I'll start with my $1200 refresh that we did on a house we owned about 5 years ago. It was a 1920's English Tudor with 1970's cabinets. I wanted the cabinets to match the built-ins throughout the house, but had a very limited budget. So I had a local cabinet maker make and install new doors and drawer fronts for me. I painted them. Unfortunately, these are the only "before" pics from the day we moved in.
{{!gwi}}
After:
{{!gwi}}
And this was the built-in in the dining room that we were trying to match.
{{!gwi}}

Just one more photo of the little nook with a brighter color.
{{!gwi}}

Such a tiny little kitchen, but my babies came home from the hospital to that house. Makes my heart ache to see it now. :) Loved that house.

I just posted a thread about mine - came in under $20K with all new everything except Fridge & Dishwasher (replaced those within last 6 yrs) & non of it DIY.

I took my time finding someone who had both an excellent reputation & could meet my price. My patience paid off. For a lot of things, I had to forgo my wants & find my needs - I wound up finding a range that had all my needs & some of the wants at a price of under $1500.

Other things that helped save money - use beadboard on the island instead of panels, use ceramic tile backsplash that has travertine look, used stock cabinets.

I found it easy to stick to the budget, once I got started.

I'll post a link to my thread - that has some more of the things I did to save $

Here are some pics:

Here is a link that might be useful: Under $20K kitchen

I just painted existing cabinets and added a box out with new backsplash tile. Then I took out a few existing overhead cabinets, and added new boxes and doors to one wall. New soapstone counters, faucets and cabinet hardware and new ceiling moulding with beadboard. We did bump out and add a breakfast area, but just the kitchen part was under 20K!

Here is a link that might be useful: Under 20K

Willowdecor, I remember your kitchen. It's gorgeous (especially love your breakfast area). I had no idea the kitchen reno was under $20k! Beautiful.

Keptoz, your remodel and another one that was posted in the last week were what inspired me to start this thread again. Lovely job! How are you liking your Frigidaire Professional range and microwave? I've been considering them...

Seatle rain - Thank You! Today was the first day I cooked!

I couldn't decide what to make & wanted to thank our neighbors who brought us food while we were without a kitchen. What started out as brownies, ended up as brownies, muffins, pesto chicken & 6 casseroles! LOL! I had all burners going - love the power boil & the simmer burners! And I used convection for the first time ever. Love it!! I'm very pleased with this range so far - especially for the price. The only thing I didn't test out was the warming drawer. I forgot it was there - lol!

The microwave I also like, although its only 1000 watts & my old counter top one was 1100, so I keep forgetting to adjust the cooktime.

I'm just at $20K. All my cabinet refacing work (new doors, painting-rehabbing insides and frames of cabinet boxes, custom side panels, custom island and hood, pull outs for existing boxes and 3 new cabinet boxes) was $7400. I don't know if I could have purchased IKEA cabinets and had them installed for a similar price, but I actually like the less-shiny new look of the painted white cabinets versus the shiny new Adel cabinets that I was considering.

We had an 18 mo old white Bosch DW which we kept and bought a Frigidaire wall oven, micro and warming drawer. Nothing high-end. Our appliance splurge was the Samsung CD FD fridge. Purchasing from a local appliance mom & pop type dealer resulted in lower prices than big box stores.

I saved money by not replacing the decrepit old window over the sink, buying Lowe's basic white subway tile instead of the handmade Cobsa tile I loved. My tile backsplash, labor and materials, was under $500. We saved 10% by using a warehouse source for hardwood floors thru my floor installer. I also chose extremely inexpensive HD knobs (instead of the $10 glass knobs I really wanted) and splurged on the more expensive RH pulls just for the drawers. Lastly, I used Costco's painting company, Certa Pro, for the walls, ceiling and trim - they were itching for business and gave me a great deal with fantastic service.

Before:

After:

My little urban galley came in at $21K. It was a complete gut job. I could have come in for less, but I fell in love with the Bertazzoni gas stove and the Fagor refrigerator. Am attaching the link, if you'd like to look. I loved the old Under $20K thread and found it as useful as it was inspiring.

Here is a link that might be useful: joyce's kitchen

My little urban galley came in at $21K. It was a complete gut job. I could have come in for less, but I fell in love with the Bertazzoni gas stove and the Fagor refrigerator. Am attaching the link, if you'd like to look. I loved the old Under $20K thread and found it as useful as it was inspiring.

Here is a link that might be useful: joyce's kitchen

I love love love these under 20K threads. I am so inspired by the creativity and the ability of people to stay at budget.

I was hoping to be able to post on this thread, but because of an ill family member I put my kitchen off for a year. Gave me time to do a somewhat more extensive remodel, but also time to save up a few more buckaroonies.

I love what each of you have done. You inspire me!

joycedc:
That looks like a good place to cook! The yellow is great.

three daisies:
Nice job! Very refreshed! Another inviting space!

seattle rain:
What a happy place! Great colors!

Three Daisies...I keep coming back to look at your kitchen. Freaking awesome!!

I had to forgo my wants & find my needs.

That's the key to a lower cost in building or remodeling: start with what you need, not what you dream about having, and see what it gets you.

It's a year and a half since this (what I believe to be) most recent under-20K thread, and I'd love to see any more projects that fit the bill that may have come up since the last post in March 2010.

Anyone?