KITCHEN & BATH
KITCHEN RENO:
What’s Worth the Splurge?
With tons of great choices, it’s easy to go overboard. But with an eye on the bottom line, we set out
to find the most bang for your remodeling buck.
BY DIANE M . S TERRET T
T ops on the list: a backsplash you love. “this is a great
place to spend a little more; it upgrades your room right away,” says Brandy Souza of
Kitchen Views in Warwick. “Since it’s a vertical plane, it’s the first surface that catches
your eye when you walk in, so that should be your priority. And it’s a smaller area, so
you can have more impact with less money. Today’s range of accent tile is amazing.”
Another small update with big eye appeal is replacing cabinetry hardware. Many
are standard in size, so it’s an easy swap. “It’s the finishing touch that can make a
master bath sparkle, a laundry room fun or a kitchen sing to you every morning,”
says Souza.
In cabinetry, Souza says New Englanders are still loving the white Shaker door which
accommodates a wide range of kitchen styles. “This is a big part of your budget
and there’s no need to spend more on a decorative door unless you truly love it,” she
explains. “But whatever you do, pick the upgraded drawer box. The meta drawers
and wood-dovetailed drawers are all soft closing and worth the investment. They
36 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY’S NEST |
2020
extend the life of your drawer and your sanity. Ever have a drawer filled with so much
stuff it doesn’t close right or comes off the track? You do not want that in your newly
remodeled space.”
Custom cabinetry can be a fun splurge if you have the budget. If not, you can
usually get away with using a stock line for most of the kitchen and then using custom
pieces to design around problem areas or one special cabinet to serve as a focal point.
If you’re not replacing your cabinetry, you can still get soft-closing motion by
replacing your drawer glides — a big frustration-saver for not much money.
Souza says upgrading to quartz countertops is worth the splurge. “Roughly,
builder granite is about $45 per square foot installed and quartz is closer to $70 per
square foot. Even so, quartz is our top seller for its easy maintenance. As engineered
stone, it doesn’t need to be sealed annually, it won’t stain and the color is consistent
so you can match anything.”
Motion-activated faucets are a nice mini-splurge item so you can easily get water