I’m in the process of making some pretty hefty decisions for our new home. Yes, the most important room in the house is on my mind: THE KITCHEN.
My biggest request for the new home was an open kitchen floorplan. Something that flowed into a large breakfast room and living space so the kitchen didn’t feel so disconnected from the rest of the house.
And then I found the perfect floorplan that suited my family. Here’s a little snippet…
For me, this area right here is what sold us on the house. The large kitchen center island that will seat at least 5 stools, large breakfast room, and an adjacent hearth room so my family is within an arm’s reach.
The photo below is a pretty similar kitchen for structural purposes only (the center island and cabinet layout are a bit different but at least it gives you an idea).
And here’s kinda-sorta what our hearth room/sunroom will look like straight on but we’ll have a vaulted ceiling. We’re still debating on the stone fireplace but our budget is quickly depleting, bummer.
Now I keep finding these beautiful gourmet kitchens on Houzz and Pinterest, but c’mon people… I can’t afford 80% of the things in those pictures. We’re focusing on structural at this point, knowing we can always upgrade lighting and other things later. So I’m scaling back my dream kitchen a bit to fit my budget, and luckily I’ve found some tips and tricks that will give me that dream kitchen on a real budget.
First of all, we couldn’t quite afford granite countertops. I love the look, but I hate the price tag. Then I found the Wilsonart® HD® High Definition® Laminate countertops that looks just like granite but within our price range (approximately one-third of the cost of real stone granite, yay!).
These Wilsonart countertops seriously look realistic with natural flow patterns and mineral details. For homeowners this is the dream of combining the beauty and durability of real stone with an affordable price. And it’s inspired by actual granite with all of the cool veins and markings.
Plus the AEON™ Enhanced Performance Technology from Wilsonart means countertops are durable‑up to five times more scuff resistant than traditional laminate.
We’d also like to get a Wilsonart® HD® Integrated Sink to give our countertops an upscale, clean look. There’s no lip, no seam. Instantly makes the kitchen sophisticated, don’t you think? And the Wilsonart Integrated Sinks are resistant to both stains and heat. BONUS.
Another cool part of the Wilsonart countertops is that you can choose a decorative edge to really set it apart from other laminate countertops. The Beveled, Cascade, and Crescent edges are three of the most popular edges and definitely are the perfect finishing touch (plus an affordable way to achieve the granite look without the visible seams).
I know not everyone is building new, so keep these facts in mind when remodeling your home as well. Whether it’s your kitchen, bathroom or laundry room, Wilsonart offers the best quality, design and affordability.
Soon I’ll be sharing more of our floorplan so stay tuned!
If you want some more information on this product, check out:
www.wilsonart.com/dreamkitchens
or you can find them on Pinterest for more kitchen makeover ideas!
Emily @ My Love for Words says
“Our budget’s quickly depleting”… that seems to be the story of every build/remodel, doesn’t it? I hate when that pesky budget-thing prevents me from doing what I want. Great layout! And 5 stools around the island?! A dream come true. Congrats!
howtonestforless says
Haha, thanks Emily! It’s amazing how quickly things add up 😉
Ceci Bean says
I wouldn’t have believed laminate countertops could look so appealing until I saw the faux-marble ones on myoldcountryhouse.com. Maybe the old stigma is wearing off!
howtonestforless says
It’s amazing what they can do with countertops these days!
Jodie Wilson says
We have the Wilsonart with the beveled edge and we get compliments on them all the time.
howtonestforless says
Oooh, good to know you like the beveled edge! It’s kinda hard to choose between the three 😉
Trish says
I’m loving your blog, thanks for the fabulous inspiration! I’ve designed a lot of kitchens and would suggest that you skip the corner sink and windows. Corner sink cabinets take up a ton of valuable storage space, also the dishwasher right beside the corner makes it awkward to load. I would suggest moving the sink to the center of the wall with a window above and dishwasher to the right. I also like sinks in the island,so you don’t have your back to the room while you are cleaning and prepping food. Good luck whatever you decide!
howtonestforless says
Thanks for the tips, Trish! Since we’re not building custom I’ll have to ask the builder what is possible with the configuration. I know we have to consider the ducting in the walls. I’ll definitely ask though since I would love to move the sink on the back wall with a large window above!
Chelsea (@two_twenty_one) says
Wilsonart countertops would be awesome in our upcoming kitchen renovation. Their Bainbrook Grey would be perfect! I also love the integrated sink. Personally, my favorite edge is the cascade– loving the clean look. PS I’m super jealous of your hearth/sunroom with vaulted ceilings. Can’t wait to visit!
howtonestforless says
The Bainbrook Grey is my favorite, too! And come visit anytime. We’ll have plenty of room for pesky guests 😉
Morgan says
Love them!! They look gorgeous!! I love that they are beautiful yet durable. With 4 kids that’s important! I love the sink look too! I would love to look into doing this!
howtonestforless says
Yes, with 4 kids durability is key!!
Mary Borgsmiller says
Love the kitchen and hearth room. So nice to know other people who cannot afford granite etc. but can find beautiful alternatives to use. i’m not even sold on granite and the price is so prohibitive! Keep us posted, I’m loving what your are designing. I don’t get to build new but am remodeling….next is a bathroom, well really two , so i have to get looking!
howtonestforless says
Thank you so much. And good luck with your remodeling, Mary! Bathrooms are always fun to redesign. So many options for sinks, flooring, lighting and countertops these days. Exciting times ahead!!
Amanda @ Serenity Now says
Love the hearth room…wow! The integrated sink is tool cool…I am Pinning this for future reference in case pigs actually do fly and I ever get to build my dream home. These are all things I’d use!!
howtonestforless says
Thanks Amanda! And ha, know what you mean about when pigs fly. Thankfully it’s totally affordable when considering of a remodel! Good luck to you 😉
Carolyn says
We put in these countertops when we built our home 5 years ago and went with the Deepstar Fossil with the beveled edge. We love them – the textured surface is wonderful – they have held up splendidly and we’re extremely pleased!
howtonestforless says
Oh, so glad to hear Carolyn! I have to admit I didn’t think much about the texture of these, ha. Glad to know you love them!
Pat F. says
I am also planning on a kitchen/bathroom remodel within the next year in anticipation of a house sale and am gathering ideas and suggestions. Wilsonart has some really beautiful stonework and I just ordered a sample to look at. Hopefully, the look and price will be a go! Thanks for your wonderful blog!
Pat F.
Las Vegas
howtonestforless says
Thanks Pat. Good luck with your bathroom and kitchen remodels. Let me know how the samples go!
JoAnn says
My hubby and I are planning to downsize to our retirement home, so we are also looking at house plans and pricing. As for kitchens, I’m leaning toward the IKEA kitchens with the butcher block counters or even old barn wood for countertops with resin poured on top for durability and cleaning. My brother-in-law did this with his kitchen island (he is a cabinetmaker) with 100+ year heart pine planks and it is gorgeous. I lived with formica in our first home – a trailer – and I just can’t go back to those days, no matter how great formica is now. Love you house plans…I’m addicted to all the house plans sites!!!!
howtonestforless says
Thanks JoAnn! Good luck with your new plans as well!
Katie says
LOVE your kitchen floor plan and that huge island!
howtonestforless says
Thanks Katie!
Chrissy says
I had those counters in my last house and loved them. They look great and at an affordable price! Also, I love your floor plan! Happy planning! 🙂
howtonestforless says
Thanks Chrissy! Glad to hear you loved the countertops!!