How to Budget for a Kitchen Renovation: Part 1
I would hazard a guess that there is no area of the home where the renovation costs can vary more than in the kitchen. If you are considering a kitchen renovation in your future no one will be able to tell you exactly what your kitchen will cost until you have completed the planning phase. However, if you are considering a kitchen renovation and asking yourself “How much is this going to cost me?” then the next couple of blog posts in this budget series is for you. Whether you plan to hire out the design and project management of your project or you are completing that aspect yourself, these posts will assist you in creating an estimate of the materials and construction costs for your future kitchen renovation project.
Many people I talk to have little to no idea how much any part of their project will cost, and certainly not what the entire project will cost when all is said and done. Project cost estimating seems to be a real road block for home owners who want to renovate. They are afraid to even ask about the price for fear they won’t be able to afford what they really want. Many home owners put off getting quotes or looking into the costs to make the changes they dream about and instead, continue living in homes that don’t function for them, and spaces that bring them stress or regret. That is no way to live! Let’s take the first step and estimate the cost of that kitchen renovation and from there you can adjust that budget, selecting the materials and design options until you find the kitchen design you love that fits within your budget.
Before we get into too many numbers it is important that you know the total scope of your project. If you are serious about learning the true estimated cost of your kitchen renovation you need to know what you will be procuring. As with all my design plans we need to discuss how you want to use this space. To be happy with the design it must be functional, and part 1 of how to budget for a kitchen renovation will get you started off on the right foot.
Part 1: Function First
Identify all your appliances: Your kitchen is a room dedicated to function. Appliances, may not always be exciting to think about but they are key functional elements of the kitchen. How you will use and enjoy your new space can greatly depend on choosing the correct appliances to suit your lifestyle and preferences. New appliances vary greatly in cost and it is important to first consider what types of appliances you want in your space as which ones you choose will greatly influence the entire design. Accommodating changes later can be costly! If you are looking for cost savings, using existing or gently used appliances may be the way forward. However if you are planning on eventually upgrading I would confirm you are building your kitchen to house standard size appliances so that future appliances will easily fit without reconfiguration of your new cabinetry.
Many design decisions will require you to know the dimensions of your appliances as well as their proper installation requirements. For starters do you want wall ovens and a cooktop or a freestanding range? Will that range be electric or gas? Will you require a standard fridge, counter-depth model, or separate fridge and freezer for maximum cold storage? Do you want to consider freeing up counterspace by building in your microwave? How many dishwashers would you like? (yes you can have more than 1!), Built in espresso maker? Wine fridge? Pot filler? Added prep sink? Farmhouse sink? Determine your exact appliance wish list and collect the cost per item as well as their dimensions for future planning purposes. If you are not certain of the exact model, confirm what is the standard dimension of that appliance and ensure you confirm exact specs prior to cabinet construction stage.
Paneled Refrigerator Doors- photo source unknown, pinterest
For standard mid-range appliances (brand name, non-custom, stainless steel with some bells and whistles): Freestanding electric range with vent hood, counter-depth fridge with freezer, single dishwasher, 30inch undermount stainless steel sink and faucet and a built-in microwave I would estimate a minimum of $12,000 (CAD) before taxes. I also urge you to order all appliances as early as possible as in today’s world delays of over a year are still common. If you know you have a need for appliances in the next year, Black Friday and Boxing Week are great times to seek our those deals. In the past I found the best deals were found when I bought multiple appliances at once, which works out well for someone doing a full kitchen refresh or renovation.
If you are looking for a statement range you can expect to almost double the above estimate. If you are looking for paneled door fronts for your appliances like in the photo below, you will need to discuss that work with your cabinet maker, but for that high end look you will pay a premium.
Create a Floorplan: The layout of your new kitchen depends on how you want to use this space. The kitchen is often described as the heart of the home and when designed well for you and your family you may be surprised by how much of your day is spent there. The most obvious function is cooking, but do you also need to eat in your kitchen? Entertain? Complete homework or crafts? lay board games? Dance? Make a list of all the functions that you would like to incorporate into your kitchen and keep those top of mind while you create your layout.
For the most accurate estimates you will need to get the graph paper, pencil (and eraser) and ruler out and make a to-scale sketch. Include kitchen walls and make note of existing windows, doorways and the location of plumbing and ventilation / high voltage receptacles and work within that existing space to create a kitchen layout that works for you. If you are interested in seeing this process for my own recent kitchen renovation check out this past blog post (Kitchen Renovation Part 1: The Layout).
Kitchen Reno Floorplan- Julia DeDecker Interiors
Remember those appliances you previously researched? You will need those measurements for this stage. It is at this stage that you may realize in order to get that dream kitchen, it will require reconfiguration of your room. It may even require expanding your footprint by removing or extending walls. Following this stage you will be calculating material and labour costs based on your floorplan, so the more precise your measurements are at this stage, the more accurate your overall estimate of the project will be. If precise measurement is not your thing, you may complete a rough, proportional sketch, to convey your ideas to your contractor but know that once your contractor comes in to measure, there may be some alterations necessary to fit your plan into your available footprint and the estimates on materials and labour will change accordingly.
This image shows different kitchen layouts, illustrating the “functional triangle” (in yellow). Although your layout doesn’t have to follow one of these layouts exactly, the rule of thumb is that the things you use to prepare your meals should be accessible to the person preparing the meal. This often means that your prep-space/sink, fridge and cooktop are accessible to each other without obstruction. Also important to consider is “zones”. A kitchen’s function is increased when one person can cook while another cleans up and another does homework without needing to reach around each other or without running into one another. When you have the space in your footprint consider keeping a food prep zone separate from cleaning zone, and separate from the eating/entertaining or homework zone.
Functional Triangle. Image Source: Foyr.com
The cost to remove structural walls and reconfigure plumbing infrastructure can be considerable. If you are looking to save costs on the overall renovation it’s a good idea to leave structural walls in-tact and appliances in their existing location as much as possible, while still maintaining or improving the functionality of your floorplan.
To determine if a wall is structural you should ask an expert, but at this stage you could make assumptions to help with your planning by looking at the ceiling joists. If the joists run parallel to your wall it is less likely to not be structural than if the joists run perpendicular.
Kitchen Renovation- Julia DeDecker Interiors
By taking the time to complete this planning step you will be able to properly estimate the costs of materials (backsplash, countertops etc.) and be one step closer in identifying the cost of your proposed project. Part 2 of this series will provide estimates on the materials and labour costs based on input from local contractors and cabinetry makers.
If this step of the process seems overwhelming or you have trouble identifying the proper functional elements or layout of your kitchen you are not out of options. Many people think an interior designer’s job is simply purchasing furniture and décor and choosing paint colours, but the majority of work on a renovation project happens in the design planning stage, before those steps begin. If you think you need help with this process I can be of assistance, contact me here.
