Where You Can Save Money When Designing a Kitchen: Tips from an Architect

To make your kitchen convenient, functional, and long-lasting, we recommend following the principles of architect Pavel Zhelaznov. He shared where you can save money and gave useful advice before designing your kitchen.

Thoughtful Approach

We recommend starting the kitchen renovation with planning. This is important to create a cozy and, most importantly, functional space by taking into account all the features of the room and the client's wishes. This will help in choosing the necessary work zones, furniture, and appliances.

Organic Design

Eliminate all unnecessary elements and ornate furniture. Make your kitchen universal by choosing neutral furniture. It will blend naturally into any interior style.

For example, Pavel Zhelaznov's kitchen is minimalist and lacks accents to avoid interfering with the overall perception of the interior.

Practicality

A modern kitchen is the most expensive part of the entire interior. We wouldn’t recommend cutting costs here, but there are several areas where attention is worth focusing. First of all, the countertop in the working zone, which experiences the most wear and tear. Therefore, choose a more durable and resilient material like granite or marble.

Abstain from glossy facades that constantly show fingerprints and scratches. Prefer more practical matte or textured options, such as wood or stone.

If your kitchen is not used frequently for its intended purpose, then there’s no reason not to choose a glossy finish. For example, white glossy facades in Pavel Zhelaznov's kitchen nearly merge with the wall and visually expand the space.

Reliable Manufacturer

Only a verified manufacturer can guarantee that the kitchen furniture will be made and delivered on time.

The best option is a kitchen that is fully assembled at the factory and arrives to the client in boxes. In this case, there’s no need to worry about the final composition's quality.

Built-in Appliances

After choosing the kitchen, the question of appliances arises. Here, financial constraints should be taken into account.

Pavel recommends focusing on built-in models to make the kitchen as sealed as possible and avoid extra appliances that draw attention. This avoids creating a sense of chaos.

Thoughtful Lighting

Kitchen lighting is determined during the planning stage. It should be considered for various tasks and zones.

For example, Pavel has three lighting scenarios in his small kitchen: built-in lights in the range hood, a chandelier, and a decorative light fixture in the form of text. This way, the entire work surface and dining table receive adequate lighting.

Where You Can Save Money

The question of saving money on a kitchen is very subjective. For example, you can save on upper cabinets and use open shelves instead.

For those who find this option unacceptable, it’s better to organize storage in lower cabinets and avoid the top tier if the room size allows.