It should come as no surprise that kitchen renovations are complex. 

From the construction components when changing the floor plan (drywall, paint, electrical, outlets, plumbing, etc.) to the finishes (flooring, cabinets, countertops, backsplash, millwork, etc.) and even the final touches (appliances, light fixtures, window coverings, furniture, accessories, etc.), there are a lot of moving pieces. 

Which also means that budgeting for your kitchen renovation can be tricky. With some professional guidance, however, estimating your investment level for that dream kitchen doesn’t have to be a headache-inducing task. 

Today, I’m going to walk you through my process for kitchen renovation estimates. I hope it will simplify the process for you and show you that the kitchen you’ve been hoping for might not be as far away as you once thought. 

Let’s jump right in...

When should an investment & budget be created?

Your investment is how much you are willing to spend on the project. Your budget is how you will allocate that investment toward various aspects of the project, like materials, labor, and professional services.

Both of these should be established before starting your project. Knowing how much you can spend will determine the level of finishes, whether you can move walls, etc.

So, what should you do to get started?

Get a pre-quote.

For the average homeowner, it can take just as much time to plan, design, and gather quotes as it does to complete the renovation itself. Which is why I always recommend homeowners get a pre-quote from a general contractor. 

Not only is this one of the easiest ways to stay on budget when renovating, but the contractor will also quickly and easily be able to determine if the large-scale changes you envision (moving or removing walls, relocating windows, etc.) are even possible. 

The pre-quote should include all finishes: cabinetry, flooring, countertops, backsplash, paint, plumbing fixtures, lighting fixtures, sinks, appliances, etc. But it should also include the trade quotes for your plumber, electrician, HVAC specialist, drywaller, painter, and finishing carpenter.

What decisions need to be made following the pre-quote?

Armed with real figures from your general contractor, you are better able to determine if this kitchen renovation is going to be a project you handle yourself, or hire out. 

Decision 1: Hire a Contractor or Coordinate the Renovation Yourself

I will be completely honest with you, the choice you make here will significantly affect your overall project budget. A contractor will increase your total investment… but it’s usually worth it to have a professional doing things right the first time.

This person will manage and coordinate the entire renovation for you, from obtaining permits and gathering quotes to ordering materials and coordinating all of the trades. All you will need to do is determine the design and select your finishes.

Decision 2: Hire a Designer or Choose the Finishes Yourself

Believe it or not, a designer can actually help save you time and money. Yes, of course there are fees involved in hiring any good designer, but their assistance will save you hours (or even days) of searching for the perfect finishes.

Kitchens are notoriously heavy on design decisions. Take cabinets for example — you have to select the door style, door color, hinge style, any additions like soft close, and door hardware. That’s 5 decisions for one just one item!

A designer’s expertise will help you make the best decisions for your budget, style, and lifestyle, while reaching the finish line faster than if you tried to attempt it yourself.

Plus, with a designer holding your hand along the way, you’ll be far less likely to make expensive mistakes when choosing finishes and finalizing the kitchen design. After all, we are trained in knowing where to splurge and where to save in order to create a kitchen design and an investment estimate that you are more than happy with.

How does a designer help clients draft and finalize their budget?

While I can’t speak for all designers, I can share a brief overview of my kitchen investment estimating process.

Step 1: Initial Questionnaire 

When beginning to work together, I’ll send you a kitchen questionnaire, which gives me information about the current challenges of the space, how you envision your new kitchen functioning and feeling, as well as the quality and aesthetic of the finishes you’re dreaming up. 

The finishes, along with the footprint of the space, guides us in determining the budget. Which leads us to the next step, the 2-hour in-home design work session.

Step 2: In-Home Consultation

With samples in hand to aid the discussion, we will begin walking through a number of different factors that will all lead us to a personalized kitchen renovation estimate:

1. Layout - We look at the kitchen layout to determine if it will change. We discuss the costs involved with altering the footprint.

2. Cabinetry - We talk through the different types of cabinetry. Each has a varying price tag attached, therefore influencing the investment significantly. Painted cabinetry is the most costly, followed by wood stained cabinetry and thermally fused laminate.

3. Inserts - We discuss any speciality cabinet inserts required, such as a spice drawer, roll-out shelving and pantry units, built-in recycle bins, custom corner pull-outs, and more.

