Startups Bring Ease, Affordability to Designer Kitchen

Startups remodelmate and Havenly, two "digitally native home brands," are trying to turn home renovations into a point-and-click experience.

Interior design startup Havenly crafts kitchen designs that remodeling startup remodelmate customers can then buy and have installed. Remodelmate orders supplies, managing the project including permitting and insurance, installation, and payment. Fast Company reports that the company finds and manages contractors and other project workers, not the consumer. Pricing for a Parisian-influenced kitchen design that includes white cabinets, gold fixtures, and marble backsplashes is $24,530.

This is part of a growing trend in the world of renovations. Block Renovations, a startup recently launched by a former Casper executive, allows customers to pick a bathroom design from a catalog and essentially just buy it the way you might buy a book on Amazon. This approach works best for homeowners who don’t want to spend a lot of time making design decisions and picking fixtures, but want the process to be quick and easy. These renovations can also be less expensive, because the company can buy supplies in bulk, lowering the cost of each individual cabinet or faucet.

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