One Kitchen, Two Budgets: Contemporary Style

Before you start a kitchen remodeling project, you need to determine how much you're willing to spend. But what do you really get for the money? See one kitchen's makeover potential based on two very different budgets.

 Splurge or Save: Can You Guess?

We asked designer Julie Clayton to sketch plans for a kitchen remodel based on two different budgets -- a value budget and a custom budget. Can you tell which of these contemporary kitchen plans is more expensive?

The Value Kitchen

When it comes to appliances, it's worth shopping around for the best deal. Big-box stores often offer discounts if you purchase an entire suite of appliances from a single manufacturer.

APPLIANCES
KitchenAid 36-inch side-by-side refrigerator $8,299
KitchenAid combination oven and microwave $3,249
KitchenAid 36-inch cooktop $2,949
KitchenAid retractable downdraft ventilation $1,199
KitchenAid Superba series dishwasher $1,099

CABINETRY
Martha Stewart cabinetry with Ox Hill doors $7,500

SURFACES
Honed Carrara marble perimeter countertop $3,750
Antique white oak flooring $3,000
Ann Sacks Cappricio 3x6-inch field tiles in Dove $800
IKEA Numerar butcher-block island countertop $169

MISCELLANEOUS
Kohler Alcott apron-front sink $1,356
Newport Brass 9911 faucet in polished chrome $1,025
Schumacher High Voltage fabric in Smoke $800
Hive Modern Charles Ghost chairs in Yellow $510
Ralph Lauren paint in Crescent Moon and Stone $200
West Elm globe pendants $179
Martha Stewart 3-inch finial pulls in polished nickel $80
Martha Stewart finial knobs in polished nickel $56

Total cost: $36,220

Create Contemporary Style on a Budget

Tip No. 1. Update cabinet doors. Paint existing cabinet doors, or replace them with Shaker-style or slab doors that offer a simple, clean profile -- perfect for contemporary settings.

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