Ditto on the HD subways and my $1.99 orb knobs/handles from Target that look and feel better than other $35 knobs I've seen.

I'm restoring all of my antique lighting that was purchased on ebay. One of the pieces (it was a set of 4) was $500. I found them on the internet at a restoration lighting store...for $2200 each :^O

My onyx sink was under $200 and I saw it at a local retailer for $1000 :) I love ebay LOL

another ebay lover here.

we were planning on doing cheap subway tile in an upstairs shower stall that we're rolling into our kitchen remodel due to the fact that it leaks down into the kitchen. it's a kid's/guest bathroom, so we don't feel the need to make it fancy.

then we found these glass mosaics on ebay for $3.50/sq.ft. and decided it was worth the extra 75 bucks or so.

Here is a link that might be useful: ebay glass mosaics

And another ebay lover!

But my looks expensive but was really cheap item was my soapstone countertops. $25/SF DIY ;-)

Then there's the copper range hood that was really a repurposed antique chimney cap for $300.

The other was my bar backsplash, probably also about $300 DIY.

So far, I have gotten salvage solid oak flooring, 3/4" thick to match my existing for only $288 for 180 sf. I found beautiful "french wire" style chandeliers from Stock Blowout for over the island and table for $225 (no tax or shipping. So similiar to Circa Lighting ones I found for triple that for just one.I also got a great looking Price Pfister "rustic pewter" finish faucet for $63 on ebay (retails for more than $250). That is all I have actually purchased so far.

Let's see....

There is the copper & slate backsplash that was DIY & cost about $150 because all materials were recycled.

All appliances & fixtures were bought online, literally saving thousands over local costs - & I didn't have a problem with anything + the selections were better!

DIY milkpaint finish on the site-built cabinets. A lot of work but nothing compared to the cost of having it done, providing I could have found anyone local to do a professional job.

Visitors always comment on how much I must have spent for this kitchen with its 11' ceilings with everything scaled to match, but in reality, it was much less than the average kitchen from a big box store.

My antique pine island (affectionately know as the 'continent') top. (Thanks to Allison0704 for the inspiration!) I got four 12 foot long barn floor joists from a guy at the flea market for $300. My GC is going to fabricate them into a top for the raised part of the island for about $450. My KD wanted 'at least' $2,200 to make a top for me. Plus there would have been many seams and it wouldn't have gone with the look I am trying to achieve. I can't wait until it's installed!

sweeby-

I can't help it but, HOLY SMOKES! I love that idea for your hood! Also, where did you get your soapstone? We plan to DIY our soapstone too, and I LOVE that price!!

Since we're doing the kitchen in brushed nickel finishes, we are converting the door hardware in our entire house to brushed nickel (from that goldy brassy stuff). We got a significantly less expensive price for all of this from Lockset Discounters via Ebay. For example: We bought FOUR sets of bedroom door hardware for the same price as ONE set from Home Depot or Lowes. We ended up needing full hardware including deadbolts for 3 exterior doors, 6 interior doors - never would have done this if I hadn't found them on Ebay.

I lusted for a Rohl & Perrin bridge faucet and spray, but getting that would have meant a deep cut somewhere else. I looked at 100's of faucets and the one I liked next best to the R&P was a gooseneck by American Standard. I like how the porcelain knobs on the handles stand out on my soapstone, and people comment on it all the time.

I could have gone with one twice the price and stayed within budget, but it was a great find cost wise -especially from the great online source I found through this forum.

Amberly - We got our soapstone from Brasilstone in Houston - Can't say for sure they're still there since the freeway they front is a MESS! And the chimney cap was from an architectural salvage and antiques store. We got that a few years early because we just fell in love with the piece and knew that when the time came to do our kitchen, it would be perfect. It did a few years as an end table before it became a range hood.

Love this question,

Sweeby, I actually need a chimney cap cuz I'm getting tired of the blue tarp (Had roofers out three times to fix leak...until someone figured out water was coming through chimney...arghh). Now, I can add going through architectural salvage yards for a chimney cap to my list... Also, did you do the cutouts for the leaves- did you buy the leaves, make them yourself? Would love to know more details!

For me, best one was the $14 soap dispenser from HD that I swear looks just like the online photo of the Blanco one that matches my faucet and was over $220! Well, actually another HD deal was even better, I got my DR chandelier for about $220 on a HD online auction, and it retails for about $2400!!!

