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Ty Pennington’s 3 Tips for Transforming Your Kitchen on a Budget

Alexandra Frost
Alexandra Frost
Alexandra Frost is a Cincinnati-based freelance journalist, content marketing writer, copywriter, and editor focusing on health and wellness, parenting, real estate, business, education, and lifestyle. Away from the keyboard, Alex is also mom to her four sons under age 7, who keep things chaotic, fun, and interesting. For over a decade she has been helping publications and companies connect with readers and bring high-quality information and research to them in a relatable voice. She has been published in the Washington Post, Huffington Post, Glamour, Shape, Today's Parent, Reader's Digest, Parents, Women's Health, and Insider. Alex has a Master of Arts in Teaching, and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications/Journalism, both from Miami University. She has also taught high school for 10 years, specializing in media education.
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published Jan 21, 2021
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Credit: HGTV

This month, HGTV fans got a taste of Ty Pennington‘s new show “Ty Breaker”. In the first episode, Pennington goes all in on creating the perfect kitchen for entertaining — and delivers some affordable tips in the process.

In the show’s premiere, Pennington works with grad student Morgan’s on her first single-family home remodel, and she requests a kitchen where she can entertain her friends. Working alongside HGTV designer Alison Victoria, Pennington reveals some expert-approved tips on creating a “glam” kitchen look on a tight budget. Here’s his advice that could make a difference in your own space:

Opt for plain cabinets but fancy hardware

Victoria chooses white Shaker cabinets for Morgan’s kitchen. Shaker-style cabinets are classic and simple, with a recessed middle panel. Pennington suggests that instead of dropping money on cabinets, homeowners should invest in high-quality hardware like drawer pulls and knobs. Victoria calls these the “jewelry of the kitchen” and chooses dark industrial hardware, creating a more “timeless” look. Check out these oil-rubbed bronze pulls for a similar vibe in your kitchen.

Lose the shiny counter look with “leathered” granite

It’s a shame when a beautiful granite countertop has just too much shine. In the show, Morgan says how relieved she is that the countertop choice has more of a matte finish. Victoria explains that by choosing a leather finish, homeowners get more of a textured look. Check out the finished product in this sneak peek of Morgan’s kitchen from HGTV. 

Go big on your subway tiles

Victoria refers to the oversized subway tiles she and Pennington chooses as the “bling” of the room. Homeowners can save money by selecting larger tiles that are cheaper, and they also recommend choosing magnetic options that allow you to play around with the direction. Pennington tries herringbone (angled) and brick (horizontal/straight) Discovery+, Amazon Prime, and HGTV.

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