This $50,000 Kitchen Remodel Features a Mix of High-End and Affordable Finds

The warm and welcoming, 150-square-foot kitchen in the Los Angeles home of Stephanie Wong and her partner, Daniel Watson, didn’t come at a bargain. They were planning on a complete tear-out of the dated kitchen and wanted to open up the space, using the nearby laundry room. Meaning, they’d have to incur some significant costs just to prep the blank canvas. But thoughtful choices on where to splurge and where to save resulted in a dream kitchen that they couldn’t be happier with. 

Stephanie and Daniel did a great job of identifying which elements meant the most to them — such as gorgeous, semi-custom cabinets and a sleek Bertazzoni range — and where they could maximize appeal with less cost (a perfectly fine, big-box store fridge and inexpensive floor tile). 

Knowing what mattered most even led to a mid-game swap when they saw their first stove pick, a standard-issue from a big brand. It had to go. In its place went the more stylish Italian pick.

If they’d kept the first one, “I would have looked at that sad stove and been like, ‘Oh, we could have done something cooler,’” Stephanie says, reflecting on the switch. “I ate the cost, and I’m so much happier that I decided to splurge a little bit on certain things.”

The elegant cabinets were a fixture in the plan from the start, ever since Stephanie saw the gorgeous cabinetry from Fire on the Mesa at the Instagram-famous Joshua Tree House. She worked with the brand to use custom door fronts on stock boxes to bring them within reach of their budget, then finished them with understated, brass matte pulls from Linear Standard.

Balancing the bigger-ticket purchases were the Saltillo tiles that they loved and happened to also be budget-friendly. Another way they kept the cost down? They realized that the layout didn’t allow for an otherwise expensive kitchen island.

One thing is for certain: There’s no buyer’s remorse, Stephanie says.  “I had a budget in mind, and I did go over it,” she admits. “But looking back, I don’t regret it.” Here’s a breakdown of every dollar spent:

• Cabinets and installation: $13,900
• Lounge Brass Matte Pulls: $353

• LG 36-inch fridge: $1,849
• Bertazonni range: $3,399
• Bosch Ascenta dishwasher: $787
• IKTCH 30-Inch Built-In/Insert Range Hood: $327
• Bosch Compact Washer & Dryer: $2,406
• Delta Single Pull Down Faucet: $305
• SINKINGDOM Garbage Disposal Air Switch: $43
• Blanco Undermount sink: $500
• Sink grid: $100
• Delta Air Gap: $36

• Zellige Glazed Earth backsplash: $451
• Caesarstone Quartz “Fresh Concrete” counters: $3,208
• Installation and fabrication: $1,800

• Contractor: $16,000

• Quikswet patio door handles: $28
• Rogue Valley Door Wood Door: $1,571
• Vinyl Half Vent windows: $664
• Portola paint: $350
• Huey Sand light: $311
• Rojo terra cotta lights: $558 for two
• 12×12 Rojo Saltillo floor tiles: $1,300

See Stephanie’s Full Reno Diary

• Before & After: This 1920s Spanish Bungalow Gets a Kitchen That’s Infused With Warmth and Style
• This $50,000 Kitchen Remodel Features a Mix of High-End and Affordable Finds
• This Couple Put Their Washer and Dryer in Their Kitchen — And It Was the Best Decision They Ever Made