The most common question I am asked is ‘How much will my kitchen cost?’
Naturally followed by ‘How do I get in all the things I want?’

As a kitchen designer, it is always fun to begin working on the features and functions for a new kitchen project, molding the entire room into a dream kitchen. But I have learned from experience that a new kitchen can only be a true success when client vision and expectation aligns with realistic costs. In this article I will introduce an analytical method to determine a starting point for your remodel investment level, helpful strategies for a positive ROI, and guidelines to create a realistic budget for your Dream Kitchen.

Investment level, Expectations and Industry norms
When you dream of a new kitchen, the wish list is long and the magazine pictures quickly pile up. This is a great place to start and exactly where you should be when initially contacting professionals to consider for your project. But how do you take the next steps to ensure that your wish list is inline with your budget? How much do you plan to invest? What kind of return do you expect from your investment?
As with many price-value decisions there are some standards on which to base your expenditure. I recommend a home value percentage model. Start by determining the current value of your home: for a reasonable kitchen remodel in a mid-range home, plan to spend 10-15% of your home’s current value; for an upscale kitchen, plan on a 15-20% range of your home’s value. Other factors to consider are how long do you plan to live in the home and what the real estate competition looks like in your neighborhood. It is good to keep in mind that your home is most likely your biggest investment and as such it should be protected. Fortunately, good kitchen remodels traditionally have a high return on investment, while simultaneously giving you the pleasure of family time in the kitchen of your dreams. In general you can plan on an average ROI in the 70-80% range for a well-executed kitchen remodel.

Feature/materials examples using the home value percentage model

A reasonable kitchen design using the 10-15% home value investment model would provide budget for the following:
• Semi-custom cabinetry
• Basic granite or basic quartz (engineered stone) countertops
• GE Café (stainless) or GE Profile (black) appliances (no extras)
• Natural stone, ceramic tile or basic glass tile backsplash
• Under cabinet lighting
• Recessed can ceiling lighting
• Undermount sink (stainless)
• Basic pull-down spray faucet (stainless)
• Cabinet hardware (knobs & pulls)

Using the 15-20% home value range would be adequate for these features and materials in an upscale kitchen design:
• Custom made cabinetry with glazed finishes and specialty storage options, possible dual styles, dual finishes
• Mid-to-high range granite or marble countertops
• Professional appliances (Decor, Sub-Zero, Wolfe, Meile) including extras like wine fridge, espresso maker, steam oven
• Backsplash with handmade tile or specialty tile
• Extensive under cabinet and in-cabinet lighting
• Recessed can ceiling lighting with additional pendant lighting
• Undermount sink (cast iron) with additional prep-sink
• High-end faucets and sink accessories (soap, lotion, air button)
• Designer cabinet hardware
• Extensive wood trim
• TV and computer locations within kitchen
• Possible butler’s pantry

Green kitchens can give you the personal satisfaction of doing something good for the planet and over time you benefit from reduced energy costs and savings. That said, the costs associated with these building standards and materials can range from 4% to 40% above the costs of a standard remodel, and a green kitchen renovation will take more planning. The first step is to assess the range of green materials available to you and the conversion specs for your particular kitchen. It is important to note that materials and appliances that are green or LEED certified are more expensive to acquire.

How to appropriately allocate your kitchen investment:

note: surfaces include counters, flooring, backsplash

Based on the current value of your home, you can determine an appropriate investment range for your kitchen. Begin your planning with the 10% of home value, you can always lower or raise the percentage of home value in your analysis. Allocate money across the board for your selections based on the percentages in the chart above. Reference your wish list and compare it to the breakdown.

Take a balanced approach in your planning, especially when trying to add a specialty item or when trying to cut costs — always keep your return in mind. For instance, updating older but quality materials/appliances with new but lesser quality selections may not offer any return or even negative ROI if you plan to stay in your home for another few years and they do not handle the wear and tear gracefully.

Keep in mind that are 3 primary areas of expense that will impact your overall costs (and that you have control over 2 out of the 3)

Material Selections – you will have the most control over cost and quality through your selection of appliances, cabinets, counters & flooring

Construction & Installation – the second largest impact on the price is the number of structural changes in walls, plumbing/electrical relocations, island additions, and the installation of your material selections

Geography – where you live has an impact on all your costs. The cost of construction and to a lesser degree the cost of materials will vary depending upon your geographical location and cost of living index. Unless you want to move, you cannot control these costs.

