10K won't go very far at all. The lowest priced kitchen I've done has been right at 10K, but that was with complete builder grade materials (vinyl floor, cheap appliances, etc.) and the homeowner did all of the labor, with zero costs for plumbing or electrical.

If this is your final budget, I'd suggest saving more money if your project is as expansive as you suggest it might be with needing things moved. If your budget is inflexible, then plan a layout that is exactly the same as what you have, and maybe you can come in at 10K with builder grade materials----but will this be worth the effort to you? Average US kitchen remodels are around 30K and getting higher--and that's with no structural changes etc.

Well, that's a difficult question. Since the cabinetry takes us the bulk of the budget, I'd consider the IKEA cabinets as they are very functional, highly rated by Consumer Reports, and give a lot of bang for the buck. Another way to go would be with stock cabinets if you can find a line that you like. There are many specials out there right now at the big box stores. Some are able to find custom cabinets now at a great price.

General rule is that moving plumbing or electrical less than 5 feet is not a problem. That being said I would price out everything ahead of time.

Appliances- Try to reuse or look for a package deal from an appliance store.

Cabinets- Ikea will price in one of if not the lowest but you will also get nice hardware with them.

Lighting- Count the fixtures and shop Ebay or the internet. Same idea with any faucet and sink.

Paint/Flooring/Wallboard- not going to get a huge discount on these one way or another in the lower budget range.

It is all very possible to do under $10k but it takes a lot of discipline and letting the price dictate much of the kitchen design. Oh and of course completely DIY.

Where do you live? [Labor varies greatly throughout the US as well as throughout the rest of the world]

What is the scope of the project? [Gut the kitchen, replace cabinets, replace flooring, replace ceiling, take down/change doors or windows, new appliances, new plumbing fixtures, backsplash, etc.]

Are you also doing all the install?

There are so many variables that affect the cost of a new kitchen!

No one here can really answer that for you...your best bet is to define the scope of your project, work on the layout (if you're moving plumbing & electrical, it sounds like the layout is changing). Then get estimates from at least 3 cabinetmakers and, unless you plan to DIY the install as well, from at least 3 general contractors for installation in your area.

This will give you a ballpark figure for what it will cost. If this is a gut of the kitchen, I suspect you'll find that unless you get killer deals on a lot of things or go really cheap, 10K will not be enough. Like Live_Wire-Oak recommended, I also recommend you save for awhile longer to try to have at least 15K-20K. There have been quite a few under 20K kitchens done here that look very nice. There's a thread about it as well...do a search for "20K kitchen" (use the search box on the bottom of the thread page....at the end of the list of threads for that page).

Good luck!

Get local custom cabinet estimates. My kitchen is going to cost me about $10k - and that includes taking the walls down to the studs, new walls, new insulation, new ceiling (new roof, but that doesn't count), refinishing old wood floors that were under 12 layers of vinyl, new custom inset cabinets, laminate counters, and paint. It does NOT include backsplash, new lighting, new sink, new faucet, or new appliances.

Here's the breakdown:
$2100 labor
$1000 materials
$6800 cabinets and counters
------
$9900 total

If I add appliances, which I have bought over time and have yet to buy the fridge:

$1000 range
$800 DW
$2100 fridge
+$9900
------
$13800 - still not too bad. If you don't have to take out all the walls, and your ceiling doesn't collapse because your roof goes bad, I can see you getting it done for less. Also, I went with stainless appliances that are higher than the "basics". I have an LG range & dw and I am buying a Samsung FD fridge. If you went with white basic appliances, you could get out a lot cheaper. For example, Best Buy is running an appliance sale right now. If you went with basic Frigidaire appliances in white or black, you could get a dw for $212, a top-freezer fridge for $425, & an electric range for $340. That's only $977 for appliances - and there are cheaper appliances out there.

I think it can be done! People pooh pooh the cheap kitchen, but one of my favorite GW kitchens was done on a budget.

Here is a link that might be useful: Somewhat Budget Kitchen

melanie1422 What type of counters and countertops did you go with?

Using the numbers from the "Somewhat Budget Kitchen"

Cabinets- 5000
Tile- 600
Tile Install- 1500
Elecrical- 2500
Sheetrock- 1200
RH Lights- 300
Pendant Lights- 100
Hardware- 500
Appliances- 5500
Cabiet Install- 300
Paint & Misc- 300
Sink- 250
Faucet- 100
Countertop Supplies- 300

Total: $18,450

Now if we swap in Ikea cabinets (40% savings based on above layout), take out labor (for complete DIY), and substitute intro line Fridgidaire it looks more like this:

Cabinets- 3000
Tile- 600
Tile Install- 0
Elecrical- 1000
Sheetrock- 400
RH Lights- 300
Pendant Lights- 100
Hardware- 500
Appliances- 1500
Cabiet Install- 0
Paint & Misc- 300
Sink- 250
Faucet- 100
Countertop Supplies- 300

Total: $8,350

That is a bunch of "ifs" but shows an example of what can be done.

Cabinets and countertops are a huge part of the expense. How willing are you to engage in a lot of DIY? I made my own copper countertops for less than $1000 and used recycled cabinetry from Habitat for Humanity in order to get my $14,000 kitchen - and that's with all new appliances and new plumbing/electrical.

Tell us more about what you already have, what you're willing/planning to re-use, and what your goals are -- in order to give you more appropriate input.

I'll have white painted maple shaker style inset cabinets with a laminate countertop. I haven't picked the color of the laminate yet, so that figure may change slightly, but I'm not really concerned about the laminate. I really want soapstone, but after replacing the entire stupid roof I can't afford real stone, so laminate it is.