4. Countertops - We look at the different countertop materials available. Natural and manmade stone, such as granite, quartz, and Dekton, are the most costly. Natural wood is a beautiful mid-range option. And laminate falls on the lower end investment-wise.

5. Flooring - We talk through the types of flooring available for kitchen use. On the higher-end, we find hardwood and tile, followed by luxury vinyl planks, and then linoleum.

6. Finishes - We discuss the quality of the other finishes desired, such as the faucets, sinks, lighting, cabinet hardware, and more.

Throughout all of these conversations, I will be able to attach a general estimate to most of the finishes that you select for installation. This helps you decide on the finishes to be used based on your overall investment level for the renovation. 

Step 3: Preliminary Design

Following this in-home session, I will get to work designing your kitchen with a more thorough quote, which includes the actual cost of all finishes selected, as well as allowances for the plumbing, electrical, ventilation, and more. 

Step 4: Pre-Quote Presentation

This design pre-quote will be presented to you, giving you a chance to edit and re-select finishes if the price tag is higher than you are comfortable with. 

Step 5: Possible Revisions

Any good designer will be happy to work through this process as many times as it takes for you to be comfortable with not only the design and aesthetic, but also the amount you will be investing in your dream kitchen renovation. Just remember that the more revisions you request, the longer your project will take.

What does a sample kitchen renovation estimate look like?

Kitchens are notoriously the most expensive room in the home to renovate, with cabinetry as the biggest ticket item, followed closely by the cost of labour. 

In general, kitchen renovations range from $30,000 - $100,000 depending on the size of the kitchen, level of finishes selected, whether the footprint is changing, and the number of appliances, bells, and whistles requested.

As an illustration, however, here are the actual costs for a mid-range kitchen I just completed for my wonderful photographer and her husband — stay tuned for their full reno story next month!

Are there ways to make a kitchen renovation more cost-effective?

Absolutely! For those adhering to smaller investment levels, here are a few tips I’ve learned over the years:

1. Keep the current footprint. Removing walls and relocating plumbing/electrical services will significantly increase your overall cost.

2. Choose simple cabinetry. To keep costs down, use ready-to-assemble cabinets instead of custom. Limit the number of drawers, dividers, and speciality inserts. If you do choose to have custom cabinetry made, select materials that are less costly, like painted MDF or thermally fused “wood look” laminate instead of real maple hardwood.

3. Select laminate countertops. Laminate counters are about one third of the cost of stone, so this is a substantial savings.

4. Lend a hand. Help with the things that you’re able to do. Remove and dispose of the old cabinetry and other materials before the contractor arrives. Do your own painting. Pick up the needed materials instead of paying a delivery fee. (But I always recommend checking with your contractor before DIYing to make sure they are comfortable leaving parts of the renovation to you.)

5. Make a plan. Determine how you will cook and clean while your kitchen is out of commission in order to minimize the number of times/meals you must eat out, therefore saving money.

Anything else to consider when establishing a kitchen renovation budget?

In addition to the obvious costs of labor and materials, there are a few other items that should be factored in when determining the complete investment required for a kitchen renovation:

1. Disposal fees (plus the cost of the vehicle and fuel to move the materials being disposed).

2. Hazardous material testing (and possible removal, if found).

3. Portable toilet for tradespeople (unless you want them using your bathroom).

4. Alternative living arrangements (if there will be days you are unable to live in your home during the reno).

5. Costs to eat out (when your kitchen is not usable and your temporary cook-space is a mess).

6. Contingency fund (to cover unexpected expenses, I suggest having an extra $5,000.00 on hand).

I know, I know...that was a ton of information. But, in summary…

• create your renovation budget before you do anything else

• get pre-quotes from your designer and contractor

• consider ways to reduce your overall costs, if needed

• plan for the oft-forgotten expenses as well 

• follow your designer’s plan when selecting finishes

• trust both professionals’ expertise to stay within budget

That’s it! Like the kitchen renovation itself, budgeting for your project and selecting finishes is a process. Be patient with yourself, trust each step you take, and when you’re ready for a designer’s help, let’s talk! 

I’d be honoured to walk you through my process to create an investment estimate that meets your financial needs and exceeds your design expectations. Together, we can bring your dream kitchen to life.

Until next month,
Adrienne