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Kitchen remodels come in all shapes and sizes, from the mostly DIY cosmetic update to a full-scale multi-month renovation, with price tags ranging from a few hundred to hundreds of thousands. Fortunately, wherever you fall on the scope-and-spending spectrum, creating a do-it-all kitchen is easier than you may think: Prices have plummeted for premium features like detailing on cabinetry, induction on ranges and cooktops, and energy-saving insulation in refrigerators. You'll also see a veritable explosion of products that blend performance and value. Here are some tips and budgets from the experts at Consumer Reports.
Make your wish list early. Take the time—anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on your project's scope—to talk with and vet contractors and other pros, browse online, and check out showrooms and home centers. Try not to make design changes midstream. "Change orders," as contractors and builders call them, can add significantly to the cost of the job.
Sidestep supersizing. In addition to being expensive, huge kitchens can be exhausting to work in. You need only about 4 to 9 feet of space between the sink and the refrigerator or between the sink and the stove, according to the National Kitchen & Bath Association. Islands should be only 3 to 4 feet deep and 3 to 10 feet wide. Anything bigger than that can be hard to use and to reach across to clean.
Avoid budget busters. "While we're at it ..." are words that can break any budget. Unexpected structural repairs are one thing (in fact, you should leave a 10 to 15 percent cushion in your budget for just that). But it's another to ask your skilled carpenter to pile on decorative flourishes as he handles the essentials. Also avoid the temptation to "save" with shoddy choices now, assuming that you'll replace them with what you really want later. You probably won't.
Get it in writing. Whenever you hire a professional the written contract should list each phase of the project, every product, and include copies of each contractor's license as well as his workers compensation and liability insurance to confirm that they're in effect. Call the contractor's references and, if possible, ask to visit recent jobs.
Costs vary, but here's a snapshot of three budgets, based on the Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report (costvsvalue.com) and our own analysis of what you might get.
If you have a small kitchen and are willing to do most of the work yourself, you can transform your space on a budget. You can't replace cabinets for that price but you can paint them and add new hardware. This budget accounts for new appliances, laminate counters, vinyl flooring, sink, faucet, lighting, and a new paint job.
With more to spend and if you stick to the same footprint, you can afford to hire pros to help you plan as well as do such things as remove a wall or build an island. This budget includes refacing but not replacing the cabinets as well as new appliances, countertop, backsplash, floor, sink, faucet, lighting, and paint.
Even if you have well over $50,000 to spend, the sky is not the limit. This budget accounts for hiring a general contractor and replacing your cabinets as well as all your appliances, surfaces, and fixtures. The budget assumes higher-end appliances and materials and semi-custom cabinets.
—Adapted from Consumer Reports Kitchen Planning & Buying Guide
Planning a kitchen remodel? Here's everything you need to know to get the kitchen you want at a price you can afford including how to hire the right contractor. Plus:
Full appliance Ratings and recommendations
Full Ratings and recommendations of surfaces and materials
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