Kitchen 101: Where to spend & where to save

The kitchen is the heart of the home. Whether joining together for family meals or stocking up on late night study break snacks, the kitchen acts as both watering hole and meeting place.

From French country to minimalist modern, retro inspired to rustic chic, kitchen designs can be anything but cookie cutter, but no matter the décor, marriage of style and function is a must. Pretty up the practical factor with these tips from our culinary and design experts appearing at the Calgary Home + Design Show and the Vancouver Home + Design Show, starting with the insider’s scoop on everything from splurge-worthy appliances to economical ingredients straight from our team of talented guest chefs.

For Vincci Tsui, registered dietitian and Start From Scratch instructor, not every kitchen utensil needs to break the bank to make your next home-cooked meal a slam-dunk. She bought one of her favourite prep bowls at the dollar store and she’s not ashamed to admit it. She even made this thrifty little guy famous, putting it center stage in live cooking demos and TV segments. Vincci also admits that she has always wanted to own a KitchenAid stand mixer, but don’t tell Mr. Bargain Bowl.

See Vincci at the Calgary Home + Design Show on the Trail Appliances Cooking Stage on Sunday Sept. 22 at 12PM.

Brian Misko, aka BBQ Brian and supreme pitmaster, cannot cook without his favourite tool, a meat thermometer. Outfit your kitchen with one of these hot little numbers and you will cook meat to perfection like the grill-master himself. When you BBQ as much as Brian does, you learn a few money saving tricks. Brian spends less at the register by purchasing large pieces of meat, called primal cuts, and butchering them into smaller portions. Primal cuts to try include pork loin, beef ribs and venison shoulder.

Brian will be giving away BBQ tips at the Calgary Home + Design Show on the Trail Appliances Cooking Stage at 12PM on Saturday Sept. 21.

Our design stars, presenting on the Main Stage, are less worried about ingredients, and more concerned with interiors.

Todd Talbot, realtor and co-host of W Network’s Love It or List It Vancouver, thinks the lion’s share of a home renovation budget should be focused on the kitchen. A kitchen overhaul adds dollar value to your property and improves the functionality of a home. If a renovation isn’t in the cards, try switching out the main light fixture, instantly updating the room and creating a focal point.

Learn more kitchen renovation tips when Todd appears on the Trail Appliances Main Stage at the Calgary Home + Design Show with his co-host of Love It or List It Vancouver, Jillian Harris, on Friday, Sept. 20 at 7PM and Saturday, Sept. 21 at 3PM and 7PM. Catch them in Vancouver on the HGTV Main Stage at the Vancouver Home + Design Show on Friday, Oct. 18 at 7PM and Saturday, Oct. 19 at 3PM and 7PM.

If you are thinking about sprucing up your home for resale or dream of hosting the neighbourhood’s hottest parties, you might want to consider the advice of Drew Scott, co-host of W Network’s Property Brothers. When most people think about staging their home, their focus lies turns to the den and bedrooms, often at the neglect the kitchen. They might give the counters a quick wipe or toss the plates in the dishwasher, but Drew counsels homeowners to consider the placement kitchen of appliances, accessories, lighting and furniture, just like they would in other rooms of the home.

Borrow more of Drew’s pro staging tips when he appears on the Trail Appliances Main Stage at the Calgary Home + Design Show with his partner in design crime Jonathan Scott on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 1PM. See the boys at the Vancouver Home + Design Show on the HGTV Main Stage on Saturday Oct. 19 at 1PM.

Set up your kitchen with advice from our pros and your home will look magazine ready in a jiffy. Purchase your tickets online today for the Calgary Home + Design Show and Vancouver Home + Design Show to save $3 off regular adult admission.