Need to gut your kitchen? Think it’s too expensive? Well I’m here to tell you that I’ve run the numbers, and it is 100% feasible to have this kitchen for under $6,000. And that’s what I call a good deal!
via Kraft Maid
Let me preface this by saying, while I have not yet achieved this, I have big plans for the future and creating a beautiful kitchen for mucho less dineros.
The average kitchen renovation costs $15,000 to $20,000… without appliances!
According to theKitchn, the average kitchen remodel can run from fifteen to twenty grand without even updating appliances. Who wants to drop that much money on one room?? Well, I’m here to tell you that if you follow two rules (just two!) you can get your dream kitchen (with all stainless steel appliances!) for less that $6,000.
Ready for the two rules?? Here they are:
- Don’t pay for labor
- Buy everything you can from Craigslist
Let me elaborate….
Don’t pay for labor
If you are willing to spend several weekends and put in some serious sweat equity, you can save major bucks on your kitchen remodel. I realize not all of us are crazy-renovator-DIY people, so I’ll be upfront and honest. These will be the most difficult projects in your reno: painting cabinets, (possibly) hanging cabinets, and tiling the backsplash. I am confidant that with a little google help, these are totally doable DIY’s.
Buy everything off Craigslist
Yes, you can have beautiful stainless steel appliances in your kitchen without spending a fortune. Let me give you an example…. The cheapest side-by-side stainless steel refrigerator sold by Home Depot runs about $1,000. On Craigslist, you can find a quality, brand name, used stainless steal fridge for around $600. These kind of savings really add up! If you use this method to replace all your appliances, you could save some serious change.
Now, if you’re anything like me, you’re thinking…. Now that’s all well and great, but I need to see to believe, show me the numbers! Well here you go, I’m going to show you two scenarios where big impact comes with a small price tag. Scenario 1 is the cheapest route (while still getting stellar results), scenario 3 is the best of the best still for under $6,000.
Oven/Range = $125 – $375
Brand spankin’ new from a big box store, a stainless steel oven and range can run you anywhere from $500 up to the ten thousands. In the Chicagoland area Craigslist I found these three used stainless steel ovens all for WAY under retail price. Typically these range anywhere from $500 upwards to several grand!
Scenario 1 = $125
This Kenmore stainless-steel gas oven and range is selling for only $125. Talk about a great price for stainless steel! Retail value new for this model is around $500, so using Craigslist would save you $375 on this purchase.
Scenario 2 = $375
This beautiful Jenn-Air Double Oven is listed on Craigslist for $375. I don’t know about you, but I’ve always loved the idea of a double oven! Brand new at retail price, this oven would sell for around $1,400. What an amazing deal! Buying used keeps an extra grand in your pocket.
Refridgerator = $400 – $600
The refridgerator and the oven are the centerpoints of the kitchen, so it makes sense to spend the most money on these appliances. But, the price of a family-sized stainless steel refridgerator can cost you an arm and a leg…. unless you buy them used. In the Chicago-land Craigslist ads there are a variety of options for purchasing a used stainless steel fridge for less that $600!
Scenario 1 = $400
This Amana side by side stainless steel fridge is listed at $400. By sacrificing name brands a little, you are able to get the look you want for less. Just make sure to research the consumer reviews before you buy! If new, this fridge would cost around $1,000. This purchase saves you $600.
Scenario 2 = $600
For $600 you could purchase this GE Profile stainless steel refridgerator used off Craigslist. Normally it would run you about $1,600. That is a thousand dollar savings, and a fine looking piece of fridge!
Dishwasher = $200 – $300
The dishwasher may not be the most glamorous aspect of your kitchen, but it saves you a lot of time and work. Why not have a nice one? Dishwashers are not that expensive really. If you bought a nice stainless steel one it could be between $250- $500. There are some on Craigslist for decent prices, so if you’re looking for top grade quality in an entry level price range, look there. Otherwise, I would suggest you wait for a sale and buy a new one!
Scenario 1 = $200
Buying an entry-level dishwasher can be fairly inexpensive. But, to save extra bucks on your purchase, try shopping at a scratch and dent store. These places sell new appliances that have been damaged in shipping, often these scratches or dents won’t even show once the appliance is installed! Another option is to buy refurbished, fixed to be like new and for a cheaper price.
Scenario 2 = $300
If you are looking for a top-of-the line, name brand stainless dishwasher: see what deals you can find on Craigslist. This Maytag dishwasher is listed for $300, and sells for twice that new. I’d say that’s a nice deal!
Microwave = $40 – $75
This is not a very exciting one, but let’s face it… you need a microwave! There’s not as much to say on this one, so I’ll make it brief. You can buy a new stainless steal microwave for $75, and a nice used one on Craigslist for $40. Either way, you don’t break the bank 🙂
Kitchen Cabinets = $200 – $1,000
Changing your cabinets may have the single biggest impact in your kitchen renovation. And, they can also cost you the highest dollar. Custom cabinets, and even the big box store variety, will costs thousands of dollars. I understand that sometimes you just got to have them new cabinets… if that’s the case, look into IKEA cabinets, you can really save! But, I would suggest you consider these money-saving alternatives:
Scenario 1 = < $200
The cheapest option is to paint your current cabinets. Lots of people are doing it these days and it allows you to go for any color you want! The best part is how much impact you get for so little money. Yes, this requires a little sweat equity, but so many people are doing it these days that there are a plethora of great tutorials and tips out there.
