Q & A On Achieving a Budget Kitchen Remodel

Q.

Hello Peggy,

I discovered your helpful website through a Google search. My husband and I are in the process of purchasing our first home in Diamond Heights, San Francisco. The house was built in the early 70's and currently has an outdated kitchen with tile counters (with some cracks) and painted white cabinets.

We are hoping to remodel but are pretty clueless about the whole process and feeling overwhelmed by it. It looks like you work on pretty upscale kitchens, so not sure if we'd be the right type of clients for you.

We think our max budget would be $25K for everything (cabinets, counters, appliances, etc). We are looking for help on how to lay out the workspace, who to use as a contractor, where to source our materials and appliances, etc.

The layout/space seems to be functional as it is now, but we would like a professional to give us options, like adding an island, pantry space, etc. We have considered Ikea/Home Depot, since they are the budget option, but have read bad reviews.

Thank you for any insight you may have!

Maya

A.

Thanks for your question Maya.

Interesting that you would think that I do only high-end projects. For decades my clientele has been the middle class (Though I must admit, the middle class went kind of hog wild in the last decade or so. Remodeling on their equity).

Things are quite different nowadays. Many people like you are longing to have a new kitchen on a shoestring budget. And $25K is really a shoestring budget if you need everything new AND plan to hire a contractor to do all the work.

We did lots of $25K kitchens back in the '80s with no difficulty, so let's break it down and see what you would get for your $25K investment:

Appliances: $3,000.
Cabinets (Oak): $9,000.
Countertops (Laminate): $1,000.
Flooring Vinyl): $2,000.
Electrical & Lighting: $1,000. (This can turn into a big budget item)
Sink & Faucet: $300.
Plumbing: 0. (You like your layout)
Contractor: $9,000. (If you can find one who will do it for that)

You are very fortunate that your layout seems to be functional. Many homeowners in the Bay Area are not so lucky.

You notice there's nothing in there for paying a designer. Typically, if I consult with you and then draw up your plans, you will pay me somewhere between $3-5K. On a higher-budget project the client can expect me to save them as much or more than they pay me. When a budget is pared to the bone, as yours is, there is no fat to cut (and no room for a designer on the payroll).

Back when my (then) husband and I bought our first house, in 1969 ($10,000 with $100 per month payments - ha-ha - You can imagine how bad that house was), I too wanted to remodel my kitchen (and bathroom, put in a patio, landscape, re-side the garage, finish the basement, etc, etc.).

Because we couldn't afford the cost of hiring Sears to do the remodel, we learned to do-it-ourselves. Everything took a lot longer, but we did a great job. If I remember correctly, the kitchen cost us about $6K. I built all the cabinets and bought everything on sale; and we did all our own work. We ended up with a pretty high-end looking kitchen, and I was launched on a career with that kitchen remodel.

That was then and this is now. So I ask you: Is this your "forever house"? If so, I think you will want to invest more in your new kitchen than $25K.

Most of my middle class clients are cooks. So they want high-end appliances that will serve their needs and last a long time. They want cabinetry that won't fall apart in a few years and require replacing. They want hardwood flooring and stone or solid surface countertops. They want beautiful lighting, not a fluorescent box on the ceiling.

If it's not your forever house you still may find yourselves living there for ten years or so (time flies). It would be a shame to see your original investment wasted and in need of replacement by the time you want to move up. Or worse yet: sooner.

I suggest that you may want to save up for a few years and do your kitchen right. Either that or become do-it-yourselfers.

A more realistic budget to create a kitchen that will last is around $60K:

Appliances: $10,000.
Cabinets: $18,000.
Countertops: $5,000.
Flooring: $4,000.
Electrical & Lighting: $2,500.
Sink & Faucet: $1,500.
Plumbing: 0.
Contractor: $18,000.
Designer: $3-5,000.

Please let us know how it goes Maya.

Peggy

11/12/10

Here's Maya's response to my post.

Good for you Maya!

Hi Peggy,

Thanks so much for taking the time to put together this thoughtful response. It certainly gives us a lot to think about.

This house may not be our "forever" house, but we plan to be there for at least the next 7 to 10 years and gradually work on the house ourselves to make it the way we want. We are lucky to have a functional layout and also the hardwood floors already installed.

For now we may just paint the cabinet interiors and get a new fridge and dishwasher. We'll have a better idea of our budget early in the new year.

Thanks for your advice.

Maya