KITCHENS: LUXE FOR LESS

SUMPTUOUS STYLE AND QUALITY MATERIALS IN THE KITCHEN CAN COME AT A PRICE. WE REVEAL THE INDUSTRY SECRETS TO CUTTING COSTS WITHOUT LOSING THE LUXURY.

- KAYLA WRATTEN

The heart of your home deserves to be treated like royalty – adorned with opulent materials and decked out in the finest finishes (as seen in this GIA Renovations designed glamour). But how do you give your kitchen the grandiose treatment when a tight budget is top of the list? We chat to renovation experts and interior designers to discover their insider secrets to achieving a lavish, yet cost-effective kitchen.

THINK THRIFTY

A little patience and lots of research goes a long way in finding luxe pieces at half the price. “My advice is to shop around and keep an eye on sales, with a certain style in mind,” suggests interior designer Olivia Cirocco of GIA Renovations. Don’t be afraid to embrace second-hand treasures for a glittering result, either. “You can purchase luxury items such as furniture and lighting second hand from auctions,” she adds. Appliances are big-ticket items that can also be found at discounted prices without forgoing quality, says interior architect Sally Rhys-Jones. “Save on appliances by looking at places like Seconds World, where the side of an oven might have a dint, but you won’t even see it once the oven is in place,” she says.