For many, the only thing that truly stands in the way of creating a dream kitchen is finances. A major kitchen renovation is a major investment of both time and money. Once the renovations are complete, however, you end up with a beautiful kitchen that improves the value of your home and brings happiness for years to come.
Most designers will help you find a budget you can live with, and they stick to it with cost-saving options you might not have considered.
Chad Beasley is a business manager at Macktown Construction, 9957 N. Alpine Road in Machesney Park, Ill. Since 2015, the company has been guiding its clients through the process of designing and executing ideal additions to their homes, all while staying in budget. For Beasley, the name of the game is helping his customers dream up kitchen ideas while keeping their feet on the ground.
“Depending on the size of the kitchen, most major renovations start at around $75,000,” he says. “You can go lower, but most people want the most state-of-the-art appliances and gadgets, so that’s a good number to budget for.”
There are a few ways to keep costs from ballooning. One way is to use your kitchen’s existing layout for things like cabinets and appliances. This helps to avoid more-intrusive procedures, like knocking down walls, rewiring outlets, or tearing out and reinstalling plumbing – all of which will significantly add to your expenses. Beasley reiterates that costs can come down with smart selections of fixtures and appliances.
“A lot of it depends on what you pick out when you’re in here,” he says. “One of the things I work on, especially at the end of the process, is telling our clients, ‘What you picked is amazing, but it’s going to take you out of your range. Let’s find something functional but still in your budget.’”
Another thing you need to budget is time. Don’t expect your kitchen to be completed in just a few days. Plan to use your kitchen sparingly, or not at all.
“Typically, we’re in there eight to 12 weeks, depending on what’s being done,” Beasley says. ❚