Kitchen Update Project Overview

This was an old family home and the kitchen had not been updated since it was built. Originally the homeowner was interested in just a minor update but after exploring the options during her design and budget consult she decided a major overhaul was needed to meet her goals.

The kitchen was typical of the 1970s: dark wood cabinets, laminate counters, and dark paneling on the walls. The fridge was not in a good spot, just placed against an empty wall, and the lighting was not great.

Unlike a lot of kitchens, though this one was a good size, there was definitely room to design a  more modern and convenient space.

Kitchen Update: Before vs After

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Cost Increases

Typically our initial Good Better Best budget is accurate to within 3% of actual project costs. For this kitchen update, however, the homeowner decided to add some things to the scope of work during the design process and those items increased the cost by about 8%.

During the project, the homeowner also added a couple of items like painting her old buffet cabinet and adding flooring in the dining room. We had discussed these in design but she had opted out of them. Ultimately though she decided the additional cost was well worth it and when you see the new buffet and DR flooring it’s hard not to agree.

This brought the final cost for this kitchen update to $71,143.00.

Cost Breakdown

Scope Of Work

This kitchen update is what we call a “gut renovation” with some minor layout changes. We did not have to move any plumbing as the sink and fridge did not move. There was a good bit of electrical relocation and we had to cut out part of the concrete slab to allow us to run power to their island.

We also removed part of a wall to open up the kitchen more to the dining room. The rest of the work was just flooring, cabinets, counters, and painting.

Before and After Electric  Plans

Selections 

Cabinets:

Cabinets are from Kith Kitchens. They are considered “Good” cabinets in our Good Better Best process.  Perimeter cabinets are white shaker doors, the island cabinets are shaker doors in Hazel Blue. Cabinet pulls are from Hardware Resources – Sutton Satin Bronze. 

Counters

Countertops are from Silestone. The color is Eternal Calacatta Gold. The counters are 3 cm thick and have a 1/2″ bevel on the edge. They were installed by Souther Tops, by far the best countertop installer in the area! 

Lighting

Ceiling lights are simple 6″ LED Disc lights. The pendants are from Millenium Lighting in Vintage Gold. 

We also installed under-cabinet lighting from Task Lighting. 

Plumbing

We installed a quartz composite sink from Elkay, double bowl 30/60 split. The faucet is a Delta Trinsic. 

Flooring

The flooring in the kitchen and dining room is a Luxury Vinyl Plank from Mohawk. The color is Relevance Teatime. 

Backsplash Tile 

The backsplash tile is from Bedrosian Tile. The color is Chloe White. Each tile comes in 1 of 5 shades and is mixed and matched on the wall.

Paint

The buffet was painted to match the island (Hazel Blue). The wall was painted in Behr Casual Khaki (though we used Benjamin Moore paint, the color was matched to a Behr swatch the customer has used in other rooms). 

Trade Partners

We’ve been developing relationships with quality trade partners for years and we tend to use the same subcontractors over and over again because we trust their work and have deleloped a great working relationship with them that helps make projects run smoother.

Flooring: Mike Lammert Flooring

Tile: Turner Tile

Painting: Mayfield Painting