Building or renovating a kitchen on a tight budget might mean that granite, stainless steel, solid timber and glass are off the list . . . but with a little innovation, a stylish, contemporary kitchen is not beyond reach.
 The trick is to think outside the square and to experiment with new products and ideas.

 “People get this tunnel vision when they renovate that the kitchen has to be how it has always been,” says kitchen designer Lee Hardcastle.  “If you are looking to innovate, start by turning your kitchen space 90 degrees.  Try and look at it from every angle.”

 Cutting costs starts with the size of the kitchen.  One of the myths, according to Hardcastle, is that bigger is better.

 “People think that the kitchen has to be big to be workable, but it doesn’t.  And the smaller your kitchen, the more economical is it to build or renovate.”

 One of the initial considerations is the appliances around which the kitchen will be built.

 “Go for mid-range quality,” Hardcastle suggests.  “If you go for the cheapest, it will need replacing sooner and chances are you’ll have to refit the kitchen again.”

 When it comes to design, it is important to maximize storage space while eliminating spaces which are hard to utilize.  “Basically, angles and curves cost you money,” he says, citing the galley kitchen, which won his company Enigma Interiors a Housing Industry Award last year.

 “Originally, the clients had planned an L-shape kitchen. Instead we extended the bench space and removed those difficult corner spaces, choosing drawers in place of cupboards.

 “While they cost a little more, drawers provide more useable space than cupboards – so they’re worth considering,” he says.

 The benchtop divider also provides cost-cutting inspiration.  Rather than extend the divider along the entire bench, here it is simply used to hide the sink while retaining the kitchen’s openness.

 While some benchtops may be out of question for those on a budget, the vast range of colours and textures now available in laminate offer a very affordable and stylish option. Similarly, choosing melamine (pre-laminated board) for your cupboard doors is a much more economical choice than 2-pak, though you will have to forgo moulded detailing.

Tips For Success
• Talk to a kitchen designer about the architectural range of laminates not available directly to the public.
• If you’re looking for an industrial look, metallic legs are no more expensive than a normal kickboard.  If you like the idea of legs but not the extra cleaning, consider using them just for the bench.
• Choose more expensive items, such as glass cupboard doors, as feature detailing.

By Anne Simpson
The Courier-Mail
18 January 2003