Kitchen Renovation Budgeting Tips

The keys to a successful renovation are planning and budgeting. Are you looking to create the kitchen of your dreams? Get budgeting tips for your kitchen renovation in this House & Home video:

Kitchen #1: Suzanne Dimma’s budgeting tips are to make a wishlist and add projected expenses, including 10% contingency, 5% shipping/delivery and taxes, as you never know if you may fall in love with something that will become a “must have”. In her renovated kitchen, the Calcatta and Statuario marble counters and backsplash cost over $100/square foot for labor and material. Other upgrades included a professional-style gas range, cabinetry with a bevelled edge design and four different levels of lighting (recessed, pendant, sconces and undercabinet). One negative – the original contractor ran off with her deposit – so always check your contractor’s references.

Kitchen #2: Sara Hartill’s kitchen renovation was kept to a tight budget and features a 3″ x 6″ white subway tile backsplash, white stock cabinetry with custom hardware, pot filler, quartz and marble countertops and windows with deep ledges. Her tips are to determine your goals from the get-go (splurge or save?) and be sure to budget for rent, movers and furniture storage if you will have a major remodel and need to temporarily move out of your home. Renos often take two weeks longer than expected, so plan accordingly.

Kitchen #3: Kai Ethier used salvaged cabinetry refreshed with paint and new hardware for her kitchen makeover. Only apartment-sized stainless steel appliances would fit in this small space, so her tip is to always measure before you buy. The ceiling required repair due to an upstairs leak, so another tip is to reserve 10% of your budget for unexpected costs. Other upgrades included a heated floor (electrical in-floor heating costs $12/square foot to supply and install) and Ikea butcher block countertops; leftover material was used to create shelving.