www.architecturaldigest.com Open in urlscan Pro
151.101.128.239  Public Scan

Form analysis
0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

Skip to main content

Open Navigation Menu
Menu
Story Saved

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories.

Close Alert


12 Home Splurges That You’ll Never Regret, According to Interior Designers
 * Directory
 * Architecture + Design
 * Real Estate
 * Shopping
 * AD It Yourself
 * CLEVER
 * Celebrity
 * Lifestyle
 * AD Pro
 * Video

Story Saved

To revisit this article, select My Account, then View saved stories

Close Alert

Sign In
SUBSCRIBE




 * Directory
 * Architecture + Design
 * Real Estate
 * Shopping
 * AD It Yourself
 * CLEVER
 * Celebrity
 * Lifestyle
 * AD Pro
 * Video

 * Newsletter Sign Up
 * AD Reviews
 * Condé Nast Store
 * The Magazine
 * About AD

 * Amy Astley’s Edit
 * Decor Under $300
 * Outdoor Trend Report
 * Shop New Arrivals
 * Shop Our Editor’s Picks

Chevron
Step inside the world of ADGo beyond this complimentary article and get
unlimited digital access for only $3.33 $1.50 per month. GET DIGITAL ACCESS
Already a subscriber? Sign in

Get unlimited access to AD for only $3.33 $1.50 per month. GET DIGITAL ACCESS




culture + lifestyle


12 HOME SPLURGES THAT YOU’LL NEVER REGRET, ACCORDING TO INTERIOR DESIGNERS

From steam ovens to custom art, design pros weigh in on the extravagant buys
that merit the hefty price tag

By Perri Ormont Blumberg

April 1, 2024
Illustration: Julia Abbonizio/Getty Images
Save this storySave
Save this storySave

Presented by Dyson

Budgeting for home renovations or designing your new digs from scratch is like
planning for a wedding: You set your budget, but then you just have to have that
Champagne wall. Or in the case of apartment or home upgrades, it might be a
custom fabricated sink for a powder room or perfect accent chair for your living
room, says Katie Winnington, principal designer of C&E Furniture + Design on
Fenwick Island, Delaware. “I always like to explain to my clients early on that
there will be something at some point that will be worth splurging on,” she
explains. “It’s going to be the thing that you are so excited about,” she
continues, noting that whenever that occurs, she knows it’s worth it for the
client, and they’ll be able to pare back elsewhere.



Along with material upgrades and bespoke furnishings, design pros deem larger
appliances and smart electronics as another category worth shelling out extra
cash in home renovations. “Appliances that simplify life and exude refinement
are definitely at the top of the list of frequent splurge-worthy investments,”
says Deborah Costa, principal of Design Alchemy in Sausalito, California. Since
people’s lives are hectic, says Costa, creating personalized and luxurious
spaces that prioritize comfort, convenience, and the pursuit of excellence is
always a win. Below, read about 12 such additions that are probably going to be
worth every penny.


A LUXURIOUS BATHTUB


Photo: Rob Melnychuk/Getty Images


If you know you’ll be indulging in extra TLC as a result of the investment,
you’re getting more bang for your buck. Mimi Meacham, founder of Marian Louise
Design in Houston, calls her nightly bath routine a sacred time that she
cherishes each day after her kids are tucked in bed, the kitchen is cleaned, and
she has a moment to slow down. “When selecting a bathtub for our newly built
home, I knew I wanted it to reflect beauty and femininity, and stand up to daily
use,” she says. Indulging in this big-ticket purchase meant Meacham was happily
able to cut corners elsewhere: “Due to the beauty and prominence of the tub in
our primary bathroom, I was able to hold off on adding a pricey light fixture
and was able to go with a more simple and less expensive countertop material.”


BRASS FIXTURES

Another place in the bathroom to spend more liberally? The fixtures. Elizabeth
Vergara, founder of Vergara Homes in New York City, asserts that gold brass
assets like outlet and light covers, faucets, shower heads, and towel bars are a
pricey but a worthwhile addition to your bath. “Not only do they add a touch of
elegance, but they also offer durability, resistance to corrosion, and easy
maintenance,” she says. “Coordinating all fixtures in the same finish creates a
cohesive and visually appealing design, enhancing the bathroom's value and
making it more inviting to potential buyers.”


