Budget Kitchen Renovation

We have lived in our home for seven years, and we are just making bigger changes to the kitchen. This budget kitchen renovation has been fun so far, and I am excited to share the process with you so you can feel more confident to tackle some projects in your kitchen.

Top Considerations : Budget Kitchen Renovation

Here is how you get big change on a small budget.

First, consider the elements of your kitchen that have the biggest impact:

• Flooring
• Cabinetry
• Stone and Tile
• Plumbing and Hardware
• Lighting
• Paint
• Appliances

Now that you know the parts of the kitchen that have the greatest weight in the room, consider the condition of each of these.

For example, our kitchen cabinets are in good shape and with a little touch up painting, our kitchen will still look good. Conversely, our laminate countertops are in a very bad shape and had a very bad caulking job. We chose to save money on the cabinetry and spend on the countertops because we want keep what is working and looking good and get rid of anything that lowers the aesthetic or functionality of the room.

If you find that you really need to replace everything on the list for aesthetic’s or function’s sake, the next step is to stay on budget. You can save on each of the elements that need replacing without sacrificing quality.

If you need new flooring, pick the flooring that has a mix of good quality and good price. When we remodeled our bathroom, we chose a peel and stick flooring that has held up well and looks nice. It is not stone or tile, but it was a huge improvement from what was originally there. We renovated our small bathroom for a little over $300. Truly, transformations do not have to cost tons of money when you have a plan.

Once you know what parts of the kitchen that need renovating, start sourcing materials that are going to fit your design style and your budget. You will be able to adjust as you research prices and tiers of the products you need.

Another way to make good decisions on the renovation is to think about what you look for when you go, or have gone, house hunting. The things you look at closely or care about the most are the things you should pay attention to during your renovation.

Our Project

I want to share a few more details of our project with you and I think it will illustrate well what I have just shared with you about a budget kitchen renovation.

I started with a vision of what I wanted my kitchen to look and feel like.

So far, I have chosen the kitchen countertops as well as the new sink and faucet.

As of right now we are about $4,000 in with a max budget of $10,000. The countertops are granite and are beautiful quality natural stone, so that was a very large expense…one that I am confident will have a huge impact for the room. We are getting our countertops from Bay Area Granite and Marble. They have been fantastic to work with and are offering 5 % off their purchase for anyone that mentions Lucy Jo Home when they come in. They have locations in Appleton, Wrightstown and Suamico, Wisconsin. I will be sharing more information about the process in another blog post because I have learned a lot about natural stone.

The sink and faucet have the look and quality of a Kohler sink, but for nearly $100 less; I have heard from other designers and DIYers that the quality is very comparable to the more expensive option. Listening carefully to others experiences with products can really help you make budget-friendly decisions.

The next step will be to order tile from Alexander James Tile. They have beautiful tile options and I have already chosen the one that I want for the room. I will be getting tile samples soon and I am excited to show you the beauty and quality. When you find the perfect tile option at Alexander James Tile, you can get 15% off with code LUCYJO.

I have budgeted about $350 for the tile and we plan to pay someone to install the tile since both Cody and I are unsure of our ability to do a good job. The average amount for backsplash installation is $1000.

This puts us at about 5,350 if we include the tile and installation.

I am waiting on a quote for painting the cabinets, but we are thinking we will likely just touch up the paint since the cabinets are in good shape. So there we will save thousands of dollars.

Next products I need to order are new appliances and new lighting. I anticipate $3000 total for an oven range and fridge and with that budget I will not be able to get the Cafe appliances I have on my mood board. Now I have to make the hard decision of getting white appliances that do not look just like the ones I want or getting stainless steel which is still a good option, but will create a different feeling in the room.

I already know what kind of lighting I would like above the sink and I have $100 budgeted for that. Online searches for lights that fit my design will be fun for me.

As you can see, I have a very distinct plan for our budget kitchen renovation, and it started with considering the elements and then the timeline for installing each part.

Timeline

1. Consider that there will need to be demolition and removal of certain elements. Decide if you or someone else will be doing that and factor in cost if you can’t or won’t do it.
2. Water, power and mechanical changes need to planned and done ahead of time.
3. Drywall, Paint and Flooring
4. Cabinets and Countertops
5. Fixtures, Hardware and Appliances
6. Cleanup

Since we were not replacing any flooring, drywall or paint, I went straight to countertops. Your project will be specific to the things that you are replacing. If you are using a contractor, they will understand this timeline, but if you are doing it yourself, it is important to check each item off in the proper order.

Keeping the Family Sane

Lastly, I am finding it increasingly important to have a plan for our family to stay out of the kitchen. What kind of meals can you make without have full access to your kitchen? Eating out works for a few nights, but for renovations that take longer, there needs to be a new place to prepare and eat meals. Paper plates, plastic cups and utensils, a griddle and or an air fryer/smaller oven will be your friend during the renovation. Plan for this displacement ahead of time to relieve some stress because there will likely be unplanned things that you need to adjust for.

Take deep breaths and try to enjoy the transformation process as much as the end results.

I am very excited to show you what can be done on a tight budget and share products that I am very excited about.

I hope you can create a kitchen that you love to cook in, gather with family in and fits your overall style. Kitchens truly are the hub of the home and deserve some love.

Stay tuned for more updates on our budget kitchen renovation!

Best,

Lucy Bowman