What is an average cost of re-modeling a kitchen? You have four major categories: your cabinetry, your appliances, your countertop, and your labor cost. When asked about the average cost of re-modeling a...
When asked about the average cost of re-modeling a kitchen, Ellen Mercer, who has been a kitchen designer for eighteen years and is currently a designer at Cabinet Solutions, says, "You can have four major categories: your cabinetry, your appliances, your countertop, and your labor cost. Now, you can have other things that will come up. Some small things that can come up are your hardware, plumbing, fixtures, lighting, tile, flooring, and various others. However, those four major categories are what you are primarily going to be looking at. You can get new appliances for five thousand dollars, or you can get new appliances for thirty thousand dollars for the same space. This is where you control your budget. It is an individual decision."
The book "Home project Manager: Kitchen Planner", published in 1997 by Cowles Creative Publishing, says, "If you're typical, you already have some idea about how much you'd like to spend on your fantasy kitchen. And, in all likelihood, you're about to discover that your preliminary budget is too small to fulfill that dream. We'll say it right up front: To avoid disappointment, you should be ready to pay a little more than you anticipated and be willing to settle for a slightly more modest kitchen than you first envisioned. Compromise is inevitable when planning a new kitchen, but with perseverance and a little bit of luck, you can spend reasonably and still achieve a fine kitchen."
One way of avoiding a lot of hassle is to hire an interior designer in the beginning that will help you make some of the difficult decisions that lie ahead. Some of the major elements of what you are looking to accomplish in your re-model might not be able to be compromised on due to your lifestyle but a professional can show you additional options for other "non-necessities". Their job is give a client what he and/or she wants, within an agreed upon budget. Since they do this sort of thing all the time, they can come into your project already knowing the "tricks of the trade", so to speak, and can offer you choices that you may never even find out about trying to research everything on your own.
Creating a budget for re-modeling is really just a series of steps. First, you need to sit down and think about everything that you want - down to the smallest detail. Now, going through your list, decide which areas you can compromise on. With all the storage solutions available, could you implement them instead of having custom cabinets made? Instead of a granite countertop, would you be willing to settle for something cheaper, such as a similarly designed laminate, which could always be replaced later when you had more money? Based on your lifestyle and wants, make notes by the elements that you would be willing to compromise on if need be.
Another way to cut costs is to do some of the labor yourself. If you already are knowledgeable in a craft, then I am sure that this has already crossed your mind. If not, it is best to inquire about doing certain projects yourself with the interior designer or contractor.
As with any home improvement project, re-modeling a kitchen is all about trial and error. Having a concrete design plan is your greatest defense against costly mistakes. Having a professional on your side is your best bet in achieving that.