A FULL BACKSPLASH



A backsplash by LeeAnn Baker Interiors.

Photo: Sozinho Imagery

WATCH



Lionel Richie's Home Is So Welcoming, You'll Want To Stay a While






LeeAnn Baker of LeeAnn Baker Interiors in Seattle has often seen clients regret
buying expensive side or drink tables (too tippy on carpets!) and statement
lighting features with impractical color temperature, but she’s never seen them
regret full-height backsplashes. In fact, Baker considers this feature a
must-have for kitchen and bar areas. “Contractors typically have a four-inch
backsplash in the same material as the countertop in the original budget,” says
Baker. “But we love splurging to fill the whole wall, which makes a much more
dramatic statement in any room.”


A STEAM OVEN

Costa believes a steam oven is worth the sticker shock as it provides a modern
and efficient cooking solution that prioritizes flavor, nutrition, and culinary
creativity. “The gentle and even heat of the steam oven allows for precise
temperature control,” she says, adding that this makes it well suited for
everything from baking and roasting to steaming and sous vide. “Not to mention,
it’s amazing at boiling an egg or refreshing leftovers.”


STATEMENT WOODWORK



Statement woodworking by Studio Todd Raymond in an NYC home.

Photo: Studio Todd Raymond

Todd Raymond, principal of Studio Todd Raymond in New York City, sees major
upside in upping your spend on custom millwork. We approach millwork as a way to
give a cohesive through line to an entire home, says Raymond. For a Chelsea
apartment, the client splurged for custom millwork in the dining room, kitchen,
family room, and primary bedroom. “We unified the spaces by having the same
finish throughout and tied together elements of Japanese design per their
request,” he comments.


ELEVATED FIREPLACE MATERIALS

If you’re going to have a fireplace, make a statement. “The hand-selected,
marble slabs cladding [a] fireplace give the space a natural beauty and warmth
that can’t be matched with other materials,” says Karen Frome, founder of Rise
Projects in New York City. “The natural stone will wear well in perpetuity and
is of course fire-resistant, so safe to place near the flames,” she elaborates,
further stating that the stone compliments the wood and upholstered accents to
exude “ease and elegance.”


CUSTOM ART



Katie Winnington, principal designer of C&E Furniture + Design, worked with the
client and artist to decide on the best composition and color for the piece.

Photo: Keyanna Bowen
Most Popular
 * Architecture + Design
   Inside Benny Blanco’s Eclectic LA Home, Which Doubles as Hollywood’s Favorite
   Hangout
   
   By Charlotte Collins

 * Celebrity Style
   Inside Bad Bunny’s Houses: Where the Latin Superstar Lives
   
   By Joyce Chen

 * AD Pro
   See Every Room Inside of the San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2024
   
   By David Nash

 * 





“If you love it and can’t stop thinking about it, it’s worth it,” says
Winnington. Such was the case with this commissioned art, for which Winnington’s
client worked with the artist to decide composition and color. It “did so much
to bring the space together and anchor the colors in the room,” Winnington adds,
noting how the piece tied disparate components of the living room design into a
cohesive look. (To minimize your spend, but still get something completely
bespoke, several online art retailers offer custom services.)


ACCESSORIES IN COLORS YOU LOVE

Kate Figler, owner of Kate Figler Interiors in Nashville, always urges clients
to zoom in on one “moment” in each room that they want remembered, and then they
can find more budget-friendly options elsewhere. For one home, their client’s
love of green led to sourcing custom-colored pendants to hang over the kitchen
island. “The pendants’ color is unexpected and brings so much personality to the
design,” says Figler.


CUSTOM DRAPERY



Custom drapery by Re: Design Architects.

Photo: Re: Design Architects

Despite the higher upfront cost, Natalie Rebuck, principal designer of Re:
Design Architects, in Brooklyn and Long Island, is a fan of custom drapery. It's
a way to make a statement in a space, as it allows you to select something
dramatic or bold, and ensure the curtains really fit the windows and the room,
says Rebuck. “This ultimately can lead to helping cut energy costs,” and drapery
tailored precisely to your room’s dimensions can help keep AC and heating within
the room, she adds.