Scenario 2 = $1,000
If your kitchen cabinets are just not cuttin’ it for ya, or you just have to have that shaker look, consider buying used cabinets off Craigslist or a local architectural salvage store. Before you jump on my crazy train here, first consider, can you replace just the doors and like the look? If yes, great! If not, at least entertain the idea of buying used cabinets (and do a lot of measuring). This full set of tall shaker cabinets are listed for $850! Paint your desired color and you have fancy schmancy cabinets for under a grand!
Sink & Faucet = $200 – $375
There is a wide variety of options out there for sinks and faucets. Many in a very reasonable price range. If the ones you prefer happen to be in that category, yay! No further discussion needed. But… if you are partial for the antique farmhouse sink look, you are looking at a much heftier price range. Here are my two suggestions for you:
Scenario 1 = $200
On several occasions in the past I have seen beautiful antique farmhouse sinks for sale on Craigslist (in need of deep cleaning). They sell for between $100-$200 in my area. Pair this with IKEA’s Edsvik faucet for a cool $200 worth of farmhouse beauty.
Scenario 2 = $375
Or, you can buy this steal of deal, beautiful farmhouse sink from IKEA for the reasonable price of $312. Pair again with the Edsvik faucet and you only spent $375 for a classic and gorgeous sink and faucet set.
Countertops = $50 – $2,000
These can be largely personal preference and are an extremely important part of kitchen renovation. Sometimes, you just need to splurge a little…. so I included granite in scenario 2 🙂 But I want to also present another viable option that could save you that 2 grand granite price tag.
Scenario 1 = $50
Concrete countertops. They are beautiful, versatile, and oh-so-chic. And did I mention cheap?? You can make your own concrete countertops for $1,000 – 2,000. But, that is a lot of work for relatively small savings. Or, you can cover your laminate counters with cement. This is uber cheap (try $15 a bag), with supplies and everything you have a fancy new countertop for under $50!
Scenario 2 = $2,000
Let’s be honest, sometimes you just want the good stuff. And you know what… by saving so much money on everything else in your kitchen reno, I think it’s 100% ok to get yourself some shiny new granite. Prices vary so much depending on color, location, quality, and amount… so I’m just going to pick what I think might be a reasonable number: $2,000.
Island = $250
I think every kitchen deserves a rustic, old, antique table as an island. It’s items like these that make your kitchen renovation. Finding that perfect table, I admit, will take some serious thrift store searching, Craigslist stalking, and Ebay checking…. But, wouldn’t it be worh it? My price point would probably peak around $250 (I know, I’m cheap). Maybe you’re more into the traditional islands: buy more Craigslist cabinets and build one! 🙂 There are plenty of creative and affordable DIY island options.
Tile = $500
I don’t know about you… but for me, subway tile is the only tile choice. I mean it’s stunning! Feel free to disagree and price out your own favorite tile, but for my kitchen reno someday… subway tile is in order 🙂 Home Depot sells them for $18 per 10 square feet (this stuff is cheap, people!). Since it’s all about how many square feet… I’m going to estimate $500.
Hardware = $150
See, when you save money on the big ticket items, you can indulge yourself a little more on the goodies. Who doesn’t love gorgeous hardware? Sometimes a lot of the cheaper options seem outdated, but I’ve found the Martha Stewart collection at Home Depot has beautiful hardware for very reasonable prices. Based on that line, new hardware should run around $150 or so.
The Numbers
If you’ve been following along on your calculators… that’s a TOTAL kitchen remodel for between $2,115 – $5,625. This is a much more feasible number! And… it leaves nothing out, for this price you can have all those fancy kitchen buzzwords: farmhouse sink, subway tile, stainless steel appliances, concrete or even granite counter tops, and modern hardware. Essentially everything in this picture below….
via Kraft Maid
Does this motivate you to try and get a bangin’ kitchen for your buck? I know, I can’t wait to try this out! Any suggestions or improvements on the plan? I’d love to hear what you think!
This post looks to be a year old. Can you give us an update? Were you able to keep it under $6k?
Planning your budget is really important. This guide has some more tips for planning kitchen renovation cost: https://mykukun.com/cost-guide/cost-of-kitchen-remodel/ it includes a renovation calculator. Planning can help you save some money on your renovations. Hope it helps.
I’m a brand new subscriber. I dream of a new kitchen but it’s been cost prohibitive. I’m always spying cabinets and appliances on CL and have wondered “what if…”? You’ve made it a reality and I thank you for the inspiration to create a plan!
Glad you enjoyed it Toni!! I know we are currently creating a plan for a *hopefully* soonish kitchen reno on a budget. Things always end up costing more than you originally thought, but CL should help keep our costs down quite a bit 🙂