Kitchen Design: When to Splurge, When to Save

We gutted our kitchen two years ago. Two years later and it is still not done.

There are two reasons for this. One is my crazy need for perfection, which means it takes me forever to make a design decision. The other, less fun, reason is budget. We ran out of money to add some of the finishing touches. The list is not long, but it is important. I need window treatments, lighting to replace the outdated pendants, and a stove. All of our appliances are stainless steel, except for our sad, outdated stove. It stands out like a sore, ugly thumb. We have prioritized our wish list and are slowly getting close to a finished kitchen {and a huge kitchen-warming party to celebrate}.

Because budget is such a huge consideration when planning any kitchen update, I wanted to share my tips for when to splurge and when to save. 

SAVE on artwork. There are so many amazing online resources for inexpensive, yet fabulous art for your kitchen. Etsy is my favourite. That's where you will find this trio of kitchen utensil art {1} and these spin wheel tea towels {4} which are just asking to be framed. Another great idea is to frame black and white photos of your children eating. I have a picture of my son eating his very first birthday cake in ours. It adds a fun, personal touch.

SPLURGE on kitchen appliances. You use them every single day so invest in the best you can afford. if you are like me, that may mean a wait, but it is worth it. Once the people at Frigidaire showed me this freestanding double oven {2}, I was smitten. I have recently started baking with the boys so the option to cook a meal while also making cookies is pretty fantastic. I also love that it has five elements. Talk about some serious multitasking. And—wait for it—it has a protective coating to reduce fingerprints and smudges. It is now at the top of my 'want' list.

SAVE on window treatments. My go-to company for fabrics is Tonic Living. Their selection is gorgeous and affordable. Plus, they create custom window treatments. Custom can be very expensive, but because they keep the price point on their beautiful fabrics {3} low, they will make your budget happy. 

SAVE on lighting. There are so many chic, yet affordable options available now. This stunning gold triple tiered pendant {5} would look amazing in our...I mean any.....kitchen. And yes, it is okay to mix metals! 

SPLURGE on backsplash tiles. Like any other permanent element in a kitchen, a backsplash is an important investment. You can pair inexpensive cabinets with a gorgeous backsplash to create a custom, high-end look. My favourite tiles are these beauties {6} from Canadian company, Edgewater Studio. 

What's at the top of your kitchen wish list? Do you have any budget-saving kitchen decor tips? Share them in a comment below!