If you are thinking about remodeling a kitchen, the obvious question should come to mind. What is the average cost to remodel a kitchen?
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “If you have to ask the price, you probably can’t afford it.” Home remodeling can be daunting, especially when people love to share their horror stories of projects that snowballed and went over the kitchen renovation budget. Maybe you have your own experiences of a DIY simple fix that ended up being complicated. We’re talking kitchen remodeling costs, and information is power, folks, so today, I’m giving you some power!
Do Your Research And Plan A Kitchen Remodel Budget
When you contemplate remodeling in the Hartford CT area, especially in a high-value area of your home such as a kitchen, you have to know what you’re getting yourself into. Before you can set a kitchen renovation budget, you need to start with realistic expectations of what you want and what kitchen remodeling cost. It’s great to dream of that beautiful high-end, magazine-worthy kitchen design. However, if you have a firm budget of $30,000, you’re going to have to make trade-offs between the dream and the reality. For our purposes, we’ll be talking about a floor-to-ceiling total kitchen remodel.
First, let’s talk about the biggest expenditure items — cabinetry, appliances, counter-tops.
Cabinetry
The kitchen cabinets you choose will make up the largest kitchen expenditure in terms of kitchen materials. There’s a huge range in terms of quality and style. From IKEA-style “stock” cabinetry to semi-custom cabinetry, which will allow you a variety of choices in terms of wood species and door styles. Completely custom-made cabinetry may include details that are specific to your home. Assume you choose something that allows for some flexibility in terms of choices. For example, semi-custom or better in terms of quality. Additional features can cost more. For example, the type of door, finishes, glazes and additional architectural details all add to the price. Not to mention, functional features such as pull out drawers and soft close doors, will add to the price you can expect to pay for a newly remodeled kitchen.
A Kitchen Design Expert
Magazines such as Elle, House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, or Better Homes and Gardens Kitchen and Bath Ideas (pictured below) will almost always feature cabinetry in the fully custom/luxury range. Every detail is considered. Achieving this look will almost always require working with a an expert kitchen designer. Note that if you are working with a West Hartford CT interior designer, it is not uncommon to add a professional kitchen designer to your budget. Kitchen designing is a specialized field and a helpful expenditure when trying to achieve a truly high-end look.
The bottom line? From the bottom to the top of the line, expect your cabinetry cost to run from approximately $75 (for stock IKEA style cabinets) to $1400 (custom) per linear foot.
Cost of Kitchen Appliances
Your next large kitchen expenditure will be appliances. These include standard items like refrigerator, oven, cook-top, ventilation hood, and dishwasher. In addition, some want more specialty kitchen appliances such as wine coolers, warming ovens, etc. For just the standard cost of kitchen appliances, these can range from $2500 – $35,000. Again, depending on quality, brand, finish and features etc. High-end kitchen appliances, including those such as this Le Cornue stove (alone, approx. $10,000) shown below, will be at the upper end, from $12,000 – $35,000 or more.
Source: Williams Sonoma
Cost Of Kitchen Counter-tops
Counter-tops will be the third largest kitchen material cost for your remodeled kitchen. Again, it all depends on your choices. The cost of a natural stone such as granite, quartz , or marble ($35 – $100/sq ft, installed), custom colored concrete ($75 – $125), soapstone ($70 – $100), stainless steel ($65 – $125).
Further cost determinants include the thickness, edging, and seaming required. Seaming, in particular, must be done with extreme care. It is a detail where the additional cost of a kitchen designer (approximately 20%) will truly prove its worth. If the planning is done wrong, you will be out a lot of time and money to repair mistakes.
Other Kitchen Elements
Keep in mind that what we’ve discussed above are simply the “biggies.” Here are other factors and kitchen features that will need to be included in a major kitchen remodel:
- Structural Changes (moving walls, doors, windows, etc)
- Plumbing and Fixtures like the best kitchen faucets, pipes etc.
- Lighting
- Electrical
- Cabinetry Hardware
- Interior Cabinetry Storage and Features
- Flooring
- Paint and Repair for Walls and Ceiling
- Trims and Moulding
- Venting and Air Considerations
- Local Permit, Zoning, and Code Requirements
- Living costs during remodeling (eating out, etc)
Kitchen Remodel Budget
So, all in all, what should you expect to pay for your kitchen remodeling? According to a recent survey by Remodeling Magazine, a major mid-range remodel of a 200 square foot kitchen will range from approximately $50,000 – $64,000. An upscale remodel of the same size closer to the $105,000 – $120,000 range. Keep in mind, that these numbers will also depend on your market. If you live in a major metropolitan area such as New York or Los Angeles, your average cost for an upscale kitchen remodel will be higher, more like $120,000 – $150,000. Whereas in secondary markets, your numbers may be somewhat lower, say, $80,000.
Cutting Costs
If your budget is on the more modest scale, there are ways to cut costs. These include shopping aggressively, doing certain work yourself, and making compromises on material choices. Even with these cost-cutting measures, a minimum cost for a major kitchen remodel is in the neighborhood of $25,000. Also, don’t be afraid to consult a professional! Their expertise and know-how may save you costly mistakes in guiding you towards when to make cuts or where to put your money for the best long-term value.
For further information, see Houzz Kitchen Costs and 10 Steps to Budgeting for Your Kitchen Remodel.