4 things that will determine the price of your kitchen

Size of the room. It is safe to assume a larger room will cost more than a smaller one. However, nothing about the kitchens we do is “cookie cutter”, so it may not be a 1:1 ratio. In other words, if one kitchen is 100 square feet, it may not cost half what a 200 square foot room will cost to renovate. Sometimes I will use a more custom cabinet in a smaller room to maximize usable space, increasing the cabinet cost in a smaller room. A large room may have wider walkways or other space not containing cabinets which will lessen the cost compared to the smaller room. The size of the room, and more importantly, the usable size of the room is something I always spend time exploring with a potential client.

Amount of work to be included. One of the reasons clients work with us is our ability to handle the entire renovation. If you are trying to comparison shop and your quotes included different amounts of work, you will have a difficult decision ahead of you. Remember, a quote on cabinets installed in a ready room is totally different than a quote on cabinets, counter tops, appliances, flooring, and labor to do the entire project. Typically the cabinets account for only 30%- 35% of the total job cost. Again, I like to spend ample time during our meeting to make sure our proposal is clear.

Quality. This is a fairly obvious one, but what may not be as obvious, is how to accurately compare quality. I often feel that a potential client feels all kitchens are the same. Nothing could be further from the truth. Cabinets vary greatly from one manufacturer to the other. (Read previous blog post stock vs custom cabinets) It is not just cabinets that make the difference. There are many counter top surfaces available, all at a different price point. Sometimes the same materials will have several price points depending on color, edge treatment, etc. 30” ranges are available starting at $400 or $500. Designer or commercial style ranges are the same 30”wide, heat the food in the same way, and cost $10,000 or more. These are just a few examples of the variables involved. This is why the designer and the homeowner need to be on the same page. If they are not, the end result will fall short of expectations in most cases.

Style and creativity. Once again, everyone involved needs to be on the same page. Everyone has heard the phrase “champagne taste and beer budget”. I need to understand what features the homeowner finds important in their new kitchen. The homeowner needs to prioritize “must haves” from “would like to haves” if necessary to maintain the desired budget. This includes design choices like woods, colors, and door styles. This could include interior convenience options like roll out shelves, spice rack, trash containers, and more. Some people want “design with a function” like a cook book shelf, a mug rack, or glass door cabinets. Increasingly common are need specific areas like a wine collection area or a coffee center. We can get very creative with these types of design features, but that will increase the cost over “filling the space with standard cabinets”.

I always welcome the opportunity to sit down and discuss your needs. An open and honest discussion is the first step towards a new kitchen you will enjoy for years to come. And our no hassle consultation is complimentary, and is a great way to learn how we can help you. Give us a call or click here to schedule a meeting on line. I would love to hear more about your plans.