Budgeting Costs for our Cabin Kitchen Renovation
One of the best parts of sharing our renovations online is hearing how they inspire you to take on a project of your own. Whether it’s a landscaping project that you completed over a long weekend, or an entire kitchen renovation - we love to see what you have created. But for us, inspiration is only part of the story, we feel like it’s also important to show you what it costs to make these spaces come to life.
We recently shared our Maine Kitchen renovation, which is easily one of our favorite projects ever and our most expensive renovation in this home. It is not lost on us that for most, a kitchen renovation like this one is not financially feasible. Budgets, almost by definition, are different for everyone and the “kitchen budget” is unlike any other. An expensive $20k renovation for one person may be less than the cost of the refrigerator for the next.
When we renovated our Boston Kitchen we did an exercise that really resonated. We re-designed the entire kitchen with the goal of maintaining the same look and feel, but at a much lower cost. While we are not going to such lengths today, we will be calling out ways to decrease cost where it makes sense.
Important Note: Over the years, we have renovated many kitchens, and we have learned so much about where we prefer to spend vs save. But the most valuable tip we can give… having a dream kitchens does not necessarily correlate to a happier life. There are many ways to create beautiful and joyful spaces, with a budget that works for you.
// Some Past Kitchen Remodels: Our Boston Victorian, The First Boston Victorian Kitchen, Battle on the Mountain Kitchen and Dining Room, and our Maine Cabin Kitchen
Disclosure: While this blog post is not sponsored, we just posted this Instagram Reel in partnership with Chase that features Chase Pay Over Time®, a flexible tool that allows Chase card members to break up eligible purchases of $100 or more into manageable payments.
Budget Breakdown
We have a medium-sized kitchen that is about 370 sqft. and we were able to do much of the work ourselves. Please keep in mind that costs can vary dramatically based on the project.
Cabinets & Installation: $64,150
Appliances: $17,746
Kitchen Window: $7,700
Granite Counters & Installation: $6,669
Faucet System: $4,980
Flooring: $3,962
Hardware: $2,921
Lighting: $2,571
Oak Wall Panels: $1,520
Misc. Decor: $1,497
Tile: $856
Sink: $394
Drywall: $1,100
Plumbing: $1000
Electric: $2,465
General Materials or Tools: $1,000+
Custom Cabinetry
When we sat down to design this kitchen, we wanted to do a couple of things differently. We wanted our cabinetry to feel substantial, and be built from solid wood. This natural white oak used for the cabinets would also be integrated into some very custom solutions - like the large window bench, and floating shelves. Moreover, we knew that in order to achieve the level of quality we were looking for, we would need help.
Up to this point we have only ever designed kitchens utilizing either Ikea or RTA (ready to assemble) cabinetry. Generally, those are great and cost effective options that are also DIY friendly. We will certainly be re-visiting these options in the future depending on the project needs.
When we started discussing custom options the biggest concern we had was cost. Locally made custom cabinetry is certainly going to cost more than that quick-ship option you found online (as it should)… but how much more?
We reached out to the Block Brothers with our design plan, and after meeting on a call to discuss the project, we received a project quote of $59,150. Admittedly, we had to sit with that number for a couple of days. If we accepted, this would become the most expensive cabinet project we have ever undertaken.
The differentiator is that the Block Brothers would own the entire process from start to finish. They even came to our home to verify our measurements before spending days reviewing and modifying our design plan with us - ensuring that the vision could be translated into reality. Once the final design plan was accepted, production began. After a few weeks, they hand-delivered the cabinets and spent over a week installing the entire kitchen themselves.
Because the Block Brothers owned the process, they would also own any mistakes, and we were not in fear of spiralling costs. In retrospect, we are so happy with our decision to move forward. We pulled money from our HELOC (something we only use for home improvements) to pay our deposit and final payments. Even cooler benefit? We were given the opportunity support a small family business that employs and upskills members of our community.
It may be helpful to share some price context here: With our Boston Kitchen renovation we used RTA cabinets. Although that project had more cabinetry, it still cost us $26,739 in early 2021… a number that would be dramatically higher today. We were responsible for accepting that large shipment and checking for damages (this was very challenging) and finally - we had to assemble them all ourselves. This process took over the entire first floor for almost a year. We then hired an installer, which was an additional $15,000. The bottom line - cabinetry is expensive no matter which way you cut it.
Final Thoughts // For this project we consider cabinetry as more of an investment than a cost. Cabinets are not like cars, which lose value the second you drive off the lot. They are used day in and day out and can add to the value of our home. As with any project, it’s helpful to consider what kind of improvements your home can support as part of your calculus.
Cabinet Hardware
With the cabinetry selected, it was time for us to consider hardware. We really value high quality, solid hardware because its such an important part of the kitchen experience. While things like light fixtures are often seen from a distance, hardware is handled. You see it and you feel it. We use Rejuvenation for most of our hardware and it’s a fairly standard line item in any kitchen budget.
One beautiful thing is that cabinet hardware is often standard in size. So if you needed to save upfront during your kitchen renovation you can use less expensive hardware with the goal of upgrading it later.
Fixed & Standard Costs
Many of the line items in our list are fairly standard costs or fixed based on where you live or what you need. For example - granite counters are on the lower range of stone costs, and the fabrication and installation costs are dependent on the stone yard near you. In order to help with planning you can begin to collect estimates by visiting these businesses and providing some project detail.
Similarly, there are some items on our list that may not be on yours. Replacing a large custom window, for example, can drive your costs up considerably. The same goes for things like flooring and wall finishing.
Trades, famously, can be the most challenging to predict. These costs will vary significantly based on where you are located, the scope of work needed, and who you hire.
Places to Save
Some of the categories that are more predictable (and therefore easier to save) include hardware, light fixtures, faucets, and appliances. There are so many options for these product categories at every price point, and like hardware, can be changed at a later date. Maybe for example, you are able to keep your current appliances while you upgrade your cabinets and backsplash.
For us, light fixtures and appliances would offer easy savings. While we LOVE our Fisher & Paykel appliances, there are certainly considered luxury appliances. We could forgo the panel ready refrigerator for the stainless option (we want to do this in the future), or we could find a less expensive appliance suite overall.
Lastly, we know that these are big costs. We have the privilege of working with brands in a way that helps to reduce the overall cost to us. So please remember this when comparing your own kitchen budget with ours.
Planning for the Unexpected
We do reserve a portion of our total budget, upfront, for contingency. It's one of the best ways to keep from additional frustrations when you're living in a renovation. Things happen, or change, and you don’t want to be unable to complete the job. An easy way to do this would be to over-estimate cost by adding 5, 10, or 15% to every line item in your budget.
Final Thoughts
Kitchen budgets, high or low, are all subject to the homeowner. However, we believe that there is value and beauty that can be added in any price range. We can’t emphasize enough how important is to take the time needed to really live in your space before jumping into a renovation, or the importance of making choices that you love. It's the heart of the home and you want to understand what works and doesn't work about the space in your daily life.
