Remember last July when I was breaking down the kitchen budget? Well… here we are one year later and I’m sharing our new kitchen budget for you. Two kitchens in one year. Whew! I’m going to say the same thing I said last year- if you’re not into budgeting or think the numbers behind a renovation is a boring topic (I totally understand just showing up for the pretty stuff!), consider this your cue to skip this post! No hard feelings, because I know it’s not for everyone, but this post was requested numerous times, so I thought it was worth sharing. Click through for the itemized budget list. If you missed the kitchen reveal, click here to check it out!
Hopefully budgeting posts are helpful and shed light on how much certain things cost if you’re considering renovating. Of course costs vary depending on your location and home, but this is what our kitchen renovation budget ended up looking like. We live in Salt Lake City and our kitchen is pretty large- about 190 square feet, to give you a reference for size. We also took the space down to the studs, so a big part of the budget went to rebuilding, plumbing, electrical, and the boring (non cosmetic) things. You can see the before images in this post.
Here is the breakdown / number crunching…
Appliances:
- Range – $5,604
- Refrigerator – $6,800
- Dishwasher – $1,200
- Microwave – $335
- Espresso Maker – $599
Plumbing Fixtures:
- Faucet – $954
- Sink – $1,475
- Garbage Disposal – $229
- Pot Filler – $248
Countertop:
- Soapstone Slabs (3) – $1,600 / per slab
- Fabrication – $3,000
Cabinetry:
- Cabinetry + Millwork – $48,500
- Hardware – $2,500
Building Materials:
- Lumber, Drywall, Insulation, Nails, etc. – $1,500
- Paint + Primer -$200
- Electrical & Plumbing Materials – $3,000
Lighting:
- Sconces (3) – $250
- Cabinetry Lighting – included in cabinetry & millwork quote
- Recessed Can Lights -$300
Tile:
- Hardwood Flooring – $600
- Backsplash Tile – $740
- Other Items (grout, mortar, sealant, etc) – $300
Windows:
- New Windows (2), Plus Installation – $6,200
Labor:
- Obviously we did all the labor ourselves, so that cost was basically our time spent working on the kitchen- rather than a dollar amount.
TOTAL= $89,334
Just for comparison purposes, we spent just over $65k on our previous kitchen. This time around, we were able to invest more in the space. Our current home is in a nicer neighborhood (thinking in terms of resale), it’s a higher-end home, we had more space to renovate (in terms of square footage), we opted for better appliances, and we went all out with the cabinetry & millwork. The budget definitely reflects all of those things. We also saved a LOT of money aligning our purchases with sales and promotions at Lowe’s.
Although part of my job is working with brands I love, we still pay for lots of kitchen items out of pocket (to get exactly what we want). We always go into a renovation expecting to pay for the entire thing ourselves, that way we budget accordingly… therefore- the prices shown above are retail costs (no promotions or discounts are reflected, etc). After that, any contracts I sign for promotional content is an added bonus… it essentially goes toward my salary for living expenses, etc.
I also want to say, finance and budgeting posts are a very personal thing to share, BUT- I know that numbers are incredibly helpful in planning a realistic renovation and setting expectations, so I’m happy to share. With that in mind, I’d appreciate if comments are kept friendly, positive, and constructive. You guys know I’m always happy to answer any questions and I try to be an open book!
Interested to see how our kitchen budget compares to a similar kitchen? My friend Erin just shared how much her recent kitchen renovation cost. I feel like these type of honest budgeting conversations are very helpful in renovation planning.
Now that the biz stuff is shared and taken care of, I’m going to go back to enjoying Phoenix and friend time with Laurie Anne! Have you guys been following our stories on Instagram? I can’t wait to share the master bedroom makeover with all of you! We’re having way too much fun.
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Stacy
August 2, 2019 at 6:56 amHuh. That’s a bit more than I expected, but doesn’t seem in any way unreasonable for what you ended up with! I so appreciate this type of post, though, even just as a reference point. It’s super helpful to be able to look at something like this to determine how long I might need to save for something or if I need to go in a different direction based on my budget, so I applaud you for sharing and I hope you continue to do so!
Sarah
August 6, 2019 at 9:53 amAbsolutely happy to share, Stacy! I definitely feel like we got an amazing deal for the price, quality, outcome :)
Allie
August 2, 2019 at 6:58 amIt is SO helpful to know this Sarah! I really appreciate you sharing! As someone who will most likely be embarking on a major kitchen renovation in the next year or so it is good to have an idea of what to expect. I absolutely adore your kitchen – it is stunning!
Sarah
August 6, 2019 at 9:53 amThank you, Allie! Good luck with your renovation :) so exciting!!
Danielle
August 2, 2019 at 7:43 amI SO appreciate that you are willing to share this information with us! It is incredibly helpful.
Would you be able to share a rough breakdown of price/ft of custom vs Lowe’s cabinetry? I saw that you spent about twice as much on cabinetry this time around, but it’s hard to know if that’s a little less, the same, or a little more than the custom cabinetry was in your previous kitchen. (We would like to keep one original bank of cabinets in our kitchen and have the rest replaced with a very similar look. I am really trying to figure out if finding a similar-ish ready made option or finding a custom cabinetry place would end up being the better choice, and it’s so hard to find real numbers!)
