11 Ways to Save on a Kitchen Redo

Analyze your cooking habits before buying, and only get a high-end appliance if you'll use the advanced features. The Weinhardts' love of cooking justified splurging on a pro-style range, but they opted for a midrange refrigerator and dishwasher to compensate.

Debating about what to replace? "Get rid of any refrigerator more than 10 years old," Minneapolis kitchen designer Debbie Thompson says. "They're energy hogs." And if you're low on cash, wait to buy a freestanding stove or dishwasher; they come in standard sizes, so you can replace them anytime.

Pictured: "The stove was the one thing we did not want to compromise on," Karrie Weinhardt says. "We wanted the double oven, six burners and a griddle. But we saved everywhere else."