Luxury for Less

Homeowners don't have to forgo luxury just because they need to stick to a reasonable budget. There are a number of cost-effective and inexpensive ways to introduce luxury to any kitchen or bath without breaking the bank, says Chris Joiner, director of design for WCI Communities, based in Bonita Springs, Fla. "Right now, we're focused on being more innovative than our competitors and doing that in a cost-effective way," he says.

To convey luxury at a lower cost, WCI Communities is changing the focus of its kitchen design to highlight the island, an area of the kitchen where it’s easy to add “wow” in the form of upgraded island tops, furniture-quality styling and two-level countertop design — without adding much expense.

Specifically, WCI Communities has redesigned its floor plans to emphasize the kitchen island. "We're treating the island as a piece of furniture," Joiner says, pointing out that the company is now building extra-large islands — as big as 5 feet by 10 feet — that incorporate microwave ovens as well as wine refrigerators or wine racks. It’s also creating multilevel islands, with a separate bar areas as well as various task areas, as an inexpensive way to customize the kitchen.

If space is an issue, small and inexpensive design elements can convey luxury, too, points out Amy Newland, a design consultant who has worked with a number of home builders in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. "In the kitchen and bathroom, lighting and tile are minimal-cost items that have a maximum impact," she says.

In fact, Newland advises home buyers to spend their money on tile backsplashes rather than breaking the budget with a tile floor. "A lot of people want to do crazy, fun stuff with their tile floors, but it's too expensive," she says. "Because the cooktop and countertops are at eye level, the use of decorative tiles in those locations makes that the focus."

Newland isn't alone in focusing on backsplashes. Lori Kirk-Rolley, director of marketing for Dallas-based Daltile, says that backsplashes, particularly the areas above the cooktop, are getting a lot of attention from builders and buyers. "This is an area where home buyers can make a personal statement," she says.

Kirk-Rolley recommends builders create an inset above the cooktop with a tile chair rail and fill in the area with stone tiles and small glass or metal accent tiles. "Mixing materials like natural stone with glass or metal tiles customizes the room and brings some additional flair," she points out, adding that just a few metal or glass mosaics bring color and texture to rooms.

In addition, both Kirk-Rolley and Newland suggest using large, rectangular tiles on the bathroom floor. "It's very trendy to lay rectilinear tile in a brick joint pattern — people view it as more upscale than the typical straight pattern with square tile," Kirk-Rolley notes.

Newland says the bigger tiles look more expensive. Moreover, bigger tiles create fewer grout lines, which makes a room look bigger, she explains. "The bigger the room, the greater the sense of luxury," she says.