Sweeby! How are you? I've been away from GW for almost a year and it's heartwarming to know that you're still here, encouraging and aiding those in need. I'm just chiming in as another fan of your beautiful copper range hood!

I used to collect copper pots, trivets, etc. and I love this clever repurposing that you've achieved. It's beautiful!

I suppose I would say that I love my copper switchplates from Menard's. They match the knobs and pulls that I ordered from a catalog.

I believe the copper switchplates from Menard's cost about $8 dollars vs the ones I was going to order for considerably more. I needed a total of six.

Our marble backsplash was actually a scrimp...we got it on close-out for $7/sqft. I know that's much pricier than ceramic, but considering that I really loved a ming green marble tile that was $40/sqft it was a comparative steal. Actually I wanted to do a full granite splash, but that was $$$$ (would have needed another 1/2 a slab!)

Not bad looking for a deal though, is it?

I bought faucets and towel racks (Danze, Grohe) from ebay at big savings over local options. One day I strolled down the towel rack aisle of local building supply store and there were modern, brushed stainless robe hooks for $2. They're very sturdy, functional, and good looking and make me smile when I think I could have spent $30+ for each one if they were from a "name" company and "matched" the other fixtures.

My knobs and cup pulls were only $1 and $1.59 on e-bay and LOTS more everywhere else.

My faux Pottery Barn saddle stools came from Bed Bath & Beyond when they were having a Buy 2 get one free sale plus a 20% off total purchase coupon. Spent like $140 or something and it would have cost me more than $500 at Pottery Barn. They're exactly the same stool!

Bought my $50 per panel Linens-n-Things curtains at Ross for $9.99 per panel.

And my favorite kitchen accessory, Towel Pig, was only $12.99 at TJ Maxx. I don't know what he goes for everywhere else but I just love that darn pig so much! I have seen some much pricier ones on e-bay. Oh, and I saw the exact same pig (well he may have had wings...not sure) on a recent episode of "Spice Up My Kitchen". He was sitting on their new kitchen island. Funny!

What a fun thread! My Target bar stools are an exact copy of Pottery Barn ones, for half the cost. Knobs and pulls are from Home Expo and are much cheaper than the ones I liked from Restoration Hardward (and I like them better).

Our biggest "scrimp" was firing the $$$ design/build firm we went through the design process with (until they came in $100k over our budget) and hiring a local builder for much less and getting much, much, MUCH more. It's a great feeling.

Ooooh, I love this thread!

I'm very fond of Craigslist and so proud of my Dacor 36" Cooktop in stainless for $40!!!!! Someone had bought a home and remodeled the kitchen wanting a Wolf range so I scored bigtime on that. Once I cleaned it up it looked beautiful, only a few very small scratches.

I also got a brand new Kohler bathroom sink on CL for $85 which retails for $225.

Not sure about the leaf tiles above, but if you're looking for some beautiful ones, check out the link below. We bought 5 sf from them for an inset entry area but its not installed yet, but the leaf tiles themselves are quite amazing! I would think you could buy just a couple of feet and accomplish something like the backsplash above. Not really a scrimp but cheaper than something similar cost in our local tiles store.

Here is a link that might be useful: Leaf tiles

OK, bluekitobsessed... I have to 'fess up. I couldn't justify spending $200 each for the 6 pendants I really wanted, so I bought the Kichler discontinued cobalt blue pyramid shaped pendants from an ebay vendor for $15 each. Since light fixtures are easy to swap out, I planned to use these as a temporary cost saving measure until I could buy the others.

Well, as things turned out, these fixtures were actually pretty cool and inspired me to paint the walls navy and use the navy & stainless mosaic tile (from Costco.com). I love the finished look and am very grateful at the serendipitous turn of events!

nuccia - While modern isn't my taste at all, I just love your kitchen. It's very stunning.

So, my scrimp that feels like a splurge (at least to date) is our beautiful hardwood floor. We shopped around a lot and bargained for a really good price. It's something I never thought I'd have. It feels so, so, wonderful.

Not stained or anything yet but still gorgeous...

You know this is coming up: my stunning blue kitchen cabinets, almost all drawers, fully-extending, all with dampers, and 25 year warranty, for $5,000 for 13.5' x 9' kitchen (IKEA).