It’s Friday, and I’m feeling playful. How about a game?

We’ll call it “Spot the Look for Less”!

photo a

photo b

One of these photos from Metropolitan Home Magazine shows a foyer done-up with “High End” merchandise. The other replicates the look for less.

Can you spot which room is sporting the look for less?

(By the way…I apologize for the annoying little blue circles in the photos. They will be important later when we compare pricing.)

Cast your vote below. Oh – and let’s play fair. If you know the answer…don’t give it away!

I will share the results tomorrow. Check back for the big “Look for Less” reveal!

A good friend just confided that she is moving. Number one on her “Getting the House Ready For Selling – To Do List” is finally getting around to updating one of the bathrooms. She and her husband had planned an extensive remodel, but now that they are moving…a quick fix makes more sense.

This got me thinking about ideas for inexpensive countertops. After all, countertop resurfacing alone can change the entire feel and look of a room.

Here are several different inexpensive countertops to consider:

photo courtesy of tileinstaller.com

Granite tiles are an easy DIY project for countertop resurfacing. By keeping the tiles tightly spaced, and by using larger tiles as opposed to the 12″ size, you can achieve the look of a solid surface for a fraction of the cost. You can even get some granite tiles in the 24″ x 24″ size, which would cover the entire width of a standard kitchen countertop or bath vanity. The only grout lines would then run vertically between the tiles.
Edges can be finished with bullnose pieces (for a rounded edge), cut tiles (for a flat edge) or wood trim. Since granite tiles for countertop resurfacing can be found at local building supply stores like Home Deopt, Menards and HOBO, they are an excellent choice for your frugal remodeling!



Granite remnants are also a good choice for inexpensive countertops! Local installers and granite yards often have pieces from past projects which they are willing to part with for a fraction of the retail price.



You can even find remnants for countertop resurfacing on Craigslist.



If you are lucky enough to find a remnant you like, your local granite fabricator can work with you to re-cut the piece to fit in your space.

While remnants might not be enough for an entire kitchen re-do, it is highly likely you will find enough to cover a bathroom vanity.

Although, never say never. If you find a remnant piece at a granite wholesaler or fabricator’s shop, you might be able to find matching whole-slabs to complete the project – especially if you have multiple counters which are not joined.


photo courtesy of Coastal Living

Glass tiles are another idea for inexpensive countertops. While glass tiles can be slightly more expensive, it is still possible to find lots of discounted tiles on sites like Craigslist and eBay. The sizes tend to be smaller than traditional ceramic or granite tiles…but the effect is sure give you a lot of bang for your buck!

Do you have ideas for inexpensive countertops? Send FDG photos of your countertop resurfacing project and we will post it here for all to ooh and ahh over.

Read on for frugal kitchen renovating ideas to compliment your inexpensive countertops.

Are you looking for cost-saving, small kitchen remodeling ideas? Try looking on Craigslist for discounted display kitchens!

Unfortunately, kitchen and bath remodeling companies come and go. As a result, you can often find their gently-used display kitchens to make your small kitchen remodeling ideas a frugal budget reality!

The kitchen shown in the photo above is offered at $4500, which includes not only the cabinets, but the granite counters and tiled back splash! That is a fraction of what the granite alone would cost you paying full retail!

Now…you might say, “But FDG…our kitchen isn’t shaped like that” or “We would need additional cabinets.”

Lucky for you, the days of everything-has-to-be-matchy-matchy are gone!

photo courtesy of KBOnline

photo courtesy of Accent Building Products



photo courtesy of KraftMaid Cabinets

Consider adding interest to your small kitchen remodeling ideas! Varying cabinet colors, heights, wood grains, stains and even counter top materials gives your kitchen the “furniture collected over the years” quality designers drool over.

You can purchase a display kitchen, use the pieces which work for you and then supplement with additional cabinetry from your local home store. If need be, you can get custom-blended stains and paints to make it all work together.

You can also hire an independent granite fabricator to help make counter tops fit your specific kitchen layout.

Of course…before you go ahead and buy you will want to work all of these specifics out. Often, the kitchen showroom staff will be able to help you determine if the display kitchen will work for your kitchen needs. They may also be able to order additional pieces, so it is definitely worth asking.

Here are some additional display kitchens currently being offered on Craigslist:




Craigslist Chicago - $47,500 kitchen for $8500



Craigslist Atlanta - 8 cabinets for $1000



Craigslist Minneapolis - $3850 complete

Using a Craigslist display sale to make your small kitchen remodeling ideas a reality can save you thousands of dollars. Just remember to thank Frugal Design Girl.

For more kitchen remodeling ideas, check out this information about DIY Built-in Kitchen Banquette Seating.

photo courtesy of Apartment Therapy

Ta-da! DIY built in kitchen banquette seating! The key? Using kitchen cabinets – the ones typically reserved for use above a refrigerator.

For the above photo, the cabinets were simply strung together and secured with screws. Below is a slightly more sophisticated version of the same project from This Old House magazine.

photo courtesy of This Old House

Before you begin, here are a few points to consider:

Will your banquette interfere with the natural traffic flow of your kitchen? If so, then perhaps there are better options.

Will your banquette be also used as storage? If so, then you will want to incorporate working doors or drawers into your design. If not, then you are free to use plywood or veneered fronts.

Will your benches have backs to them? If so, this will increase both the cost and difficulty of the project.

Will your seats be cushioned? If so, you may wish to consider a way to attach the cushions so that they do not slip and slide every time someone sits down or slides over.

Built in kitchen banquette seating not only provides the perfect opportunity for creating a cozy, family space…it is a geat way to maximize your space!

Now that my friend has all of the photos she needs to get her hubby started, I can’t wait to photograph the end result and share it with all of you!

If you have a banquette in your kitchen…or have attempted this project on your own…let FDG know about!
For more small kitchen remodeling ideas, check out this article on display kitchens.
You can follow the link for the directions from This Old House to make your own built in kitchen banquette seating.
The DIY Network also has some teriffic videos showing how to construct built in kitchen banquette seating.

For more on making your own kitchen banquette, check out this article.