAMS
“I have expensive taste,” says Lori Guyer. So when she bought her Long Island, New York, home in 2002, Guyer immediately pictured a top-of-the-line country kitchen, with a farmhouse sink, beadboard paneling, and new hardwood floors. The only problem? Her budget of $10,000, which seems like a princely sum—until you realize the average kitchen remodel costs twice that. But instead of feeling constrained, Guyer saw her limited finances as a creative challenge. She repurposed a cast-off hardware-store counter as an island, alternated inexpensive open shelves with traditional cabinets, and even relied on plain old spray paint to transform an Ikea pendant light. “I wanted to create a comfortable place for my family,” she says of her goal, “but I still wanted it to look sophisticated.” Mission accomplished. —JOURDAN CROUCH
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2 Candelabra A can of Rust-Oleum aluminum enamel transformed a black Ikea fixture into this gleaming pendant. 3 Open storage Up to 50 percent cheaper than wall-to-wall cabinetry, exposed shelves offer a convenient display opportunity and keep the room from feeling confined.
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4 Cabinetry Guyer skipped custom work in favor of off-the-shelf Kraftmaid cabinets from the Home Depot. The total price for all her cupboards, plus a matching beadboard backsplash: a reasonable $6,000.
5 Appliances A classic white range, microwave, and dishwasher make for a welcome alternative to trendy stainless steel and cost up to a quarter less. Guyer cut out an additional $200 with her floor-model fridge (reduced from $600 to $400).
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6 Floors Many people request high-grade oak boards, but Guyer opted for a more affordable, knottier variety. “I love the rustic look, and it saved me $300,� she says.
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Paint For a pop of color in an unexpected place, Guyer painted the ceiling with Benjamin Moore’s pale blue-green Quiet Moments. She kept the walls neutral with the company’s creamhued Spring in Aspen. 7
Cupboard Guyer made $200 estate-sale cabinets appear built-in by backing the shelves with beadboard, then trimming the top and base with the same molding used around the entire room.
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Stools “I scrimped elsewhere so I could splurge on seating,” says Guyer of her vintageinspired steel finds. ($195 each; sundance catalog.com) 9
10 Sink Bumping out the counter helped this enamel basin from the Home Depot look just as charming as a pricey farmhouse-style sink.
Countertops At only $350 total, Guyer’s laminate surfaces are “cheap, practical, and best of all, they mimic fancy Carrara marble,” she says. 11
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