Also, I want to mention that if you are using special cabinet hardware, such as latches instead of knobs, that will up the price. Inset cabinets will up the price. Painted cabinets will up the price.

So if you wanted basic, partial overlay, stained wood cabinets, with basic knobs - probably a lot cheaper. If you want a knob that is easy for the cabinet guy to get, those can be $1 or so each... instead of the $25 each I'm paying for a darn latch, or $9 each for a drawer pull. Plus shipping. Yuck.

Also, saving anything you can out of the old kitchen is a big plus. I am reusing my sink (because I love it, and its free!) and faucet (for now), and refinishing the old wood floors instead of trying to put something new down. It's so much cheaper! If you don't have to replace an appliance immediately, hold on to it until you do. Or until there is a great sale!

The lighting and backsplash are things that can be changed later. Get the bare bones of the kitchen in and add to it as you can.

Hi, JDM. I skimped on things that could be added later and wouldn't hesitate to do just that again. These include expensive appliances (like cars, depreciated as soon as they're off the lot) and cabinet doors if needed--usually a major budget-eater.

Start with the bones: Line up that doorway in with the window with the pretty view of the garden, move that wall so that...?, add a windowed bay for those extra 2 feet you've always needed for your cramped table and chairs, correct...?, etc.

Create a quality space first, make your layout within that space function well for you, and only then doodad it up as money allows.

I'll say it again, as an appraiser I saw again and again that people know a home with good bones when they see it and pay premium prices to get good, if tired old, bones to put their own stamp on. This works as well for people looking for a dreamy home right where they live.

The most important area not to short change yourself is in being realistic about whether you have the time and skills (or the time to acquire those skills) to plan a kitchen, how far your money will acually go in your area and what you can accomplish competently yourself.

First thing to do is take your lump sum and develop a line item budget. These are the lines I put in my budgets:

Appliances
Flooring
Backsplash
Electrical
Plumbing
Cabinetry
Demolition
Misc.
Counters
Labour
Contingency

Totals per main lines should mostly reflect the budget for materials only (usually I roll the total for the countertop including labour into the countertop line). Now you shop and see how far your budget will take you. Can you do the reno at all?, Can you live with what you can do? and What could you cut all together all come next.

I'm working on a $12 000.0 Canadian budget for the kitchen I am working on now and it is taking a lot of planning and research (it won't really start until next January). Both the homeowner and I expect it will come in around closer to $15 000.0 but we are trying for that $12 000.0. On this one we are doing Ikea with some MDF custom doors, on the last one I did a thermofoil door in a stock line (with metabox drawers but no full extension). Where I live custom cabinetry doesn't price out below stock cabinetry or RTA. I would get estimates on the plumbing and electrical and use those to project those costs.

Biggest thing really is can you love what you can afford (not just the materials but the process)? Good luck!

We did our last kitchen on a similar budget. We did demo ourselves, along with a mosaic glass tile backsplash (about $200) and all of the finish work (trim, paint, etc.)
We bought Ikea cabinets and did the assembly ourselves (although with their french cleat system, installation is also an easy DIY).

This time around we're doing a much more high-end type kitchen, but here are some of the things we are doing to economize:
Ticor sink from Galaxy Tools (on recomendation from several GW'ers... I just ordered it for $219 shipped.)
Faucet on eBay (HansGrohe for 1/2 retail)
Craigslist yielded a brand new floor model of the fancy fridgeI was coveting, for $800 off retail.
I'll tile the backsplash again myslelf.
Ikea lighting

(we're also DIY-ing just about everything...)

other ideas:
Call around and ask granite shops for remnants. Even if you don't have enough for the entire kitchen, you can do wood butcher block (ikea) or laminate in some areas (in our old kitchen we did white laminate with a custom (DIY) maple front edge, and remnant granite on the peninsula. With the glass tile backsplash to the counter, it looked pretty luxe but only cost about $400 for counters...

Here's a link to a blog of a person who set out to do a 50k kitchen for 10k. Good resources.

http://10kkitchenremodel.blogspot.com/

Here is a link that might be useful: 10k kitchen remodel

Loved the link to the blog above; that's why this forum is so helpful! Thanks ponotte for pointing that out! It's inspiring me as I struggle to contain costs!

Hi Jmd929,

I think you can do it!!!! And it is wonderful that
you are going to stick to a budget. On another post
someone is trying to take out their kitchen on a
" Short sale ". Clearly they did not budget and are
in perhaps financial trouble.

I truly believe if you are practical and realistic
you can put together a lovely kitchen. StaceyNeil has some
super ideas.

Find bargains. I know a woman who found an entire kitchen
on E-Bay. Her DH took apart the cab and installed them
into their own home. They even got appliances and
formica countertops. There are plenty of ways to do
it but you have to be practical.

Check E-bay, Craig's list, your local newspaper...
It might take a little longer but it can be done.

Here are some links that I have visited myself
to find way to do some things myself.

Best of luck and don't give up. You can do it!
~boxerpups

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/home_improvement/article/0,2037,DIY_13954_5651228,00.html

There may be some advertisments on this but ignore that
and look at some of the tips and ideas of how to save.
http://www.diy-kitchens.com/

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Affordable-Way-to-Renovate-Your-Kitchen&id=2150644

What about NOT moving electrical and plumbing? See if people here can help you find a layout that doesn't require that. I'm not sure it's a major expense, but if a good plan can be had, it won't hurt.