Less-Costly Luxury For Your Kitchen & Bath

If you’re in the midst of a kitchen or bathroom remodel, CNN Money offers these tips to help you find higher-end products for bargain prices.

Granite Countertops

-A staple in high end kitchens, granite-covered countertops exude luxury. There is a way, however, to get this luxury without the steep price. Granite tiles are much more affordable than granite slabs and often easier to install. Benissimo’s Granite Solutions offers five new colors of ½ inch tiles that have a 1 ½ inch bullnose while costing roughly 50 percent less than a granite slab.

Stone & Cement Décor

-If you’re trying to achieve the “Old World” look in your kitchen, you may have found that Tuscan-style stone or cement range hoods can cost several thousands of dollars and even more for installation. Euro Cast Design’s Cast Travertine Kitchen Hoods, made of pre-cast crushed travertine, are much cheaper, weigh 70 percent less than cement and stone range hoods, can be installed in less than half an hour, and can be purchased for as little as $1,100, depending on which style you prefer. 

Tin Backsplashes

-CNN Money says that “a perfect patina on a tin backsplash adds loads of character to a kitchen, but that look can take decades to achieve and finding one for a remodel is a pricey proposition.” Fortunately, ACP’s Façade, made of a composite thermoplastic, costs only $4 per square foot (whereas real tin costs double that, or more). This backsplash is relatively new—it was introduced at ACP’s 2007 show, has a faux patina immediately out of the box.

Towel Warmers

-Though you may be fooled by their simplistic design and seemingly-flimsy nature, towel warmers are sometimes quite expensive. Myson, a normally pricey retailer, has released two budget-conscious towel warmers (Pearl and Diamond) that range in price from $200 to $400, depending on finish and style.

Appliances

-Bosch, a well-respected appliance brand, is known for its pricey products. The cost of the new Ascenta dishwasher, however, was made with smaller budgets in mind. The new dishwasher doesn’t, however, lack “all the bells and whistles the company is known for.” The Ascenta features exceptional energy efficiency, quiet operation, and a stainless-steel tub for a suggested retail price ranging from $549 to $799.

Faucets

-Whether placed in your kitchen or bath, decorative faucets are often very expensive. The Arden Collection from Grohe, however, runs between $249 and $329, or half of the price of most of Grohe’s other faucets. The Arden Collection will fit into both modern and traditionally-decorated bathrooms, and the faucets are WaterSense-certified and available in Grohe’s WaterCare line, which is made up of products that are designed to use 30 percent less water than other faucets.

Go Green

-Though some companies will try to convince you that going green is a costly luxury, it does not have to cost extra to make your kitchen or bath eco-friendly. Bamboo has often been used in kitchen and bathroom products because it is rapidly renewable and has a smaller environmental footprint. It hasn’t been seen in the mass market recently, but Rio Grande Imports has just introduced the Zoom sink, available for just $332.

Get the Look

-Cheaper versions of products that closely resemble the costlier models can be found easily—if you know where to look. Sterling has a stainless steel sink that looks like costlier models because of the large X stamped on the bottom, something that is usually exclusive of more expensive sinks. The Sterling version, however, sells for $408 for a double basin and $487 for a single and has rounded corners that simplify cleaning and prevent the piling up of debris.

Forget the Frame

-Many people argue that details make a design, but these details can get pretty expensive when it comes to re-vamping your kitchen or bathroom. Mirrorscapes by Moen (available only through wholesale dealers) allow you to get the look of a custom frame on any wall-mount, plate-glass mirror. Moen offers 5 styles, ranging from modern to classic, as well as several metallic and wood finishes that coordinate well with faucets and cabinetry. Paintable versions are also available for further customization. A 4-foot-by-8-foot Moen mirror ranges in price from $236 to $339.