Sarah
August 6, 2019 at 10:00 amSo happy it’s helpful, Danielle! With Lowe’s cabinetry and custom cabinetry, there really isn’t a way to break it down by square foot. It truly depends on a multitude of factors: door style, cabinetry inserts for functionality, wood type, etc. Basically everything is line itemed right down to the cabinet hinges. We spent less on cabinets (per cabinet) this time around than our previous kitchen, we have wayyyy more cabinets, and we went all out with inserts / function… unlike last time. Hopefully that helps to answer your question? Lowe’s would be the less expensive route when comparing the two: Emmett’s Work vs. Lowe’s.
Felicity
August 2, 2019 at 7:47 amThe kitchen turned out so good. Any chance you have a rough estimate of what labor would have cost if you didn’t do it yourself?
Sarah
August 6, 2019 at 10:01 amThank you Felicity! Off the top of my head, I don’t… but I’ll chat with Emmett and see if we can’t get back to your comment with a rough estimate. Xo
liz piccione-volger
August 2, 2019 at 9:17 amYour kitchen turned out beautiful. Im so happy for you. Thanks for being so transparent.
Sarah
August 6, 2019 at 10:02 amThanks so much Liz!
jana
August 2, 2019 at 10:31 amthese are my favorite kinds of posts! i love being able to get an idea on things like cabinets for an entire kitchen but it’s SO easy to undershoot the cost in your end!
Sarah
August 6, 2019 at 10:04 amIt’s definitely easy to undershoot the budget for a renovation of this size! Emmett and I like to keep Excel files of the estimate, track the project process by entering things as it’s happening, and then tally things up as each phase completes. It helps us know where we’re at, exactly what we’ve spent, and how much we have left to work with!
Pat
August 2, 2019 at 11:12 amIt turned out beautifully. Nice job.
How much was the range hood?
Sarah
August 6, 2019 at 10:11 amThank you!! The 42” hood was $2,500 and that price is included within the cabinetry estimate.
Teri
August 2, 2019 at 8:26 pmWith sales and gifts what was your oop cost?
Carmen
August 5, 2019 at 7:29 amI absolutely love seeing the numbers of a construction project, thank you for sharing!
Sarah
August 6, 2019 at 10:20 amYay!! Happy to share :)
Bianca
August 5, 2019 at 10:42 amThanks for this honest post. I think quite frequently readers don’t always get a realistic sense of cost of for renovations. I appreciated this.
Sarah
August 6, 2019 at 10:28 amThanks Bianca! I totally agree. Realistic expectations are so important when going into a renovation
Kates
August 5, 2019 at 11:55 amI love budget breakdowns! I am trying to get an accurate budget for my kitchen so this is very helpful! I also will most likely be shopping at Lowe’s so its nice to see what a lot of creativity can do with big box store items! Are you by chance going to do a budget friendly version or a look for less? This budget is closer to what I purchased my house for then what I will want to spend on my kitchen!
Sarah
August 6, 2019 at 10:30 amGreat idea! I’ll try to work on a budget friendly version. It’s crazy how real estate prices fluctuate in different parts of the country.
Jessica
August 8, 2019 at 11:23 amThank you so much for sharing! Definitely eye-opening about what these projects costs which is SO IMPORTANT!
Sarah
August 8, 2019 at 11:55 am100%- it’s super important!
Amy
August 13, 2019 at 9:58 amthank you for sharing. Your kitchen is stunning (as is your guest bath). We are about to start a kitchen gut job and it is very helpful to a sense of what it will cost. Also knowing its not something you want to renovate more than once!
Sarah
August 13, 2019 at 7:58 pmThank you so much, Amy! I definitely don’t ever want to renovate a kitchen twice. haha! :) Good luck and enjoy!! xo
Gabrielle
March 29, 2020 at 8:55 amI just discovered you and am now totally obsessed!! Does your fridge have an Ice maker? How does it work with the cabinet fronts?
Gabrielle
Sarah
March 30, 2020 at 2:06 pmAw, thank you Gabrielle! So happy you’re here :) Our fridge does have an ice maker- it is inside the freezer. The “cabinet fronts” are just apart of the panel ready fridge to make it look more integrated with the cabinetry. They don’t function in a specific way.. it’s more for aesthetics. Hope this helps! xo
Nina Baxter
August 8, 2020 at 12:39 pmThank you for being so generous with sources and costs! Your kitchen is stunning on every level, so well designed and so creative.
(My next fridge MUST be a 40+” built-in/side by side-Drooooling)
Sharon
February 1, 2021 at 12:13 pmHey, Sarah! What’s the brand/model for the fridge and range?
Sarah
February 2, 2021 at 9:29 amHi Sharon, they’re linked in this post: https://roomfortuesday.com/our-dark-moody-kitchen-reveal/
Tahtia Jones-Thomas
September 26, 2021 at 11:41 amHey Sarah!
I LOOOOVE your kitchen! It inspired me to go to Lowe’s yesterday and purchase it. The rep couldn’t figure out which cabinet was used with the glass inserts, drawer at the bottom. Do you have the style number?
Sarah
September 28, 2021 at 9:39 amHi Tahtia! Thank you so much! Let me find a couple blog post links for you with more information… check out this one for cabinetry, and this one for the complete reveal with all of the source links!