Our kitchen renovation is finally complete and it feels like our home is making progress. We saved up enough to pay for a full makeover and wanted to share the breakdown for the cost of renovating our townhouse kitchen.
A rule of thumb I’ve seen recommends that a kitchen renovation should cost 5-15% of the home’s value. That’s a wide range and there are obviously many factors to consider. Turns out there’s no right answer, and we didn’t use this rule of thumb at all. We just wanted economical, bright, and usable.
We hired a full-service design-build remodeling company to oversee the entire process (from design to installation). We knew that DIY would be more budget-friendly, however we didn’t want to be without a kitchen for an extended period of time. Given our hectic schedules and the challenges of tackling such a project for the first time, we ultimately decided to invest in a contractor’s expertise.
The approximate total cost came to $28,180 (in 2024)
Note that we kept our existing dishwasher and refrigerator. We did not move appliances, walls, or plumbing, and we did not replace our flooring.
About our home
We reside in a modest 930 square foot townhome in northern Virginia, with our kitchen area measuring approximately 8 x 11 feet (I would say a small to medium-sized kitchen).
Comparing estimates
Below is an estimated breakdown of services and cost.
Even though we lacked prior knowledge of what this should have cost us, this particular quote fell within the middle to lower range of all the proposals we got, which seemed reasonable.
If I were to do it again as a first-timer, I’d definitely get at least 3-5 estimates again. Any more than 7 seems like overkill, yielding diminishing returns. In our case, we got 4 estimates. Note that In 2022 we did set up an Ikea kitchen appointment – but the rep helping us made a few mistakes in our planning session which is why we ultimately decided not to go with Ikea.
By getting multiple estimates, we got insights on pricing disparities and how each company operates. The estimates also empowered us with some leverage in negotiations. Talking with multiple companies also informs the types of questions to ask as part of this process too.
Cost breakdown
Below is what our proposal consisted of
| What | Work to be done | Approx. cost |
| Demolition | Demolition, removal, & hauling | $1000 |
| Cabinets | New standard Forevermark cabinets, add pantry and drawers | $11,400 |
| Cabinets | Installation | $2,100 |
| Countertops | Install new MSI Calacatta Abezzo quartz | $3,950 |
| Backsplash | Marble backsplash tile + installation | $1,300 |
| Light fixture | Remove existing fixture and install 4 dimmable recessed lights | $1000 |
| Oven | New GE electric oven | $830 |
| Faucet and sink | Install new faucet and undermount sink | Included |
| Microwave | New GE over-the range microwave | $240 |
| Drywall | Walls and ceiling | $2,000 |
| Electrical | Update 4 outlets to be GFCI | $800 |
| Ventilation | Run ventilation to the outside | $1,100 |
| Appliance | Appliance hookup | $600 |
| Plumbing | Plumbing hookups | $650 |
| Painting | Paint the walls | $650 |
| Hardware | Jeffrey Alexander Hardware and installation | $400 |
| Floating shelves | Shelves + installation | $160 |
| Dishwasher | Keep existing | – |
| Refrigerator | Keep existing | – |
| Floors | Keep existing | – |
Make sure your proposal itemizes prices, allowing for a clear breakdown of each cost. We met with one contractor who bundled all services into a single lump sum without providing a detailed breakdown.
It seemed like all the message boards were saying to anticipate unforeseen costs that arise with a recommendation to allocate at least 20% to cover these potential costs. We were really lucky and stayed within our budget. Our timeline was also ahead of schedule.
Factors to consider: quality and cost
We went back and forth on the quality and materials we wanted to use, weighing factors like ease of maintenance, durability for potential future renters, and insights gained for future projects.
For example- we thought about the difference between off-the-shelf cabinets and custom-made ones. How significant would the differences in durability be? Since this was our first time doing a kitchen reno, we opted for budget-friendly cabinets with decent durability. We hoped to use it as a learning experience on how truly durable it could be. It will help us gauge whether to prioritize affordability or customization in the future.
While the cabinets have been fine so far what we didn’t realize was how much filler was needed between each cabinet. It reduced our storage space by a lot. This could have been mitigated with custom cabinets. We also notice that the cheaper sink basin (~$150) has already shown signs of scratches and wear. We’re now considering investing in a more durable brand like Moen or Kohler in the future.
If we knew 100% that this would be our home for 10+ years, we might have opted for pricier, more durable materials. That just wasn’t the case in this instance. We’re still happy for now!
Final thoughts
Overall we are happy with how our kitchen turned out. I wonder though if hiring a separate designer and contractor (vs. an all-in-one) would have yielded a different (better? worse?) result. We’re curious to hear about other perspectives—please share any thoughts in the comments.
Our before and after photos