By using the above information, I hope it will be easier to see where the compromises and tradeoffs can and should be made in creating your dream kitchen. Analytical tools can give you the power to modify and shape your kitchen into the best it can be within the investment level you are willing to make. Whether at the $25,000, $50,000 or $100,000 level these practical investment guidelines can help keep you grounded during the planning stage.

With proper planning, a solid analysis of expenditures, a well-blended design, and the engagement of trusted, proven professionals you can have a successful Dream Kitchen, on budget, on time, and on the mark!

references:
NKBA – National Kitchen & Bath Association
Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report 2010-11
HGTV – Start at Home Series

Here is a great photo summary of a condo kitchen remodel completed for a young, professional couple in Queen Anne (see project ‘D’ ).
Construction – Nip Tuck Remodeling 

Kitchen Design – Provanti Designs

Photo Credit- April Bettinger

Get ready for the new kitchen sinks! No longer are you destined to select a new sink from the old standbys of your mother’s day. Styles and Colors have changed!

Kohler – Woodfield® in Biscuit

Style

Kohler, a major US plumbing manufacturer, recently engaged in a study on what people really want today in a kitchen sink. The results are a new stunningly, functional sink. Through their research, Kohler discovered that sink users very rarely filled the sink to the top with water. And that meant that the traditional sink with a full height bowl divider was no longer needed as a full-height water divider. Based on this data, they developed the Smart Divide® Sink. You still get two separate sink bowls, but your functionality is greatly improved.

Deerfield® Smart Divide® self-rimming kitchen sink

With a Smart Divide® style sink, a low- profile divider (about half the height of conventional double-basin sinks) increases the clearance between faucet and divider, making it easier to fit large items in the bases. It increases the ability to transfer large items between basins and minimizes splashing by containing water lower in the basin. You can now fit a cookie sheet or large frying pan in a sink with divided bowls, if it is a Smart Divide® sink design. You can have both – the functionality of a divided sink with the size and ease of a large sink bowl sink.
Originally, Kohler rolled out the launch of their new sink with the cast iron sinks in both under counter mount and self-rimming styles. This summer, they are manufacturing their new sink design in stainless steel as well. And Kohler is not the only company. Elkay, America’s number one selling stainless sink company, also launched a low mid-divide sink earlier this year in both their Gourmet Series and Avado Series.

Elkay Gourmet Series Apron Sink

Color

Color has exploded on the scene in a very spectacular way. Not only are there more colors in china and porcelain sinks especially with the new neutrals, Kohler’s cast iron is now offering new color designs to tempt everyone to want a new kitchen designed around their sink.
Unless you were willing to step into the risky world of color, your options for a kitchen sink color tended towards: white, biscuit, almond or stainless steel. Today you have the new neutrals including even more shades of subtle color: Ice Grey™ and Sand Bar are two new kitchen neutral colors from Kohler (with many more subtle neutrals now available in bathroom sinks & tubs). And most exciting, is what I call their new “crackle” color series, Kohler labels it their Dimensional™ Enamel. Colors include Cane Sugar™, Sea Salt™, Frost, Basalt and Black ‘n Tan. Now available in cast iron sinks, these neutral based colors have a three-dimensional glistening crackle and although smooth to the touch, they give off a hint of texture. Once you see a Dimensional™ Enamel color in person, you will fall in love with the sink that appears to be made of stone.

Kohler – Dimensional™ Enamel “Frost” Carrizo®

From my design perspective, the new colors of Kohler combined with their Smart Divide® styling have definitely redefined the kitchen sink. You truly can have a functional and stunning sink around which to build your new kitchen! And who ever thought of designing a kitchen around a sink?

Remodeling your home is one major aspect of a new room, Re-evaluating your stuff is equally important.

It is easy to get caught up in the happiness of a remodeled room. The thought of new tile, updated appliances, fresh colors, attractive faucets and a great design are all very exciting. Most of us focus on the selections and decisions that need to be made to accomplish the new look and function of the new room.

Over time while working with many clients, I have learned that there is another vital step to every remodel. That step is to re-evaluate all your “stuff”. Anything that is not structurally part of your home falls into the category of personal possessions or stuff. And most of us have lots of stuff; some of which you have even forgotten you own. Do you still want it? Do you still need it?