UPMARKET COUNTERTOPS

Countertops can make all the difference in a room—especially in the kitchen,
says Alexis Elley, founder of Textures Interior Design in Grosse Pointe Farms,
Michigan. Elley opted for quartz in one home project, emphasizing that there is
a wide price range when it comes to this material. “We chose it because it was a
bit more durable and practical than marble for this home with young children,”
says Elley, sharing that selecting luxurious countertops over builder-grade
truly does elevate your home and especially makes a difference in the parts of
the room that you use the most.


BUILT-IN GRILL COUNTERS

Andrew Franz, principal of Andrew Franz Architect in New York City, lives by the
mantra that if you spend extra on things that you use regularly, maintenance
will be easier. “Rather than trying to balance your prepped foods on the small
work surfaces of small grill carts or adjacent surfaces and losing your
grill-ready prepared dinner to the lawn, built-in exterior counters of masonry,
stone, or even stainless [steel] make grilling outdoors an efficient treat,” he
adds.


NATURAL STONE


Photo: Goodboy Picture Company/Getty Images
Most Popular
 * Architecture + Design
   Inside Benny Blanco’s Eclectic LA Home, Which Doubles as Hollywood’s Favorite
   Hangout
   
   By Charlotte Collins

 * Celebrity Style
   Inside Bad Bunny’s Houses: Where the Latin Superstar Lives
   
   By Joyce Chen

 * AD Pro
   See Every Room Inside of the San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2024
   
   By David Nash

 * 





Olma Fuentes, principal of Deni + Dove Interiors in West Caldwell, New Jersey,
is Team Natural Stone all the way. “Incorporating natural stone into your
home—whether it's through furnishings, countertops, decor, or a feature wall—is
a costly splurge that’s worth the price tag because of the grandeur and elegance
it adds to any room,” she says, adding that its varied colors and unique veining
make it a focal point wherever it's placed and provide excellent juxtaposition
with other materials. “Marble is almost always the most expensive choice, but
other stone options such as travertine and limestone are more reasonably priced
and look just as great,” she adds.





Read More
Architecture + Design
Step Inside June Diane Raphael and Paul Scheer’s Character-Filled Los Feliz Home
LA’s Lafayette Studio updated and preserved the 1928 house’s strong sense of
history for the comedic couple and their two children

By Jessica Ritz

Clever
A 388-Square-Foot Garage in Paris Is Reborn as a Smart and Simple Apartment
Léo Schlumberger created a small home that’s efficient yet full of character

By Nicolas Milon

Clever
Inside a West Village Apartment That Maximizes Every Square Inch
The laundry room masquerades as a guest suite—but you’d never even know it

By Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar


AD Directory
8 Expert Tips for Styling Surfaces in Every Room
AD PRO Directory members share their best styling tips for your space

By Morgan Goldberg






Our website, archdigest.com, offers constant original coverage of the interior
design and architecture worlds, new shops and products, travel destinations, art
and cultural events, celebrity style, and high-end real estate as well as access
to print features and images from the AD archives.
 * Facebook
 * X
 * Pinterest
 * Instagram
 * YouTube
 * Tiktok

Subscriptions

 * Subscribe
 * Customer Service
 * Renew Subscription
 * Give a Gift
 * Change Address
 * Verify Subscription

Connect with AD

 * About AD
 * Contact the Editors
 * Newsletter Sign Up
 * Contact Advertising
 * Membership FAQs
 * General FAQs
 * Gift Guides

 * User Agreement
 * Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement
 * Your California Privacy Rights
 * Condé Nast Store
 * Careers
 * Accessibility Help
 * AD Reviews
 * 
   Manage Preferences

© 2024 Condé Nast. All rights reserved. Architectural Digest may earn a portion
of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our
Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. The material on this site may not be
reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the
prior written permission of Condé Nast. Ad Choices

SELECT INTERNATIONAL SITE

United StatesLargeChevron
 * China
 * España
 * France
 * Germany
 * India
 * Italia
 * México
 * Middle East
 * Polska






WE CARE ABOUT YOUR PRIVACY

We and our 166 partners store and/or access information on a device, such as
unique IDs in cookies to process personal data. You may accept or manage your
choices by clicking below or at any time in the privacy policy page. These
choices will be signaled to our partners and will not affect browsing data.More
information about your privacy


WE AND OUR PARTNERS PROCESS DATA TO PROVIDE:

Use precise geolocation data. Actively scan device characteristics for
identification. Store and/or access information on a device. Personalised
advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research
and services development. List of Partners (vendors)

I Accept
Show Purposes