Where I’d Spend—and Where I’d Save—During a Home Remodel

A beautiful remodel doesn’t require choosing the most expensive option at every turn. It requires knowing which choices deserve the investment—and where a little resourcefulness can get you a beautiful result for less.

Some features do a tremendous amount of work visually and practically. Others offer an opportunity to save without compromising the design.

Here’s where I’d put your money.

1. Splurge on the Kitchen Island Stone. Save With Bathroom Remnants.

Your island countertop is one place where I would absolutely splurge.

It’s a large, highly visible surface that you’ll use every day. A beautiful natural stone slab can set the direction for the entire kitchen.

Depending on the budget, I’d love to carry that stone onto the perimeter countertops and backsplash, too. A full-height stone backsplash around the range is both practical and beautiful. It eliminates grout lines in an area that gets splattered with cooking grease and creates a generous moment of natural color, movement, and texture.

It also gives us the opportunity to add one of my favorite details: a little spice ledge.

The hood wall usually doesn’t offer much room for styling. A shallow stone ledge introduces dimension and gives an attractive oil bottle or spice mill somewhere to live. Useful, beautiful, and right where you need it.

Another detail I love to invest in is a pair of sconces flanking the hood. I’m not suggesting we sacrifice all your upper cabinetry—you still need storage. But giving the focal wall some breathing room and thoughtful lighting can make the kitchen feel especially considered.

Where I’d save on stone

In the bathrooms, I’m looking for remnants.

Still real stone. No quartz here, please—that’s my preference for this approach.

Secondary bathrooms and powder rooms are excellent candidates for remnants. Their smaller countertops often allow us to use a beautiful piece left over from a larger project.

Even a primary bathroom may work with a larger remnant. But if you want matching stone on the vanity, shower bench, shower curb, and an extra-tall backsplash, we may need a dedicated slab.

That can absolutely be worth the investment, especially if we’re adding a thickened countertop edge and making the stone a significant part of the design.

The savings come from matching the right piece to the right space.

2. Be Strategic With Your Shower Tile Layout

A shower doesn’t need the same tile from floor to ceiling.

One approach I love is using a larger-format tile for roughly the first 36 inches of the shower wall, then transitioning to a smaller tile above.

The lower section gets plenty of water, soap residue, and cleaning attention. Larger tiles mean fewer grout lines in that area, which makes maintenance easier.

A pencil trim or a thoughtfully designed soap ledge can clearly define the transition. Above it, we can introduce a smaller tile with more texture and character.

That upper tile still gets wet, of course, but we’ve concentrated fewer grout lines in the lower area where buildup tends to be particularly noticeable.

With the hard water we encounter here in Colorado, I also like to choose shower-pan grout colors thoughtfully. The grout should work with the tile and be forgiving enough for everyday use.

Where I’d spend—and save

I don’t typically want an entire shower covered in standard 12-by-24-inch tile. I want some personality.

So I’d consider a simpler, well-priced larger tile below and put more of the tile budget into the decorative material above. Depending on the tile and installation requirements, that can help control both material and labor costs.

Spend where the detail makes an impact. Simplify where practicality earns its keep.

3. Shop Appliance Clearance Warehouses

I am a huge proponent of appliance clearance warehouses.

I do not care whether your appliance was last season’s latest and greatest. If it’s the right appliance for your kitchen and it’s sitting brand new in a warehouse at a substantial discount, I’m interested.

Clearance inventory can include discontinued models, canceled orders, or appliances pulled for a job by mistake. Sometimes there is absolutely nothing wrong with the appliance.

Scratch-and-dent inventory can be another excellent opportunity. A cosmetic ding on a side that will be concealed by cabinetry may never be visible once the appliance is installed.

The important questions are whether the damage affects performance, whether the appliance fits our plan, and what warranty and return terms apply. Confirm those details with the seller, including when the warranty begins.

A bargain should still do the job we need it to do.

You don’t have to buy the whole matching suite

I don’t believe every appliance in the kitchen needs to come from the same manufacturer or have the same handle.

With panel-ready refrigerators and dishwashers, we’re already selecting decorative hardware that coordinates with the cabinetry.

And hopefully, we’re hiding the microwave in the pantry anyway.

That may leave the range or wall oven as the main visible appliance handle. We can make that choice thoughtfully without allowing it to dictate every other appliance purchase.

I’d rather select appliances for how they perform, how they fit the design, and what they cost than buy an entire suite simply because the handles match.

Make the Budget Work for the Design

For me, smart spending means investing in the features you’ll enjoy every day and finding savings that still support the finished result.

A striking island slab. A bathroom remnant that looks anything but leftover. A shower with thoughtful tile transitions. A great appliance purchased at a better price.

Those choices add up to a home that feels intentional—and a budget that went where it mattered.

Want help bringing these ideas home? Explore Full-Service Interior Design or Virtual Design.

Planning a remodel in Colorado Springs, Monument, or the surrounding area? Contact Kristine Krupa Interiors to schedule a Design Discovery Meeting. Let’s decide where your project deserves a splurge and where we can find a smart save.