Kitchen & Bath Business July/August 2021 - 65

cabinets had no hardware, so Verbist added gold
pulls to bounce light around the room.
It was important to the designer to match the
gold tone of the finish on the hardware, faucet and
lighting, which required multiple showroom visits,
returnable product orders and lots of online research.
She sourced cabinet hardware from Etsy,
purchasing all 42 pulls directly from the manufacturer.
More research led her to the ideal pendant
lights, faucet and sink. With each product, Verbist
looked for high quality at the best price.
To replace the dated, white appliances, she
worked with her clients to select a package from
one brand, which made it less expensive. There
was a bit of compromise on both sides in choosing
the range - the clients wanted gas, but there was
no line, so Verbist talked them out of the expense.
At the same time, she thought it would be worth
spending more to buy a range with front controls
- the clients decided not to, although later, they
wished they had.
An inexpensive upgrade that added light and
comfort to the kitchen was the inclusion of smart
switches. The designer replaced all bulbs with
LEDs that are now connected via Google Home.
KNOWING HOW TO SPLURGE WITH STYLE
Thanks to the budget savings of reusing existing
cabinetry and keeping the appliance cost low,
Verbist was able to choose a high-end Calacatta
quartz countertop.
" That's one place - the focal point - where we
spent a lot of money, " she added.
However, to mitigate cost on this pricey feature,
the designer worked directly with the stone
company, which provided an all-inclusive service
from cutting to installing for a flat fee.
" There was just one price for the total and no
surprises, " said Verbist. " It was a splurge, but at the
same time, we saved money. "
She tucked four new bar stools beneath
the exterior edges of the new countertop and
peninsula. These were expensive for such a budgetconscious
project, but they have the exact beachy
style she wanted to bring to the project.
Finally, the designer decided to splurge on a
second surface and chose a backsplash tile crafted
of real marble with gold stripes. It adds a definite
wow factor to the kitchen, and although it was
pricey, she only needed a small amount because
most of the kitchen is open, so the total outlay did
not overwhelm the budget.
Even with the efforts Verbist made to research
and source cost-effective products and materials,
she credits working with a trusted team for
reaching her project goals.
" Labor is expensive and represents a significant
portion of the budget, " she said.
65
In addition to being onsite throughout the
ABOVE The new quartz
countertop provides plenty of
space for food prep and eating.
project to track progress and avoid costly mistakes,
Verbist makes a point of repeatedly working with
the same contractors and sub-contractors to create
a relationship of trust with them. Following those
rules and knowing clever tricks for saving and
splurging are most important to keeping a budget
on track.

SOURCES
DESIGNER: Samia
Verbist, Samia Verbist
Interior Design LLC;
PHOTOGRAPHER: Ning
Wong Studios
BACKSPLASH: GBI Tiles
& Stone; BAR STOOLS:
Ballard Designs; CABINET
PAINT: Benjamin Moore;
CABINET HARDWARE:
HookedPullMeKnob;
COUNTERTOP: Di Franco
Stone Specialist;
DISPOSAL/SINK STRAINER:
Kohler; FAUCETS:
Signature Hardware;
LIGHTING: Possini Euro;
DISHWASHER, MICROWAVE,
RANGE & REFRIGERATOR:
Samsung; SINK: MR
Direct; SMART DIMMER
SWITCH: Kasa
LEFT The marble and gold
backsplash pairs perfectly
with the kitchen's many gold
fixtures.
Kitchen & Bath Business July/August 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Kitchen & Bath Business July/August 2021
