Kitchen Design on a Budget

The couple’s extensive DIY list included electrical work, plumbing, backsplash installation, cutting away cabinets to install a new microwave, plastering holes, painting the cabinets, and more. “Joel would do the research and figure out how to do it,” Mandy says, and then they worked together to complete the task, saving them tons of money on labor costs.

Mandy found pieces that felt high end at an affordable price point by scouring sites like Craigslist and eBay and shopping at IKEA. “It was a fun challenge, and I actually really enjoyed the process of it. ‘The find’ is always really fun, if you’ve found something for a really good deal,” she says. “Plus, I can enjoy it so much better when I know I didn’t spend a gazillion dollars on it!”