Updating your kitchen, whether you are planning to stay at your home and enjoy all of the updates or renovating to get your house on a market and sell, is one of the most costly updates you will probably undertake. If the "bones" of your kitchen are good (solid cabinets and frames that you can simply re-paint, overall layout) it will not cost nearly as much as replacing all cabinets, tearing walls, new countertops, backsplash. The list of items you will need to spend money on is surely long. Most full kitchen renovations can cost on average of $30,000+ (without appliances).
When planning for my kitchen renovation, I certainly was not in a financial position to spend that much money. I had previously painted my cabinets, as a temporary fix, but the time has come when I was just tired of not having enough cupboard space, working space and my kitchen was just so dark and closed off from the rest of the house (and I love to entertain). So I have set my budget to renovate. 3 months of planning had begun.
With a budget of $8000 I was ready to go. Was I able to do it? The answer is.....
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| My start point |
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| My mid point (painted, updated hardware) |
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| Finished product. Photo: Larry Arnal |
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| Finished product. Photo: Larry Arnal |
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| Finished product. Photo: Larry Arnal |
You may ask- "how did she do it for UNDER $8000!". Here is how:
1. Choose best month/ season to renovate.
It is great if you have secondary kitchen in your house, or family and friends close by, where you can crash for dinner. I did not have that luxury. Since your kitchen will be "out of order" for most likely 1-3 months, planning how and where to eat can definitely add a lot of money to your overall renovation cost (if you have to buy dinners and lunches out). I had purposely chosen the month of April to begin my project, as all of my meal plans included using an outdoor gazebo, my BBQ as well as 2 burner camping stove.
2. Gather your back up team.
Who is doing the work?
You could say that I can do just about anything when it comes to renovating. The only 2 things I would NEVER touch or make decisions on are: major plumbing (I can install sink and appliances, but will not run pipes) and major electrical (no problem with outlets or splitting a line, but even with that consulting with pros to make sure I am not overloading the circuit). So line yourself up with people you can lean on in areas you are not an expert. Do you have a friend that's a plumber? electrician? Look at your circles first, and see if you can possibly return a favor down the road for the help they provide today. What saved me a lot of money, was doing MOST of the work myself, and reaching out to friends and family when needed.
3. Plan for your demo debris disposal.
Quite honestly, I had no idea when I first started how much I would have to dispose of. It kept piling and piling after the initial demo. I would collect at least 2 big contractor bags daily, mostly random stuff. Getting a bin for disposal is extremely crucial. And what you put in it is important too. Construction debris is expensive to haul (+bin charges), so plan to recycle or up-cycle as much as you can. I had an agreement with a local guy that collects metal, so one day before "garbage day" I would have any metal neatly prepared for him at the curb. Also, well ahead of time, I had asked around, if anyone wants my old kitchen cabinets, and old hardwood. You would be surprised what items people are looking for. Placing kijiji or craigslist ad before hand can be very helpful and save you tons of money.
4. Shop like a PRO. Don't pay retail prices.
My shopping and research begun 3 months prior to first "demo hammer drop". I knew that some items I would have to purchase at the Big Box Store (plywood, some tools), but when it came to buying tiles, appliances and kitchen cabinets I definitely saved A LOT OF MONEY. Lets start with kitchen cabinets.
Ikea Kitchen Event (spring) usually runs from March-May, and you get money back on gift cards. This was another reason I planned my kitchen renovation in April. The money I saved, I was able to spend on open shelves later on as well as few bar stools. For appliances, I shopped at the local Sears Outlet store. Sure, you never know what items will be available, and you have to visit often, but in my opinion- well worth it! My Kenmore Elite oven and microwave combo was $1100 before taxes vs $3999+ retail. Downdraft Jenn-Air cook top was around $300 vs over a $1000. In my research I had also found local tile stores, that were selling high quality tiles at minimum 30% off retail. I purchased mine for more than 50% off. FIND THE OUTLETS NEAR YOU!
5. Install oversize tile countertop vs quartz or laminate.
Another big ticket item (appliances is one), is your countertop. I decided to purchase and install 24x24 porcelain tile. Not only it looks great (in my opinion of course), but it cut the wait time between my cabinets being installed, to installation of custom counter. No one will come to measure for your countertop, until cabinets are in place, then you have to wait to get someone to come and measure, than wait for size to be ordered, at the end- wait for someone to come and install it. And of course, it all goes well in a process (right size arrives, no other unforeseen delays), you might be able to have your counter in 4 weeks. Not only I didn't want to wait, I didn't have money for the "real deal" + I really liked my less expensive option idea. Porcelain can withstand heat (it is made for inside and outside use), it is not porous, easy to clean, no maintenance needed. WIN WIN WIN!
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| 1. Oversize tile color selection 2. Porcelain Floor tile 3. Natural Stone wall mosaic ALL LESS THAN $3/ sq ft |
At the end of the day, it really comes down to how much you can do yourself, your friends and family support, and most importantly- amount of prep and leg work you are willing to do.....I was able to complete my renovation under $8000!!! And I could not have been happier with the results.
Oh, almost forgot- be prepared to see this in a process :) :
Renovate Responsibly!
Izabella.
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