After moving into our dream neighborhood with our fixer upper , we decided that we needed to do something to the kitchen, there were lots of options to explore with a huge variety of budgets.
The options can be overwhelming but let me try to help make heads and tails of it all with a range of budgets from doing it yourself (DIY) to hiring a professional.
Simple(r) Updates:
- Declutter (Free!). Having a massive amount of items on your counter tops might be the most convenient but it says that you don't have enough cabinet space for all your stuff. Try buying more storage solutions for drawers/cabinets so there is a place for everything.
- Repaint the walls ($40-$150) A fresh coat of paint removing all the scuffs and dings can go a long way to making the kitchen look refreshed. Lighter neutral colors can also help brighten things up with lots of opportunities to add color through kitchen accessories.
- Replace Knobs - ($100-$300) - You can make an outdated kitchen look modernized with some new knobs pretty quickly. Make sure that you pick a know with the same holes as your existing knobs.
- Replace an existing light fixture ($150 - $500) Lighting makes a huge difference in your space. Choosing the right light fixture can create a new focal point and offers a chance to show off your style. If you are handy enough, you can replace the fixture on your own by watching some youtube videos and save yourself around $100.
- Add a Backplash - ($200-$500) Think about the backsplash in your kitchen like a necklace or a tie. There are millions of stones, tiles, colors, and patterns to choose from that this is a great opportunity to put your own personal touch into your kitchen, especially if you have basic builder grade cabinets. Another area you can take advantage of you tube videos to do some DIY tiling.
- Replace Counters -($1500-$4000) There are many options to choose from here and can make a large impact. We will get more into counter choices in another blog but don't default to granite. My recommendation is quartz but there are more to counters than just granite!! Granite is the #1 upgrade homeowners make before listing their property which I think is a huge mistake. Even if your listing says "granite countertops" new buyers will just think about the money that you wasted when they have to replace it.
Then comes the major part of your kitchen - CABINETS!
The first few options can be considered if the layout of the kitchen is good as well as the quality of the cabinets.
Renew - ($2000 - $7500) Renewing your cabinets is a pretty thorough deep clean. The idea is to try to scrub out all the dirt and grime and repolish the wood to make them bright and shiny. There are some options to change the color here but it usually is only to make it darker.
Refinish - ($3000 - $7500) Refinish includes sanding down your cabinets and restaining or painting them. This option can offer the biggest change for the smallest budget. Keep in mind that your cabinets need to be in good shape for this option. This also offers you an opportunity to add additional cabinets that you can now match with the existing cabinets. Also consider adding crown molding to upgrade your kitchen. Big box stores offer this service about double the cost of the small guys, but you also know that you are working with a reputable company. Notice in the picture below that the doors are exactly the same with just a different color. There are also some DIY Kits to get it done for less than $100 which they were talking about at ladies night and had some good reviews.
Reface - ($5000 - $12000) The existing cabinet frames are refinished while the doors and drawers are replaced. If the layout is good but the style of the doors are out dated (think raised panel with arches) you can get a completely new look without having to pull out counters and frames. Not only can you add molding but some glass accent doors can also make a big impact. From my experience, this option is one of the hardest to find providers for. Big box stores complete these project with large price tags. For a small contractor, there is more work because fronts need to be precisely measured, custom ordered, and rehung. Many cabinet manufacturers will not entertain a refacing job and even worse, won't sell directly to home owners. On the bright side, cabinet manufacturers that do these jobs offer adhesive veneers so instead of having to paint or if you have a different type of wood, you can make it all look cohesive.
Replace - ($15,000 - $100,000). The sky is the limit when it comes to replacing. At this point, you can change the layout and move electrical and plumbing. The range of price tags when it comes to new cabinets is immense from off the shelf builder grade to high end custom. Unfortunately when it comes to replacing, the probability is high that you will also have to replace the counters as well (which is why adding granite tops to sell your house is a waste).
When it comes to replacing, you don't only have to consider the current footprint of the kitchen but can also consider expanding into another room in the house. Pulling down the wall between the kitchen and dining room is the very popular at the moment as is open concept.
Whichever your time, budget, and space allows for, choosing any of these options can help improve the look of your kitchen which after all is the heart of your home!
