This is going to probably be way more expensive than you think it will be.

Haha, I'm certain it is, Anglophilia, as this is not my first major remodel project, but I need to get a good estimate to find out how much more, and to assure I don't end up with too much project creep. My other kitchen project had a kitchen designer who worked with a specific contractor so she made certain everything was accounted for in our final estimate. This time I don't have that luxury. So far I've spoken to two contractors who just nod and measure and don't seem to take any notes specific to the project. I do have a firm estimate for the condo flooring so that part is optional for the kitchen guy unless he wants it and brings me a good total price. And I have the prices for the IKEA cabinets and for the appliances. I now need someone to give me the estimates for the construction/installation portion. My list will hopefully give them a good starting point on that price. I really don't want to be my own contractor and have to deal with all the individual tradesmen but it looks like it may come to that. At any rate, a comprehensive list will be helpful.

More than half of that list likely can’t happen in a condo. If it can, start at 100K and go up, for the difficulty factor and having to work within the allowed working hours of a condo. The condos working rules need to be part of your packet. Plus noise and dust control requirements. All of which increase the expense.

The flooring is NOT optional if the walls can come down.

The plumbing is a no unless you have permitted access from the unit below.

You have to pick the lighting or the dropped ceiling. Not both. Most of the electrical work will be limited, unless you upgrade the panel, and that might not even be possible without upgrading the whole building’s service. Old buildings simply have inadequate electrical service. Which is why most specify gas ranges.

The most limiting ting aspect of your plan is the electrical. I suggest you pay an electrician a consult fee up front to take a look st the building and your h it to determine what is physically possible. Then plan the renovation around those limitations. It does no good to plan and half of the plan can’t be accomplished.

Thanks, GreenDesigns, for your thoughtful comments. I know it's hard looking at my list without actually knowing what the condo looks like. All of the things on my list are actually very doable within the condo and have been done in other units, so I know that there are no real structural issues and that they are all possible. I just want to know what it will cost!

I know that the floor isn't optional and I already have a firm estimate for a total condo reflooring so I'm just giving the kitchen person the option of bidding the entire job. The ceiling is dropped about 15 inches over the kitchen/dining area as an old design feature. It is vacant space with only an electrical wire to the light fixture so it can just be raised. The plumbing to be moved is to push it against the wall within my condo as it is currently running directly through the center of the cabinets (never seen anything like that, nothing is behind the wall) and then jogging over to connect at the main stack (which is actually against the wall!) Unless an induction stove takes much more power than an regular electric stove I should be good with that (that's one thing I haven't researched so thanks for the warning.) but other units have upgraded to induction without having to have a panel upgrade.

Nothing I'm planning to do hasn't already been done in similar units but everyone does have a horror story about their contractor. I'm hoping to eliminate the horror stories by having a good understanding of the project upfront.