The most creative ideas

Kitchen Design Process Step 2

Roll Up Your Sleeves: Investment

Find Your Style Roll Up Your Sleeves Meet Our Friends Order Your Space Prep for Our Visit

Kitchen remodeling can range from a few hundred dollars to many thousands of dollars, but when done right, it will bring benefits for years. Depending on the amount of remodeling to be done, expenses can generally be broken down to the cost of labor, mechanical updates and new fixtures. Calculate target allocations within your investment plan and use our handy personal planner to see how much we recommend for each area.


Investing in Functionality

Kitchen cabinets, storage, and decorative enhancements are not only a purchase, but an investment that will pay dividends every day for you and your family as you use and enjoy the space you’ve created.

When making a significant purchase, it all comes down to determining what you need versus what you want. With this in mind, KraftMaid has created semi-custom cabinetry solutions that not only provide you with what you genuinely need for your home, but what you really want as well. Our extensive selection of wood species, door styles, finish techniques, kitchen storage solutions and decorative enhancements - all at varying price points - gives you the ability to mix and match the things you want with the things you need and have it all add up to the perfect room for your lifestyle at a price that works for you.

The kitchen is the most expensive room in the house to equip and, if done well, is the room that most often helps sell a house at the asking price. When planning your kitchen renovation, keep in mind that a good portion of the cost of installing a new kitchen can be recovered when the home is sold - it’s an investment in your home’s equity. Even in today’s economy, research shows that returns of 70-120% of the kitchen investment are being realized at the point of project completion.


Creating a Budget

Most homeowners have an idea at the outset of how much they want to spend. However, deciding how to allocate those dollars can be confusing, especially with all of the options that are available.

A recent national survey conducted by the National Kitchen & Bath Association offers a guideline for allocating your construction budget. They found that, on average, consumers working with a kitchen designer spent:

  • 48% on kitchen cabinetry
  • 18% on countertops
  • 15% on appliances
  • 6% on faucets/sinks/plumbing
  • 5% on lighting/electrical
  • 5% on flooring
  • 3% on wall treatment/molding/trim
  • When creating a budget, keep the following suggestions in mind:

  • Educate yourself on the average cost of a remodel. A rule of thumb is to not let your kitchen remodeling budget exceed 15% of your home’s fair market value.
  • Plan your budget for a 10% overage in case there are unexpected expenses that occur.
  • To avoid incorrect cabinetry measurements, talk with your designer about any major appliances you want to purchase before you finalize the kitchen design, since they will impact the overall measurement of the room.
  • Work with your kitchen designer to understand the cost differences between the various types of material, door styles and finish techniques. Determine the aspects of your cabinetry selection and kitchen design that are non-negotiable.
  • To scale back financially, ask yourself if all chosen features are necessary. However, bear in mind that what you might not miss now could be an essential feature months or years later. Avoid future disappointment by including as much functionality as possible early in the design process. This is especially true of kitchen storage solutions that need to be put in place when the cabinetry is being installed. Try our Personal Planner for a quick estimation of costs.

  • The Price of Expertise

    When calculating renovation expenses, consider not only the quality of the products you choose, but also the quality of the professionals who will play a part in your project execution. Choosing a skilled professional with a proven track record may cost a bit more up front, but can save you a lot of money in the long term by doing the work properly and within the established timeline and budget. Learn more about choosing the right professionals for your project in the Why Work with Professionals section.


    Lessons Learned

    At KraftMaid, we rely on our customers’ feedback to improve our products and to help other customers make smart decisions. When looking back at their financial decisions, here are a few of the things that rose to the top of our customers’ “buyer’s remorse” list.

    1. Some customers wish they had hired a professional cabinet installer to visit their home and measure the space. This small investment will help you save considerably in the future. Need help? Get tips on measuring your space.

    2. Some wish they had replaced their aged appliances before selecting kitchen cabinetry and completing their project. If you think you are in this position, find out how to select the appliances that are right for your kitchen.

    3. Others wish they had evaluated their list of “wants”. While they selected the kitchen cabinets and enhancements that they needed in the room, they realize they should have budgeted for one or two “wants” to give the room that personal touch. This is an investment you may live with for years. You don’t want to look back and say, “I wish I would have…”

    KraftMaid cabinetry is an investment - not just in time and money, but in the future. You’ll be the one living and working in the space, so make sure that you find the right balance between controlling costs and getting the full functionality you expect from your room.

    01

    KitchenLayouts

    >>
    What’s your kitchen layout? Understand the features which determine which one works best.
    02

    BathLayouts

    Explore these considerations for design and layout to see which options work best for you.
    03

    The RightCabinetry

    >>
    We know creating a space that is uniquely your own can be an overwhelming process.