If you are doing it DIY, might be able to do it in that budget not including lots of extras, like DIY plumbing, electrical, etc.... we used Kraftmaid, but upgraded to Cherry, with glaze and our cabinets were twice that much, but it all depends on what you pick - you need to go price them out. But, that price will not include labor - not even close (we DIY - not a big deal). Appliances will also depend on what you pick and the same goes for everything else. $36,000 is very high, but we thought we picked pretty modestly DIY and we still ran about $15,000 or so for granite cabinets and a few appliances (we bought our fridge a year prior) but I really don't know since we really didn't add it up and I have no clue how much all those fun HD and Lowes runs cost.

Depending on who you hire, labor could cost anywhere from $3000-20,000.

Unless you're replacing with laminate/thermofoil, I think your overall budget is way too low. (Sorry, had to speak the truth.) 36K sounds a little high, but I would at least double your budget. Especially if you're hiring the work out.

For comparison - about 10 years ago, I redid a kitchen about that size, all DIY, thermofoil cabs, laminate counters, new low-end stove and dishwasher for about $4K.

My current remodel - all DIY, a little bigger than yours but still small at 8.5x14, mid-grade appliances, local custom cabs. I'm hoping to keep my total under 30K.

When you get to cabinets, you might want to check out local cabinet makers. My custom quote was the lowest of the bunch while Diamond and Medallion were in the 12-14K range.

Your budget is low especially if you are not DIY. On the other hand $36K seems high

That said, you can do things on your low budget, but it really will make a difference if you can DIY a lot of it. While they are not for everyone, Ikea's cabinets are very inexpensive and have a number of fans. Assemble them yourself, do the demolition yourself, maybe hire a handyman to help you hang / install the cabinets.

Search here for some low budget kitchen remodels - it can be done

You know what I did when I was in your position, about to start a kitchen re-do project and didn't have a clue about materials or choices or labor or resources or prices? I found Garden Web and literally poured through every single thread! I learned so much, so very much.

By doing this you'll find that the answers to your question can run from $10K (here's a link to a GW'er's $10K kitchen remodel blog that's chock full of information: http://10kkitchenremodel.blogspot.com/ ) to over six figures!

It's totally not fair to yourself to expect a neat answer to your question. But I promise you that when you see the hundreds of kitchen designs and the endless creativity people have brought to their kitchens, and all the resources these people are so willing to share, you'll have a much better idea of what it will take to complete your kitchen renovation.

If you take your time and avail yourself of the collective wisdom and generous nature of the people on this forum, you'll be so much better prepared to start your project. Yes, reading through all these posts will take a loooong time (we all know that 'cause we've all done that!), and you'll become TKO in the process, but it's the best favor you can do for yourself. You've landed in the right spot!

First place to look: Finished Kitchens Blog. Have fun!

Here is a link that might be useful: Finished Kitchens Blog

This comment is just to give you some examples of the very wide variety in pricing.

Fridge: $400 for "apt size" fridges in HD/Lowes teaser ads, $1200 - 2500 for middle of the road stand alone fridges with SS finish (GE Profile, LG, Kitchenaid, etc), $5K (?) and up for built in high end fridges (Sub Zero, Viking, Thermador). You will need a fridge, MW ($100-800, and IMO no reason to go above $200), DW (400 - 1500 or more), hood (not really sure of pricing on these -- I spent $1K for a relatively nice one), and range (1000? to $10K or more) or cooktop and wall oven (not sure of pricing there either). I think $3K for all of those sounds low but many people find ways to reuse what they already have, go to craigslist and ebay, and/or go low budget.

In Calif., the homeowner buys the granite at a yard and then hires a fabricator to install. Material alone can be $10/square foot for less expensive (but still beautiful) granite, $15-20/sf for middle of the road granite, and $40-200/sf for some of the exotic blue granites. Fabrication is $30-50/sf; fancy ogee edges are extra. HD charges $56/sf for granite (including fabrication/installation) for its least expensive granite.

You can get a faucet at HD for $100. Many people on this forum love the Grohe faucets ($500 or so?), and you can spend $1000 on high end faucets.

You may need to budget for electrical work and lights, a sink, flooring material, backsplash material (tile is usually less expensive than granite), and paint.

There was a very useful thread a couple of months ago called "scrimp on this, splurge on that." Decide on yours.

Good luck!

Thanks for the info. The $11,500 was just for main materials, not any labor. We are not at all DIY-ers, so what should we expect generally for labor costs?

The $36K we were quoted included allowances for about $16K for cabinets, countertops and appliances, so we realize that the price will really have to do with what we pick. But that still leaves $20K for labor. Does that seem right?

Here is a breakdown of my kitchen budget. My kitchen is 11 x 19, has 38 linear feet of cabinetry and 80 sf. of countertop. We aren't big DIY people, but did do the demo and painting (which explains why the painting isn't finished yet!).

