Renovations of a kitchen are expensive.
Remodeling estimates that a 200-square feet kitchen remodel will cost approximately $62,000. This includes new flooring and semi-custom-made wood cabinets. You can add luxuries, such as granite countertops, a custom-made cabinetry, a commercial grade cooktop, designer faucets, and a top-ofthe-line refrigerator to bring the total cost to approximately $123,000.
But there are other options. This guide from designers can help you transform your kitchen before you blow your budget.
REFACE THE CABILITIES If cabinet fronts are made of material that is not easily painted or stained, you can consider refacing. Also known as resurfacing, this involves keeping the existing framework and replacing any doors, drawer faces, and side panels. Carolyn DiCarlo a Manhattan-based design professional, adopted this strategy last year while renovating a Brooklyn loft. After renovating the living space, she stated that “we noticed that the kitchen was a bit worn-looking next to a renovated section of the loft”. Ms. DiCarlo instead of ripping out old cabinets and installing new ones she swapped them for recessed-panel white doors that had chipped and yellowed over the years.
She also added rollout shelves to the kitchen and a new rangehood. Ms. DiCarlo shared that they painted the central open wall charcoal gray to give it depth and contrast. They also added some Boffi linear pendants to the island which completely changed the feel of the space. The cost to replace all the cabinets would have been about $22,000, according to Ms. DiCarlo, while the cost of the reface cost was just $2,500. The total cost for “the abbreviated Kitchen Renovation” was $10,000. This included the new interior components as well as the Boffi pendants.
OPT – OPEN SHELVES If you have too many cabinets to reface then open shelving will save you money on upper cabinetry. Liz Tiesi owns Threshold Interiors. She stated that the only cost for the shelf and bracket is the one you make, not the whole cabinet box. She noted that hardware can also be eliminated.
A particleboard is another way to cut down on cabinetry’s cost. Mina Fies, who is a Reston, Va.-based designer, said that many people believe they need all-plywood kitchen cabinets. She also created the Renovation Roadmap which helps homeowners coordinate with contractors and keep on budget. The website will go online later in the month. Ms. Fies advises that plywood be used below the sink in case of a water leak. However, she suggests using particleboard to make the upper and perimeter boxes. Ms. Fies noted that plywood can still be used for the frame and door, as this is what you see in reality.
DO THE DEMOLITION YOURSELF “It is possible to do it over a weekend or with a friend or spouse,” said Tiesi. Ms. Tiesi made a former office space in TriBeCa into a four bedroom apartment for herself and her family. Recently, she also demolished a Brooklyn Kitchen with the help of her brother-in law and husband. Turn off all circuit breakers and gas. Ms. Tiesi advised that first you should remove appliances and plumbing fixtures, then cabinets, backsplash and counters.
She stated, “It doesn’t take precision. You just don’t want it to hurt you.” For any large items that are not recyclable, be prepared with black contractor bags. I would take the larger items outside and have them ready for garbage collection, where possible. Ms. Tiesi indicated that the appliances can be written off so you don’t have worry about disposing them.
