From Clunky to Classy: What to Know Before Remodeling Your Kitchen

A remodeled kitchen, photo by author

A kitchen is often the heart of a home; it’s where families gather for meals, both preparing and cooking. As you look around your kitchen, what do you notice? Are you able to use all its space efficiently? Are your cabinets in good shape? Can you easily move from one spot to another when cooking? Or do you dream of a better functioning and modernized kitchen? If so, here are some considerations as you think about redoing your kitchen.

With any home project, your first step is to determine budget. How much do you want to spend? On average, a kitchen remodel can cost between $10,000-30,000, not including new appliances. While that seems expensive, consider what steps and determinations must be taken into account.

How complex is your kitchen remodel? Do you want to remove a wall and open the space? If the wall is load-bearing, meaning it’s holding up part of your home, you will need an engineer to design a method for removing the wall and supporting your home. There’s also demolition costs, disposal fees, framing, and time and labor. On average, removing a wall can cost approximately $3500 in addition to your other costs. If a wall isn’t load-bearing, you’ll save approximately $1000 dollars on the engineer, but time and disposal are additional costs. 

Your contractor will also include updating plumbing and electrical systems, especially if your home is older. Other considerations include: any redesigning of the space, including moving sinks, refrigerators, dishwashers, and stoves; new cabinets, new countertops, new flooring, backsplash, sink, faucets, paints, door handles and knobs, and lighting. 

It’s best to have some ideas about your redesigned space before meeting with a contractor. For example, consider your color palette. What color do you want to be dominant in your kitchen? On average, paint will cost approximately $1000. Do you want a backsplash? If so, visit a tile store to see what tiles might go well in your kitchen and with your paint choice.  It’s helpful to write down brand names and prices to help you remember which tile you liked and how much it cost per square foot. 

Another consideration is lighting. What do you want and like? Recessed lighting? Track lighting? Recessed lighting? Decorative pendant lighting? Shop around to see pricing. If you want outlets moved for greater convenience, decide where you want them to go. Electrical costs are roughly 25% of your budget. Why? Because it’s important to make sure your wiring is up to code and safe for you and your family. This cost also depends on the number of lights you want and need, number of outlets, and number of switches. 

Now it’s time to think about cabinets. Your best cabinet choices are made from plywood, not particle board. Particle board cabinets are less expensive and budget friendly, but they don’t last as long and have fewer desirable features, like trim options, door styles, colors, and soft-close doors. Plywood cabinets are better made, last longer, and though they are more expensive, they offer nicer features, like soft-close drawers and doors, different door styles and colors, and trim options. You can expect to pay about $600 per cabinet. You should also consider what type of door hardware you want to accent your cabinet doors. Door hardware runs between $5-10 per door. Make sure you have enough hardware for all your cabinets. 

Looking for countertops can also feel overwhelming because there are so many choices. There are three categories for your consideration though: wood laminate, cultured product, and solid surface. Here are pros and cons of each:

*Wood laminate: budget friendly. I found wood laminate countertops starting at $129 for 6 feet. You can install them yourself, if you so desire. However, durability is a concern. They are susceptible to heat, so you must never put something hot directly on them, they scratch easier, and sometimes some of the laminate can wear off.  

*Cultured product countertops:  The popular and well-known brand Corian, range between $26-85 per square foot, including installation. Although cultured product countertops like Corian aren’t as expensive as solid surface countertops, like granite, they hold up better than wood laminate cabinets. They also come in a variety of colors and styles. Unfortunately, they aren’t scratch resistant or burn resistant either, and like wood laminate countertops, will not last as long. 

*Solid surface countertops include quartz, granite, and marble. The con to this countertop is its cost, which is about $50-150 per square foot. However, solid surface countertops are easy to maintain, including being scratch resistant, and they are durable. Because of the stone they’re made from, they are unique in terms of pattern and color. These are built to last and provide a unique look to your kitchen. 

Another important decision for your new kitchen is the type of sink and faucets you want. There are a variety of sinks available, and their approximate cost is $150-750, with the average cost about $500. You should also know if you want a single bowl or double bowl sink when you start looking, plus a good idea about the type of material you want it made from: stainless steel, composite, fireclay, cast iron, porcelain, or copper. Here’s a breakdown on sink styles:

*Undermount: this sink style is installed underneath the countertop, creating a seamless, sleek appearance.

Undermount sink

*Farmhouse: a deep sink that has an exposed front-facing side. 

Fancy farmhouse sink

*Drop-in: a sink basin is placed into a cutout in the countertop, with its rim resting on the countertop surface.

Drop-in

*Workstation: designed with an integrated ledge to support accessories such as cutting boards, drying racks, and colanders. It creates a multifunctional workspace for food preparation and cleanup.

A workstation

Along with your sink choice, you’ll need to decide on faucets. There are so  many to choose from. Here’s a link to Delta, Kohler, and American Standard, three of the more popular brands. You can expect to pay between $200-1000 for your faucet.

A tile backsplash is a stylish and practical feature that’s easy to keep clean. You can expect to pay approximately $15 a square foot for a tiled backsplash. This includes tile, grout, and labor. Tile choices range from marble to fabric look; it depends on how it meshes with your paint choice, cabinets, and flooring. Before heading to a tile store, maybe browse Pinterest or design magazines to get an idea of what you might want for your kitchen. Then visit a tile store and meet with a tile specialist to see what’s available. 

Remember to decide on flooring too. Here’s my previous blog post on flooring to help you decide on flooring for your kitchen. Keep in mind that your kitchen is, typically, a high-traffic area, and you want flooring that will be easy to maintain, difficult to scratch or stain, and is water resistant. 

Once you have your budget in mind and ideas about how you want your kitchen to look, it’s time to call your contractor. It’s best to get estimates from three different contractors before you make your decision. Why three? One will generally be a low-bid, another will be a high-bid, and another will be better aligned to your budget. It’s important for you to find a contractor you like and trust, one who will listen to you and advise you. After you’ve found your contractor and your remodel is scheduled, it’s time to get ready for your new kitchen.