Do you have this kind of money just lying around? Even if you do, how do you know that you are going to get the kitchen that you want for the money that you spend?
The first step is to have a vision for what you want. After that, you need to have the right technical partner on hand to make that vision a reality. Remodelling a kitchen has DIY components, to be sure. You can save a little bit of money here and there. However, the really big jobs need a great deal of professional help.
It is always good to educate yourself on the details of a quality kitchen remodel so that you can have an informed conversation with your professional remodelling partner. If you understand the lingo and the basics of what can be done, you will get to your vision that much more quickly. Let’s take a look at some of the things that you can do to get the remodel of your dreams without the budget of Warren Buffett’s dreams!
White Oak was the material of choice for the pantry wall across the back of this kitchen. It added a natural warmth and became the centrepiece of this space.
Be Detail Oriented
The best way to save money is to look at the devil in the details from the very beginning of the kitchen remodelling process. Don’t be afraid to line item out your own budget before you meet with a professional partner. You will be able to have an insightful conversation about specific parts of your kitchen instead of discussing things generally.
If you have someone in the home with a bit of DIY experience, then you know how much wood nail costs. You can see very easily how much it is to take out a wall or to buy new stainless steel appliances. At the very least, you can get a ‘back of the napkin’ calculation that will help you prioritize the upgrades that you want if you are moving too far out of the monetary range that you are comfortable with.
Factor in Additional Expenses from the Beginning
In most cases, the budget breakers are not the line items that are prepared for. Those usually come from the additional expenses that come ancillary to the primary costs. For instance, if you reduce the amount of total storage space that is in your kitchen, then you will have to factor in the cost of going out to get food more than you normally do.
Even if you are not reducing the storage space in your home, you may have to leave the home to eat more while the renovation is taking place. Depending on how long the upgrades take, this expense (and many others) can become quite substantial. Account for them beforehand so that they do not sneak up on you, because there is always a “penalty” for paying for things too late.
DIY vs. Professional Assistance
The most popular building and designing shows on television always tell the viewer to pick up his own sledgehammer or paintbrush at some point in the renovation. Yes, it is true that you can save a great deal of money by taking on some of the responsibility yourself. If you have weekend warrior experience, you may be able to take on quite a few of the tasks on hand!
Don’t be afraid to talk to your kitchen design partner about what you can do on your own. No interior designer worth its salt will try to nickel and dime you at this point. Getting a job done within a budget is always better than having to spend the entire thing trying to be too greedy and take on all of the work.
Backup Options
You may find that your budget gets tight because of the materials that you want to use rather than the design plans that you want to implement. You may not be able to get those high-end stainless steel appliances, but you can get the matte black with scratch-resistant surfaces. Your budget may not be able to afford the full granite countertops, but you can get a slightly less expensive material with granite spacings every so often.
Go for a smaller kitchen island with fewer cabinets. Keep in mind that you may be able to implement changes over time – you do not have to do everything right now.
Keeping a Paper Trail
If you lose track of the things that you are spending, then your budget is much more likely to spin out of control. You can easily become confused if you are working with contractors and sub-contractors as well because there will be expenses coming from many different directions.
If you take the time to create a detailed budget (as we advised you in the first tip), take the time to follow it. If you do not have the follow-up ready to go, then you basically make your budget useless. This is especially true if you are working with professionals for the first time. You do not want anyone taking liberties with your budget, even though these mistakes may be quite well-intentioned. When you see everything written out on paper, you are much less likely to let things slide and spend the little things that eventually add up to big things.
At Kitchen Art Design, we pride ourselves on making the visions of our clients a reality. When you do business with us, your kitchen remodel stays within the budget that we estimate upfront – we guarantee it. Our years of experience have taught us how to get the best out of limited resources. Give us a call or an email today for your initial consultation. You may be surprised at what you can do for your kitchen with the budget that you have!