Transformation on a Tight Budget and Timeline
A previous realtor client approached designer Samia Verbist, owner of Newport Beach, Calif.-based Samia Verbist Interior Design, with a challenging project – transform an outdated townhome into a stylish, modern space in less than two months. The client had purchased the 1,500-square-foot home to renovate and sell, so in addition to the short timeframe, budget was top of mind.
Two updates crucial to reimagining the home were removing a massive brick fireplace that blocked the entrance from the living space and opening the cramped kitchen, which required structural changes that would take up about 15% of the budget. Verbist focused on sourcing quality materials at good prices to make sure she could meet the client’s request for a home that would shed its bland 1960s roots and do well on the market.
“My client wanted something trendy that aligned with what buyers are looking for,” she said. “And we wanted to add plenty of personality.”
Structural Splurges
Before updating the aesthetics, Verbist overhauled the layout of the main living space. The fireplace, which had floated between the entryway and living area, came out. The removal required a lot of labor and expense, but it provided an open main living area fit for a contemporary lifestyle.
The existing kitchen was small, closed off and included a door to the garage. The client knew a kitchen island was a must for buyers, so to accommodate that, Verbist needed more space. She removed the kitchen walls, which luckily were not supporting.
Without the walls, the kitchen’s low ceiling – 96 inches – was visibly out of sync with the ceiling heights of the adjacent spaces – 110 inches in the living room and 100 inches in the dining room. Above the kitchen, there was enough available space to allow Verbist to reorganize the ductwork and raise the ceiling there and in the dining area to 108 inches, which if not an exact match, is more cohesive with the living room.
“We did everything by code,” she said. “You don’t want to be cheap on the bones or need to go back and open the wall or ceiling to fix something.”
The final structural change was moving the garage door from the kitchen to the dining room, which extended the kitchen’s footprint.
Savings from Kitchen to Bathrooms
To update an entire three-bedroom, two-bathroom home within a tight budget, Verbist and her client looked for ways to save money on finishes and fixtures while maintaining a high level of quality.
For the kitchen and bathrooms, she chose prefabricated white Shaker cabinets and paired them with wood-look tile to add warmth. The flooring throughout the kitchen and living areas is luxury vinyl. Already a reasonably priced option, Verbist found it on sale, so it was even less expensive. Her client went to an outlet for the kitchen appliances and saved money purchasing the entire package.
“We tried to find sales and went to big suppliers where there are a lot of choices for materials,” said the designer.
In the main bathroom, the eye-catching patterned floor tile came from Floor & Décor, while the prefabricated countertop is quartz that only looks like marble. The existing shower had a bench, which Verbist chose to keep. Most of the fixtures and faucets in the bathrooms and kitchen were ordered from an online retailer, as was the bathroom lighting.
As she had done to add warmth in the kitchen, the designer chose a wood-look tile for the full-height backsplash and one shower wall. The tile is similar to the one in the kitchen but less expensive and serves the same purpose – to make the prefab vanity and countertop look special.
“You don’t have to spend a fortune to make it appear custom,” she said.
Putting Money Where It Counts on a Tight Budget
While many of this home’s features are intentionally cost conscious, Verbist knew spending more on generating a wow factor would be worth it. In the kitchen, the
high-end Porcelanosa wall tile is the showstopper. It also wraps two sides of the island.
“The tile elevates the look without the expense of custom cabinets,” she said.
Because the kitchen and living room are connected, she used the same tile in a different pattern on the surround of the new fireplace, which sits along a wall rather than in the middle of the space.
When working with a budget, it is important to start the project knowing what is worth spending money on. Designers can keep an open mind in terms of sourcing and mix expensive pieces with less costly ones as long as they are good quality. The client’s final goal for this renovation was achieved when the updated home found its buyer.
“It’s not about the budget,” said Verbist. “It’s about how you mix everything together.”
SOURCES
DESIGNER: Samia Verbist, Owner, Samia Verbist Interior Design LLC
PHOTOGRAPHERS: Preview First Photos
KITCHEN
BACKSPLASH: Porcelanosa; COUNTERTOP: MSI; CABINET HARDWARE: The Haliwu Store; CABINETS: 405 Cabinets & Stone; DISHWASHER, MICROWAVE, RANGE & REFRIGERATOR: GE Café; FAUCET: Vigo; FLOORING: Evergreen; LIGHTING: Pendant Savoy House; SINK: Casainc
MAIN BATH
BACKSPLASH & WALL TILE: State College Distributors; CABINET HARDWARE: The Haliwu Store; COUNTERTOP: Best Cheer Stone Inc; FAUCETS: Wowow; FLOORING: Floor & Décor; LIGHTING: Bellevue; MIRRORS: MyLovelyLands; SHOWER FIXTURES: Gabrylly; VANITY: 405 Cabinets & Stone
