You’ve got big kitchen remodel dreams and are ready for some heavy spending. Sounds fun! But chances are high you’ll end up going over budget. You may even end up creating a kitchen that’s too high-end for the rest of your property. 

High-low kitchen remodels teach us how to make balanced decisions. It’s a practical mix of statement centerpieces and intentional, affordable choices.

 

What is a high-low kitchen remodel?

A high-low kitchen remodel mixes the accessible and the investment. For example, a rarer, natural stone countertop and popular, on-trend gold hardware. We don’t apply this principle to cut major costs, though. It’s done to avoid overspending and create the most cohesive, stylish, sensible design possible.

One of the most valuable kitchen remodeling tips you can take to heart is to focus on balance. Deciding to spend more on cabinetry is smart when you choose an economical tile backsplash instead of taking your pricey countertop up the wall. When done correctly in the right areas, it never feels like a big sacrifice. 

 

The best places to splurge and save 

If you keep scrolling, we’ll get to the biggest mistakes people make in high-low remodels. The one you should know up front is that you can’t go low on larger functional elements. A great disparity in finishes confuses everything from resale value to aesthetic results.

It’s safe to save on:

Feel free to splurge on:

Backsplashes. Tile is durable, easy to clean, and very flexible in design. Choosing rare, imported tiles or stone slabs can eat into more key parts of the budget. 

Countertops. A quality stone or engineered stone countertop can be a very long-lasting, hardworking design focal point.

Light fixtures. Layering lighting and choosing the right color temperature and brightness is more important than the cost or rarity of the fixture.

Cabinets. Some people can save by choosing fewer cabinets where they don’t need the storage. Regardless, you never go as low as you can here. 

Flooring. Engineered wood, LVT, or LVP are all more economical choices that won’t throw off the quality balance. 

Layouts. Moving or adding utilities likely isn’t something you could save on if you tried. It’s inadvisable anyway. 

Hardware. You can get high-style but relatively lower-cost options with the help of a pro designer. 

Ventilation. Upgraded exhaust fans and statement hoods improve the function and style of a new kitchen. 

 

About appliances...

Take them on a kitchen-by-kitchen basis. Pro-grade luxury appliances make sense in high-traffic kitchens on luxury properties. For most, updating to something solid and energy efficient is enough of an investment. Custom finishes and cabinet integration can be a better strategy than double-wide commercial appliances.

 

Kitchen remodel design ideas that blend the high and low

On to the real-life examples. Here are four ways to blend and balance the high and low without making it obvious or confusing. 

 

A custom island with fewer perimeter cabinets.

Deep blue custom cabinetry extends to a high-functioning kitchen island. Not one extra penny was wasted on the biggest investment (cabinets), as an upper section was replaced with open shelving. A stacked stone backsplash adds contrast and dimension, not cost. 

 

Raised panel cabinets and stone countertops with efficient flooring and backsplash.

Traditional raised panel cabinets are worth it for the craftsmanship and timelessness. Add in a natural granite countertop, and you have good, solid quality that feels right at home. The affordable choices are backsplash and flooring, which can be updated to complement the big investments as the years wear on.

 

Pro ventilation and stunning stone with increased open storage. 

Upgraded exhaust, high-end range, and quartz that ascends the wall. Fewer upper cabinets balance out these luxurious choices and, as do the accessible black matte fixtures, from lighting to faucet.

 

Customized quartz and quality cabinets with standard fixtures and appliances.

New shaker cabinets and quartz countertops with custom edges are so worth it. Make sure they sit comfortably in the budget by choosing standard appliances and a classic subway tile backsplash.

 

 

Kitchen remodeling tips to balance the look

Here are some quick suggestions to apply the high-low concept to your own remodel.

1. Repeat materials.

Don’t go floor-to-ceiling, but if you use materials like wood or brass in one area, tie it in somewhere else. This helps keep the whole look together as you go from low to high.

2. Stay consistent in color.

Pick a palette and do your best to stay within those confines. When something lower-end is a mismatch, it stands out poorly instead of supplying contrast. 

3. Choose the investment pieces first.

If you know your big splurge is cabinets and an island, lock that part of the design in right away. Budgeting everything else will be simpler. 

4. Save the savings for easily updated elements.

If you can swap it out in a day or three, it’s a great candidate for the savings category. That’s why we often include hardware and fixtures here. 

5. Don’t make finishes compete with one another.

Where can the design be streamlined? You don’t want to dull the shine of your big investments by adding chaos. 

 

Common high-low kitchen remodel mistakes

The intense focus on maximizing every bit of the budget can end up resulting in some of these pitfalls.

  • Forgetting flow. Work zones and the flow of traffic can break apart a perfectly budgeted kitchen. Design is as critical as money. 

  • Poor attention to scale. Make sure your fixtures and furniture (islands) are the right size for your kitchen, not just the right price.

  • Mixing too many styles. Cabinets with clean lines paired with rustic light fixtures and traditional-style tile may not look cool and eclectic.

  • Not testing the lighting. Materials, especially your lower-cost ones, need to be previewed in natural and artificial lighting.

  • Spending on trends. Your biggest investments should offer long-term usability first and foremost. 

 

Remodel your way with The Designery.

Phased remodels, partial remodels, floor-to-ceiling transformations–we’ll join you on your path. 

At The Designery, you get full-service professional design, material selection, custom details, and more. If you want the perfect mix of high design and low pressure, work with us. 

“The Designery did excellent work from the beginning of planning my new kitchen to installing cabinets and countertops. They coordinated with the plumber and others to keep our project on track. They have been so easy to work with. Our new kitchen is perfect thanks to them!”

Melinda, The Designery client

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