Budget Breakdown: Kitchen
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As requested, I promised that I would provide a budget breakdown of our kitchen renovation, and although talking money can be somewhat of an uncomfortable conversation for some, I want to be as transparent as possible when talking about the details of our DIY kitchen. But before we jump right into it, I feel inclined to remind you that Josh and I already own the tools needed to complete a DIY renovation to this level. This includes a wet saw, miter and table saw, drills, nail gun and compressor, etc. I excluded these items from the cost breakdown, so if you’re planning to invest in these tools to complete your own DIY renovation, then please keep in mind that the cost of your project may increase significantly.
Budget
We went into our kitchen renovation prepared to spend $10,000. Our budget was set as a starting point and helped guide us in our decision making when purchasing certain appliances and materials for our kitchen. I’ve shared a cost breakdown to show where the bulk of our money went (spoiler alert: appliances) but please keep in mind that the cost of a complete kitchen renovation can be less or more depending on where you live, your DIY skill or comfort level, and your personal design taste. During the planning process, I really had to check myself, and understand the differences between my “wants” vs. “needs”. By eliminating the “wants” (i.e., pot filler, microwave drawer, etc.) we were able to keep the costs down as best we could, and stay focused on the necessities. But enough about me, let’s talk money.
Cost Breakdown
For reference our kitchen is ~100 sq. ft. All sources are available here.
Appliances:
Fisher and Paykel Fridge: $1,900
GE Profile Oven: $1,800
Bosch Integrated Dishwasher: $950
Island Hood Vent: $550
Plumbing Fixtures
Sink: $450
Faucet: $450
Hardware and Lighting:
Sconce: $150
Cabinet Knobs (22): $190
Counters and Tile:
Mont Blanc Marble Counters (including fabrication & install): $2,760
Tile Backsplash: $295
Floor Tile, Kitchen Only: $400
Cabinetry and Paint:
Wood for Cabinet Boxes, Plywood: $450
Wood for Doors & Drawers: Birch Plywood and Pine: $400
Drawer Slides (20): $115
Door Hinges (24): $140
Paint and Primer: $80
Hired Help:
Electrical: $1,500
Gas and Plumbing: $700
Miscellaneous:
*We already had some of these items from previous projects
*Drywall and Cement Backer Board: ~100
*Mortar and Joint Compound: ~$200
Mapei Premix Grout (3): $120
Cedar Beam: $0
TOTAL: $13,706
Not too bad, right? We did go over budget a bit, but honestly we expected it. We were a bit optimistic and I don’t think we realized how quickly the costs can add up, especially when factoring in all new appliances. Nevertheless, I’m still really happy with our new kitchen, and the design and financial decisions that we made. If you’re interested, I included some cost saving tips below to consider for your future or current kitchen renovation:
Work with your existing layout as best as you can
If possible, keep plumbing where it’s at. We kept our plumbing (sink and dishwasher) in the same location since the cost of moving plumbing lines can be the most costly thing to do in a kitchen renovation
Shop for appliances during major holidays. (We purchased most of our appliances around Memorial Day. And since Josh is in the Navy, we also received military discounts on top of store savings)
Shop local and/or small businesses when possible
If you work on multiple projects in your home, hang onto scrap wood and materials. We built the frame of our tile shelf out of scrap wood, and also had some leftover wood, cement boards and drywall from other room renovations to use in our kitchen
We didn’t do this, but I’ve seen other people have success with buying new(er) appliances from local scratch and dent stores, or even on FB Marketplace
If you have any other tips or tricks to add, let me know!
