source: residential architect Magazine
publication date: June 1, 2007
By Nigel F. Maynard
Finding worthy products for price-conscious custom homes is a tough gig. But if you love the hunt like we do, it's bound to reward everyone involved. Yes, your products must prove penny-wise, but they can't look cheap or perform poorly. They must withstand the rigors of everyday life at least as well as their more precious counterparts.
Admittedly, cheap is in the eye of the budget holder, but we think the collection on the following pages is a bargain at twice the price.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a pot filler this handsome for less than $300. But now you can. Danze's Melrose has an MSRP of $250 but can be found online for less than $200. The wall-mounted faucet has a 15-inch swing arm for easy access and brass and ceramic disc valves controlled by lever handles. It's designed for cold water hook-up and can be speced in chrome or stainless steel. Danze, 877.530.3344; www.danze.com.
The contrast of rich espresso-stained wood against the polished, angular forms of West Elm's metal/wood bathroom accessories lends sophistication to the budget-savvy bath. The line's most expensive piece, an 18-inch glass storage shelf, retails for $44. Other accessories include a $16 hook for robes, a toilet tissue holder ($19), and three stylish hangouts for towels: a $24 square ring, an 18-inch bar for $29, and a 24-inch bar for $39. West Elm, 888.922.4119; www.westelm.com.
These Sausalito house numbers from Chiasso have a clean Art Deco-inspired design and exposed fastening screws. Made from solid zinc with a polished finish, each number varies slightly in size for visual interest. Priced at $18 apiece. Chiasso, 877.244.2776; www.chiasso.com.
Some of the basins in Duravit's Starck 3 series retail for less than $300, and a couple of them can be had for less than $200—a sweet deal for a designer label. Minimalist lines and maximum choices in size, mounting styles, and faucet pairings characterize the collection. Duravit USA, 888.387.2848, www.duravit.us.
No need to worry about foreign exchange rates with Venicia Euro-style frameless cabinets from KraftMaid. All three collections—Lustra, Mirra, and Natura—are affordable, yet customizable to suit nearly any décor. The system offers 28 door styles plus two glass door choices, 31 colors and finishes, and more than 40 hardware options. Premium features like blended-color cabinets to match doors come at standard price points. KraftMaid Cabinetry, 440.632.5333; www.kraftmaid.com.
FLOR modular carpet tiles are easy to install, easy on the wallet, and easy on the environment. The 19.7-inch-square tiles come in a variety of colors, textures, and patterns and install over wood, tile, or unsealed concrete. Crafted from recycled or renewable resources, the chic tiles sell for roughly $4 to $6 per square foot. An added plus: the manufacturer will take back customers' used tiles for recycling. InterfaceFLOR, 866.281.3567; www.flor.com.
The Stanton dual-force toilet from Sterling is European in design sensibility, but its $348 list price is pure Yankee thrift. Cheaper toilets do exist, but at this price, you'll get a toilet that sits flush to the wall. The modified one-piece design, crafted of vitreous china, also has a fully glazed and concealed trap and an elongated bowl. A two-button actuator provides a 0.8-gallon or standard 1.6-gallon flush. Sterling by Kohler Co., 888.783.7546; www.sterlingplumbing.com.
Ikea's Kvist bamboo flooring is gentle on the planet and the pocketbook, at just $2.88 per square foot. The 5-inch-wide planks install over most types of materials, from raw concrete to existing finished floors, and can be re-sanded twice. They're available in natural bamboo or with a light brown finish. Ikea, 800.434.4532; www.ikea.com.