Eliminate Chaos written by Laura Leist, founder of the company by the same name, focuses on The 10-Step Process to Organize Your Home & Life. Laura’s thoughtfully-written book takes you through the steps, process and rational that will bring orderly life back into your home. Think how refreshing it will feel to walk into a remodeled room, but to live in an orderly and organized one as well.

You can learn more about the services of Eliminate Chaos at their website.
This book is available at major book stores and Amazon.com

There are many paint companies and lots of color choices. When selecting paint for your home, it is important to consider three equally important attributes – quality, color, value.

C2 Paint is the brainchild of The Coatings Alliance, a group of independent paint and decorating retailers from across the United States and Canada. As such it incorporates all the needs of designers, painters and consumers alike.

Why I use C2 Paint for my home and recommend it to my clients
Simply put, C2 has wonderful pigment colors, superior overage and amazing samples to meet your needs. I have been using C2 paint exclusively in my homes for over 15 years. It is trouble-free to paint with, covers fantastically and dries to a luscious color on your walls.

Why C2 Paint is makes a difference…
C2 Paint’s European colorants are made of finely ground artist-grade pigments that create an unmatchable luminosity and depth. Using the 16-colorant European tinting system rather than the 12-colorant systems known in North America today, C2 Paint uses tiny particles of pigment suspended in superior paint. The result is a higher solid content when applied to the wall, thereby creating richer, deeper colors. The four extra pigments are high-strength and not available in typical color systems, giving C2 Paint more ability to achieve greater color vibrancy and superior hiding power.

Why C2 Paint takes the worry out of selection…
To make your color selection a piece of cake, C2 Paint offers the ultimate paint chip size of 18” x 24”. Every luxurious handcrafted C2 color is available in this large size. These ultimate chips are covered with actual paint (not simulated ink stains), making it simple to see which colors look best with the lighting and furnishings in your home. When helping clients select their paint colors, I arrive with my portfolio of the most common colors and we get to work viewing the large paint chips on their walls during daytime, nighttime and various climate conditions.

Why C2 Paint has value…
The quality of C2 Paint is unsurpassed – unsurpassed coverage, easy touch up, durable and washable finishes The color selections are richer and deeper – your rooms radiate with more pigmentation and vibrancy The worry of selecting the ideal color is gone – viewing the 18” x 24” ultimate paint chips in your home is easy C2 paint is competitively priced along with quality paints.

Learn more about quality paint and its value
What Makes a Quality Paint
The Value of Quality Paint

Visit the C2 website

Slab Counters – The Cost
The traditional process to obtain a slab counter is to visit the slab showrooms, fall in love with a stone’s color and pattern and hope for the best. The cost of installing stone counters in your home is one of the mysteries of the industry.

The first two items are part of the raw material costs from the Showroom where you see and select the stone. The last three items are part of the production costs from the Fabricator hired to actually cut, finish and install your counter.

Slab Counters – Controlling the Cost
To some degree, you have control over all of the above items, except the number of slabs needed to complete your project. Your project will need enough raw material (number of slabs) to cover all the counters and unless you plan to dramatically change the layout of your room, this is determined by your floor plan.
Traditionally, stone is only sold in complete slabs. If your project needs 1 ¼ slabs, you will be paying for 2 and only using about 65% of the stone. Technically it is yours; you paid for it. However, it is too heavy and bulky an asset to keep around the garage – so it simply becomes part of the sunk cost of doing your project with the remnants becoming inventory at the fabricator’s facility. Obviously, the more “waste”, the higher the per square foot price of your new counter.

Slab Counters – Minimizing Your Cost Wouldn’t it be a great idea if you only had to pay for the stone actually used to create you slab counter? Well we at Provanti Designs thought so too. After some research, we have found a company in the Seattle Area that provides just this service. And this company involves a Showroom as well as a Fabricator, taking one step out of the mysterious pricing process. The company purchases large quantities of granite and quartz slabs as part of their Stock Program. The Stock Program includes inventory with a cross-section of popular colors and patterns. This inventory is sold by a square foot price; not a per slab price. So, if your project needs 1 ¼ slabs – that is all you are going to pay for. The per square foot price of each specific project is calculated based upon the raw material price, quantity needed, cuts, specified edge detail, and installation.

Slab Counters – A Better Way to Buy Finally, there is a better way for homeowners to afford the slab counters of their dreams. Contact me at Provanti Designs if you are interested in learning more about this innovative way to afford stone counters.