I'll be following the responses to this thread as I am just getting started also. You might want to check the "Cabinet Estimate" thread where I posted my first cab estimate. I received some goood information that addresses your question.

Honestly, I think it depends so much on the individual project (and even on the contractor---we got bids all over the board for exactly the same scope). Someone in kerrys' thread noted that kitchen remodels are generally 10-15% of the home's value, but that doesn't necessarily make sense depending on your home and your value. (Ours, for instance, is a tiny starter home, but it's in a high-priced market, so there's no way we would spend 10 percent of our value on a kitchen remodel---we'd be broke! In contrast, in low-priced markets you might drop more than that just on appliances.) It also depends on what kinds of work you need to do: our budget is heavy on structural/finishing work (removing chimney, etc.) and light on appliances since we're keeping our range, so that makes a difference too.

But just for kicks, our budget for a 225 sq. ft. close-to-gut kitchen remodel works out something like this...

If we do (relatively inexpensive, from what I read here) custom cabinets:
40% cabinets
30% labor
30% appliances/flooring/sink/etc.
Total: 7% of value

If we do Ikea cabinets w/ custom doors:
20% cabinets
40% labor
40% appliances/flooring/sink/etc.
Total: 5% of value

The appliances are the same in both cases; just a different percentage since the total cost changes. Right now we are planning to combine the two options, which will land us somewhere in the 33-33-33 range. The other big factor for us is that we were not willing to spend more than a certain portion of our salaries on the project, which defined our budget early on. Again, both overall income and how much of it you're willing to spend are different for different households. I gave contractors our budget upfront so they wouldn't come out if our project was too small for their liking, so I probably missed out on some sky-high bids we might otherwise have gotten.

HTH!

Kerry - I cannot find your thread - can you post it here for me?

Artemis - Yes, I agree it does matter! I am just hoping to get an idea of what other experiences have been to see how far off the mark we are with this estimate. I trust this company 1000% in terms of their work; they completely gut everything and replace all plumbing, electric, etc and have a lifetime warranty on their work. We have used them before for bathroom renovations for our old house and love what they did but have been told we overpaid on labor. However, maybe the "overpaying" is worth it depending on what they are offering... this is what I do not know.

We aren't doing any structural changes. Ideally I would bump out the kitchen because it is a little narrow, but it would add on another 50k to do that so I'm ok with the existing footprint!!

Thanks so much!

I say if it works with the overall budget, 36% for cabinets seems very reasonable---we were prepared to go up to 50% of our budget for custom. At first it seemed crazy, but then I realized if you add up costs for furnishings in other rooms, they get pricey too (and that's with a house that still has a good bit of Ikea and Crate & Barrel going on!) Not to mention that in theory, good cabinets are an investment in the house...auddenly $12K for cabinets seems a little less insane.

I also think there's huge value in going with someone whose work you know. (Our neighbor just did a bathroom remodel with the contractor who did his kitchen years ago, paid a good bit more than the other bids he got, and reports that he's 100% glad he did---no new relationships to build, he trusted them, and they delivered with good work.) That's the part of the project I find the most daunting---knowing which contractors to trust and what kind of work they'll do. If you already have something good, I'd probably stick with it.

Well, I set my own budget at $15,000. Keep in mind that to make this work, we are keeping our ugly laminate floor, plus our old stove and refridgerator.

Our cabinets are taking up 60% of the budget, but I'm getting all wood, in cherry, plus a cherry vanity in our half bath for $9000 which includes tear out and installation. A local Amish cabinet maker is making these, so I'm excited!

My granite countertops are going to be $3200 which includes the sink and installation.

I'm putting in a hood/micro plus new dishwasher and the ones I want will be ~$900 (not including installation).

Faucets for kitchen and bathroom will be ~$300.

Harware for cabinets will be ~$200.

I'm not sure what type of backsplash I'm putting in, and also haven't gotten rough estimates for the plumbing and electrical work. Right now I'm budgeting no more than $500 for the backsplash and $500 for install of the hood/micro and install of our new dishwasher and rehooking up water/disposal--cabinet maker is disconnecting waterat install)

Will also need a granite remnant for the bathroom vanity top (which I've been told will be between $200-300), but I'm thinking I will be able to come in close to my budget.