In this sluggish economy, some people are still moving ahead with full kitchen and bath renovations that they'd planned on and for which they'd allocated funds. I've recently worked on some great kitchen and bath projects, both new construction and renovations. I've also worked with a couple of kitchen design clients that are quite budget conscious, but which have included new tile, lighting, paint and wallpaper, counter tops and cabinet hardware - not full blown renovations, but the results were beautiful nonetheless!
Tile can be one of the most cost effective materials that a client can purchase since tile can dramatically improve a kitchen's appearance. Basic tiles can be combined with accent squares in metal or glass for a great new look at affordable prices. I've had terrific results with Panaria Tile - lots of great colors and flexible sizes to allow for creative designs on a minimal budget.
New lighting can freshen up a dated kitchen or bath. Pendant lighting and rail systems add a lot of personality and color. There are so many great systems out there. Some of my favorites are Alfa Lighting, Tech Lighting and Besa Lighting, as they feature wonderful metal finishes, plus gorgeous glass selections for the pendants or directional lighting.
It's important to set aside room in the budget for key items, and lighting is one of them. I've seen clients with fairly restricted budgets fall in love with great lighting such as Hubbarton Forge, and they realize that high quality elements can make all of the dfference between modest and spectacular results.
Bathroom renovations often allow the use of stone remnants that can be purchased for very reasonable prices. At large stone yards, remnant choices and options are usually quite numerous.
Even new cabinet hardware can freshen up a kitchen or bath, especially when combined with new tile or a new paint color.
Here are links to some of the aforementioned products and vendors: