Renovating Our 40-Year-Old Kitchen for $21,500

In May 2011 my husband and I were ready to make a major update to our more than 40 year-old home. The kitchen in particular was in need of attention. This was more than a DIY project so we enlisted the help of a local contractor for the renovation.

Our goal was to increase the functionality of our space without adding square footage. The first image shows the narrow passageway from the kitchen to the back of the house, as well as the seriously outdated counter tops and cabinetry.

Advance planning and preparation are keys to the success of the project. We spent at least 40 hours just considering how we wanted to use the space, the floor plan, making selections for appliances, floor tile, cabinetry, lighting and plumbing fixtures, and discussing our options with our contractor.

The contractors removed everything in the room including the cabinets, flooring, and part of the wall. Image two shows a portion of the gutted room. At the mid-point of the project, running water was returned to the kitchen and a temporary sink was installed as pictured in the third image.

Now our kitchen has a whole new look and feel. The fourth picture shows the new, more open pathway through the kitchen, and the fifth image highlights the range and microwave/hood combination, pot-filler, and custom glass backsplash.

We definitely learned some tips and tricks along the way for working with contractors:

• Plan: Proper planning in advance will save you much frustration, time, and money.
• Be specific: You may know exactly what you want, but if you aren’t specific, the contractor won’t understand. Draw pictures, provide Internet links, and plan multiple meetings to discuss the project before any work begins.
• They’re the experts: You’ve spent time selecting the right team for the job, listen and consider their advice.
• Be flexible: “Surprises” pop up and must be addressed. This can add time, and sometimes money. Being aware and flexible can cut down on frustrations.
• Track costs: Stick to the budget. With so many options available, it’s easy for a $20,000 project to quickly balloon into a $40,000 (or more) project.

We completed our project in three to four weeks at a total cost of $21,500. Approximately $7,000 of the total for labor and $14,500 for custom cabinets, ceramic tile, glass backsplash, solid-surface counter tops, appliances, and plumbing/lighting fixtures. Purchasing many items locally, and through our contractor, saved on shipping costs and allowed us to focus on the products themselves.