We went with IKEA cabinets, which was the biggest boost to our budget. We went with a mid-price style (Adel White) and couldn't be happier with them.

Cabs - 4500
Appliances - 6000 (Bosch dual-fuel slide-in range, LG counter-depth fridge, Kitchen Aid DW, Kenmore hood)
Cork Floor - 2200
Marble counters - 4000 (80 square feet)
2 sinks & 2 faucets - 750

Labor -
Electrical - 2800 (Not including fixtures. We had lots of recessed lighting installed, added a few outlets and added 3 pendants. Also added lots of three-way switching.)
Installation - 4500 (includes moving two doorways, installing cabs, sinks & faucets, moving gas line, adding plumbing for 2nd sink)
Drywall - 3000 (includes 8 x 8 laundry room, walls and ceiling in both)

Notes:
*All of my base cabs are drawers, and my pantry is also a stack of drawers.
*I don't know how much my hardware cost, but it was IKEA and I just remember it was really cheap!
*Backsplash isn't done yet.
*We are in metro Detroit.

Nicole

Nicole,

Did you put the IKEA cabinets together yourself, or was that part of the installation cost? I've bought several furniture items from IKEA and have never had a problem building them myself, but I have 2 toddlers and a full-time job, so I'm not likely to do an entire kitchen!

Also, how did you decide to go with IKEA? I'm very interested in going this route, but want to make sure it's a good choice for home resale in about 5 years.

Any thoughts??

We put all of the cabs together ourselves. The first one takes about 45 minutes because you are reading the directions while you build, but after that you know what you are doing and it takes about 20-30 minutes. And half of that time is just nailing the back on! My husband did almost all of the cabs, sometimes assisted by my 8 yo daughter. The only cabs he needed help with were the pantries, because they were so tall and cumbersome.

Even with your other commitments you can find the time to assemble the cabs. A couple of hours a night with a helper (after bedtime for the kiddos) and with your small kitchen you will be done in a few days. If you really can't do it, IKEA installers will offer to assemble the cabs for you before installing. (NOTE - We did not use IKEA installers, as we have a wonderful builder that we have a long history with.)

How did I decide on IKEA? Three years ago I planned a fab custom kitchen for my old house. While researching fpr that kitchen I stumbled upon this forum and read comments from so many that loved their IKEA kitchens. Shortly after that an IKEA opened in Michigan and I saw first hand the wonderful full-extension soft-closing drawers and all the nifty inserts.

Then we decided to move instead of install the new kitchen. When we found this house - that needed a new kitchen - I knew that IKEA was the only cabinetry line that I would accept quality-wise that would fit the budget. Hence, my kitchen was born!

My only complaint about IKEA is their door style selection is pretty limited. If you want a very traditional look you pretty much have two choices. Contemporary/transitional looks are much more plentiful, but there are only a few wood finishes to choose from, and a few colored (painted, thermofoil, etc.). This doesn't mean you won't find something you like, just be aware that all styles are not offered in all finishes.

As far as resale goes, I think a lot has to do with the finishes you use in the rest of your kitchen. If you are looking at a kitchen with IKEA Arlig cabinets (the white melamine cabinets that look like they should be in a garage), and white laminate counters with vinyl tile floors, well, it is going to look like a budget kitchen and probably effect resale value.

However, Take an IKEA wood door (Tidaholm in oak is one of my faves), pair it with a stone counter and a wood floor and you have quite a different look. In my own kitchen I have Adel white, which is a thermofoil Shaker-ish cabinet, with marble counters and cork floors. Every person who enters my kitchen - including lots of contractors who have seen LOTS of kitchens - can't believe it is IKEA.

I think of my cabs as the equivalent of a decent-quality but inexpensive plain little black dress. Add some expensive shoes and gorgeous jewelry, and you look like a million bucks!

Check out the Finished Kitchen Blog for lots of IKEA kitchens. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by what you...

From Lowes, Schuler cabinets Grand Traditions, cherry with Verona door, and hardware for 11Â x 11Â kitchen: six uppers (3 custom sizes), six lowers most with full drawers (2 custom sizes), trims, crowns, panels, etc., without installation came to aprox. $9,000.00. About 70 sq. feet of Bosa Nova granite installed cost total $5,500.

Labor: We DIYÂed the demo; stripping the walls and ceilings down to the studs. We hired a local handyman to help with hanging new sheetrock, electrical and rough plumbing, and a stucco guy to blend the new walls and ceiling with the old. We DIYÂed the entire cabinet and crown installation, saving at least $2,000. We also did the finish painting. Total cost for labor and materials, about $4,500.00

Electrical: 2 Pendants, 2 Fixtures, 9 recessed cans and trim, GFIÂs, dimmers, wall plates, bulbs, wire, boxes, etc. $2,000.00

Plumbing: We reused our old disposal, but purchased a single large deep Artisan sink with a grid. Faucet was a Groeh. We hired a plumber to hook everything up. Total cost materials and labor about $500.

