When my husband and I purchased our home in Richmond, we knew we would need a kitchen renovation. Laminate countertops, off-white cabinetry, ’90s appliances, and dim lighting made the space look dark and dingy. I imagined chopping it up and adding square footage. Then I got a harsh dose of reality from a contractor. He said my plan would cost $88,000 and take two months.
Kitchen renovations based on your budget
Well, we’ll live with the planning. After some more research, I chose to have the cabinets professionally spray painted for $3375. We got new lighting, leather-finished granite countertops, and stainless-steel appliances, but we kept the existing backsplash. When we finished the job last summer, the total tab was about $15,000. Although it’s not the kitchen I originally dreamed of, it’s a space that makes me smile.
Like a lot of homeowners, I’d heard you should spend 10 percent of your home’s value on renovating your kitchen (which, by the way, would still have been much less than the $88,000 initial price)—but I knew I didn’t really need that, and probably don’t. You need it too. Even with a budget as small as $1,000, home design experts say you can make a huge difference in your kitchen. Here’s how.
