Light Source This 10-inch-diameter pendant offers a sleek contem…
Light Source This 10-inch-diameter pendant offers a sleek contemporary look that will complement today’s transitional designs. Priced at $22 on
lightinguniverse.com, the fixture has a white shade and black hardware.
Courtesy www.ikea.com
Ikea Instead of a typical shower curtain rod, try
Ikea’s Dign…
Ikea Instead of a typical shower curtain rod, try
Ikea’s Dignitet stainless steel wire system. For only $12.99, you get one curtain wire and two wall-mounted fixtures. It’s easy to install, and you can order it with a corner piece for flexible application.
Courtesy www.handlesets.com.
Copper Creek Priced at $12.50, the M-Series Daley lever is desig…
Copper Creek Priced at $12.50, the M-Series Daley lever is designed for multifamily construction, but who says you can’t use it in a house? It features all-metal construction, steel latches and strikes, and a satin stainless-steel finish. Get it from
handlesets.com.
Courtesy American Standard
American Standard You can find cheaper vanities, but will they b…
American Standard You can find cheaper vanities, but will they be this interesting? Offered for $263 by
justvanities.com, the Cardiff vessel stand is made from solid poplar and birch veneers. It measures 24 inches wide and features a frosted glass door insert.
Courtesy 3form
3form 3form produces an amazing collection of resin panels,…
3form 3form produces an amazing collection of resin panels, but products are hugely expensive. The company , however, offers products recycled from installations or cut from pieces damaged in production. Costs start from about 150 for a 4-foot-by-4-foot sheet—a fraction of the regular price. See samples
3-fom.com.
Courtesy Vigo Industries
Vigo Industries Priced at $125 on
overstock.com, the Beve…
Vigo Industries Priced at $125 on
overstock.com, the Beverly faucet has the look of a high-end product. It measures 17.5 inches high and features solid brass construction and a ceramic disc cartridge. The product is shown in a polished chrome finish.
www.vigoindustries.com.
Courtesy Paneltech Products
Paneltech Products PaperStone is a surfacing material made from …
Paneltech Products PaperStone is a surfacing material made from 100% post-consumer paper, resins, and pigments. You can pay full price, or you can visit Green Countertops Direct
www.greencountertopsdirect.com and, at discounted prices, buy panels left over from completed jobs or discontinued colors.
www.paperstoneproducts.com.
Courtesy NUD Collection
NUD Collection These playful light fixtures will do wonders…
NUD Collection These playful light fixtures will do wonders for your interiors. Priced at about $50, the NUD Collection pendants feature a colorful cord and exposed socket. You can order the cords in eight colors.
www.nudcollection.com.
Courtesy Covoc Corp.
Covoc Corp. The manufacturer produces cubicle curtain tracks tha…
Covoc Corp. The manufacturer produces cubicle curtain tracks that are often found in hospitals, but creative architects use the system in their houses for floor-to-ceiling window coverings. Costing about $60 for 10 feet, each
track includes three roller carriers with hooks per foot of track and end stops. For a neat look, install the track before drywall for a clean look.
www.covoc.com.
Courtesy Cliq Studios
Cliq Studios Cliq Studios offers a wide selection of cabinets th…
Cliq Studios Cliq Studios offers a wide selection of cabinets that, unlike many other budget lines, features all plywood boxes, glue and dowel construction, and dovetail draws. The prices are just as good as the big box stores, but the construction quality is high.
www.cliqstudios.com.
It’s no secret that Americans are obsessed with value and low prices and love getting a deal. “The truth is, few of us can resist a sale,” writes branding expert Martin Lindstrom in his book, Buyology: Truth and Lies About Why We Buy (Broadway Books). “Huge markdowns, or even the anticipation of sales, spark a primal urge in consumers’ brains.”
The Great Recession has kicked this craving into overdrive. As a result, we are fixated on low price even more than usual. “Thanks to the recession, we have become, psychologically, a society of bargain-hunters, even bargain-expecters,” Lindstrom writes.
Of course, paying a low price or getting a deal is better when consumers think they are getting quality goods or something new and different. As Lindstrom says, we ascribe greater value to things we perceive to be in some way special. In other words, consumers are more likely to get excited if they walk into a high-end design showroom and get a cool fixture for cheap than if they walk into a big box store and paid a similar price for a brand they don’t know that well.
Which brings us to your homes. We know you’re always looking for products to meet your budget, but your real goal should be to find products that also balance low-cost and good looks—those that add a measure of coo, visual interest, personality, and creativity. Budget products are good, but affordable choices that look cool and different are even better.
Of course, price should not be the only criteria for choosing products. You also need to factor in perceived value (for example, glass tiles have a higher perceived value than ceramic tile, and it also looks cooler), architectural impact, and uniqueness.
It helps to approach product acquisition with an open mind: be creative, think outside the box, and visit websites or stores that you wouldn’t normally think to visit.
To help you get your creative juices flowing, here are 10 more low-cost products offering great visual appeal.