Appliance package was all KitchenAid: KBLA22KRSS single door bottom freezer refrigerator, the KESS907 slide in range with convection oven, the KHTU105 30" 600cfm range hood, and the Lowes KitchenAid model KUDLO2FR Dishwasher. Total cost about $4,000.

There was probably another $1,500 spent on miscellaneous stuff, not all of it totally related to the kitchen.

Final cost for the remodel, which took us about 4 months: about $27,000. These prices were in SW Florida, last summer. The Boston area might be a bit higher?

Here is a list of the IKEA kitchens pictures at the Finished Kitchens Blog. Just click on a name to see their kitchen.

Nicole

Here is a link that might be useful: IKEA at FKB

You also might want to check out the IKEAfans website, especially the forum. The posters there are very friendly and free with their knowledge. While it is not exclusively about kitchens, kitchens are the main focus and there is enough materials to have you reading for days. Have fun!

Nicole

Here is a link that might be useful: IKEAfans

Nicole,

My best advice to you is a repeat of something which has already been stated: spend a lot of time studying the discussions on this forum. One thing you will note over and over is how many of us say we wish we had found this place before we began our kitchen remodels! Now, in the interests of full disclosure, I must also warn you that if you stick with us you are likely to become a TKO (totally kitchen obsessed). And, as such an addict myself, I confess I have yet to figure out whether becoming a GW TKO has saved me money or caused me to have less of it ( I fear the latter)! But I do know it has definitely saved me a heap of upsets and calamities that would have ended up getting factored into my overall reno budget if I hadn't learned about their potentials on this forum.

Even so, you should expect the unexpected -- meaning you should add a contingency line to your budget of at least 20% for project overruns. Although you state that you don't foresee any major structural issues, you do intend to install new appliances and lighting. That alone may require you to also install some new wiring and plumbing. And that's just for starters. Are your walls drywall or plaster? The skills involved in their repair/replacement after demo and construction will differ greatly and so will the cost. What's underfoot? Are you happy with it? Do you contemplate a backsplash? Regardless, knowing what the true cost of your remodel will be has a whole lot to do with how well you will wrestle with the likelihood of your "Mushroom Factor."

That said, and once you are sure your plan contemplates as many specifics as possible, my next best advice would be for you to get quotes for your project from several recommended contractors (at least 3-5). When you compare those quotes and find the middle ground, that will be your best indication of how much your project will/should cost.

Beyond plan definition and budget contingencies, there are also the specifics of your location. As you know, the cost of labor in Boston is not the cost of labor in Podunk. (And, no, that last comment was just a statement of fact not intended to offend any Podunkers who might be members of this Forum!) :)

That was just some more grist for the mill.

Good luck!

Sorry Khuang and sorry Nicole, I misaddressed my comments! Of course, my advice was intended for Khuang!

We are currently in the middle of our kitchen renovation, going just the route nigel-bigel describes: We are using IKEA cabs but putting in soapstone counters and mid-range appliances to upgrade the look. Our overall budget is $35,000. We are not DIY except for putting the IKEA boxes together (which is just as easy and non-time-consuming as nigel-bigel says).

We gutted out 13x12 kitchen (and adjoining 10x8 eat-in area) and took one wall down to half height. We did not move any plumbing but redid all the electrical, adding lighting and outlets. We also added a window and replaced a window.

Here's our breakdown:

IKEA Tidaholm cabinets (about 34 linear feet): $3,500
(we priced maple Shaker-style Kraftmaid cabs, which were going to cost $9,500 for basically the same thing as the IKEA)

Soapstone counters (40 sf): $3,700

Appliances:
30-inch Kenmore Elite gas range: $1,200 (on sale)
Kenmore Elite DW: $800 (on sale)
(We already have a relatively new frig)

Plumbing:
Ticor large single basin SS sink: $400
Kohler faucet: $450
Disposal: $175
New tankless hot water heat: $900
In addition to those costs, plumbing labor was about $2,500.

Electrical: Added 4 cans, two pendants, a range vent and moved a ceiling fan and pendant; also added a number of outlets and switches: Total cost, not including fixures, was $3,000

Other labor (all carpentry including installation of the cabinets and construction of a custom pantry, replacing an exterior door with a window and replacing another window, drywall, refinshing existing wood floors, tile backsplash) was about $18,000. The remainder was administrative/overhead paid to our GC (money well spent, we think; we did another project with him and he finished it on time and on budget).

Hope that helps.

Kitchen Remodel Prices LLC, Really? Did you bother to look at the fact that this post was 10 years old? I was going to mark this as spam but decided not to as it is pretty comical that you would expect people to take you seriously when you cannot even read a date..................................

I’m just giggling at the $3400 cabinet cost for a “moderate” kitchen remodel.

“Kitchen Remodel Prices LLC” just wants you to click on their link. Don’t do it!

And their prices for a kitchen reno’s cabinets and appliances are so out of touch I don’t know whether to laugh at them or to pity them their lameness.