Budget Reno Tricks

Rein in the cost of your kitchen makeover-without compromising style.

- KATHY BARNES

It looks like steel, but the range hood is a custom wood cover painted a sooty black color.

Designer Stephanie Kraus remodeled the 1990s-era kitchen in her Pennsylvania home, managing the budget with a "pull and replace" method that kept the existing electrical, plumbing, and structural elements (like the window) right where they were. This allowed her to spend her budget on materials that elevate the look.

If you've priced the cost of a kitchen remodel recently, you've likely experienced sticker shock. Materials and labor costs are high, but they don't have to derail your remodeling dreams. These 10 supersmart strategies can get you a gorgeous result on a smaller budget. Here's what we can all learn from how one designer did it.

1 KEEP THE LAYOUT

Design within your room's footprint. What does that mean? Keep the structure and systems where they are: electrical, plumbing, walls, windows, and HVAC.

If you can avoid expensive structural changes, you'll save a lot. Sometimes the need for a bigger kitchen is undeniable, but if you don't need more space, recast your dream kitchen to focus on style.

2 REMOVE CASED