Kitchen Design on a Limited Budget

 

No matter what the size of your kitchen design project, setting a realistic budget should be one of the first things to do.  Determining what “realistic” means for your individual project might take you a bit of up-front work, but it will always save you money (and heartache) in the long run. 

First of all, don’t be fooled by HGTV.  Full kitchen remodels cost more than $1000 and take longer to construct than 24 hours!Remember the old sayings: “If it seems too good to be true, it usually is.”  and “You get what you pay for."

There are three major components to a kitchen design budget; the scope of work, the design of the project and the products used. 

The scope of the work means the size of the job.  It might incorporate several rooms, moving walls and windows, or adding on to the house.  The larger the scope, the more it usually costs.  The scope of work also might include what you, personally want to do on the job.  For example, to reduce the price, many of my clients choose to do the wall and ceiling painting.  This can save homeowners up to $2000 on a kitchen remodel.  However, the contractor will only be able to give a cost break if the homeowner’s work does not disrupt the regular construction schedule.  That means that you may have to paint in the evenings, on weekends or after the construction is finished.  If you consider taking on some of the construction responsibility, make sure you understand what the timeline is and what parameters you are to work within.  If you are handy, have your own tools, and your time is flexible, a little “sweat equity” might be a great way for you to save some bucks.

The design of the project affects the price in a number of ways.  The final design controls the cost of the construction labor and rough materials.  (Rough materials are things that are inside the walls or below the floors, like plumbing, and electrical wires, or supports or subfloors, etc.)  There is very little difference in the labor, when installing expensive cabinets compared to not –so-expensive ones.  And, running plumbing and electrical lines are about the same in a high dollar project as a low one.  Approximately between 55-65% of the total price of a full kitchen remodel projects go to the construction labor and rough materials (including insurance, worker’s comp, municipal fees, etc.  This, of course, will vary across the country).  Your designer needs to know construction well enough to be able to adjust the design to your budget.  

Designing a project with a budget range in mind, makes for a much smarter design.  For example, keeping the plumbing in the same location instead of moving it across the room might save enough money that you can afford that nifty wine storage that you always wanted.  

Another way the design will affect your budget might be on future projects.   If you are planning to do several projects in the next few years, having all of the projects designed at once so they could be constructed in phases could make sure that what you do in Phase I does not cost you more to change it in Phase 2.  Take the time to plan.  It’s the best investment that you can make in your project!

The way the budget is affected by which finished products are being used, is a little easier for homeowner’s to visualize.  There are hundreds of items to be selected for a kitchen remodel.  Cabinets can range in price dramatically, as do countertops, light fixtures, sinks, faucets, appliances, flooring, etc.  Usually, there is a reason for the price variances.   You need to know enough about the pros and cons of each of these choices, to make sure that the ones you select holds value to you.  You can get lots of information online but make sure you visit a kitchen and bath showroom where the staff is knowledgeable.  Use those visits to compare these items side by side and to educate yourself so you can make the best decisions for your own project. 

In many projects, the cabinets are the biggest single product expense, but there are many ways to reduce that cost.  Stock cabinets are manufactured in standard sizes and are then inventoried in warehouses.  When a kitchen is designed using stock cabinets, those sizes are then pulled from the warehouses and shipped to the jobsite.  Stock cabinets usually have little flexibility as far as modifications go, but several are very sturdy and reliable units. 

Semi-custom cabinets companies manufacture the cabinet boxes in standard sizes and inventories them but the doors and drawer fronts are built once the order is placed.  The finish is more consistent since all the doors and drawers are finished at the same time.  This type of manufacturer also allows more modifications.  So, you might only have to pay for one or two “customized” cabinets while the rest are standard sizes. 

Custom or furniture grade cabinets are built to the specification of the designer and are priced accordingly.  They are extremely well built and usually include all the bells and whistles.

Each of these types of cabinets is shooting for a particular price point, so the materials used to manufacture them are also considered in that price.  Find a showroom where the construction of each of these cabinet styles is visible so you can compare them.   When you look for your new cabinets, choose the best that you can afford.  These are the work horses of your room.  A countertop or sink can be replaced years down the road if necessary, without much trauma, but to replace cabinets, the whole room will be disrupted.

Selecting the finished products can be fun for some and drudgery for others.  Remember, these are the items that you will be seeing each day for several years so feel confident in your selections.  Again, rely on your designer to help. 

So, start at the beginning putting together your budget, find a professional to help, be aware there are many ways to remodel a kitchen, and don’t get discouraged.  It will all be worth it when it is completed!